Patents by Inventor Michael D. Cox

Michael D. Cox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4737913
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control system comprises a memory which stores a signal Vr representing desired road speed which is compared in a comparator with a signal Vs representing actual speed. An actuator responds to any error by adjusting the engine to bring the vehicle to the correct speed. Units are provided to enable the driver to increment or decrement the stored desired speed by small amounts (e.g. 0.5 miles per hour). By means of switches, he can switch into the memory either one of two preset desired speed values. He can also modify these present values, by feeding in, instead, the actual road speed of the vehicle, such modified preset values remaining until the engine is next switched off. The system incorporates a "SOFT OFF" feature, by which, under certain switch off modes of the system, the engine power is not shut off abruptly but at a controlled rate. The system is advantageously implemented by means of a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: AE PLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Blee, Michael D. Cox, Norman P. Deane, Michael Hansford
  • Patent number: 4649656
    Abstract: A wet suit boot having a foot portion attached to a tongue and an ankle portion in which the ankle portion includes two wrap-around flaps one of which is releasably connectable to the outside of the tongue and the other of which is releasably connectable to the outside of the first flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventors: Michael D. Cox, Brad A. Johnson, Brad B. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4211193
    Abstract: A system for limiting the engine-driven speed of a vehicle (e.g. a truck) includes an override circuit to enable engine power to be produced when the vehicle exceeds the pre-set speed, provided that the vehicle is decelerating rapidly, such as occurs when the vehicle has coasted down a steep incline and is then running uphill. The system may include an interlock to prevent the override action until the engine power has first been reduced to a predetermined minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Associated Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Michael D. Cox, Norman Hunt, Kenneth W. Colver
  • Patent number: 4177492
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is disclosed for protecting against overload electrical equipment such as an electric motor, and any mechanical equipment driven thereby, such as a power actuator. Two light emitting diodes are connected in parallel with each other (with opposite polarity) and in parallel with a series impedance in the power supply circuit of the motor so that each produces a light output in response to an overload current of appropriate polarity in the motor. Associated with each diode is a respective phototransistor which responds to the light output from the associated diode and, via a respective control circuit, operates a switch to interrupt the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Associated Engineering Limited
    Inventors: John Noddings, Michael D. Cox