Patents by Inventor Robert J. Swaim

Robert J. Swaim 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: 5374809
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a handle having a hollow interior and two opposite ends, a wrist connected to one end of the handle, a U-shaped pole piece having two spaced apart ends, a tank circuit including an induction coil wrapped around the pole piece and a capacitor connected to the induction coil, a head connected to the wrist and including a housing for receiving the U-shaped pole piece, the two spaced apart ends of the pole piece extending outwardly beyond the housing, and a power source connected to the tank circuit. When the tank circuit is energized and a susceptor is placed in juxtaposition to the ends of the U-shaped pole piece, the susceptor is heated by induction heating due to a magnetic flux passing between the two ends of the pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert L. Fox, Samuel D. Johnson, Carl E. Copeland, Robert H. Coultrip, W. Morris Phillips, David F. Johnston, Robert J. Swaim, James R. Dinkins
  • Patent number: 5350902
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a handle having a hollow interior and two opposite ends, a wrist connected to one end of the handle, a U-shaped pole piece having two spaced apart ends, a tank circuit including an induction coil wrapped around the pole piece and a capacitor connected to the induction coil, a head connected to the wrist and including a housing for receiving the U-shaped pole piece, the two spaced apart ends of the pole piece extending outwardly beyond the housing, and a power source connected to the tank circuit. When the tank circuit is energized and a susceptor is placed in juxtaposition to the ends of the U-shaped pole piece, the susceptor is heated by induction heating due to a magnetic flux passing between the two ends of the pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert L. Fox, Copeland, Carl E., Robert J. Swaim, Robert H. Coultrip, David F. Johnston, W. Morris Phillips, Samuel D. Johnson, James R. Dinkins, John D. Buckley
  • Patent number: 4521659
    Abstract: This device for inductively heating and fusing thermoplastics includes an alternating current passing through a tank circuit, the inductor member of the tank circuit being wrapped around a curved pole piece of a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic flux arising within the inductor coil member flows to the ends of the pole piece and into a screen placed between the materials to be joined. The flux induces a current in the screen, and heat is generated to melt the thermoplastics together. Because only 30-150 watts of power are passed through the tank circuit, a wire which will remain cool under operational wattage may be selected, making air or fluid cooling unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventors: John D. Buckley, Robert J. Swaim, Robert L. Fox, David F. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4313777
    Abstract: This fastener used in induction heating is a wire screen basically of an eddy-current carrying material such as carbon steel. Selected wires in the screen are copper, sheathed in an insulating material. The screen is placed between two sheets of thermoplastics. When inductively heated, the composite softens and flows around the apertures of the screen. After this heating and joining, the copper wires may be used to conduct electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John D. Buckley, Robert J. Swaim, Robert L. Fox