Patents by Inventor Robert A. Van Fossen

Robert A. Van Fossen 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: 5250768
    Abstract: A float switch for sensing a liquid level and switching between "on" and "off" states in response to the same. Overall, the device is carried within a hollow housing, with its movement restrained by the tethering action of a power cord. "Snap action" switching is achieved by the interaction between an actuator having camming surfaces formed on its exterior, and a spring-loaded switch mechanism. The switch mechanism includes a thin, flexible E-shaped snap member, having two legs bowed to form a leaf spring and having a bearing point located on the central leg. The actuator is carried in a tube within the housing and the switch mechanism is positioned adjacent the actuator's path of travel, so that a camming surface of the actuator can make contact with the bearing point. As the water level rises, an increasing proportion of the actuator's weight is carried by the bearing point, until the vertical component of the actuator weight exceeds the spring resistance of the snap member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 5091612
    Abstract: A flow switch adapted to be attached to a pipe is designed to trip a switch at a preset flow rate. The switch employs a bending metal blade which deflects in the flow stream to move a magnet attached to the downstream side of the blade relative to a reed switch or Hall-effect switch. The switching device is preferably mounted in a slot on a printed circuit board to enable selection of a range of available trip points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 5024294
    Abstract: A differential pressure sensor indicating a housing forming a high pressure chamber, a nozzle mounted on the housing at one end of the chamber, a diaphragm mounted in the chamber to form a low pressure chamber in the nozzle, a spring retainer in the high pressure chamber, a spindle connected to the diaphragm, a tension spring connecting the spindle to the spring retainer, a circular magnet mounted on the spindle and a transducer mounted on the housing to sense the position of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Johnson Service Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Fossen, Scott L. Spence, Donald E. DeWitt
  • Patent number: 4754920
    Abstract: A compact linear operator is provided for a gas valve. The operator may be of modular form for operative combination with combination gas controls of existing design, as by threaded engagement with an existing threaded bore in the control. The operator is suited for directly controlling displacement of a valve or more typically, for controlling displacement of the seat for the regulating spring associated with a servo pressure regulating diaphragm/valve arrangement. The operator includes a controllably heated bimetallic actuator, and a plunger directly or indirectly driven linearly by deflection of the actuator. To enhance compactness of the operator, a displacement-amplifying lever is interposed between the actuator and the plunger. Stops are included for establishing "high fire" and "low fire" limits for the regulated gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Hamilton Standard Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse H. Turner, Robert A. Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 4335750
    Abstract: A reversing valve construction having a housing provided with a movable valve member therein that is interconnected to a piston unit having opposed piston heads that define a main chamber of the housing therebetween. The housing has end portions respectively cooperating with the piston heads to define a pair of opposed control chambers therewith, the end portions respectively having valve seats leading to the control chambers in directions substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the piston unit in the housing. Each piston head has a flexible seal member secured between a front disc member and a backing plate of the respective piston head so that an integral peripheral skirt of that seal member is urged into sliding and sealing engagement with an internal peripheral surface of the housing by an annular resilient O-ring member carried by the respective piston head and radially engaging and urging its respective skirt radially outwardly into the sliding and sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Werner R. Bauer, Robert A. Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 4324273
    Abstract: A reversing valve construction having a housing provided with a movable valve member therein that is interconnected to a piston unit having opposed piston heads that define a main chamber of the housing therebetween. The housing has opposed ends respectively cooperating with the piston heads to define a pair of opposed control chambers therebetween, the ends respectively having valve seats leading to the control chambers. Each piston head has a flexible seal member secured between a front disc member and a backing plate of the respective piston head so that an integral peripheral skirt of that seal member is urged into sliding and sealing engagement with an internal peripheral surface of the housing by an annular resilient O-ring member carried by the respective piston head and radially engaging and urging its respective skirt radially outwardly into the sliding and sealing engagement. Such seal member for each piston head can be adapted to close a valve seat carried by a respective end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Werner R. Bauer, Robert A. Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 4245670
    Abstract: A reversing valve construction having a housing provided with a movable valve member therein that is interconnected to a piston unit having opposed piston heads that define a main chamber of the housing therebetween. The housing has opposed ends respectively cooperating with the piston heads to define a pair of opposed control chambers therebetween, the ends respectively having valve seats leading to the control chambers. Each piston head has a flexible seal member secured between a front disc member and a backing plate of the respective piston head so that an integral peripheral skirt of that seal member is urged into sliding and sealing engagement with an internal peripheral surface of the housing by an annular resilient O-ring member carried by the respective piston head and radially engaging and urging its respective skirt radially outwardly into the sliding and sealing engagement. Such seal member for each piston head can be adapted to close a valve seat carried by a respective end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Werner R. Bauer, Robert A. Van Fossen