Thomas J Berger

US Patent:

6481652, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Feb 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/777129

Inventors:

William A. Strutz - Racine WI
Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI
Scott W. Anderson - Racine WI

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - Racine WI

International Classification:

B02C 2336

US Classification:

241 46013, 2411012

Abstract:

The present invention provides a food waste disposer having an upper food conveying section, a motor section, a central grinding section and a controller. The upper food conveying section includes a housing forming an inlet to receive food waste. The motor section includes a switched reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor imparts rotational movement to a rotatable shaft. The central grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys food waste to the grinding section. The grinding section includes a grinding mechanism where a portion of the grinding mechanism is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is electrically connected to the stator to control the switched reluctance machine. The controller is capable of directing rotational movement to the rotatable shaft and the portion of the grinding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is further capable of maintaining the rotational movement of the rotatable shaft at more than one rotational speed.

US Patent:

6719228, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Feb 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/066893

Inventors:

Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI
Cynthia Jara-Almonte - Kenosha WI

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Company - St. Louis MD

International Classification:

B02C 1842

US Classification:

241 46016

Abstract:

A baffle for a food waste disposer to reduce noise is disclosed. The baffle has a diaphragm that allows solid and liquid waste to pass through the diaphragm, and accordingly does not substantially affect the normal operation of the disposer. However, because the baffle covers the central opening in the conventional mounting gasket of the prior art, a direct path from the grinding mechanism in the disposer to the sink is blocked, thus muffling the noise coming from the grinding mechanism. Additionally, the disclosed baffles are preferably, but not necessarily, designed so as to create a water dam on their surface by impeding the flow of water from the sink faucet in a way to create a pool of water. The disclosed baffles may be installed in the drain opening of a sink above the conventional mounting gasket, although other embodiments are also disclosed.

US Patent:

6772968, Aug 10, 2004

Filed:

Nov 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/300219

Inventors:

Cynthia C Jara-Almonte - Kenosh WI
Thomas R Berger - Racine WI
Jeff P Culver - Sturtevant WI

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B02C 2336

US Classification:

241 46013, 241 46014

Abstract:

A waste line connector assembly for connecting a food waste disposer to a waste line is disclosed. The connector assembly isolates vibrational forces of the waste disposer from the waste line caused during the operation of the waste disposer. The connector assembly includes a flexible isolation coupler. The flexible isolation coupler has a flexible portion for absorbing the vibrational forces of the waste disposer. The flexible isolation coupler may be directly coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line. The flexible isolation coupler may also be attached between two tubular tailpipes, which are coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line.

US Patent:

6854673, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Oct 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/262776

Inventors:

William F. Strutz - Racine WI, US
Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B02C023/36

US Classification:

241 46013, 241 33, 241 36

Abstract:

The present invention provides a food waste disposer having an upper food conveying section, a motor section, a central grinding section and a controller. The upper food conveying section includes a housing forming an inlet to receive food waste. The motor section includes a switched reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor imparts rotational movement to a rotatable shaft. The central grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys food waste to the grinding section. The grinding section includes a grinding mechanism where a portion of the grinding mechanism is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is electrically connected to the stator to control the switched reluctance machine. The controller is capable of directing rotational movement to the rotatable shaft and the portion of the grinding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is further capable of maintaining the rotational movement of the rotatable shaft at more than one rotational speed.

US Patent:

6905360, Jun 14, 2005

Filed:

Jun 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/604084

Inventors:

Thomas R Berger - Racine WI, US
Jerry G Ryder - Lake Bluff IL, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

H01R004/24

US Classification:

439441, 439939

Abstract:

A quick connect plug for electrically connecting and mechanically attaching a power cord to an appliance, such as a disposer, is disclosed. The plug is connected to an end of the power cord. In one embodiment, the plug houses push-in terminals, which are electrically connected to first and second wires of the power cord. A first portion of the plug defines openings to receive leads from the disposer, which electrically connect to the push-in terminals housed in the plug. The first portion positions through an aperture defined in a metal portion or lower end frame of the disposer. A plurality of tabs disposed about the first portion engage an inside surface of the lower end frame of the disposer. A second portion of the plug is connected to the cord and defines a shoulder with the first portion. A conductive ring is disposed on the shoulder and is electrically connected to the ground wire of the power cord.

US Patent:

7021574, Apr 4, 2006

Filed:

Apr 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/404581

Inventors:

Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI, US
Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte - Racine WI, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B02C 18/42

US Classification:

241 46016, 241 46014, 241 46015

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a vibration isolation gasket for mounting a food waste disposer to a sink that is at least partially molded onto a portion of the housing of the disposer, and preferably to the disposer's container cover. The vibration isolation gasket preferably includes a rubberized and integrally-formed gasket portion, sleeve portion, and over-molded portion. The gasket portion couples to the drain opening and may contain pleats to prevent food ejection from the disposer. The sleeve portion connects the gasket and over-molded portions, bears the weight of the disposer as it hangs from the sink, and acts as the primary structure for reducing vibration-induced noise. The over-molded portion is preferably molded onto the top and bottom of the container cover, which is in turns crimped to the remainder of the disposer housing.

US Patent:

7048213, May 23, 2006

Filed:

Jan 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/043904

Inventors:

William A. Strutz - Racine WI, US
Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI, US
Scott W. Anderson - Racine WI, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B02C 18/42

US Classification:

241 36, 241 46013

Abstract:

The present invention provides a food waste disposer having an upper food conveying section, a motor section, a central grinding section and a controller. The upper food conveying section includes a housing forming an inlet to receive food waste. The motor section includes a switched reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor imparts rotational movement to a rotatable shaft. The central grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys food waste to the grinding section. The grinding section includes a grinding mechanism where a portion of the grinding mechanism is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is electrically connected to the stator to control the switched reluctance machine. The controller is capable of directing rotational movement to the rotatable shaft and the portion of the grinding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is further capable of maintaining the rotational movement of the rotatable shaft at more than one rotational speed.

US Patent:

D536211, Feb 6, 2007

Filed:

Dec 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

29/244602

Inventors:

Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte - Kenosha WI, US
Thomas R. Berger - Racine WI, US
Richard A. Junk - Elkhorn WI, US

Assignee:

Emerson Electric Co. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

3100

US Classification:

D 7375