Patents by Inventor William J. Roche

William J. Roche 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: 11927164
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11920544
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a main body, fuel chamber, fuel supply pipe and a fuel valve. The main body has a main bore with an inlet for air and an outlet through which a fuel and air mixture flows. The fuel chamber retains a supply of fuel. The fuel supply pipe has a passage communicating with the main bore and through which fuel from the fuel chamber flows to the main bore. And the fuel valve has a valve seat, a valve element movable relative to the valve seat between an open position and a closed position, an inlet upstream of the valve seat and is in communication with the fuel chamber, and an outlet downstream of the valve seat. The outlet is coaxially aligned with the passage of the fuel supply pipe and the fuel valve is electrically operated to move the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bryan K. Gangler, Jeffrey C. Hoppe, Adam M. McGilton, Bradley J. Roche, Albert L. Sayers, David L. Speirs
  • Patent number: 6719600
    Abstract: A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through the shell. A body of mercury is disposed in the chamber. A plug is disposed in the bore to seal the bore. The plug exhibits a melting point reached in manufacture of the fluorescent lamp, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury. A method for making the capsule is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Grossman, William A. George, William J. Roche
  • Publication number: 20030080680
    Abstract: A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through the shell. A body of mercury is disposed in the chamber. A plug is disposed in the bore to seal the bore. The plug exhibits a melting point reached in manufacture of the fluorescent lamp, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury. A method for making the capsule is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Mark W. Grossman, William A. George, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 6518701
    Abstract: A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a shell defining a chamber and a bore extending through the shell. A body of mercury is disposed in the chamber. A plug is disposed in the bore to seal the bore. The plug exhibits a melting point reached in manufacture of the fluorescent lamp, to melt from the bore to open an exit passageway for the mercury. A method for making the capsule is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Grossman, William A. George, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 6369503
    Abstract: A mercury capsule for use in a fluorescent lamp comprises a metal ribbon which is provided with a first portion having a depression formed in a surface thereof for receiving and containing mercury, and a second portion having a protrusion formed on a surface thereof. A bendable portion interconnects the first and second portions. The second portion is bendably movable to a position wherein the protrusion overlies the depression and is further movable to place the protrusion in sealing engagement with the depression to sealingly enclose mercury in the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Billy W. Tuttle, Michael D. Sweetland, Mark W. Grossman, Peter A. Marcurelle, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 5714836
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprises at least one layer of a quad-phosphor blend for emitting visible illumination having a white color. The quad-phosphor blend comprising a first and second green emitting phosphor component with each green emitting phosphor component having different visible emission spectrum principally in the 520 to 560 nm wavelength range. A third blue emitting phosphor component has an emission spectrum principally in the 440 to 470 nm wavelength range. A fourth red emitting phosphor component has an emission spectrum principally in the 590 to 620 nm wavelength range. The first green emitting phosphor component is a alkaline earth metal activated phosphor and the second green emitting phosphor is a rare earth activated phosphor wherein the relative proportions of the phosphor components are such that an enhanced color rendering index is produced as compared to tri-component blends formed from three of the phosphor components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Roger B. Hunt, Lawrence L. Hope, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 5475284
    Abstract: A ballast includes an inverter for providing an AC voltage to a discharge lamp. As the lamp approaches end-of-life a DC voltage component develops across the lamp. The ballast includes circuitry for monitoring the condition of each of the cathodes by measuring this DC voltage component. After a predetermined increase in this DC voltage component, the inverter is disabled in order to prevent excessive heating of the cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Lester, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 5247228
    Abstract: An adaptor circuit used to enable stable, flicker-free operation of T8-type fluorescent lamps in a lighting fixture which already has a standard two-lamp, series-sequence, 40 watt, rapid-start type ballast installed therein. The adaptor circuit contains an isolation transformer for controlling the voltage supplied by the ballast to the T8-type fluorescent lamps and a frequency selective impedance modifier circuit for controlling the operating current supplied by the ballast to the T8-type fluorescent lamps at preselected frequencies. In one embodiment, the frequency selective impedance modifier circuit substantially eliminates the third harmonic component of the fundamental frequency of the operating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 5150009
    Abstract: An electric circuit for glow discharge lamp which regulates lamp output according to changing environmental conditions includes a power lamp circuit electrically connected between an anode lead-in wire and a cathode to create a lamp voltage, a filament power circuit electrically connected to a pair of cathode lamp filament lead-in wires to create a filament voltage whereby said lamp voltage decreases with an increasing filament voltage due to lamp characteristics, and a sensing and control circuit for adjusting the filament voltage in accordance with changing environmental conditions for maintaining lamp voltage at a predetermined constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Kling, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4870323
    Abstract: A method of releasing mercury into an arc discharge lamp is disclosed. The method includes the step of disposing an insulating coating (e.g., zirconium dioxide) at the end of the lamp containing a mercury releasing target. The insulating coating is disposed over the lead-in wires, portions of one of the coil electrodes, and a portion of the mercury dispensing target. The main body portion of the target containing the mercury is devoid of the insulating coating. Thereafter, the mercury dispensing target is bombarded with a directed stream of electrons produced by the other coil electrode of sufficient energy to rupture the target causing the mercury to be released. The insulating coating focuses the directed stream of electrons directly on the target, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary to rupture the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph P. Parks, Jr., William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4751435
    Abstract: An improvement in dual beam mode fluorescent lamps in which a capacitive ballast is provided integral with the lamp structure in the form of a cylindrical laminate of metal and insulator coaxial to the lamp's major axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignees: GTE Laboratories Incorporated, GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Roche, Joseph M. Proud, A. Bowman Budinger
  • Patent number: 4709187
    Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp has a tubular envelope with a phosphor-coated inner wall, a pair of spaced electrodes and a pair of electrical leads sealed into the ends of the envelope with one electrical lead directly connected to the electrode and the other electrical lead connected through a bi-metal circuit breaker to the electrode with the circuit breaker formed to open-circuit at a given range of temperatures. Also, the discharge lamp is fabricated by preparing a phosphor coated envelope, forming a pair of end members having a pair of electrical leads, a bi-metal circuit breaker and electrode, sealing the end members into the envelope, heating and exhausting the envelope, heating the electrodes, dispensing a fill gas and mercury into the envelope, pinching off the exhaust tubes of the envelope and severing the fuse member of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4661745
    Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp system includes a ballast circuit, rapid-start fluorescent lamps and power reducing means for controlling the application of energy to the lamps. The power-reducing means controls the energy to N/O switches from the energy source upon ionization of the rapid-start fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Citino, Carlo S. Bessone, William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4659966
    Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp has a tubular envelope with a phosphor-coated inner wall surface, a pair of spaced electrodes and a pair of electrical leads sealed into each end of the envelope with one electrical lead connected directly to the electrode and the other electrical lead having an integral circuit breaker connected to the electrode and formed to disconnect the electrode from an energy source during lamp operation. Also, the rapid-start fluorescent lamp is fabricated by preparing a phosphor coated envelope, forming a pair of end members having a pair of leads and an integral circuit breaker with one lead connected directly to the electrode and the circuit breaker connecting the other lead to the electrode, sealing the end members into the envelope, heating and exhausting the envelope, heating the electrodes via the circuit breaker, dispensing a fill gas and mercury into the envelope and pinching off the exhaust tubes of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4629437
    Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp has a tubular envelope with a phosphor-coated inner wall surface, a pair of spaced electrodes and a pair of electrical leads sealed into each end of the envelope with one electrical lead connected directly to the electrode and the other electrical lead having an integral circuit breaker connected to the electrode and formed to disconnect the electrode from an energy source during lamp operation. Also, the rapid-start fluorescent lamp is fabricated by preparing a phosphor coated envelope, forming a pair of end members having a pair of leads and an integral circuit breaker with one lead connected directly to the electrode and the circuit breaker connecting the other lead to the electrode, sealing the end members into the envelope, heating and exhaust tubes the envelope, heating the electrodes via the circuit breaker, dispensing a fill gas and mercury into the envelope and pinching off the exhausting of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4616156
    Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a circuit breaker having a pair of electrical conductors sealed into a bulb and connecting a lamp lead to the electrode of the lamp. The circuit breaker includes first and second electrical conductors and a bi-metal strip having a first end portion connected to a first conductor and a second end portion connected to a second conductor at ambient bulb temperature, disconnected therefrom at a higher given range of temperatures, and the portion of the bi-metal strip intermediate the end portions connected to the second electrical conductor at temperatures higher than the given range of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Roche, John W. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4575656
    Abstract: A discharge lamp of non-linear configuration employs a solid wire, internal starting aid and a mount which includes a third lead-in wire whereby the starting aid can be electrically connected into a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Anderson, Jr., William J. Roche
  • Patent number: 4553067
    Abstract: Mercury release into a sealed arc discharge lamp is accomplished by positioning a mercury containing target within the lamp and heating the same by electron bombardment derived from a D.C. power supply connected between an electrode of the lamp and the mercury target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Roche, Ralph P. Parks, Jr.
  • Patent number: D280344
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Anderson, Jr., William J. Roche