Patents by Inventor Nigel A. Buchanan

Nigel A. Buchanan 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: 9593625
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a chamber that has a longitudinal centerline, inlet valving operable to admit constituents of a combustible mixture into the chamber for combustion in the chamber to provide a pressure increase in the chamber and outlet valving operable to release an outflow of liquid from the chamber under an influence of the pressure increase. An annular flow passage is defined in the chamber to conduct liquid towards the outlet valving and cause spiraling of the liquid in the flow passage by which a rotatable part exposed to the spiraling flow is caused to rotate. An electrical generator disposed externally of the chamber is driven by rotation of the rotatable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: Nigel A. Buchanan, I. Kurt Rosen
  • Patent number: 9371732
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a chamber and inlet valving operable to admit constituents of a combustible mixture into the chamber for combustion therein to provide a pressure increase in the chamber. First input valving admits a liquid into the chamber and a control system controls the first input valving such that the liquid is admitted to the chamber to compress at least one constituent of the combustible mixture. Outlet valving releases an outflow of the liquid from the chamber under an influence of the pressure increase as an energy output of the chamber. Second input valving selectively admits a heated aqueous fluid into a region of the chamber in which combustion of the combustible mixture occurs to promote a hydrogen separation process in the chamber to provide hydrogen that is combusted in the chamber. A supply system supplies the heated aqueous fluid to the second input valving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 9140317
    Abstract: A wrench ratchet mechanism includes a driven member, a housing defining a chamber in which the driven member is at least partially received, a plurality of drive transmitting members disposed in respective recesses between the driven member and housing to transmit a drive force between the housing and driven member and a force applying member extending at least partially around the driven member. The force applying member is movable in a circumferential direction thereof to apply a circumferentially directed force to the drive transmitting members to move the drive transmitting members in the recesses from a non-drive transmitting position towards a drive transmitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 9056389
    Abstract: A line wrench includes a drive receiving portion, a holder movably connected to the drive receiving portion and a fastener engaging body. The fastener engaging body has a plurality of fastener engaging surfaces defined by a fastener receiving aperture having an axis and a side opening through which an elongate member can enter the fastener receiving aperture by a movement transverse to the fastener receiving aperture axis. The holder is arranged to receive the fastener engaging body, has a free end portion and is movable between a position in which the free end portion is spaced from the drive receiving portion to permit an elongate member to enter the side opening and a position in which the free end portion engages the drive receiving portion such that a drive force applied to the drive receiving portion is transmitted to the holder via the free end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20150040546
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a chamber and inlet valving operable to admit constituents of a combustible mixture into the chamber for combustion therein to provide a pressure increase in the chamber. First input valving admits a liquid into the chamber and a control system controls the first input valving such that the liquid is admitted to the chamber to compress at least one constituent of the combustible mixture. Outlet valving releases an outflow of the liquid from the chamber under an influence of the pressure increase as an energy output of the chamber. Second input valving selectively admits a heated aqueous fluid into a region of the chamber in which combustion of the combustible mixture occurs to promote a hydrogen separation process in the chamber to provide hydrogen that is combusted in the chamber. A supply system supplies the heated aqueous fluid to the second input valving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20140326211
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a chamber that has a longitudinal centerline, inlet valving operable to admit constituents of a combustible mixture into the chamber for combustion in the chamber to provide a pressure increase in the chamber and outlet valving operable to release an outflow of liquid from the chamber under an influence of the pressure increase. An annular flow passage is defined in the chamber to conduct liquid towards the outlet valving and cause spiraling of the liquid in the flow passage by which a rotatable part exposed to the spiraling flow is caused to rotate. An electrical generator disposed externally of the chamber is driven by rotation of the rotatable part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Nigel A. Buchanan, I. Kurt Rosen
  • Patent number: 8677865
    Abstract: A hand operated gripping tool includes a movable jaw, a fixed jaw, a first cam associated with the movable jaw, a pivotal handle connected with the movable jaw and a second cam associated with the pivotal handle. The first cam is spaced from the fixed jaw by a first variable distance, and the second cam is spaced from the fixed jaw by a second variable distance, with the first distance maintained greater than the second distance. The jaws are cooperable to define a variable size space for receiving a workpiece and the cams are operable to cause the jaws to grip the workpiece positioned in the variable size space. The cams are arranged such that rotational movement of the second cam caused by operation of the pivotal handle causes the movable jaw to pivot on the first cam to grip the workpiece that is positioned in the variable size space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventors: Nigel A. Buchanan, Seamus Duffy
  • Publication number: 20130340574
    Abstract: A wrench ratchet mechanism has a driven member, a housing having a chamber in which said driven member is at least partially received and a torque transmitter disposed between the housing and the driven member to transmit an applied torque from the housing to the driven member. The torque transmitter is deformable from a non-torque transmitting condition to a torque transmitting condition in response to rotation of the housing in a first direction and returnable to the non-torque transmitting condition in response to rotation of the housing in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 8561504
    Abstract: A wrench socket for use on fasteners such as pipework fittings where closed pipework or other obstructions would normally prevent the use of a ring wrench or closed sockets has a plurality of swivel arms pivotally mounted to a socket main body. The swivel jaws can be opened and closed as required around pipework and the fastener. Formations on the swivel arms align with one another when the swivel arms are closed allowing engagement by a drive bar that locks the swivel arms together. The swivel arms cooperate with the socket main body to define a polygonal fastener receiving aperture. The socket main body can be made thin profile to allow the wrench socket to be used in close proximity to obstructions that would prevent the operation of prior art wrenches and wrench sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 8544367
    Abstract: A socket for a wrench comprises a fixed portion provided with a first fastener receiving aperture and a rotatable portion provided with a second fastener receiving aperture. The fixed and rotatable portions are disposed such that the first and second fastener receiving apertures are in overlying relationship to define a fastener receiving space and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the fixed portion to adjust the fastener receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 8434391
    Abstract: A hand operated gripping tool includes a first jaw fixedly connected with a first jaw handle, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw such that the first and second jaws cooperably define a variable size space therebetween for receiving a part to be gripped, a second jaw handle pivotally connected with the second jaw for moving the second jaw relative to the first jaw, a link system pivotally connected to the second jaw handle and having a guided portion selectively engageable with a plurality of guide portions provided on the first jaw handle. The guided portion being engageable with a first of the guide portions to define a first range of movement of the second jaw towards the first jaw and a second of the guide portions to define a second range of movement of the second jaw towards the first jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: American Grease Stick Company
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 8117948
    Abstract: A wrench comprises a handle portion, a head portion releasably secured to the handle portion and a release device. The head portion has an inner surface that defines a fastener receiving aperture and a side entry to the fastener receiving aperture and is movable relative to the handle portion between a loading position in which the side entry is open and an operating position in which the side entry is closed. The head portion is operable to close around a fastener received in the fastener receiving aperture in response to a torque applied in a predetermined direction using the handle portion. The release device is arranged to at least assist in releasing the head portion from the handle portion to permit the head portion to be separated from the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: American Grease Stick Company
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110253252
    Abstract: A brake bleeding apparatus comprises a supply receptacle for brake fluid for supply to a braking system, ducting for connecting the supply receptacle with the braking system and a vacuum source connected with the supply receptacle for de-gassing brake fluid stored in the supply receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110247387
    Abstract: A flaring apparatus comprising a pipe holder for holding a pipe such as to prevent axial movement of the pipe and a hand-powered actuator including a pivotably mounted lever operable to drive a tool carrier towards the pipe holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110247386
    Abstract: A gripping device comprises a support frame defining an axially extending internal space for receiving a part that is to be gripped and a plurality of jaws carried by the support frame. The jaws each have an end face and are connected with the support frame such that an axially directed force applied to the end faces causes axially and radially inward movement of the jaws for gripping a part received in the internal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110132151
    Abstract: A wrench socket for use on fasteners such as pipework fittings where closed pipework or other obstructions would normally prevent the use of a ring wrench or closed sockets has a plurality of swivel arms pivotally mounted to a socket main body. The swivel jaws can be opened and closed as required around pipework and the fastener. Formations on the swivel arms align with one another when the swivel arms are closed allowing engagement by a drive bar that locks the swivel arms together. The swivel arms cooperate with the socket main body to define a polygonal fastener receiving aperture. The socket main body can be made thin profile to allow the wrench socket to be used in close proximity to obstructions that would prevent the operation of prior art wrenches and wrench sockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110126677
    Abstract: A line wrench includes a drive receiving portion, a holder movably connected to the drive receiving portion and a fastener engaging body. The fastener engaging body has a plurality of fastener engaging surfaces defined by a fastener receiving aperture having an axis and a side opening through which an elongate member can enter the fastener receiving aperture by a movement transverse to the fastener receiving aperture axis. The holder is arranged to receive the fastener engaging body, has a free end portion and is movable between a position in which the free end portion is spaced from the drive receiving portion to permit an elongate member to enter the side opening and a position in which the free end portion engages the drive receiving portion such that a drive force applied to the drive receiving portion is transmitted to the holder via the free end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20110056337
    Abstract: A socket for a wrench comprises a fixed portion provided with a first fastener receiving aperture and a rotatable portion provided with a second fastener receiving aperture. The fixed and rotatable portions are disposed such that the first and second fastener receiving apertures are in overlying relationship to define a fastener receiving space and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the fixed portion to adjust the fastener receiving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20090107302
    Abstract: A wrench comprises a handle portion, a head portion releasably secured to the handle portion and a release device. The head portion has an inner surface that defines a fastener receiving aperture and a side entry to the fastener receiving aperture and is movable relative to the handle portion between a loading position in which the side entry is open and an operating position in which the side entry is closed. The head portion is operable to close around a fastener received in the fastener receiving aperture in response to a torque applied in a predetermined direction using the handle portion. The release device is arranged to at least assist in releasing the head portion from the handle portion to permit the head portion to be separated from the handle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREASE STICK COMPANY
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan