Other

Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.

Apple Inc.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

True Position Magnetics, Inc.

Ronald A. Smith & Associates

Apres Ski Partnership

Ronald A Smith

Nicholas F Talesfore

Richard K Oswald

Timothy J Blaney

Pat McCauley

Donald W Dahlin

Carl L Lehfeldt

Johan R Goudberg

Kenny Wong

Louis Hlousek

Philip M Scheinert

Ronald F Gordon

Leonard P Cygnarowicz

K C Odencrantz

James M Jackson

Saied Motaei

Kenneth J Nelson

Kenneth L Blanchard

Paul W Siggins

Khosro Moshfegh

The present invention relates to ratcheting thread clamping devices and the use of multiple interleaved thread structures on one or more of the segments of the ratcheting device. It is shown how the use of such multiple threads reduces locking distance when the ratcheting device is moved in the ratcheting direction along a single-threaded rod, that is, reduced locking distance is achieved with an improved thread clamping device without the necessity of any changes to the threaded rod to which the device clamps. Multiple thread structures thus reduce locking distance in prior art devices typically having frustoconical segment surfaces as well as in more recent devices having nut segments with planar surfaces.

Structure for reducing locking distance in ratcheting devices

The present invention relates to a thread clamping device including a plurality of movable nut segments around a threaded rod, and spring members flexibly holding the segments against the rod. The thread clamping device has a structure adapted to accommodate substantially planar outer surfaces of the nut segments engaging planar surfaces of the end housing of the device, leading to a more robust device and improved performance. Such a thread clamping device can advantageously be used as a component of a self-adjusting shrinkage compensation device, a coupler for threaded rods, hold-downs, among other uses. Various embodiments of the thread clamping device include a multi nut configuration, a quick release embodiment, and embodiments including mechanical or magnetic clip attachments.

Components and uses for robust thread clamping device

The present invention relates to a thread clamping device including a plurality of movable nut segments around a threaded rod, and spring members flexibly holding the segments against the rod. The thread clamping device has a structure adapted to accommodate substantially planar outer surfaces of the segments engaging planar surfaces of the end housing of the device, leading to a more robust device and improved performance. Such a thread clamping device can advantageously be used as a component of a self-adjusting shrinkage compensation device, a coupler for threaded rods, hold-downs, among other uses. Various embodiments of the thread clamping device include a multi nut configuration, a quick release, and including mechanical or magnetic clip attachments.

Thread clamping device

The present device relates to a thread clamping device including a plurality of movable segments with threaded inner surfaces suitable for engaging a threaded rod and including a strain gauge therein for measuring the actual strain on the device, in contrast to conventional thread clamping devices restricted to measuring the torque applied during installation, not the actual strain experienced during service. In addition to measuring the actual strain experienced by the thread clamping device, some embodiments of the present invention also relate to a transmitter for transmitting to a remote receiving station the actual strain measured, typically including a suitable identification code for determining which device is transmitting.

Thread clamping device including internal sensing and reporting

A thread clamping device is described including a plurality of movable nut segments around a threaded rod, and spring members flexibly holding the segments against the rod. Smaller locking distances are shown to result by using at least one double-threaded segment as a component of the thread clamping device. Such a thread clamping device can advantageously be used as a component of a self-adjusting shrinkage compensation device, a coupler for threaded rods, hold-downs, among other uses.

Thread clamping device with improved locking distance

Thread clamping device and methods of use

A bi-directional grinder for allowing an operator to change the direction of rotation of the wheel, having a housing, a motor capable of bi-directional rotation, and a shaft. The grinding wheel is mounted on the shaft within a shroud and attached to the shaft with a locking mechanism. The shaft has a left threaded bottom portion and a right threaded bore therein. Once the grinding wheel is positioned on the shaft, a nut is tightened onto the threaded bottom portion of the shaft to tighten the wheel against the shoulder. A bolt with a broad head is inserted into the shaft bore so that the broad head is tightened against the nut. A spring loaded pin extends through the housing and is mateable with an off center transverse hole in the circular gear. When aligned, the pin may be inserted into the gear hole to cause the gear and shaft to cease rotation.

Bi-directional grinder

A twin engine, coaxial, dual-propeller propulsion system employing a unique transmission having two independent drive trains. The first of the two engines exclusively drives a first drive train, which in turn rotates a forward multi-bladed propeller assembly. The second engine exclusively drives a second drive train, which in turn rotates an aft multi-bladed propeller assembly. Thus, the propellers of this propulsion system, even though coaxial, are driven by separate engines. The propulsion system also enjoys the increased propulsive efficiency of a coaxial dual-propeller design as the first drive train rotates the forward propeller assembly in a first rotational direction and the second drive train rotates the aft propeller assembly in the opposite direction. Further, the propulsion system employs pitch change control mechanisms which independently control the respective pitch of the blades of the two propeller assemblies. Specifically, a first pitch change controller exclusively controls the pitch of the blades of the forward propeller assembly and a second pitch change controller exclusively controls the pitch of the blades of the aft propeller assembly.

Twin engine, coaxial, dual-propeller propulsion system

Magnetic field position transducer for two or more dimensions

A bracket and module for a portable personal computer. In one embodiment, the module contains a transmitter and a receiver, or transceiver, for allowing for communications between the portable personal computer and other stations in the network. The bracket may be mounted permanently to the bottom of the portable personal computer if desired, with very little effect on the overall shape or performance of the computer. The module may easily be attached and detached from the bracket. The module contains a handle such that when the module is latched in the bracket, the handle can be used to carry the personal computer. Also included is a door holder to hold open the door of the portable personal computer to expose a connector on the computer which mates with a connector coupled to the module.

Bracket and module assembly for a portable personal computer

An adapter for a rotating device such as a manually operated spinner or electric drill is disclosed for the cleaning and drying of paint rollers. In painting, small rollers known as 'weenie rollers' or 'slim jims' are employed to permit paint to be applied to hard to reach areas such as on top of doors or behind radiators. Currently these small rollers are single use and intended to be disposed. The adapter of the invention will permit these small rollers to be cleaned and reused. The adapter will be intermediate the small roller and the device imparting rotating motion. The small roller includes a centrally disposed aperture which receives a mating portion of the adapter. A roller scraping element is disposed on the body of the adapter. The adapter includes a portion for coacting with various devices which impart rotary motion. The adapter may be constructed of plastic or other suitable material. The adapter may be mass produced by plastic injection molding techniques.

Paint roller cleaning adapter

An apparatus and method for rotating an optical element, such as a diffraction grating or mirror, utilizes a moving coil actuator and an optical encoder to provide precise element position control. The moving coil actuator, which is coupled to the optical element, is comprised of a coil immersed in a magnetic field created by a pair of magnets. Current flowing in the coil windings causes the coil, and ultimately the optical element, to rotate. An optical encoder monitors the rotation of the element and provides rotation signals representative of the instantaneous element position to an actuator control circuit. The actuator control circuit phase shifts the rotation signals and compares the phase shifted rotation signals to a desired reference signal to generate position and velocity error signals. In a track follow mode, the position error signal is applied to the moving coil actuator via a loop compensator. When the apparatus is operating in an optimal seek mode, a trajectory generator receives the velocity error signals and generates an optimum velocity signal based on a preprogrammed velocity curve. The optimum velocity signal is then applied to the moving coil actuator via the loop compensator.

Apparatus and method for rotating an optical element using a moving coil

A manufacturing system is described for sequentially bending a plurality of planar spring elements extending from a regularly perforated bar or fret, then adjusting the resiliency of each element to provide a precise load when deflected to a particular position, and finally shearing only those elements meeting the desired deflection load criteria from the fret. A microprocessor obtains necessary processing data while controlling the several stations at which the spring elements are measured, formed (bent), thermally adjusted and sheared from the fret. A walking beam transport system also controlled by the microprocesser incremently transports the frets of spring elements between and through each station. An oven can be incorporated into the walking beam transport system between the forming and thermal adjust stations for stress relieving the spring elements before adjustment. Particular features of the system include a translating shuttle mechanism with a plurality of parallel rails for loading frets onto the walking beam transport system, linear cam actuators for moving load cells into engagement with a load arm extending from each spring element, a resilient deflecting guard mechanism protecting the sensor head of the load cells, and a precision bending mechanism in which a pair of pivotably mounted and orthogonally related linear bearing races support carriages translated by a pair of orthogonally related linear actuators for rolling a bending element around a cylindrical mandrel. The invented system and apparatus has particular utility for manufacture of the precision load arms which support flying read/write heads of disk drive data storage systems.

Programmable manufacturing system for load/support arms for magnetic

A DIP carrier and socket including a generally rectangular socket and mating DIP carrier in which the socket component includes a plurality of contacts disposed along two sides thereof with the terminal portion of each contact extending through the bottom of the socket and the contact portion extending through the side wall and into a carrier-receiving inner receptacle formed in the top of the body. Each end of the socket is provided with keyways. The external perimeter of the carrier body is configured to be matingly received within the socket receptacle and is adapted to receive a DIP in inverted disposition in the bottom thereof. The carrier includes vertical slots formed in each side for receiving the DIP legs in recessed disposition, and a longitudinally extending beam which forms a detent for locking the carrier within the socket. The ends of the carrier are keyed to match the socket keyways and a pull tab is formed on the upper side of the carrier body for facilitating insertion and removal of the carrier into and out of the socket. When the carrier is inserted into the socket, the socket contacts are received within the side slots of the carrier and engage the DIP legs.

Growing community of inventors

Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Ronald A Smith