Patents by Inventor Tom R. Hodapp

Tom R. Hodapp 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).

  • Scroll compressor having a deflectable bearing housing for shaft alignment
    Patent number: 6709247
    Abstract: A compressor is driven by a drive shaft rotatably supported by a main bearing housing and a lower bearing housing. The main bearing housing positions a main bearing at or near a nodal point of the drive shaft during vibration by the drive shaft. The main bearing housing is designed such that the main bearing pivots during the vibration of the drive shaft in order to maintain surface contact between the bearing and the drive shaft to eliminate edge loading of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Harry B. Clendenin, Keith J. Reinhart, Wei Hain Sun, Troy R. Brostrom, Macinissa Mezache, Tom R. Hodapp