Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Liska

Timothy J. Liska 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: 7348764
    Abstract: An electric generator includes multiple coil sections and switches connected to the multiple coil sections for selectively interconnecting the coil sections in series, or in parallel, or in a series-parallel configuration across first and second power terminals for producing a controlled AC voltage across these power terminals. The electric generator, with its multiple coils and interconnecting switches permitting reconfiguration of the coils, enables systems subjected to widely varying conditions and forces, such as a wave energy converter (WEC), to be operated with increased efficiency. The generator may also include multiple windings which can be selectively interconnected into a wye or a delta configuration to also control the output voltage produced by the generator and increase the efficiency of the power conversion system, particularly at low values of voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Stewart, Timothy J. Liska
  • Publication number: 20080012538
    Abstract: An electric generator includes multiple coil sections and switches connected to the multiple coil sections for selectively interconnecting the coil sections in series, or in parallel, or in a series-parallel configuration across first and second power terminals for producing a controlled AC voltage across these power terminals. The electric generator, with its multiple coils and interconnecting switches permitting reconfiguration of the coils, enables systems subjected to widely varying conditions and forces, such as a wave energy converter (WEC), to be operated with increased efficiency. The generator may also include multiple windings which can be selectively interconnected into a wye or a delta configuration to also control the output voltage produced by the generator and increase the efficiency of the power conversion system, particularly at low values of voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: David B. Stewart, Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 6609035
    Abstract: An adaptive motion controller for driving a servo motor. The adaptive motion controller includes a computer control module which stores information for configuring an amplifier to a specific servo motor. The amplifier has a chip which will configure the amplifier for a specific servo motor upon receiving the stored information. A computer control module receives the stored information and delivers it to the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 5818190
    Abstract: A pusher mechanism comprising a finger assembly, an upper cylinder including a shaft secured to the finger assembly for displacing the finger assembly between retracted and extended positions, housing means supporting the upper cylinder for pivotal displacement, means for pivotally displacing the upper cylinder from a start location to an end location when the finger assembly is extended including a servomotor, a control including profile generating means for generating a profile having a plurality of constant acceleration segments beginning at selected locations and an amplifier for receiving the profile and for driving the servomotor in response thereto, dynamic electronic clutch means for stopping the servomotor to prevent damage to the pusher mechanism when the pivotal displacement of the upper cylinder to the end location is prevented including the amplifier including means for generating a motor current signal, limit logic means including a corresponding plurality of selected constant current limits cor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Liska, Kevin Moriarty, Joseph F. Ferrigno, George Jay Collins
  • Patent number: 5798626
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit which communicates over a two way bus with a CPU having a profile generating computer for defining at least one profile and which supplies a control signal to a motor. The amplifier circuit has a profile generating computer for generating at least one profile which has been downloaded from the CPU and a motor controller for receiving the profile and for issuing a control signal for the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Liska, Kevin Moriarty, Joseph T. Ferrigno
  • Patent number: 5609663
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing glass and plastic containers is disclosed which has at least two computers connected by a network or more than one network. Each computer has a local virtual network process which establishes a connection with the other node, notifies that other node when its database(s) are open or closed and establishes a connection of its own database(s) so that a node can transparently communicate with any other node on its network or on any connected network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Can Nguyen, Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 5609659
    Abstract: A cyclical machine for forming at least one glass container each machine cycle comprising a plurality of controllers for controlling regulators and/or profiled motion actuators, at least one displaceable structure, controllers controlling the operation of all the other controllers, each of the controllers including repetitive sequencer and operable in any of a plurality of states, the one controller determines the critical time when each of the states should begin, and instructs each of the other controllers to begin any of the states at the associated determined critical time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Peterson, Timothy J. Liska, Can Nguyen, John W. McDevitt, Kevin N. O'Connor, George J. Collins
  • Patent number: 5562751
    Abstract: An I.S. machine system has a number of mechanisms which are driven by an inverter drive and a number of machine and section mechanisms which are driven by profiled motion actuators which are controlled by repetitive sequencers associated with each actuator. These repetitive sequencers are synchronized by taking the reference signal from a master clock which supplies the reference signal to the inverters and converts it to a once/cut sync signal for the machine mechanisms operated by profiled motion actuators and to a once/cycle sync signal for the section mechanisms and controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Peterson, John W. McDevitt, Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 5445662
    Abstract: A cyclical machine for forming at least one glass container each machine cycle comprising a plurality of controllers for controlling regulators and/or profiled motion actuators, at least one displaceable structure, controllers controlling the operation of all the other controllers, each of the controllers including repetitive sequencer and operable in any of a plurality of states, the one controller determines the critical time when each of the states should begin, and instructs each of the other controllers to begin any of the states at the associated determined critical time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Peterson, Timothy J. Liska, Can Nguyen, John W. McDevitt, Kevin N. O'Connor, George J. Collins
  • Patent number: 5271756
    Abstract: An I.S. machine is made up of a plurality of independent individual sections for receiving gobs of molten glass and for forming the gobs into glass containers. A gob distributor delivers gobs to the sections. The controller of these sections and the gob distributor are synchronized by means for generating a once per cut signal, a divide by N circuit where N is the number of sections which are to have gobs distributed to them, means for defining N, means for applying N to the divide by N circuit, means for supplying the once per cut signal to the divide by N circuit, and means for distributing the output signal of the divide by N circuit to each of the section and gob distributor controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Peterson, Timothy J. Liska, John W. McDevitt
  • Patent number: 5061309
    Abstract: A pusher system for transferring formed glass bottles from a plurality of deadplates which are part of an I.S. machine to a common conveyor. A discrete pusher is associated with each dead plate and can transfer the bottles on that dead plate to either of two spaced lines along the conveyor thereby enabling a multiplicity of bottle rows to increase conveyor capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Mungovan, Vaughan Abbott, Gary R. Voisine, Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 5037466
    Abstract: The ware handler is axially advanceable from a retracted position to an advanced position to receive ware deposited on a dead plate and during its pivotal movement to displace the ware through an arc onto a deadplate the ware handler is further advanceable in accordance with a predetermined feed program to maintain control over the received ware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Voisine, Vaughan Abbott, Timothy J. Liska
  • Patent number: 4705552
    Abstract: An improved electronic control system for glassware forming apparatus having a heirarchy of machine level supervisory controllers (including a machine controller and an operator communications controller), section controllers, and individual mechanism controllers. The mechanism controllers may be dedicated to the control of a variety of functions admitting of automated control, such as servo-control of electrical motors, sequencing of solenoid valves, generating alarm signals, etc. The mechanism controllers include separate control programs designed for their associated forming mechanisms, and are subject to on-off timing control in real time from the section level controllers. In general, the machine controller and operator I/O controller handle set-up, operator modifications during operation, and other "non-real-time"interactions with the mechanism controllers; the machine controller also coordinates the operation of a plurality of mechanism controllers in accordance with machine-level parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Liska, Paul F. Scott
  • Patent number: 4685947
    Abstract: An improved electronic control system for glassware forming apparatus having a hierarchy of machine level supervisory controllers (including a machine controller and an operator communications controller), section controllers, and individual mechanism controllers. The mechanism controllers may be dedicated to the control of a variety of functions admitting of automated control, such as servo-control of electrical motors, sequencing of solenoid valves, generating alarm signals, etc. The mechanism controllers include separate control programs designed for their associated forming mechanisms, and are subject to on-off timing control in real time from the section level controllers. In general, the machine controller and operator I/O controller handle set-up, operator modifications during operation, and other "non-real-time" interactions with the mechanism controllers; the machine controller also coordinates the operation of a plurality of mechanism controllers in accordance with machine-level parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Liska, Paul F. Scott