Patents by Inventor Ronald N. Ford

Ronald N. Ford 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: 5556322
    Abstract: A pneumatic mechanism for the application of uniform pressure to a mechanically adjustable spindle. The mechanism includes a support shelf with a double-acting piston attached at its non-pressure end to the support shaft. A cylinder receives the piston for telescopingly sliding movement of the piston relative to the cylinder. A lifting stop rod is connected to the pressure end of the piston and an externally threaded tube engages the pressure end of the piston and telescopingly receives the lifting stop rod. A worm wheel engages the threaded tube and a worm gear engages the worm wheel. A hand wheel is connected to the worm gear for rotating the worm gear and the worm wheel. An adjustable connection is provided between the lifting stop rod and the threaded tube permitting limited stop movement of the lifting stop rod by the piston relative to the threaded tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sommer & Maca Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald N. Ford
  • Patent number: 5406665
    Abstract: A pneumatic mechanism for incrementally adjusting a glass sheet washing machine of the type having upper and lower sets of brushes and rollers spaced apart vertically to wash sheets of glass of various thicknesses passing between the sets. The upper set of brushes and rollers is carried by an upper frame member and the lower set of brushes and rollers is carried by a lower frame member. The pneumatic mechanism includes a pair of stacked pneumatic cylinders arranged in lifting engagement with the upper frame member at each corner of the upper frame. A selector is provided to sequentially actuate one and then the other of the pneumatic cylinders in a stack to extend their piston rods which are of different lengths to raise the upper frame relative to the lower frame by incremental distances defined by the extended lengths of the respective piston rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Sommer & Maca Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Czopek, Jacob Vaynerman, Ronald N. Ford
  • Patent number: 5097631
    Abstract: A vertical glass edger is modified to edge a circular piece of glass by driving the circular piece of glass in contact with a grinding wheel of the vertical glass edger. The vertical glass edger is modified to include a removable pressure roller assembly, drive roller assembly and an idler roller assembly which are used to bias circular glass toward the grinding wheel in a stabilized manner. The attachment provides flexibility in edging circular glass of a diameter of 16 to 72 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Sommer & Maca
    Inventor: Ronald N. Ford
  • Patent number: 4623774
    Abstract: An automatic welding and annealing machine and specifically a machine for producing unique piston connecting rod assemblies utilized in compressors used in automotive air conditioning systems. The parts produced by this machine are comprised of a rod approximately one-quarter of one inch in diameter and one and three-quarters inch long to which steel balls of approximately one-half inch diameter are welded at each end. These parts are to be used as connecting rods for variable displacement piston pumps. The machine incorporates feeding mechanisms for feeding the separate parts to the welding station and then to the annealing station and also includes a laser inspection apparatus for checking the dimensions of the rods and of the welded and annealed parts, to see that they are within set tolerances. Measuring devices are also provided for monitoring and controlling the electric currents and forces used during welding and annealing of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Sciaky Bros., Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald N. Ford