Patents by Inventor Richard C. Spooner

Richard C. Spooner 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: 4930381
    Abstract: A bar stock support comprises a tubular member with resilient means extending radially inwardly from the inner wall of said tubular member toward the major axis of said tubular member to define a generally cylindrical channel having a diameter smaller than at least the largest cross-section dimension of the smallest said bar stock to be supported, so that at least some of said resilient means is deformed by said bar stock. Said resilient means has sufficient resistance when deformed to support said bar stock generally concentrically within said tubular member and to resist movement of said bar stock radially within said bar stock support. In a preferred embodiment, said resilient member comprises a helix of bristles disposed within said tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Inventor: Richard C. Spooner
  • Patent number: 4890541
    Abstract: A fluid-operated actuator for collets, vises, chucks and other workpiece engagement devices, for example, the actuator having a piston which moves the engagement device toward the workpiece with a force equal to product of the area of the face of the piston times the pressure of a fluid applied to the face. When the engagement device has engaged the workpiece, additional, relatively slight movement of the piston causes a force multiplying mechanism to provide increased engagement force without increasing the pressure of the actuating fluid. The overall travel of the actuator mechanism is not limited by the force-mulitplying mechanism which begins to function only after the unrelated distance of travel of the engagement device to the workpiece. Thus, for example, compressed air at ordinary shop pressures may be used to actuate collets or chucks on automatic lathes or the like to provide relatively high clamping forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: Richard C. Spooner
  • Patent number: 4788895
    Abstract: A bar stock support comprises a tubular member with resilient means extending radially inwardly from the inner wall of said tubular member toward the major axis of said tubular member to define a generally cylindrical channel having a diameter smaller than at least the largest cross-sectional dimension of the smallest said bar stock to be supported, so that at least some of said resilient means is deformed by said bar stock. Said resilient means has sufficient resistance when deformed to support said bar stock generally concentrically within said tubular member and to resist movement of said bar stock radially within said bar stock support. In a preferred embodiment, said resilient member comprises a helix of bristles disposed within said tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: Richard C. Spooner