Patents by Inventor Steven J Willacy

Steven J Willacy 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: 6806600
    Abstract: An actuator apparatus comprising an actuator member, an actuated element movable by actuation of said actuator member, and a marker device including a marker the position of which can be sensed in use by sensor means, said marker device being secured to said actuator member such that deformation of the actuator member during actuation to move said element causes an adjustment to the change in position of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Steven J Willacy, David S Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20030067229
    Abstract: An actuator apparatus comprising an actuator member, an actuated element movable by actuation of said actuator member, and a marker device including a marker the position of which can be sensed in use by sensor means, said marker device being secured to said actuator member such that deformation of the actuator member during actuation to move said element causes an adjustment to the change in position of the marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Steven J. Willacy, David S. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5483851
    Abstract: Thermal expansion within a gearbox causes relative motion of all of the component parts therein. For gearboxes having components made of different materials, differential thermal expansion may alter the clearances between meshing gears and give rise to increased backlash. The gearbox comprises a compensation member arranged to move one end of an axle having a first gear therein in response to changes to temperature so as maintain the first gear in substantially temperature invariant engagement with a second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Steven J. Willacy, David S. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5406879
    Abstract: An actuator lock is provided to prevent movement of an actuator until the actuator lock is released. A first member of the lock is movable in response to fluid pressure within a chamber to move from a locked position to an unlocked position allowing the actuator to move. The first member is held at the unlock position by a latching member so that the lock cannot return to the locked position. During testing of the actuator, a test member is operable to reversibly move the first member from the locked position to an unlocked and unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Steven J. Willacy