Nidec Corporation

Dictaphone Corporation.

Pitney Bowes Inc.

Nidec America Corporation

John W Hoover

Richard G Rutkowski

Charles R Marracino

Anthony C Laraia

John J Dwyer

Andre T Debaudringhien

Paul G Dulaff

Daniel L Thomas

Raymond C Chapman

Dominick F Dammassa

Allen C Potter

William A Miller

Rocco Luppino

A redundant fan system for a computer includes two fans installed in series with at least one of the fans having collapsible blades. A fan system of this type reduces the fan inefficiency caused when one fan in a series mounted pair is not operating, either because it is free-wheeling or in a locked rotor condition. When non-operational, the fan blades of the collapsible fan fold inward due to airflow generated by the operational fan over the collapsible blades. The ability of the blades to fold reduces the inefficiency of the operational fan, having less of an effect on fan life. Also, because the flow of air is less restricted, proper airflow can be maintained, thus preventing overheating of the computer.

Fan with collapsible blades, redundant fan system, and related method

The invention provides a motor and a bearing support and motor housing assembly, wherein the bearing support is detachably mounted to the housing with a flexible fastener, such as a snap ring. A resilient member, such as a spring washer, is seated between the fastener and either the housing or the bearing support to apply a biasing force against the fastener.

Electric motor

A low profile fan body for cooling an electronic component has a fan frame supporting a fan, which is mounted on a fan base forming a heat sink or heat transfer body. The fan has plurality of fan blades received within a plenum chamber defined within the heat sink. Each fan blade defines a first axial edge, a second axial edge on a substantially opposite side of the blade relative to the first axial edge, and a radial edge extending between the first and second axial edges. The heat sink defines a base portion for engaging an exposed surface of the electronic component, and a plurality of heat fins spaced relative to each other along the periphery of the sink and defining the plenum chamber. A pressure differential surface is disposed between the radial edges of the fan blades and the fins for directing air flow in the axial direction of the fan. The radial edges of a plurality of the fan blades are at least partially exposed to the adjacent heat fins defining a flow path for cooling air across the radial edges exposed to the heat fins. The first axial edges of the fan blades are located adjacent to and spaced from the base portion of the heat sink, defining an additional flow path for cooling air between the first axial edges and the base portion.

Low profile fan body with heat transfer characteristics

An apparatus for cooling an integrated circuit device has a fan detachably mounted to a heat sink, and the heat sink is in turn mounted to an exposed surface of the integrated circuit. The heat sink includes a pair of mounting posts, and the fan assembly includes corresponding mounting recesses for receiving the mounting posts. The mounting recesses are dimensioned to form an interference fit with the corresponding mounting posts, in order to retain the mounting posts within the mounting recesses. Alternatively, the fan assembly has biased tabs, which are received within corresponding recesses formed on the integrated circuit device to detachably mount the fan to the heat sink and integrated circuit. An electrical connector with biased terminals is mounted on the fan, and the biased terminals engage corresponding terminals on the integrated circuit upon mounting the fan to the heat sink.

Detachable apparatus for cooling integrated circuits

A method of assembling brushless electric motors the steps of forming stator-printed circuit board assemblies from an array of printed circuit boards each having at least one integral portion extending from a printed circuit board surface for establishing the interrelationship between the printed board and at least one another motor component, such as the stator. The present method also locates the commutation circuit triggering sensor with great precision and is readily adapted to automation.

Method of assembling brushless electric motors

A novel brushless electric motor is characterized by a printed circuit board having at least one integral portion extending from the printed circuit board plane for establishing the interrelationship between the printed circuit board and another motor component. The present motor has a more precisely located triggering sensor for the commutation circuit and is readily adapted to automated assembly by the use of the present printed circuit board.

Brushless electric motor

A novel molded printed circuit board for use with a brushless electric motor is characterized by a surface having at least one integral portion thereof extending from the printed circuit board plane for establishing the interrelationship between the printed circuit board and at least one other motor component. When used in brushless motors, the printed circuit board provides a more precisely located triggering sensor for the commutation circuit and results in a motor better adapted for automated assembly.

Molded printed circuit board for use with a brushless electric motor

A tape drive system for a dictating machine, particularly a portable dictating machine of a size suitable to be held in one hand. The dictating machine has a compartment which receives a tape cassette having a pair of reels, and a pair of driving spindles engage with the tape reels for driving the latter. A tape drive capstan and back-up roller are located adjacent the tape cassette compartment. A motor is located at the opposite end of the dictating machine from the tape cassette compartment, and a multi-stage speed reduction belt and pulley drive system is located between the motor and the drive capstan for simultaneously driving the drive capstan and the tape reel driving spindles at a uniform rate of speed.

Portable dictating machine

Cassette

Dictating machine

Apparatus is provided for supporting and positioning a record/playback transducer with respect to a record medium in a record and/or playback device. The transducer is supported on a mounting plate which is guided for bi-directional sliding movement to position the transducer in engagement, disengagement and partial engagement with the record medium in response to motive power provided by a selectively energizable motor. Energizing power is supplied to the motor in response to the actuation of a respective function control switch, and the motor remains energized until the mounting plate moves the transducer into the appropriate position by which the selected function may be carried out. In one embodiment, the motor rotates a cam whose cam surface is in contact with a portion of the mounting plate. The position of the plate and, thus, the transducer, is sensed as a function of the angular position of the cam.

Head support and positioning assembly for record/playback device

A thumb-sized tape cassette having a rectangular housing with top, bottom, front, back and side walls. The front wall is provided with a center opening and side openings disposed on opposite sides of the center opening. A tape member, which runs between supply and take-up reels within the cassette, is guided in a run behind the front wall and is accessible through the front wall openings. A pressure-pad spring is supported on a post within the housing, this spring being formed as an integral continuous-surfaced leaf spring having only two bends therein to define a central section between the two bends and a leg extending from each of the respective bends. A pressure pad is secured to each leg; and the central section is supported on the support post. A pair of fulcrum posts is provided within the housing on either side of the support post to contact a surface of the leaf spring and provide a respective fulcrum for each leg.

Tape cassette

In a tape recording machine having a capstan drive system for driving the tape, an improved slip clutch for allowing the take up reel to be driven at a variable rotational speed while the capstan is driven at a uniform rotational speed. The slip clutch includes a driven spindle, a plastic member fixedly secured to the top of the driven spindle, the member having a lower, elongate cylindrical portion and an upper, outwardly extending flange defining a downwardly facing shoulder and an upwardly facing cam surface, and a substantially annular, plastic hub frictionally engaging the cylindrical portion of the plastic member and having an interior diameter slightly smaller than the external diameter of the plastic member cylindrical portion. The hub includes a slot extending the full height of the hub whereby assembly of the hub onto the plastic member causes the hub to open slightly so that the internal diameter of the hub corresponds to the external diameter of the cylindrical portion of the plastic member, thereby allowing for slippage between the hub and the plastic member as necessary. At least one of the plastic member and the plastic hub includes a lubricant therein to prevent occurrence of the stick slip phenomenon.

Tape recorder slip clutch

A thumb-sized tape casette having a rectangular housing with top, bottom and peripheral walls and supply and take-up reels within the housing. A tape member runs between the reels and extends to a tape run parallel to and behind the front peripheral wall. The front wall has a center opening and side openings positioned on either side of the center opening through which the tape run is accessed. Holes in the top and bottom walls are coaxially aligned and are positioned behind the center opening of the front wall. A pair of notches is disposed in the top and bottom walls of the housing on opposite sides of the side openings of the front wall and spaced remotely from the center opening, these notches extending rearwardly into the housing from the front wall in respective parallel planes that are substantially perpendicular to the tape run. Each notch is operative to receive the tape guide that normally is mounted with the transducer of a tape record/reproducing device. The opposite ends of the front wall, at the corners thereof, are formed with respective recesses which define steps that serve to position the tape cassette in predetermined alignment when loaded into the record/reproducing device.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington, CT, United States of America

John W Hoover