Lawrence R Folsom

US Patent:

6569049, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Oct 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/039944

Inventors:

Lawrence R. Folsom - Castleton NY
Clive Tucker - Castleton NY
Shaun M. OBoyle - Castleton NY

Assignee:

Folsom Technologies, Inc. - Castleton NY

International Classification:

F16H 4704

US Classification:

475 72

Abstract:

A continuously variable power transmission has a fixed mounting plinth, by which the transmission is mounted to a fixed structure, and an output shaft, to which an output device can be connected. A pintle having a flat radial slab and an axial arbor supports a radial piston pump rotor an one end of the arbor and a radial piston motor rotor on the other end of the arbor. A driven pulley surrounds the transmission and constitutes its exterior shell within which working fluid is contained. The pulley is coupled to a ring gear of a planetary gear set having a planet carrier with planet gears engaged between the ring gear and a sun gear. The sun gear is coupled to and drives the pump rotor, and the carrier is coupled to the output shaft. Working fluid pressurized by the pump is conveyed to the motor rotor to generate torque in the motor which is carried back to the planet carrier.

US Patent:

6874994, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Jun 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/311983

Inventors:

Lawrence R. Folsom - Castleton NY, US
Clive Tucker - Castleton NY, US

Assignee:

Folsom Technologies, Inc. - Castleton NY

International Classification:

F04B019/24
F04B049/00
F01B013/04
F01B015/00

US Classification:

417209, 417212, 92 57, 92 66, 91504, 91505, 91506

Abstract:

A hydraulic unit has a drive shaft () mounted in a manifold block () and coupled to a torque plate () on a central axis. A bent axis motive unit () has a yoke connected to the manifold block supported for rotation on the yoke. Hollow pistons () in cylinders in the cylinder block allow fluid to flow through a torque plate into and form the manifold without the necessity for passing fluid through an articulating member that pivots the cylinder block.

US Patent:

20050070391, Mar 31, 2005

Filed:

Nov 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/990041

Inventors:

Lawrence Folsom - Rensselaer NY, US
Cliye Tucker - Lenox MA, US

International Classification:

B62D011/06

US Classification:

475023000

Abstract:

A hydraulic torque vectoring differential includes two epicyclic gear sets and two variable displacement hydrostatic units. Each hydrostatic unit is coupled to a reaction member of one of each of the epicyclic gear sets, each of which also has a first gear element coupled to an input drive shaft for power input from a prime mover of said vehicle and a third gear element coupled to an output shaft operatively driving the wheels of the vehicle. The hydrostatic units are hydraulically coupled so that hydraulic fluid pressurized in one hydrostatic unit drives the other hydrostatic unit, and fluid pressurized in the other hydrostatic unit drives the one hydrostatic unit. A control system controls the displacement of the variable displacement hydrostatic units. Power from the prime mover flows primarily through the epicyclic gear sets to the output shafts, and only differential power is passed through the hydrostatic units, thereby isolating the hydraulic units from the primary power flow and making use of low displacement hydrostatic units possible for said differential power flow through said differential. The desired torque distribution between the two wheels is determined by existing conventional computer controls based on inputs from known traction sensors.

US Patent:

20070214762, Sep 20, 2007

Filed:

Jul 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/191653

Inventors:

Lawrence Folsom - Rensselaer NY, US
Clive Tucker - Lenox MA, US
Brian Lyster - Underhill VT, US
Douglas Bell - Mattoon IL, US
Michael Bennett - Sullivan IL, US

Assignee:

Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership - Sullivan IL

International Classification:

A01D 69/10

US Classification:

056011300

Abstract:

A drive apparatus having an axle and drive gear for the axle mounted within a housing, the drive gear capable of being drivingly coupled to a worm gear formed on an input shaft. An actuator extending into the housing and cooperating with the input shaft, where the actuator may rotate the input shaft about a point along the longitudinal axis of the input shaft between the first and second ends thereof to move the worm gear from a first position where it is engaged to and drives the drive gear and a second position where the worm gear does not contact the drive gear.

US Patent:

43801528, Apr 19, 1983

Filed:

Jul 25, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/172373

Inventors:

Lawrence R. Folsom - Schenectady NY
John J. Dineen - Durham NH
Nicholas G. Vitale - Schenectady NY
Charles B. Balas - Denville NJ

Assignee:

Mechanical Technology Incorporated - Latham NY

International Classification:

F02G 104

US Classification:

60520

Abstract:

A free piston Stirling engine having a hermetically sealed vessel enclosing a working space which can be charged with a working gas under pressure. A displacer, mounted in the working space at the cold end by a spring diaphragm member, to circulate the working gas through a heater, a regenerator, and a cooler to create a pressure wave in the working gas which acts against a power piston to produce output power. The spring diaphragm member provides an effective decrease in the area of the cold end of the displacer which causes the thermodynamic system to provide motive power for maintaining the oscillation of the displacer, supports and centers the displacer in the working space, and functions as a spring to return the displacer towards its center position when it is displaced toward the cold or hot end.

US Patent:

44185332, Dec 6, 1983

Filed:

Jul 14, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/168718

Inventors:

Lawrence R. Folsom - Schenectady NY

Assignee:

Mechanical Technology Incorporated - Latham NY

International Classification:

F02G 106

US Classification:

60520

Abstract:

A free piston Stirling engine inertial cancellation system includes a displacer reciprocating in a hermetic vessel enclosing a working space to circulate working gas through a heater, regenerator, and cooler to create a pressure wave in the working space. A power piston, mechanically unconnected to the displacer, is reciprocally driven by the pressure wave to produce a power output stroke in one direction and a working gas compression stroke in the other direction. The displacer and the power piston form substantially a first mass in the working space. A second mass, outside the working space and preferably including an alternator plunger, is mounted in the vessel and is coupled to the first mass momentum exchange relationship. Spring means and tuning means cause the second mass to reciprocate out-of-phase with the displacer and the power piston so that the phase of the moving masses produces inertia phasors which substantially cancel and so that little or no inertia of the reciprocating masses is transmitted through the vessel to the mounting structure of the engine.

US Patent:

40117901, Mar 15, 1977

Filed:

Jul 28, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/600179

Inventors:

Lawrence Ray Folsom - Schenectady NY
Roger Eugene Gaboriault - Williston VT

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Burlington VT

International Classification:

F41D 306

US Classification:

89162

Abstract:

A gun is provided having an operating mechanism which receives and stores energy from the gun housing during the recoil of the gun and which subsequently utilizes the stored energy in two distinct phases during the counter-recoil of the gun.

US Patent:

43500129, Sep 21, 1982

Filed:

Jul 14, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/168075

Inventors:

Lawrence R. Folsom - Schenectady NY
John J. Dineen - Durham NH

Assignee:

Mechanical Technology Incorporated - Latham NY

International Classification:

F02G 104

US Classification:

60520

Abstract:

A free-piston Stirling engine usable as a heat pump has a closed vessel filled with helium working gas which is heated at the bottom end and cooled at the top end. The vessel contains a displacer supported for axial reciprocal oscillation on a gas spring post mounted on the vessel. The displacer shuttles the working gas from end to end in the vessel, alternately heating and cooling the gas. The vessel is sealed with a flexible diaphragm which flexes in response to the pressure wave generated in the vessel as the working gas is alternately heated and cooled. When the diaphragm flexes, it displaces hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber and drives a power piston for driving a linear alternator and a gas compressor. A gas spring operating on a second hydraulic cylinder on the other side of the power piston stores part of the energy of the piston stroke and returns it for the return stroke. Controls are provided for balancing and controlling the hydraulic fluid pressure, for starting the Stirling engine, and for modulating its power output.