Ronald A Joyce

US Patent:

6346681, Feb 12, 2002

Filed:

Sep 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/534965

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL 60007
Carl H. Poppe - Naperville IL 60540
Paul H. Tuma - Lombard IL 60148

International Classification:

H01H 3534

US Classification:

200835, 200 83 R, 200 83 P

Abstract:

A pressure switch having a pressure responsive diaphragm with a backing plate for operating a snap-acting switch. The switch has a cantilevered contact blade spring with an adjustment screw providing a reaction support at the free end. The middle portion of the contact blade spring provides a preload bias against the diaphragm backing plate. The blade spring includes a moveable electrical contact on a tang formed in the middle region and includes an over-center spring for effecting a snap action of the moveable contact against stationary contacts. The actuation-deactuation differential is determined, independently of the pressure setting for switch actuation, by setting the position of the stationary contacts.

US Patent:

6483052, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Mar 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/813229

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL
Paul H. Tuma - Lombard IL
James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL

Assignee:

Ranco Incorporated of Delaware - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01H 4300

US Classification:

200 38R, 200 38 A, 200 38 B, 200 38 C, 29622

Abstract:

A programmer/timer having a cam disk that includes concentric cam tracks having multiple working heights formed on one face thereof. The programmer/timer further includes a plate assembly that includes multiple cam followers for engaging cam disk and a plurality of single pole double throw switches configured for multiple working heights disposed for actuation by cam followers.

US Patent:

6718838, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871005

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL
Sudha Narayanan - Woodbridge NJ
Robert Van Der Linde - Carol Stream IL
Lawrence T. Olges - Louisville KY

Assignee:

Ranco Incorporated of Delaware - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

F16H 2144

US Classification:

74107, 74 22 R, 74 96, 74 56, 134 58 D, 200 38

Abstract:

A rotary drive mechanism for use with a timer/sequence switch in an appliance is presented. The mechanism converts linear motion from a cam tracker following a programmed cam track to rotary motion to drive a vent damper in an appliance. The rotary motion output is derived as a multiple of the input linear motion through a gear set. This input linear motion is translated to rotary motion imparted to a tracking rod, which is coupled through the gear set to an output actuating rod. Tracking by a tracking lobe is accommodated by a spring bias force applied though a bias lobe that counteracts the force applied by the cam track. Alternatively, tracking by a tracker is accommodated by a spring bias force applied through a torque arm of the tracking rod that also counteracts the force applied by the cam track.

US Patent:

51097273, May 5, 1992

Filed:

Feb 28, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/661952

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

F16H 5308
H01H 1900

US Classification:

74568R

Abstract:

A rotary adjustment device adapted for user rotation to adjust the position of an adjacent mechanism such as the linkage for actuating an electrical snap switch. The device has an outer annular cam with a central hub structure with a shaft defining surface adapted for being rotatably journalled. The hub is suspended from the cam by torsionally stiff web structure which is radially inner an outer pairs of oppositely disposed spokes which permit resilient deflection, when unwanted side loads are applied to the shaft for preventing disturbances of the cam once the user has selected a rotary position.

US Patent:

62012002, Mar 13, 2001

Filed:

Mar 18, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/271576

Inventors:

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL
Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL
Paul H. Tuma - Lombard IL

Assignee:

Ranco Incorporated of Delaware - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H01H 1900

US Classification:

200336

Abstract:

An appliance controller and its control shaft as well as a method for attaching a control knob to a control shaft are presented. The controller includes a control shaft body having a central bore and including at its forward end two cantilevers having outwardly facing detents. These detents are adapted to engage an engagement slot of a control knob. The control shaft body also includes at its rearward end two slots forming rear cantilevers having positioning detents. A locking rod is positioned within the bore of the control shaft body. It has a forward end adapted to prevent inward deflection of the forward cantilevers when it is in a locked position. This forward end is further adapted to preclude outward deflection of these cantilevers during insertion. The rearward end of the locking rod includes radially extending tabs which prevent the locking rod from being removed from the housing of the controller. This configuration allows for the securing of the control knob on the shaft from the front of the appliance by simply inserting the knob on the end of the shaft, and pushing the shaft to its retracted position.

US Patent:

49907280, Feb 5, 1991

Filed:

May 12, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/350883

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Palatine IL

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H01H 3534

US Classification:

200 83P

Abstract:

A pressure switch assembly has a preassembled spring capsule assembled onto a deck structure with a snap switch thereon to form a subassembly which is snap-locked into the cup-shaped housing. A rotary cam drum is provided in the housing with an external shaft for changing the setting. An adjustment lever has a bifurcated portion nested about the inner periphery of the cam drum and a threaded external adjustment is provided for moving the lever position against the spring capsule for calibration. The pressure switch is completely assembled from one side of the housing.

US Patent:

56378432, Jun 10, 1997

Filed:

Sep 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/534898

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL
Daniel C. Johnson - Elburn IL
Robert R. Parotto - Algonquin IL
Gordon B. Spellman - Mequon WI
Earl T. Piber - Oconomowoc WI

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H01H 4310

US Classification:

200 38R

Abstract:

A cam disc has a dual row of ratchet teeth on the periphery for dual rate of advancement by either of two oscillating motorized advance pawls. The disc has alternating high and low concentric cam tracks formed on one face. A plate is registered on the cam disc hub and has integrally formed plural resilient cam follower arms with each arm having a plastic cam track follower tip molded over the tip. The molded tips make contact with a stationary portion of the plate to limit follower travel when the cam is retracted by user movement of the shaft for setting the cam position. The high and low cam tracks engage adjacent follower arm pairs to effect a drop-to-make and drop-to-break action to each of a plurality of SPDT switches disposed for actuation by the cam followers.

US Patent:

54950791, Feb 27, 1996

Filed:

Nov 16, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/153738

Inventors:

Ronald S. Joyce - Elk Grove Village IL

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H01H 3524

US Classification:

200 81R

Abstract:

A pressure switch has a housing with a mounting bracket and a flexible diaphragm defining a wall of the pressure sensing cavity in the housing. Movement of the diaphragm operates an electric switch. The diaphragm is spring biased and an adjustment arm is frictionally mounted in a pair of guide surfaces on the mounting bracket. The arm contacts a cap on one end of the bias spring and is movable in the guide surfaces for adjusting the position of the spring cap for calibration. The mounting bracket is mounted to the housing by inserting a lug on the bracket in a recess in the housing and crimping a folded tab on the bracket to engage another recess in the housing. In another embodiment using a housing of all molded plastic, the adjustment arm frictionally engages a slot molded in the housing and is moved in the slot for calibration.