Donald Drapeau

US Patent:

53515480, Oct 4, 1994

Filed:

Dec 2, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/984896

Inventors:

Paul F. Briggs - Wolcott CT
George H. Bucci - Tolland CT
Donald L. Drapeau - Meriden CT
Lawrence E. Egle - E. Hampton CT

Assignee:

Walbro Corporation - Cass City MI

International Classification:

G01L 912
G01M 1500

US Classification:

73718

Abstract:

A capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.

US Patent:

41018559, Jul 18, 1978

Filed:

Nov 5, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/739210

Inventors:

Donald R. Drapeau - Windsor CT

Assignee:

Hi-G Incorporated - Windsor Locks CT

International Classification:

H01H 5002

US Classification:

335106

Abstract:

A miniature relay having an electromagnet assembly including a coil carried by a magnetic frame member which assembly is supported on a non-magnetic coil support member which in turn is secured to a header containing an arrangement of stationary and movable contacts and terminal pins. The magnetic frame member includes a core extending through and slightly beyond the coil and a pole piece outwardly adjacent the coil. An armature is held in position by the cooperation of spaced-apart holding elements depending from the electromagnet assembly which saddle a recess area in the armature, and a return spring carried by the header continuously urges the armature into saddle defined by the holding elements. The pull-in force of the electromagnet is enhanced by a mating tab and notch configuration of the pole piece and armature or by an end portion of the pole piece disposed to present increased surface area facing the armature.

US Patent:

54047560, Apr 11, 1995

Filed:

Apr 1, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/222414

Inventors:

Paul F. Briggs - Wolcott CT
George H. Bucci - Tolland CT
Donald L. Drapeau - Meriden CT
Lawrence E. Egle - E. Hampton CT

Assignee:

Walbro Corporation - Cass City MI

International Classification:

G01L 912
H01G 700

US Classification:

73718

Abstract:

A method of making a capacitive pressure sensor preferably for a vehicle fuel system with a flexible diaphragm, spacer and rigid substrate disposed in opposed face-to-face relation in a housing and yieldably urged together by a spring clamp. Electrodes disposed on the immediately adjacent opposed faces of the diaphragm and substrate produce a signal indicative of and varying with changes in the pressure of fluid acting on the diaphragm to displace its central portion relative to the substrate. In operation, through sensor and control circuitry, the speed of a fuel pump is varied to vary and control the pressure of fuel supplied to an engine in response to varying engine operating loads and conditions. To control the flow of fuel, a check valve, pressure relief valve and vent valve may be provided in the housing.

US Patent:

46268197, Dec 2, 1986

Filed:

Apr 17, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/724190

Inventors:

Donald F. Drapeau - Windsor CT

Assignee:

Safeway Products, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

H01H 3736

US Classification:

337323

Abstract:

A switch adjusting mechanism is disclosed having a linearly operable actuator with a rotary adjustment for selectively varying the position of a switch operator of the actuator relative to a movable switch contact. The linearly operable actuator and its rotary adjustment are independently operable and serve dual functions of not only accurately adjusting the operating point of switch actuation but also providing precise facile calibration.

US Patent:

43227015, Mar 30, 1982

Filed:

Apr 24, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/143454

Inventors:

Donald F. Drapeau - Windsor CT

Assignee:

Hi-G Incorporated - Windsor Locks CT

International Classification:

H01H 5002
H01H 5016

US Classification:

335202

Abstract:

A magnetic circuit for a miniature relay comprising a coil carried by a magnetic frame and an armature adapted for movement in response to energization of the coil to close an air gap between the armature and a pole face of the frame. A portion of the frame comprising a pair of supporting legs is sufficiently close to a core face portion of the frame to define a fringing flux path tending to divert flux from the useful flux path including the armature, air gap and frame. A barrier is provided in the fringing flux path of a material creating sufficient reluctance in that path to resist flux flow therethrough thereby increasing flux flow in the useful flux path to increase relay efficiency. The barrier can comprise non-magnetic material in the supporting legs, in the core face or in both. A method of making the frame includes forming a bi-metal strip including a center magnetic iron section and two side non-magnetic stainless steel sections welded thereto and then forming the desired frame configuration and shape by stamping and bending.

US Patent:

41092228, Aug 22, 1978

Filed:

Nov 14, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/631874

Inventors:

Paul A. Frano - Windsor Locks CT
Robert W. Bowman - Enfield CT
Donald F. Drapeau - Windsor CT
Marino Kain - Bloomfield CT

Assignee:

HI-G Incorporated - Windsor Locks CT

International Classification:

H01F 700

US Classification:

335301

Abstract:

A plurality of contact pins project from a flat header of a miniature relay for connection to a corresponding number of coaxial cables. A separate radio frequency adaptor is provided having a plurality of hollow cable connector receiving shells and a planar supporting base interconnecting the shells with the shells serving as RF shields for the header pins. The process of making the RF relay assembly includes mounting the header pins in a predetermined layout on the relay header, forming a one-piece adaptor by interconnecting the tubular shells in a pattern corresponding to the header pin layout and then securing the one-piece RF adaptor to the relay header with each header pin in a complementary shell and with each shell made common with electrical ground.

US Patent:

46820108, Jul 21, 1987

Filed:

Apr 12, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/723034

Inventors:

Donald F. Drapeau - Windsor CT
Benjamin N. Moore - Haddam CT
Henry B. Hall - Madison CT

Assignee:

Safeway Products, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

H05B 300
F24H 300
A61M 1600
H01C 300

US Classification:

219381

Abstract:

An in-line heater for an aerosol delivery system has an elongated tubular electrically insulated plastic body having first and second ends coaxially aligned along the major axis of the tubular body. The first and second ends contain an aerosol inlet and outlet, respectively. The plastic body has an unrestricted flow passage therein from the first to the second end and a self supporting electrically conductive spiral mesh heating element loosely fills the flow passageway within the body. The mesh heating element has a very low mass so as to be almost instantaneously responsive and extends across the space between the side walls of the flow passage to maximize the surface area thereof exposed to the aerosol mixture flowing through the passage. First and second terminals are adjacent the first and second housing ends, respectively, and are connected to the ends of the spiral mesh heating elements by a pair of crimped connector plates. Each terminal is disposed in a terminal housing having an internally serrated opening for securing a complementarily terminal sleeve having a serrated outer surface.

US Patent:

41618165, Jul 24, 1979

Filed:

Dec 27, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/864833

Inventors:

Paul A. Frano - Windsor Locks CT
Robert W. Bowman - Enfield CT
Donald F. Drapeau - Windsor CT
Marino Kain - Bloomfield CT

Assignee:

Hi-G, Incorporated - Windsor Locks CT

International Classification:

H01R 4300

US Classification:

29628

Abstract:

A plurality of contact pins project from a flat header of a miniature relay for connection to a corresponding number of coaxial cables. A separate radio frequency adaptor is provided having a plurality of hollow cable connector receiving shells and a planar supporting base interconnecting the shells with the shells serving as RF shields for the header pins. The process of making the RF relay assembly includes mounting the header pins in a predetermined layout on the relay header, forming a one-piece adaptor by interconnecting the tubular shells in a pattern corresponding to the header pin layout and then securing the one-piece RF adaptor to the relay header with each header pin in a complementary shell and with each shell made common with electrical ground.