Patents by Inventor W. Hopkins

W. Hopkins 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: 4852338
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a lightweight debris collector for rotary mowers and the like. The debris collector includes a frame having two spaced apart arms which are adapted to suspend and transport a standard trash can. Means is also provided to transport debris from the mower to the trash can which together with the frame form a debris collector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Hopkins, Peter P. Knoell
  • Patent number: 4784487
    Abstract: An optical relay having a pair of simple lenses and an opaque barrier defining an aperture. In a spectrometer, the optical relay is positioned between a light source and an opaque barrier defining a slit to focus light of a reference wavelength w.sub.r onto the slit. The location of the aperture and the choice of w.sub.r are selected so that the flux of light through the slit is substantially flat as a function of wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: George W. Hopkins, II, Barry G. Willis
  • Patent number: 4746793
    Abstract: A photodiode assembly including a photodiode array having a linear arrangement of photodiodes, and a mask associated with the photodiode array to shade one or more selected photodiodes from incoming light of a particular frequency. The mask includes a frame provided with an elongated slot, and at least one bridge formed across the slot for shading the selected photodiode. The bridge portion is sufficiently wide to fully cover the selected photodiode and to partially cover the two adjacent photodiodes. An aperture is provided through the bridge in alignment with the selected photodiode to allow a portion of the incident light to impinge upon the selected photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: George W. Hopkins, II
  • Patent number: 4746806
    Abstract: A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus has a stirrup separated from the generator by a rigid support member. The support member may be adjusted vertically or angularly to accommodate differences in operator size and height while the stirrup is anchored by the operator's foot. A brace or clamp is fastened to an operator for steadying the apparatus for ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Carl J. Campagnuolo, Paul S. Clohan, Jr., John W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4704994
    Abstract: A nuclear steam generator vessel having a stayed tube sheet with an untubed circular central region in the upper surface thereof, a baffle plate disposed a predetermined distance above the tube sheet parallel thereto and a plurality of tube lane blocks spaced-apart longitudinally of a tube lane extending diametrically across the tube sheet, incorporates a system for controlling the flow velocity of secondary fluid along the tube sheet to reduce deposition of sludge thereon. The system includes a cylindrical flow boosting ring disposed coaxially with the central region and supported beneath the baffle plate a predetermined distance above the tube sheet. The ring may be used alone or in combination with one or both of two perpendicular vertical plates which extend diametrically across the central region in contact with the tube sheet, one of these plates lying along the tube lane axis and spanning the innermost ones of the tube lane blocks. When the ring is used with the vertical plates it is supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Min-Hsiung Hu, Glen W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4514872
    Abstract: An improved escalator tread cleaning brush (12) is disclosed for use in cleaning the steps (14) of an escalator (10). A brush bar (28) forming a portion of the brush (12) mounts first, second and third sets of bristles (44, 46, 52). The first set of bristles is formed of wire tufts and has a relatively elongate length for brushing the grooves (18) in the steps (14). The second set of bristles is formed of wire tufts and has a relatively short length for cleaning the tread (16) of the steps (14). The third set of bristles is formed of plastic tufts and has a relatively elongate length for cleaning the grooves (18). A spring bar (42) can be used to urge the bristles into cleaning contact with the steps (14). In a first modification, a weight (86) can be used to urge the bristles into cleaning contact with the steps. The brush bar (28) is prevented from movement relative to the rail housings (20, 22) of the escalator (10) by a cross bar (32) extending between the ends of the rail housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Hammond W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4426067
    Abstract: A runner for conveying molten pig iron and slag from a blast furnace of a steel manufacturing facility, is of wholly metallic construction and is hollowly formed to provide a cooling jacket through which water is circulated. Each runner so formed is an individual section in a string of other, similarly formed runners each of which has its own inlet connected to a source of water under pressure, and its own outlet to a suitable drain or reservoir where water temperature may be measured and observed. Water entering each section through the inlet courses through a tube that extends within the jacket substantially from one end to the other end, adjacent the slag channel of the runner, then extends transversely of the channel to the other side of the runner, thereafter extending longitudinally of said other side. The water flows out of the tube, within the jacket, after having extended along both sides of the channel in heat exchange relation to the slag flowing through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: The Calumite Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4247885
    Abstract: The limited motion rotational joint employs two rotational members positioned as to be in frictional and rotatable engagement with each other around a common axis and in parallel spaced planes. The outer sections of the members are spaced apart, by the use of spacers, and a frictional foam is wrapped around the spacers while fitting between the outer sections. A compression unit is then used for circumferential application around the frictional foam to provide regulation of the frictional force applied to the rotational members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Inventor: Arthur W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4216185
    Abstract: High purity water distribution systems are purged and disinfected by incorporating an outlet purge line into the conventional recirculating loop of the prior art. The purge line communicates with each outlet opening of the high purity water system and means are provided for intermittently and sequentially purging the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Inventor: Dale W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4153113
    Abstract: A subsea drill-thru manifold center for petroleum well completion and production is disclosed. The manifold center is compartmented so each well is within its own gas tight compartment. A removable sleeve through which the well is completed is mounted in each compartment. After each well is completed its sleeve is removable so it can be put in production in the conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Lockheed Petroleum Services, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Hopkins, Claude A. Sellars