James R Pearson, 802250 E Cedar St, Springfield, IL 62703

6483052, Nov 19, 2002

Mar 20, 2001

09/813229

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

Ranco Incorporated of Delaware - Wilmington DE

H01H 4300

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

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.

6722575, Apr 20, 2004

Nov 19, 2002

10/299149

Kelly S. Gagne - St. Charles IL
Philip C. Hawken - Darien IL
James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

G05D 2313

236 1212, 4676

An adapter for use with a mixing valve, an automatic temperature regulating mixing valve, and a method of providing automatic temperature regulation for a fluid mixing valve are provided. The adapter includes an inlet adapted to attach to an outlet of a mixing valve, and at least one temperature sensing switch positioned to sense the temperature of fluid flowing through the adapter. The thermal sensing switch activates at a predetermined temperature to close its internal contacts. This contacts are wired between the line inputs of the electrically controlled valves governing the flow of fluid into each of the hot and cold fluid inlets of the mixing valve. Both or either a high and low temperature switch may be used. The adapter may also include a flow control element.

6880359, Apr 19, 2005

Jul 15, 2003

10/620104

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US
Thomas J. Davern - St. Charles IL, US
Paul H. Tuma - Lombard IL, US

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

F25D017/04

62408, 62186, 62407

A flow-through rotary damper assembly providing highly efficient, essentially laminar fluid flow therethrough is provided. The rotary damper assembly includes a cylindrical outer body and a cylindrical inner body that are rotatable in relation to one another. The outer body defines apertures in relation to one another to allow fluid flow without requiring fluid direction change. The inner body defines a flow passage having inlet and outlet apertures that may be aligned with the apertures of the outer body to allow fluid flow therethrough, or may be rotated out of alignment to block fluid flow. The outer body includes an aperture on one end to allow fluid flow to a third compartment. The inner body also includes an end aperture that may be aligned therewith. The damper provides selectable fluid flow between each of the compartments depending on the relative position of the cylindrical inner body member.

7009122, Mar 7, 2006

Oct 7, 2002

10/265915

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US
Jack D. Rodesiler - West Chicago IL, US

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

H01H 43/00

200 38R, 200 38 B

A program timer for use with commercial or consumer appliances provides a single user knob interface that allows the desired selection of a programmed cycle and a push-to-start function. To preclude inadvertent program operation and enhance the life of the program timer, a snap-action switch is utilized to provide the push-to-start functionality. As such, actuation of the start switch provides a positional hysteresis that prevents teasing of the switch. The rapid snap-action opening and closing of the switch contacts precludes or minimizes the arc sustained between the contacts so as to greatly increase the life of the start switch. In one embodiment an actuation wheel larger in diameter than the program cam stack of the timer is utilized to pivot a lever to actuate the snap-action switch.

7140593, Nov 28, 2006

Mar 31, 2005

11/096244

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US
Robert J. Van der Linde - Aurora IL, US
Thomas J. Davern - St. Charles IL, US

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

F16K 31/00

251251, 251304

A damper assembly that produces bi-directional damper door movement from a single-direction motor is provided. Bi-directional rotation of the damper door is enabled by a cam slot on an end of the damper door that is engaged by a motor-driven drive cam having a drive pin extending into the cam slot. As the single-direction motor collectively rotates the drive cam and the drive pin, the drive pin reciprocates within the cam slot. This causes sealing flanges and the damper from the damper door to alternatively engage under a positive pressure and disengage from one another as the damper door is rotated bi-directionally.

7174734, Feb 13, 2007

Nov 29, 2005

11/288621

Thomas J. Davern - St. Charles IL, US
James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US
Paul H. Tuma - Lombard IL, US

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

F25D 17/04
F23N 1/00
G05D 23/02

62187, 236 96, 236101 R

A damper in a refrigeration system having a first compartment and a second compartment connectable through a passageway is provided. The damper comprises a damper door, a temperature responsive unit, and a heating element. The damper door is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The temperature responsive unit is operatively coupled to the damper door. The heating element is coupled to one end of the temperature responsive unit to conductively heat the temperature responsive unit when activated. The temperature responsive unit expands to move the damper door to the open position in response to conductive heating from the heating element.

7465894, Dec 16, 2008

Jul 18, 2007

11/779693

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US
Russell A. Meyer - Crystal Lake IL, US

Robertshaw Controls Company - Richmond VA

H01H 35/36

200 83R, 200 83 WM

A one time high fill pressure switch providing energy savings operation for use in a commercial or consumer appliance such as a clothes washing machine is provided. The one time high fill pressure switch provides multiple water level settings that may be selected by a user, including a maximum fill energy savings setting. Operation in the maximum fill energy savings setting allows a maximum fill level upon the first fill cycle of the programmed washing cycle. In subsequent fill cycles during the washing cycle, the one time high fill pressure switch limits the water level to a setting below the initial fill level setting. This operation is provided through the use of a hook feature on the pressure switch program cam that traps a reset spring support and is controlled by a cam follower in the pressure switch.

7474593, Jan 6, 2009

Mar 8, 2005

11/075205

James E. Pearson - Downers Grove IL, US

Bobertshaw Controls Company - Carol Stream IL

G04B 47/00
D06F 33/00

368 10, 68 1201, 68 1223

A timer control apparatus for use in an appliance is provided. The timer control apparatus includes a timer having a timing motor, a user interface including a setting indicator and option switches, and a delay circuit associated with the timing motor. The delay circuit is operable to halt the timing motor and to start the timing motor such that the timer control apparatus delays progression of the timing motor. The delay circuit can halt and start the timing motor at regular intervals, irregular intervals, according to a timing pattern, based on the setting indicator, and/or based the option switches. By delaying the timing motor, travel or progression of the setting indicator between settings is reduced.