Patents by Inventor Michael J. Ankrom

Michael J. Ankrom 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: 5831409
    Abstract: An electric vehicle propulsion system having a motor with first and second electrically isolated windings and a system control unit for controlling the motor, wherein the system control unit includes a first power bridge for driving the first windings and a second power bridge for driving the second windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Frank A. Lindberg, David L. Schantz, Jr., Brian H. Smith, Charles S. Kerfoot, Joseph J. Springer, Patricia A. O'Donnell, James H. DeOms, Ronnie L. Starling, Michael J. Ankrom, James L. Munro, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Beth A. Herman, William B. Hall, Marshall G. Jones, William B. Winkel, Brian A. DeAbreu, Thomas C. Underwood, Todd M. Zaranski, Aaron D. Valdivia, Richard M. Young, Frank E. Altoz, Ngon B. Nguyen, Eric L. Mohler
  • Patent number: 5567991
    Abstract: An electric vehicle relay assembly including a main relay and a flexible circuit electrically connected to the main relay. The relay assembly further includes a connection for mounting the flexible circuit onto the main relay and a wiring board affixed to the flexible circuit. The flexible circuit compensates for mechanical tolerance errors within the connection. The wiring board includes relay circuitry electrically connected to the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Schantz, James H. DeOms, Ronnie L. Starling, Michael J. Ankrom
  • Patent number: 5024734
    Abstract: A circuit trace/solder pad interface for closely spaced circuit traces is presented in which solder must be deposited to form a solder pad upon the circuit trace and the solder not migrate onto the circuit trace upon solder reflow. Through the intentional selection of solderably incompatible metals for the circuit trace and the solder pad, the solder pad may be isolated from the circuit trace thereby retaining solder on the pad. Furthermore a method for fabricating this circuit trace/solder pad interface is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Walter M. Downs, Michael J. Ankrom
  • Patent number: 4909429
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for depositing solder onto component lead pads of a printed wiring board. Solder preforms which are multi-layer, solder containing members are positively biased against the pwb pad which is then introduced into a vapor phase environment defining a temperature gradient between approximately ambient and the temperature of a saturated vapor of a first selected fluid which defines a primary saturated vapor phase with a boiling point which is greater than the melting point of solder. A second fluid having a boiling point which is lower than the first fluid is utilized to generate a secondary vapor blanket in order to prevent excessive loss of the fluid defining the primary vapor phase. The pwb is heated according to a controlled process in which the temperature of the pwb is continuously monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ankrom, James A. Rew
  • Patent number: 4840305
    Abstract: A method for vapor phase soldering components onto a PWB onto which solder has been previously deposited includes the steps of applying a fluxing agent on the PWB and introducing the PWB into a vapor phase environment. The application of flux is a multi-step process which includes a sequential application of flux to the PWB. The vapor phase environment defines a temperature gradient between approximately ambient and the temperature of a saturated vapor of a first selected fluid which defines a primary saturated vapor phase with a boiling point which is greater than the melting point of solder. A second fluid having a boiling point which is lower than the first fluid is utilized to generate a secondary vapor blanket in order to prevent excessive loss of the fluid defining the primary vapor phase. The PWB is heated according to a controlled process in which the temperature of the PWB is continuously monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ankrom, Corey H. Bowcutt, John J. Buckley, Jr., James A. Rew
  • Patent number: 4801069
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for depositing solder onto component lead pads of a printed wiring board. Solder preforms which are multi-layer, solder containing members are positively biased against the pwb pad which is then introduced into a vapor phase environment defining a temperature gradient between approximately ambient and the temperature of a saturated vapor of a first selected fluid which defines a primary saturated vapor phase with a boiling point which is greater than the melting point of solder. A second fluid having a boiling point which is lower than the first fluid is utilized to generate a secondary vapor blanket in order to prevent excessive loss of the fluid defining the primary vapor phase. The pwb is heated according to a controlled process in which the temperature of the pwb is continuously monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ankrom, James A. Rew