Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Pletschet

Timothy J. Pletschet 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).

  • Disk chuck with radial force limiter
    Patent number: 7958619
    Abstract: A chuck holds a disk by the inside diameter with a plurality of contact surfaces at the end of fingers. Axial motion of an actuator is translated into outward radial movement of the fingers to place the contact surfaces in contact with the inside diameter of the disk. The force that is applied to the disk is limited to reduce or eliminate warping or curvature of the disk, e.g., a sleeve that surrounds the fingers can be used as a hard stop to physically limit the range of outward radial movement of the fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Timothy J. Pletschet
  • Anti-backlash nut for lead screw
    Patent number: 6311576
    Abstract: An anti-backlash nut includes a body having an axially-extending bore and internal threads for engaging a lead screw inserted into the bore. The internal threads are divided circumferentially into three inner segments each movable in a radial direction. The anti-backlash nut also includes springs for independently biasing the inner segments radially inward to contact the lead screw. The anti-backlash nut provides wear compensation as well as anti-backlash to improve positioning repeatability when used with an open loop positioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Techmetric Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Pletschet
  • Linear slide assembly
    Patent number: 6290395
    Abstract: A linear slide assembly which includes a pair of parallel stationary ways and a carriage. A pair of parallel traveling ways are mounted to the carriage. One traveling way is mounted to the carriage by a fixed mounting and the other is mounted to the carriage by a laterally-compliant mounting. The laterally-compliant mounting includes a compliant mounting bar mounted to the carriage with flexures that allow some lateral movement. The compliant mounting also includes a stop that limits the lateral movement of the compliant traveling way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Techmetric, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Pletschet