Patents by Inventor Walter J. Nill

Walter J. Nill 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: 5464970
    Abstract: A vehicle trip odometer has a central shaft with both ends protruding for coupling of either end or both ends with other odometers. A total distance odometer likewise has both ends available for coupling to a trip odometer. Thus several arrangements of counter mechanisms are possible with a single design of trip and total odometers. Two trip odometers are serially driven by one end of the total odometer, or are each driven at opposite ends of the total odometer. A molded coupler connects shaft ends for joining adjacent odometers. Each shaft end has a flat for positive rotational drive of a coupler with a mating recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Walter J. Nill, Jean M. Buechler
  • Patent number: 5399843
    Abstract: A mechanical counter having number wheels rotatably mounted on a shaft with interleaved pinion carriers has a drive gear at one end fixed to the shaft and an end wheel rotatably mounted at the other end and retained by a washer press fit on the shaft. The end wheel has a cavity in its outboard side for receiving the washer, the cavity depth being greater than the washer thickness. The washer is installed by a press tool having a flat surface which engages both the washer and the outboard side of the end wheel to simultaneously advance the washer and seat the parts on the shaft. Then the washer and the bottom of the cavity are spaced by an amount providing the end play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jean M. Buechler, Walter J. Nill
  • Patent number: 4782782
    Abstract: A transmission shift position indicator has a rotatable drum with a cam track formed in the outer periphery thereof. A cam follower is disposed in the cam track and operatively connected to a housing through a base portion for linear movement thereon in response to rotation of the drum. The base portion has a pointer connected thereto which is alignable with indicia imprinted on the housing to indicate the selected transmission operating condition. The cam track has portions thereof formed oblique to the longitudinal axis of the drum which cooperate with the follower to cause the linear movement of the base portion and circumferential portion transverse to the longitudinal axis interconnected by adjacent oblique portions for permitting the pointer to dwell at selected indicia position during rotation of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Nill