Electric Patents (Class 185/40B)
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Patent number: 6032760Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 1997Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.Inventor: Gregory A Jorgensen
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Patent number: 5986369Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark G. Hanley, Guy P. Caliendo, Dean B. Anderson
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Patent number: 4333489Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 1979Date of Patent: June 8, 1982Assignee: Actionair Equipment LimitedInventors: Robert J. Magill, Donald J. Lockley, Richard J. Perrin
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Patent number: 4287428Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 27, 1979Date of Patent: September 1, 1981Inventor: James Smith
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Patent number: 4211401Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 1978Date of Patent: July 8, 1980Assignee: Hedstrom Co.Inventor: Joel C. Cunard
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Patent number: 4153828Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 8, 1976Date of Patent: May 8, 1979Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Philip Barkan
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Patent number: 4137436Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 1976Date of Patent: January 30, 1979Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Philip Barkan, Robert S. Barton
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Patent number: 4131842Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 25, 1977Date of Patent: December 26, 1978Inventor: James Smith
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Patent number: 4005843Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 1975Date of Patent: February 1, 1977Assignee: Gerber Products CompanyInventor: Sheldon M. Wengel