Patents by Inventor Ronald S. Joyce

Ronald S. Joyce 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: 10944245
    Abstract: An assembly for housing electrical components of a power distribution system. The assembly includes a housing and a cover for enclosing an inner cavity of the housing. At least one connection location is on the housing and is configured for attaching one of a plurality of adapters to the housing. Each adapter includes a body having a surface engageable with the housing, an element for securing the body to the housing; and a mating feature engageable with a respective mating feature of the housing for fixing an orientation of the adapter relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ARENS CONTROLS COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Andrew A. Vogel, Isaac H. Park
  • Publication number: 20200266612
    Abstract: An assembly for housing electrical components of a power distribution system. The assembly includes a housing and a cover for enclosing an inner cavity of the housing. At least one connection location is on the housing and is configured for attaching one of a plurality of adapters to the housing. Each adapter includes a body having a surface engageable with the housing, an element for securing the body to the housing; and a mating feature engageable with a respective mating feature of the housing for fixing an orientation of the adapter relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald S. JOYCE, Andrew A. VOGEL, Isaac H. PARK
  • Patent number: 6789572
    Abstract: A gas control valve with an integrated solenoid valve and gas pressure regulator for gas appliances is provided with a cast body having a casting configured to receive a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is received in the casting so as to be internally mounted within the control valve. A gas flow path is formed from the gas inlet of the gas control valve through the manual shutoff valve and the solenoid valve assembly to the gas outlet. The solenoid valve assembly controls flow of gas through this gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Dennis W. Pierog, Tam Nguyen, Ronald S. Joyce, Paul Schneider
  • Patent number: 6718838
    Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism for use with a timer/sequence switch in an appliance is presented. The mechanism converts linear motion from a cam tracker following a programmed cam track to rotary motion to drive a vent damper in an appliance. The rotary motion output is derived as a multiple of the input linear motion through a gear set. This input linear motion is translated to rotary motion imparted to a tracking rod, which is coupled through the gear set to an output actuating rod. Tracking by a tracking lobe is accommodated by a spring bias force applied though a bias lobe that counteracts the force applied by the cam track. Alternatively, tracking by a tracker is accommodated by a spring bias force applied through a torque arm of the tracking rod that also counteracts the force applied by the cam track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Sudha Narayanan, Robert Van Der Linde, Lawrence T. Olges
  • Publication number: 20030020037
    Abstract: A gas control valve with an integrated solenoid valve and gas pressure regulator for gas appliances is provided with a cast body having a casting configured to receive a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is received in the casting so as to be internally mounted within the control valve. A gas flow path is formed from the gas inlet of the gas control valve through the manual shutoff valve and the solenoid valve assembly to the gas outlet. The solenoid valve assembly controls flow of gas through this gas outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis W. Pierog, Tam Nguyen, Ronald S. Joyce, Paul Schneider
  • Publication number: 20020178849
    Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism for use with a timer/sequence switch in an appliance is presented. The mechanism converts linear motion from a cam tracker following a programmed cam track to rotary motion to drive a vent damper in an appliance. The rotary motion output is derived as a multiple of the input linear motion through a gear set. This input linear motion is translated to rotary motion imparted to a tracking rod, which is coupled through the gear set to an output actuating rod. Tracking by a tracking lobe is accommodated by a spring bias force applied though a bias lobe that counteracts the force applied by the cam track. Alternatively, tracking by a tracker is accommodated by a spring bias force applied through a torque arm of the tracking rod that also counteracts the force applied by the cam track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Sudha Narayanan, Robert Van Der Linde, Lawrence T. Olges
  • Patent number: 6483052
    Abstract: A programmer/timer having a cam disk that includes concentric cam tracks having multiple working heights formed on one face thereof. The programmer/timer further includes a plate assembly that includes multiple cam followers for engaging cam disk and a plurality of single pole double throw switches configured for multiple working heights disposed for actuation by cam followers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Paul H. Tuma, James E. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20020134654
    Abstract: A programmer/timer having a cam disk that includes concentric cam tracks having multiple working heights formed on one face thereof The programmer/timer further includes a plate assembly that includes multiple cam followers for engaging cam disk and a plurality of single pole double throw switches configured for multiple working heights disposed for actuation by cam followers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Paul H. Tuma, James E. Pearson
  • Patent number: 6346681
    Abstract: A pressure switch having a pressure responsive diaphragm with a backing plate for operating a snap-acting switch. The switch has a cantilevered contact blade spring with an adjustment screw providing a reaction support at the free end. The middle portion of the contact blade spring provides a preload bias against the diaphragm backing plate. The blade spring includes a moveable electrical contact on a tang formed in the middle region and includes an over-center spring for effecting a snap action of the moveable contact against stationary contacts. The actuation-deactuation differential is determined, independently of the pressure setting for switch actuation, by setting the position of the stationary contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Carl H. Poppe, Paul H. Tuma
  • Patent number: 6201200
    Abstract: An appliance controller and its control shaft as well as a method for attaching a control knob to a control shaft are presented. The controller includes a control shaft body having a central bore and including at its forward end two cantilevers having outwardly facing detents. These detents are adapted to engage an engagement slot of a control knob. The control shaft body also includes at its rearward end two slots forming rear cantilevers having positioning detents. A locking rod is positioned within the bore of the control shaft body. It has a forward end adapted to prevent inward deflection of the forward cantilevers when it is in a locked position. This forward end is further adapted to preclude outward deflection of these cantilevers during insertion. The rearward end of the locking rod includes radially extending tabs which prevent the locking rod from being removed from the housing of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: James E. Pearson, Ronald S. Joyce, Paul H. Tuma
  • Patent number: 5828019
    Abstract: A rotary cam actuated sequence switch assembly having a reversible electric drive for forward and reverse movement to selectively position the cam for actuating a plurality of switches in a desired sequence under electronic control of the motor. Reverse rotation of the cam causes a flip-over follower to lift the blade contacts of the switch controlling line power to the remaining switches thereby preventing the reverse rotation from causing damage to the device being controlled by the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5682664
    Abstract: A panel-mountable pressure switch having an external adjustment lever has a mounting bracket with a right-angled flange attached to the switch housing. The bracket has a cam shaft rotatably mounted on the bracket for adjusting the lever position with the end of the shaft extending outwardly through the bracket flange. The panel has a non-circular aperture formed therein and a plurality of tabs formed on the bracket flange are inserted into the aperture and the bracket is rotated to secure the flange against he surface of the panel. A releasable locking tab on the bracket flange snaps into a separate aperture recess formed in the panel to prevent reverse rotation of the bracket and removal without user depression of the locking tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5637843
    Abstract: A cam disc has a dual row of ratchet teeth on the periphery for dual rate of advancement by either of two oscillating motorized advance pawls. The disc has alternating high and low concentric cam tracks formed on one face. A plate is registered on the cam disc hub and has integrally formed plural resilient cam follower arms with each arm having a plastic cam track follower tip molded over the tip. The molded tips make contact with a stationary portion of the plate to limit follower travel when the cam is retracted by user movement of the shaft for setting the cam position. The high and low cam tracks engage adjacent follower arm pairs to effect a drop-to-make and drop-to-break action to each of a plurality of SPDT switches disposed for actuation by the cam followers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Daniel C. Johnson, Robert R. Parotto, Gordon B. Spellman, Earl T. Piber
  • Patent number: 5495079
    Abstract: A pressure switch has a housing with a mounting bracket and a flexible diaphragm defining a wall of the pressure sensing cavity in the housing. Movement of the diaphragm operates an electric switch. The diaphragm is spring biased and an adjustment arm is frictionally mounted in a pair of guide surfaces on the mounting bracket. The arm contacts a cap on one end of the bias spring and is movable in the guide surfaces for adjusting the position of the spring cap for calibration. The mounting bracket is mounted to the housing by inserting a lug on the bracket in a recess in the housing and crimping a folded tab on the bracket to engage another recess in the housing. In another embodiment using a housing of all molded plastic, the adjustment arm frictionally engages a slot molded in the housing and is moved in the slot for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5393945
    Abstract: A sliding type adjustment mechanism for changing settings of a diaphragm type pressure switch adjusted by moving an external lever to move a plunger for changing the preload on the diaphragm. An external metal mounting bracket has a pair of spaced parallel slots which serve as ways. A plastic slider with a cam surface engaging the lever has a pair of lugs, each of which engages one of the slots for guiding the slider on the bracket. The slider has an integrally formed spring tab providing friction against the bracket to hold the slider in a selected position. A recess in the bracket relieves the tab friction at the limit of the slider travel to allow the lever to bias a steep-ramp portion of the cam surface to move the slider to an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, George Obermann
  • Patent number: 5252792
    Abstract: A pressure switch assembly has a preassembled spring capsule assembled onto a deck structure with a snap switch thereon to form a subassembly which is snap-locked into the cup-shaped housing. A rotary cam drum is provided in the housing with an external shaft for changing the setting. An adjustment lever has a bifurcated portion nested about the inner periphery of the cam drum and a threaded external adjustment is provided for moving the lever position against the spring capsule for calibration. The pressure switch is completely assembled from one side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5191310
    Abstract: A thermally responsive load cycling switch assembly user adjustable for varying the time of cycling current to load connecting terminals and having a contact blade cantilevered from an insulator block pivoted in the switch housing. A bimetal blade actuator means is also cantilevered from the block and includes heater means to cause the bimetal to effect movement of the contact blade. A separate blade spring cantilevered from the block enables the block to be pivotably preloaded. A spring blade is cantilevered from the actuator means to enable separate preloading of the bi-metal for temperature calibration. A flexible jumper blade connects the contact blade to one of two load terminal connectors for series and parallel operation. A manually operated arming switch is series connected between one powerline terminal and one of the load terminals. A stationary contact disposed for closing a circuit with the contact blade is connected to the opposite powerline terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: George Obermann, Paul H. Tuma, Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 5109727
    Abstract: A rotary adjustment device adapted for user rotation to adjust the position of an adjacent mechanism such as the linkage for actuating an electrical snap switch. The device has an outer annular cam with a central hub structure with a shaft defining surface adapted for being rotatably journalled. The hub is suspended from the cam by torsionally stiff web structure which is radially inner an outer pairs of oppositely disposed spokes which permit resilient deflection, when unwanted side loads are applied to the shaft for preventing disturbances of the cam once the user has selected a rotary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 4990728
    Abstract: A pressure switch assembly has a preassembled spring capsule assembled onto a deck structure with a snap switch thereon to form a subassembly which is snap-locked into the cup-shaped housing. A rotary cam drum is provided in the housing with an external shaft for changing the setting. An adjustment lever has a bifurcated portion nested about the inner periphery of the cam drum and a threaded external adjustment is provided for moving the lever position against the spring capsule for calibration. The pressure switch is completely assembled from one side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 4394354
    Abstract: The removal of silver from photographic and other solutions using halogen impregnated activated carbon is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Joyce