Patents by Inventor William J. Hutchings

William J. Hutchings 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: 5842377
    Abstract: A mixer gearbox assembly for driving a mixer shaft capable of receiving either a complete electric drive motor on a first face of the gearbox housing for operatively coupling with a first end of a long cross-shaft in the housing, or alternatively a partial electric drive motor on a second face of the gearbox housing for operatively coupling with an opposite end of the cross-shaft. In an alternative configuration for use with only a partial motor, an assembly containing otherwise identical components is provided with a short cross-shaft replacing the long cross-shaft, which short shaft is supported by a single bearing and is colinearly matable only at the outer end thereof with the drive shaft of a partial electric motor. The rotor and short shaft act as a unitary structure when assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Hutchings, Stephen L. Markle, David J. Engel, Joel S. Berg, Marlin D. Schutte
  • Patent number: 5720486
    Abstract: A labyrinth shaft seal for preventing the migration of gear lubricant from a mixer drive assembly into a batch of process materials being mixed. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of the gearcase outboard of the upper quill bearing, preferably the actual bearing mount, is provided with an axially-directed circular face, the mount being formed of relatively soft material such as ductile cast iron. A disc-shaped seal element having a central aperture and supporting an axially-directed peripheral cylindrical flange is sealingly mounted on the quill above the quill bearing and extends radially from the quill and generally parallel to the circular face. The flange is formed of material substantially harder than the circular face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Hutchings, Stephen L. Markle, David J. Engel, Joel S. Berg