Patents by Inventor Richard Killen

Richard Killen 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: 6682430
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors with permanent magnets separated by air gaps from non-ferrous conductor rotors presented by a group of conductor rotors. One of the rotors is mounted to its shaft via a slidable hub. The hub and the rotor attached thereto rotate with the shaft, but are movable lengthwise along the shaft. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of the hub and one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and control the load speed under varying load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: MagnaDrive Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Killen
  • Patent number: 6577037
    Abstract: In a magnetic coupler, a pair of magnet rotors is slidably mounted on rods. Ferrous material on the conductor rotors attracts the permanent magnets in the magnet rotors. Under static or relative static conditions, the attractive force urges the magnet rotors toward the conductor rotors to create a minimum, operational air gap therebetween. When there is a significant relative rotational velocity between the magnet rotors and the conductor rotors, a repulsion force urges the rotors apart. During start-up, latch arms retain the magnet rotors apart from the conductor rotors by a larger, soft-start air gap. During operation, centrifugal force moves the latch arms out of their active position. If the rotational speed of the load shaft decreases rapidly during operation, the magnet rotors move apart from the conductor rotors by a still larger, fully disengaged air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: MagnaDrive Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Killen, Bruce D. Densmore, John L. Brockman, Karl J. Lamb, Toby Merrill
  • Publication number: 20030006661
    Abstract: In a magnetic coupler, a pair of magnet rotors is slidably mounted on rods. Ferrous material on the conductor rotors attracts the permanent magnets in the magnet rotors. Under static or relative static conditions, the attractive force urges the magnet rotors toward the conductor rotors to create a minimum, operational air gap therebetween. When there is a significant relative rotational velocity between the magnet rotors and the conductor rotors, a repulsion force urges the rotors apart. During start-up, latch arms retain the magnet rotors apart from the conductor rotors by a larger, soft-start air gap. During operation, centrifugal force moves the latch arms out of their active position. If the rotational speed of the load shaft decreases rapidly during operation, the magnet rotors move apart from the conductor rotors by a still larger, fully disengaged air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: MagnaDrive Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Killen, Bruce D. Densmore, John L. Brockman, Karl J. Lamb, Toby Merrill
  • Publication number: 20020132670
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors with permanent magnets separated by air gaps from non-ferrous conductor rotors presented by a group of conductor rotors. One of the rotors is mounted to its shaft via a slidable hub. The hub and the rotor attached thereto rotate with the shaft, but are movable lengthwise along the shaft. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of the hub and one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and control the load speed under varying load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Killen
  • Publication number: 20020132671
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors with permanent magnets on a first shaft separated by air gaps from non-ferrous conductor rotors on a second shaft presented by a group of conductor rotors. The first and second shafts are coupled together at a spherical bearing that permits relative rotation between the shafts, but that limits relative lateral movement between the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Killen