Patents by Inventor Tom Bakken

Tom Bakken 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: 10288122
    Abstract: A low profile shaft adaptor for coupling an output drive member of an HVAC actuator with an input drive member of a valve. The shaft adaptor may include a clamp for selectively clamping onto the input drive member of the valve, a drive interface configured to form an interference fit with an output drive member of the HVAC actuator, and a bracket configured to mechanically couple the drive interface and the clamp such that rotational movement of the drive interface by way of the interference fit with the output drive member of the HVAC actuator causes corresponding rotational movement of the clamp and thus the input drive member of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Matthew Decker
  • Patent number: 10145487
    Abstract: An HVAC device includes a housing and a conduit tube that defines a lumen into the housing. The conduit tube and/or housing are configured such that rotating the conduit tube relative to the housing changes the direction that an outlet of the conduit tube faces. This may promote easier installation and/or maintenance of the HVAC device in the field, especially in cramped and/or poorly illuminated areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Matthew Decker, Nathan Carlson, Brad Terlson
  • Publication number: 20170321818
    Abstract: An HVAC device includes a housing and a conduit tube that defines a lumen into the housing. The conduit tube and/or housing are configured such that rotating the conduit tube relative to the housing changes the direction that an outlet of the conduit tube faces. This may promote easier installation and/or maintenance of the HVAC device in the field, especially in cramped and/or poorly illuminated areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Matthew Decker, Nathan Carlson, Brad Terlson
  • Publication number: 20170241479
    Abstract: A low profile shaft adaptor for coupling an output drive member of an HVAC actuator with an input drive member of a valve. The shaft adaptor may include a clamp for selectively clamping onto the input drive member of the valve, a drive interface configured to form an interference fit with an output drive member of the HVAC actuator, and a bracket configured to mechanically couple the drive interface and the clamp such that rotational movement of the drive interface by way of the interference fit with the output drive member of the HVAC actuator causes corresponding rotational movement of the clamp and thus the input drive member of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Matthew Decker
  • Patent number: 9553430
    Abstract: A flexible conduit fitting system includes a housing that defines at least part of a flexible conduit fitting, and a resilient clip supported by the housing. The flexible conduit fitting may include an aperture for receiving an end of a flexible wiring conduit. The resilient clip may have an engagement portion that extends into the aperture of the flexible conduit fitting to engage the generally corrugated outer structure of the flexible wiring conduit. The housing may be configured to support the resilient clip in a manner that allows the resilient clip to flex in a direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when the flexible wiring conduit is being inserted into the aperture and past the engagement portion, but to not substantially flex in the direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when attempting to withdraw the flexible wiring conduit from the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Nathan Carlson, Alan Stordahl, Michael Peterson, Yong Fang
  • Patent number: 9221160
    Abstract: A system and method for guiding a motor into alignment with a transmission during assembly. The system may allow the motor to be placed into engagement with a motor mount in a first position, wherein in the first position, the position of the motor is constrained by guide structures such that the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of a driven gear are not fully intermeshed, and a rotation axis of the drive gear is not parallel to a rotation axis of the driven gear. The motor may then be manipulated in the motor mount while constrained by the guide structures along a motion path until the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of the driven gear are more fully intermeshed, and the rotation axis of the drive gear is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ableitner, Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken
  • Publication number: 20150068332
    Abstract: A flexible conduit fitting system includes a housing that defines at least part of a flexible conduit fitting, and a resilient clip supported by the housing. The flexible conduit fitting may include an aperture for receiving an end of a flexible wiring conduit. The resilient clip may have an engagement portion that extends into the aperture of the flexible conduit fitting to engage the generally corrugated outer structure of the flexible wiring conduit. The housing may be configured to support the resilient clip in a manner that allows the resilient clip to flex in a direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when the flexible wiring conduit is being inserted into the aperture and past the engagement portion, but to not substantially flex in the direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when attempting to withdraw the flexible wiring conduit from the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Nathan Carlson, Alan Stordahl, Michael Peterson, Yong Fang
  • Patent number: 8887655
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly includes a rotatable member carrying an extendable indicator arm. The extendable indicator arm may be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the extendable indicator arm is in the extended position, the extendable indicator arm may extend laterally past side walls of the actuator housing of the valve actuator assembly, such that the extendable indicator arm is visible from a location below the valve actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken, Ryan Bents
  • Publication number: 20140245590
    Abstract: A system and method for guiding a motor into alignment with a transmission during assembly. The system may allow the motor to be placed into engagement with a motor mount in a first position, wherein in the first position, the position of the motor is constrained by guide structures such that the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of a driven gear are not fully intermeshed, and a rotation axis of the drive gear is not parallel to a rotation axis of the driven gear. The motor may then be manipulated in the motor mount while constrained by the guide structures along a motion path until the gear teeth of the drive gear and the gear teeth of the driven gear are more fully intermeshed, and the rotation axis of the drive gear is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the driven gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jason Ableitner, Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken
  • Patent number: 8632054
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly may include a valve having a mounting adapter and an actuator housing configured to releasably and non-rotatably attach to the mounting adapter without tools. The actuator housing may be attached at any one of a plurality of discrete radial orientations. In some instances, the actuator housing may include a spring retainer clip configured to engage the mounting adapter, and a button element configured to engage the spring retainer clip to release the spring retainer clip from the mounting adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken, Alan Stordahl
  • Publication number: 20130187073
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly includes a rotatable member carrying an extendable indicator arm. The extendable indicator arm may be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the extendable indicator arm is in the extended position, the extendable indicator arm may extend laterally past side walls of the actuator housing of the valve actuator assembly, such that the extendable indicator arm is visible from a location below the valve actuator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken, Ryan Bents
  • Publication number: 20120211688
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly may include a valve having a mounting adapter and an actuator housing configured to releasably and non-rotatably attach to the mounting adapter without tools. The actuator housing may be attached at any one of a plurality of discrete radial orientations. In some instances, the actuator housing may include a spring retainer clip configured to engage the mounting adapter, and a button element configured to engage the spring retainer clip to release the spring retainer slip from the mounting adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken, Alan Stordahl
  • Patent number: D697585
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alina (Yun Zhi) Liu, Nathan Carlson, Tom Bakken, Leo (Lv) Wang, Peter Benjamin Madson, Clay (Pei Ning) Sun