William Cohen

US Patent:

39946401, Nov 30, 1976

Filed:

Nov 18, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/632964

Inventors:

William A. Cohen - Brooklyn NY

Assignee:

Sphero International Co. - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

F01C 300

US Classification:

418 68

Abstract:

The engine includes a housing defining a spherical cavity therein. A cylindrical member, rotatably mounted within the cavity, is driven by a drive member movably mounted within the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member, the drive member and the internal wall of the cavity define an expansion-compression chamber. Steam intake and steam exhaust manifolds are provided in the housing at spaced positions adjacent the cavity. The cylindrical member is provided with a steam passage therein which, in at least one rotational position of the cylindrical member, operatively connects the expansion-compression chamber to the intake manifold and in at least one other rotational position thereof operatively connects the expansion-compression chamber to the exhaust manifold. An output shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing and connected to the cylindrical member to be driven thereby. A circular ring valve is interposed between the cylindrical member and the intake and exhaust manifolds, respectively, to vary the comparative durations of the intake to and exhaust from the expansion-compression chamber of the cylindrical member.

US Patent:

39614972, Jun 8, 1976

Filed:

Jul 28, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/599605

Inventors:

William A. Cohen - Brooklyn NY

Assignee:

Sphero International Company - West Long Branch NJ

International Classification:

F16D 330

US Classification:

64 21

Abstract:

The joint includes first and second parts, each of which is operatively connected to a different one of two shafts. The parts are relatively movable about a given point in accordance with the angular movement of the shafts relative to each other and are rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the shafts. Each of the parts comprises a pair of radially spaced arcuate fingers which mesh with the corresponding fingers of the other part. One of the fingers on each part is provided with a slot. The slots align radially when the fingers mesh. A pin is provided, extending through the slots to connect the parts for simultaneous rotation and to permit relative movement between the pin and the parts, respectively. The other finger on each part is provided with a gear rack. A beveled idler gear, mounted on the pin, meshes with the gear racks simultaneously and is rotatable as the parts and thus the racks are moved relative to each other.

US Patent:

39345599, Jan 27, 1976

Filed:

Mar 10, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/556707

Inventors:

William A. Cohen - Brooklyn NY

Assignee:

Sphero International Company - West Long Branch NJ

International Classification:

F02B 5300

US Classification:

123 845

Abstract:

The rotary engine includes a casing having a spherical cavity, or working sphere, therein and an engine shaft rotatably mounted in the casing. A driven cylindrical member, or drum, having four combustion chambers therein is rotatably mounted within the casing bisecting the spherical cavity, and said driven member is connected to the engine shaft. A hollow driving circular member, or plate, operatively connected to the driven cylindrical member by passing through the center thereof and is mounted within the spherical cavity, or working sphere, of the casing. The intersection of the driven cylindrical member by the driving circular member forms four spherical wedge-shaped variable volumes referred to as "compression-expansion" chambers, within the working sphere. It is the expansion of the ignited gases within the compression-expansion chambers that drives the circular member, or plate, which in turn rotates the driven cylindrical member, or drum, that drives the engine shaft. Within the hollow circular driving member are four variable volume air "intake compartments" supplied with fresh air through rotating valves on stationary air intake tubes.

US Patent:

39678660, Jul 6, 1976

Filed:

Jun 9, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/584770

Inventors:

William A. Cohen - Brooklyn NY

Assignee:

Sphero International Company - West Long Branch NJ

International Classification:

F16C 1904
F16C 3364

US Classification:

3081871

Abstract:

Means are provided for forming an anti-friction pressure seal between a surface and an element movable relative to that surface such that a fluid containing compartment may be divided into zones of different pressures. The seal includes a roller bearing, at least partially received within a cavity in the element, and a spring deformable to be positioned within the cavity between the roller bearing and the walls of the cavity. The spring has a first surface surrounding at least substantially half of the circumference of the bearing to retain the bearing in the cavity. The first surface, when the spring is inserted into the cavity, contacts the roller bearing substantially at only a single location between, but not including, the end sections thereof and substantially all other portions of the first surface are spaced from the roller bearing to minimize contact between the surface and the bearing. A second surface spaced from the first surface is adjacent the wall of the cavity when the spring is inserted into the cavity. Further, resilient means extending between the first and second surfaces are provided within the vicinity of the point of contact between the first surface and the roller bearing.

US Patent:

40056180, Feb 1, 1977

Filed:

Sep 29, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/617365

Inventors:

William A. Cohen - Brooklyn NY

Assignee:

Sphero International Co. - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

F16H 3300

US Classification:

74640

Abstract:

Each stage of the transmission includes a composite ring gear for operatively connecting spaced coplanar drive and idler gears on engine and idler shafts, respectively. The ring gear comprises a plurality of rotationally offset element assemblies, each of which includes first and second ring gear sectors, each mounted on a different end of a rotatable element. In this manner, as one gear sector engages the drive gear, the other sector engages the idler gear. Means operably connected to each element assembly of the composite ring gear are provided for varying the position of the axis of rotation of each of the assemblies relative to the drive and idler gears so as to change the ratio of the distances between the axes of rotation of the element assemblies and that of the drive and idler gears, respectively, and thus the speed transfer ratio of the stage. A plurality of such stages are connected in tandem such that the net effect on the final idler shaft equals the product of the speed transfer ratios of the several stages. The means for simultaneously controlling the means for varying the position of the axes of rotation of the element assemblies in each composite ring gear are connected to the throttle and can be varied in minute increments in response to the actuation thereof.

US Patent:

43039553, Dec 1, 1981

Filed:

Feb 25, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/124576

Inventors:

Joel Kramer - Woodbury NY
William D. Cohen - Huntington NY

Assignee:

North Atlantic Industries, Inc. - Hauppauge NY

International Classification:

G11B 578
G11B 2304

US Classification:

360 93

Abstract:

There is disclosed a tape deck for receiving standardized tape cartridges for data interchange in which the cartridge is accurately positioned by the combination of the forward thrust of a pair of resiliently biased pivot plates working in the notches of the cartridges and the resilient upward thrust of a leaf spring, with the cartridge near the plane of the interface of the recording head with the tape, having precision reference bearing points engaging complementary positioning pins anchored in the deck. The pair of pivot plates are restrained to remain in phase by means of a cross-coupling linkage and means are provided for the automatic ejection of the cartridges.