Electric Patents (Class 185/40B)
  • Patent number: 6032760
    Abstract: An actuator for power door locks having a bi-directional spring holder assembly. The assembly has a substantially cylindrical housing having a projection formed on a rim of its cylindrical wall. The projection is provided with first and second abutments facing in opposite directions along the circumference of the rim. A spring is mounted around a shaft which passes through a longitudinal axis of the housing. A first, internal spring end is engaged to the shaft while a second, external spring end projects radially outward of the cylindrical wall. The assembly also includes a spring cover provided with a cover abutment which similarly projects radially outward of the cylindrical wall. When the holder assembly is assembled, the spring is coiled and the cover abutment pushes against the projection's first abutment while the external spring end pushes against the second abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 5986369
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator maintains an external device to which the actuator is connected at an operating position when power is applied to the actuator, and allows the external device to return to a default position when the power is removed. Included in the actuator is a housing and an output coupling rotatably mounted thereon. The output coupling is configured to be connected to the external device and displaces the external device between the operating position and the default position. A driving device is mounted in the housing for providing a torque to the output coupling to displace the external device between the default position and the operating position when the driving device is energized. Also provided is a torque transmitting device for transmitting and changing the torque from the driving device to the output coupling. The torque transmitting device is cooperatively engaged to and is located between the driving device and the output coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Hanley, Guy P. Caliendo, Dean B. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4333489
    Abstract: For releasing and resetting a releasable and resettable device: a spring-motor dual-functioning mechanism comprising release means to release the device, a spring motor to reset the device, and spring-winding means to rewind the spring motor, the spring motor storage power being sufficient for at least two complete resetting operations of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Actionair Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Robert J. Magill, Donald J. Lockley, Richard J. Perrin
  • Patent number: 4287428
    Abstract: A battery charging device which is driven by a torsional spring. A gear train driven by the spring is coupled with a wheel having peripheral teeth. A control lever is reciprocated pivotally by a small spring to engage the teeth of the wheel in a manner to control its rotation. The wheel in turn applies impulses which help to keep the lever in motion. The gear train is also coupled with an alternator such that the intermittent movement of the gear train is used to drive the alternator. The electrical current produced by the alternator is used to recharge a battery. An electric motor operates in combination with the switch mechanism to automatically wind up the torsional spring when it has been unwound below a preselected tension level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Inventor: James Smith
  • Patent number: 4211401
    Abstract: A child's electric swing includes a pre-wound wind-up mechanical escapement type motor having spring-biased retainer and driving pawls, the latter being connected to a pivotally mounted hanger supporting the swing seat. The pawls engage a mainspring-driven ratchet wheel which periodically impulses the driving pawl to maintain the seat in oscillation. The mainspring is rewound periodically by rotating the ratchet wheel in the opposite direction by a battery-operated motor through a gravity-operated one-way clutch after the ratchet wheel rotates only about 180.degree. so that the prewound spring is always under tension. Also the pawls are moved out of engagement with the wheel during such rewinding to eliminate noise and drag on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Hedstrom Co.
    Inventor: Joel C. Cunard
  • Patent number: 4153828
    Abstract: This operating means comprises a circuit-breaker closing spring, a rotatable spring-controller mounted for rotation between first and second dead-center positions with respect to said spring, and means for transmitting charging forces to the spring in response to rotation of the spring-controller in a forward direction from said second toward said first dead-center position. The spring acts to discharge and thereby further rotate said spring-controller in a forward direction when the spring-controller has been rotated in a forward direction past said first dead-center position. Discharge of the spring drives the spring-controller into said second dead-center position, following which the spring-controller oscillates about said second dead-center position to dissipate excess energy then remaining in the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Philip Barkan
  • Patent number: 4137436
    Abstract: An operating device for an electric circuit breaker comprises a closing spring and a rotatable spring-controller mounted for rotation between first and second dead-center positions with respect to the spring. The spring is charged by transmitting rotational forces to the spring-controller through a main pawl mounted on the spring-controller and an abutment on a rotatable driving member. The main pawl is released from driven engagement with the abutment at the end of a spring-charging operation. Normal circuit-breaker closing is effected by allowing the spring to quickly discharge after a charging operation.A manual slow-close operation of the circuit breaker is effected through an auxiliary pawl mounted on the spring-controller in a position angularly-spaced from the main pawl. During normal spring-charging and discharging operations, this auxiliary pawl is prevented from engaging the abutment on the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip Barkan, Robert S. Barton
  • Patent number: 4131842
    Abstract: A battery charging mechanism which is driven by a coil spring. A gear train driven by the spring includes a wheel having peripheral teeth. A control lever is reciprocated pivotally by a small spring to engage the teeth of the wheel in a manner to control its rotation. The wheel in turn applies impulses which help to keep the lever in motion. Links connected with the lever turn gears which drive alternators in order to deliver charging current to the battery. An electric motor acts to automatically wind up the drive spring when it has uncoiled below a preselected tension level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventor: James Smith
  • Patent number: 4005843
    Abstract: A rotator for a hanging display such as a mobile, hanging plant or the like having a self-contained power supply. The apparatus comprises a cylinder for containing flashlight batteries adjacent one another and for containing motor means to drive a geared shaft by which a display is suspended and rotated. Off-on operation and series battery interconnection are effected by the positioning of a rotatable, electrically conductive circular top plate confronting the ends of the batteries. An opening in the rotatable plate is provided for replacement of the batteries. A tab on the top plate permits the plate to be rotated and to be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1977
    Assignee: Gerber Products Company
    Inventor: Sheldon M. Wengel