Patents by Inventor William James Watkins

William James Watkins 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: 7045979
    Abstract: An electric machine assembly having an electric machine. The electric machine can include a first speed circuit and a second speed circuit. In some constructions, both speed circuits can be of a permanent split capacitor design. At least one of the speed circuits can include a switch that is controlled by the controller to limit current through an auxiliary circuit of the unused speed circuit when certain conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Mehlhorn, William James Watkins, Jevon Darvell Reynolds
  • Patent number: 6882070
    Abstract: An electric motor including having a housing, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable about a motor axis, a rotor supported by the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the stator, a terminal board fixed relative to the housing, and first and second electrical terminals supported by the terminal board. The electric motor also includes an operating condition selection device including a moveable portion supported by the terminal board for pivotable rotation about a second axis between a first position corresponding to a first operating condition and a second position corresponding to a second operating condition. At least a portion of the moveable portion substantially remains in a fixed axial position relative to the second axis while pivoting between the first and second positions. The electrical terminals are accessible through a conduit receiving aperture for testing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Edward Staigl, III, Chih Min Lin, William James Watkins
  • Patent number: 6873131
    Abstract: An electric motor selectively connectable to receive one of a plurality of supply voltages, the plurality of supply voltages comprising a low supply voltage and a high supply voltage. The motor can comprise a stator having a first winding and a second winding, a shaft rotatable about a motor axis, and a rotor supported by the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the stator. The motor can also comprise a voltage selection device, a first motor protector, and a second motor protector. The voltage selection device can include a first setting and a second setting and can be configured to connect the first winding in parallel with the second winding when set to the first setting and to connect the first winding in series with the second winding when set to the second setting. The first motor protector can be configured to limit current through the first winding and the second winding when an overload condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: William James Watkins
  • Publication number: 20040195923
    Abstract: An electric motor including having a housing, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable about a motor axis, a rotor supported by the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the stator, a terminal board fixed relative to the housing, and first and second electrical terminals supported by the terminal board. The electric motor also includes an operating condition selection device including a moveable portion supported by the terminal board for pivotable rotation about a second axis between a first position corresponding to a first operating condition and a second position corresponding to a second operating condition. At least a portion of the moveable portion substantially remains in a fixed axial position relative to the second axis while pivoting between the first and second positions. The electrical terminals are accessible through a conduit receiving aperture for testing purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: A.O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank Edward Staigl, Chih Min Lin, William James Watkins
  • Publication number: 20040169479
    Abstract: An electric machine assembly having an electric machine. The electric machine can include a first speed circuit and a second speed circuit. In some constructions, both speed circuits can be of a permanent split capacitor design. At least one of the speed circuits can include a switch that is controlled by the controller to limit current through an auxiliary circuit of the unused speed circuit when certain conditions exist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Mehlhorn, William James Watkins, Jevon Darvell Reynolds