Robert L Pritchard

US Patent:

55470696, Aug 20, 1996

Filed:

Apr 13, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/867502

Inventors:

Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Plymouth Meeting PA

International Classification:

B65G 1312

US Classification:

198782

Abstract:

A motor driven drive roller (34) frictionally engages the lower surface (32) of a pallet (30) moved along a conveyor path. A drive motor (38) is disposed within the roller (34) and rotates the roller (34) through a multi-stage planetary gear transmission (40) disposed within the roller (34). The roller (34) is moved between a raised operative position and a retracted inoperative position by a lift motor (100) which is independent of the drive motor (38). A steering motor (132), independent of both the drive motor (38) and the lift motor (100), rotates the roller (34) about a vertical steering axis (B) to steer the pallet (30) onto or off the conveyor path. A compression spring is provided between the lift motor (100) and the roller (34) for allowing the roller (34) to move up and down with an irregular lower surface (32) of a pallet (30) to continuously maintain frictional engagement between the roller (34) and the lower surface (32) of the pallet (30). The conveyor is disposed in an aircraft cargo bay for facilitating the loading and unloading of freight.

US Patent:

45352607, Aug 13, 1985

Filed:

Oct 15, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/660540

Inventors:

Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA
Kevin Lindenmuth - Sellersville PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Limerick PA

International Classification:

H02K 4100

US Classification:

310 12

Abstract:

A magnetic linear motor is movable over a planar surface defined by laminations of alternately magnetic and nonmagnetic materials in the direction of movement of a head disposed thereover. The head includes four pluralities of laminations paired by a winding extending therethrough with laminations of each pair aligned transversely and the two pairs of laminations being offset whereby when one pair of laminations is aligned with the laminations in the reactive platen surface, the other pair of laminations overlap magnetic and nonmagnetic laminations. The laminations extend perpendicularly to the direction of travel and each have two legs, one shorter than the other, so that magnetic coupling occurs between each pair of grouped laminations transversely along the magnetic laminations in the platen with the energization of the winding associated therewith determining the direction of movement.

US Patent:

45720533, Feb 25, 1986

Filed:

Feb 27, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/583718

Inventors:

Joseph A. Sosnowski - Norristown PA
Gary Black - Hatfield PA
Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Limerick PA

International Classification:

F41F 502

US Classification:

89 151

Abstract:

An energy storage and release system (10) in combination with an aircraft (11) for ejecting an ordnance from the aircraft, the system (10) including a housing (22) mounted in the aircraft (11) and a drive shaft (24) having an outer end (26) and inner end (28) supported within the housing (22) for reciprocating axial movement of the outer end (26) into and out of the housing (22). An energy storage system including a flywheel (30) rotatably mounted within the housing (22) and operatively connected to the drive shaft (24) moves the outer end (26) of the drive shaft (24) axially out of the housing (22) to eject an ordnance (18). A linear induction motor (16) powers the flywheel (30).

US Patent:

51019620, Apr 7, 1992

Filed:

Oct 1, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/770131

Inventors:

Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Limerick PA

International Classification:

B65G 1312

US Classification:

198782

Abstract:

A low profile steerable power drive unit assembly (10) comprises a cylindrical frame member (22) having an annular ledge (42) extending inwardly therefrom. The ledge (42) includes a flat upper race (46), a frustoconical lower race (48) and gear teeth (82) disposed along the ring-like interface between the upper (46) and lower (48) races. A support bracket (24) is rotatably supported in the frame member (22) about a vertical axis (A) by a plurality of outwardly extending wheels (34, 36) freely rollable along the upper race (46) and the lower race (48). A motor (52) is supported in the support bracket (24) and, through a gear train, operatively engages the gear teeth (82) on the ledge (42) to rotate the support bracket (24) within the frame member (22). The support bracket (24) receives two modular power drive units in side-by-side orientation. The frame member (22) includes a subjacent mounting surface (30) which is attached directly to a floor structure (12) for supporting the assembly (10) entirely above the floor structure (12).

US Patent:

50426451, Aug 27, 1991

Filed:

Oct 18, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/599503

Inventors:

Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Limerick PA

International Classification:

B65G 1306

US Classification:

198782

Abstract:

A low profile power drive assembly (10) for conveying articles along a conveyor path includes one cylindrical roller (22) supported on an eccentric shaft (32). A first drive motor (26) and a second drive motor (26') are operatively connected to the roller (22) for synchronously rotating the roller (22). The free state position of the roller (22) is in a lower retracted position. When the first (26) and second (26 ') drive motors apply simultaneous driving torque to the roller (22), the roller (22) rises vertically to a lifted operative position to engage the underside of an article to be conveyed. A clutch (38) is disposed inside the roller (22) for controlling the upwardly normal force applied to the underside of the article being conveyed. The assembly (10) is disposable within a standard rollerway (12) in a conventional aircraft cargo conveyor system.

US Patent:

51864177, Feb 16, 1993

Filed:

May 3, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/695567

Inventors:

Robert J. Pritchard - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Teleflex Incorporated - Limerick PA

International Classification:

B65G 4308

US Classification:

2441371

Abstract:

An aircraft cargo control system (12) controls powered rollers (24, 26) for moving pallets (28) in the cargo area of an aircraft (30). The control system (12) includes a joy stick (60) for controlling longitudinal movement on the right side (46), left side (48), or both sides, and lateral movement into and out of the aircraft (30). The motor (51) of each roller (24) includes a sensor (90) and switch (76) for sensing a pallet (28) thereover and powering the motor (51) only when a pallet (28) is sensed and the joy stick (60) is appropriately selected. Therefore, only powered rollers (24) moving the pallets (28) are powered, while the remaining rollers (24) remain unpowered.