Patents by Inventor Richard J. Way

Richard J. Way 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: 11915866
    Abstract: An enhanced safety coil that prevents crack formation and propagation to the coil windings from external sources and prevents exposure to fuel is provided. The enhanced safety coil may be used in a solenoid operated gas admission valve (SOGAV), and includes a plastic encapsulation body having at least one body de-stress feature, a coil wound on the plastic encapsulation body, a sleeve forming an outermost side protective wall configured to accommodate the plastic encapsulation body and coil therewithin, and potting provided between the plastic encapsulation body and the sleeve to seal the coil therein. The body de-stress feature is configured to reduce at least one of a formation or a propagation of a crack through the potting to the coil. The plastic encapsulation body forms retention latches configured to mate with a stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Brodsack, Timothy J. Farrow, Richard J. Way, Roger M. Kifer, Michael W. Hamernik, Christopher Dan Harrison
  • Publication number: 20230031739
    Abstract: An enhanced safety coil that prevents crack formation and propagation to the coil windings from external sources and prevents exposure to fuel is provided. The enhanced safety coil may be used in a solenoid operated gas admission valve (SOGAV), and includes a plastic encapsulation body having at least one body de-stress feature, a coil wound on the plastic encapsulation body, a sleeve forming an outermost side protective wall configured to accommodate the plastic encapsulation body and coil therewithin, and potting provided between the plastic encapsulation body and the sleeve to seal the coil therein. The body de-stress feature is configured to reduce at least one of a formation or a propagation of a crack through the potting to the coil. The plastic encapsulation body forms retention latches configured to mate with a stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Brodsack, Timothy J. Farrow, Richard J. Way, Roger M. Kifer, Michael W. Hamernik, Christopher Dan Harrison
  • Patent number: 7477524
    Abstract: An improved retainer, apparatus and method for retaining a circuit card are provided, through the use of a circuit card retainer comprising a length of spring wire defining a longitudinal axis of the retainer, lying in a plane of the retainer, and formed to define a wavy section of the retainer having peaks and valleys of the spring wire lying in the plane of the retainer with at least some of the peaks and/or the valleys being offset from the axis of the retainer. Some embodiments include a retainer guide, having a groove therein for properly orienting the wavy section of the retainer with respect to the circuit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Way
  • Patent number: 6593674
    Abstract: A rotary electrical actuator for mounting to a support surface in industrial applications having integral electronics that are isolated by vibration isolators from vibrations. The rotary actuator comprises a stator housing supporting a lamination stack and coils. The actuator housing has a mounting structure for mounting to the support surface (such as the mounting surface of an engine or a turbine for example) for support thereby. A rotor is carried for rotation in the stator housing. The actuator further comprises an electronics housing containing the electronics that control output of the electrical actuator. Vibration isolators supported by the stator housing in turn support the electronics housing, whereby vibrations received at mounting structure and traveling through the stator housing are dampened prior to traveling to the electronics housing. A number of embodiments are disclosed utilizing a tie rod assembly concept for the vibration isolators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: George Sanchez, Brett R. Berlin, Gregory J. Broadsack, Jon S. Pointer, Henri A. Siedow, Gary A. Warwick, Richard J. Way
  • Publication number: 20020117908
    Abstract: A rotary electrical actuator for mounting to a support surface in industrial applications having integral electronics that are isolated by vibration isolators from vibrations. The rotary actuator comprises a stator housing supporting a lamination stack and coils. The actuator housing has a mounting structure for mounting to the support surface (such as the mounting surface of an engine or a turbine for example) for support thereby. A rotor is carried for rotation in the stator housing. The actuator further comprises an electronics housing containing the electronics that control output of the electrical actuator. Vibration isolators supported by the stator housing in turn support the electronics housing, whereby vibrations received at mounting structure and traveling through the stator housing are dampened prior to traveling to the electronics housing. A number of embodiments are disclosed utilizing a tie rod assembly concept for the vibration isolators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: George Sanchez, Brett R. Berlin, Gregory J. Brodsack, Jon S. Pointer, Henri A. Siedow, Gary A. Warwick, Richard J. Way