Patents by Inventor Rodney A. Dale

Rodney A. Dale 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: 6900968
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer preferably uses two gas bearings, an adaptor plate, and an actuator assembly including an E-block and arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, can be controlled by the movement of a rotational gas bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The gas bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational gas bearing can be used for laterally positioning the actuator assembly for servo track recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lon Richard Buske, Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Joel Daniel Phillips, William John Raphael, Thomas Henry Sexton, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt, Jason Paul Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6798614
    Abstract: A disc positioning system for releasably securing a disc stack array on a spindle hub in a multi-disc writer system. The system includes a disc clamp with an axial catch and a retaining arrangement for engaging the catch. The retaining arrangement includes at least one radially movable member that engages and secures the axial catch in an engagement position and disengages the axial catch in a disengagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lon Richard Buske, Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Joel Daniel Phillips, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt
  • Publication number: 20040145833
    Abstract: An actuator assembly and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer incorporates an actuator block, rotational air bearing, translational air bearing, adaptor plate, E-block and actuator arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, is directly controlled by the movement of the rotational air bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The air bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational air bearing laterally positions the actuator assembly within the multi-disc servo-track writer for servo-track recording.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lon Richard Buske, Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Joel Daniel Phillips, William John Raphael, Thomas Henry Sexton, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt, Jason Paul Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20040065829
    Abstract: A single vane shutter flag is asynchronously controlled so that a measuring system light source is interrupted for a minimum necessary amount of time for standardization/calibration and normalization of InGaAs system detectors. Source/detector hemispheres or serially connected randomly oriented fiber bundles homogenize light passing to the detectors. Light source testing is performed by measuring spectral power distributions at a plurality of light source power levels and comparing the measurements to baseline characteristics established for the light source. Calibration sample life is extended indefinitely by controlling the shutter flag to block source light except for short calibration time periods during which standard light levels are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Gary Neil Burk, Thomas Michael Domin, Rodney Dale Maxson, Dennis Charles Daugherty, Steven Perry Sturm
  • Publication number: 20040060262
    Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine includes a vacuum chamber and a sealing mechanism within the chamber. A product-filled package can be supported within the chamber with its open end disposed between sealing bars of a sealing mechanism. At least one of the sealing bars is continuously heated including as the package is placed within the chamber, as a vacuum is drawn in the chamber, as the sealing bars are closed around the open end of the package and as the package is removed after sealing is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Steven Daniel Harges, Rodney Dale Patch
  • Patent number: 6678993
    Abstract: The present invention, a fishers apparatus, a drag and an elastic member. The elastic member is attached to a fishing line. The apparatus enables a fisher to impart a lifelike motion to the bait which is effective in attracting a fish to strike at the bait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Rodney Dale Long
  • Publication number: 20020181148
    Abstract: An air flow control device for reducing turbulence on a rotating multi-disc stack. Air flow control device includes a first air dam having cavities formed by a series of alternating plate sections forming gaps therebetween adjacent plates. Gaps define cavities capable of receiving discs when disc stack is rotating. A method for writing data onto an annular writeable surface of a plurality of discs including the steps of mounting the plurality of discs into a coaxial stack, extending one or more dam plates each between a consecutive pair of the plurality of discs and adjacent at least a selected one of the writeable surfaces; and writing data onto the selected surface while a first one of the dam plates overlaps enough of the selected surface so that the first dam plate limits a windage-induced error in the written data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt
  • Publication number: 20020181160
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer preferably uses two gas bearings, an adaptor plate, and an actuator assembly including an E-block and arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, can be controlled by the movement of a rotational gas bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The gas bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational gas bearing can be used for laterally positioning the actuator assembly for servo track recording.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Lon Richard Buske, Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Joel Daniel Phillips, William John Raphael, Thomas Henry Sexton, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt, Jason Paul Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20020181150
    Abstract: A disc positioning system for releasably securing a disc stack array on a spindle hub in a multi-disc writer system. The system includes a disc clamp with an axial catch and a retaining arrangement for engaging the catch. The retaining arrangement includes at least one radially movable member that engages and secure the axial catch in an engagement position and disengages the axial catch in a disengagement position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Lon Richard Buske, Rodney Dale Dahlenburg, Joel Daniel Phillips, Mark August Toffle, Brent Melvin Weichelt
  • Patent number: 6113139
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a seat bracket (24) mountable to a lower body portion (18) of a vehicle. The seat bracket (24) has first and second spaced apart end portions (26, 28) and a longitudinal axis (30) extending through the end portions (26, 28). An elongated seat rail member (48) has first and second end portions (52, 54) and is mountable to the vehicle seat (12). The seat rail member (48) moves longitudinally relative the seat rail member (48) substantially parallel to the seat bracket axis (30). A switch (70) is responsive to the seat rail member (48) being located within a predetermined forward position relative to the seat bracket (24). The switch (70) provides a signal indicating that the seat rail member (48) is at the predetermined forward position and forward of the predetermined forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Heximer, Rodney A. Dale
  • Patent number: 5598918
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) for controlling movement of a vehicle power window (22) between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The apparatus (20) comprises an energizable electric motor (66) for, when energized, moving the window (22). A switch assembly (62) for energizing the electric motor (66) to move the vehicle window (22) to one of the positions. The switch assembly (62) includes a first electrical contact (282) and a second electrical contact (284) electrically insulated from the first electrical contact. An electrically conductive disk (286) has a periphery (288) domed portion (290) and is in electrical communication with one of the first and second electrical contacts (282, 284) at a portion of a periphery of the disk. The other of the first and second electrical contacts (282, 284) is located adjacent the disk (286) and initially spaced from the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Malecke, Dennis D. Kaufman, Rodney A. Dale
  • Patent number: 3942649
    Abstract: To move a workpiece from one location to another, the main body of the transfer mechanism is raised on an air bearing and pivoted automatically or manually from station to station, with the workpiece being held by a gripping head mounted to one end of the main body by a tranfer arm. To control the gripping head, a piston, slidably mounted within the transfer arm, is biased away from the gripping head so that, when air pressure is applied, it is forced toward the gripping head and, when air pressure is removed, it is moved away from the gripping head with the gripping head being provided with any one of a number of interchangeable piston-controlled gripping devices. To control the air pressure in the transfer arm, two external sensing switches are mounted outside the main body to control the flow of air, which switches are activated when the body is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Hugelman, Raymond Anton Kucharchuk, Charles L. Goss