Patents Examined by Christopher Brunjes
  • Patent number: 9429154
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump including a suction check valve including a tubular portion and a flange portion that extends in a radial direction from an end edge of the tubular portion, the suction check valve being formed with a through hole that penetrates the tubular portion and the flange portion to form a suction port in an end surface of the flange portion. A strainer attached to the suction port and having a pore forming region which is larger than an inside diameter of the through hole at the tubular portion and in which a large number of pores are formed. The suction check valve is formed with a diameter reducing portion formed such that the inside diameter of the through hole is reduced from the flange portion toward the tubular portion with a degree of diameter reduction varied from a large value to a small value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ishikawa, Masaya Nakai
  • Patent number: 9428263
    Abstract: A jet generator is controlled by providing an input signal at a variable frequency to the jet generator and to a simulated electrical load of the jet generator, measuring a difference in signals between the jet generator and the simulated electrical load to identify an optimum flow of a jet generated by the jet generator, and tuning the frequency of the input signal to maintain the jet at the optimum flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven F. Griffin
  • Patent number: 9416790
    Abstract: A method and apparatus controls a compressor, where the compressor inlet gas may contain water and/or non-aqueous liquid. The method includes the steps of measuring temperature at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring pressure at the compressor inlet and outlet side in order to determine a compressor pressure ratio, measuring fluid mixture density at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring individual volume fractions of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, and determining individual flow rates of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid on the basis of the measured individual volume fractions of gas, water and non aqueous liquid and the fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL ASA
    Inventors: Lars Brenne, Jan Høydal
  • Patent number: 9404482
    Abstract: An operational control device is disclosed for a positive-displacement pump having a motor, means for actuating the motor, state sensor means for detecting an actual operating parameter (e.g., pressure) of the pump, and operating mode means for controlling an operating mode of the pump. A first actuating mode of the operating mode means is set by the actuating means below a first operating-parameter threshold value (P1). This mode brings about a constantly rising pump pressure in the direction of an operating-parameter setpoint value (Pset) in a variable manner, which is dependent on a detected change in the operating parameter over a predefined time interval. A second actuating mode is set as normal operation to the operating-parameter setpoint value by the actuating means above the first operating-parameter threshold value. P1 is fixed or is calculated as a fraction of the operating-parameter setpoint value and/or a pump parameter correlated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Allweiler GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Werner, Michael Jackle, Christian Hopf
  • Patent number: 9404484
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump having an improved wobble plate and cam/bearing assembly for increased pump life and improved inlet and outlet valve design for increased effective sealing area. A cam/bearing assembly includes a cam injection molded directly into an inner race of a bearing to prevent the cam from pulling away from the bearing. The wobble plate is injection molded directly onto an outer race of the bearing to prevent the wobble plate from pulling away from the cam and bearing. Inlet and outlet check valves include rounded peripheral relief zones that form a band, as opposed to a line, of effective sealing area when in the sealed position within a valve seat that eliminate or reduce sealing inconsistencies and increase sealing efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Northern Tool & Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Pilcher, Nicholas Allen Rancourt, Jim Hu
  • Patent number: 9381297
    Abstract: A portable medical device includes an interface for accepting a power supply and enabling data transfer while still connected to a human body. The interface may include a universal serial bus interface and may be coupled to a data isolation chip and a power isolation chip. A power controlling processor may determine how the supplied power, e.g., voltage, is supplied to other components within the infusion device. Additional circuitry within the system may provide a secure power transfer within the device to ensure user safety and ensure that a high frequency noise is properly attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Brown, Donald Ludolph, Philip Lamb, Anthony Barghini, Sean Saint, Marcus Julian, Robert Eastridge, Michael Rosinko, Michael Michaud
  • Patent number: 9377013
    Abstract: The oil injection device according to the invention includes an oil pump designed to be rotationally coupled to the electric motor of a compressor and including inlet and outlet ports, an oil injection duct connected to the first outlet port and designed to supply a compression stage of the compressor with oil, and an oil return duct connected to the first outlet port and designed to return the oil into an oil sump of the compressor. The pressure losses in the oil injection duct are primarily singular pressure losses proportional to the square of the oil flow rate passing through the oil injection duct. The pressure losses in the oil return duct are primarily pressure losses due to friction proportional to the oil flow rate passing through the oil return duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: DANFOSS COMMERCIAL COMPRESSORS
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Dong Wang, Pierre Ginies, Ingrid Claudin
  • Patent number: 9371826
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages in response to the determined phase currents and a variable commutation angle. The angle is selected to correspond to an axial attractive force of the stator that maintains a levitation of the impeller at a centered position within the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Jason C. Nanna
  • Patent number: 9359072
    Abstract: A blade (20) of a rotor (5), the blade (20) having a suction side (21) and a pressure side (22) extending transversely from a leading edge (23) towards a trailing edge (24) and extending spanwise from a root section (31) towards a free end section (41). The blade (40) comprises, going from the root section (31) towards said free end section (41): a root zone (30); followed by rounded zone (35); said rounded zone (35) presenting rounded pressure and suction sides (22?, 21?) departing from said main plane (P1) in a direction (Z) parallel to the axis of rotation (AXROT) of said blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Sebastien Finck, Laurent Sudre
  • Patent number: 9352082
    Abstract: A fluid supply apparatus which supplies fluid to a medical apparatus includes: a pump mechanism including a first pump capable of a suction operation of the fluid after a feeding operation of the fluid, and a second pump capable of a suction operation of the fluid during the feeding operation and a feeding operation of the fluid during the suction operation; a flow path which includes an elastic member and which communicates with the first pump and the second pump and supplies the fluid to the medical apparatus; and a flow path deforming unit which deforms a part of the flow path. The flow path deforming unit starts first deformation of the flow path before the first pump switches from the feeding operation to the suction operation, and completes the first deformation and starts second deformation of the flow path during the feeding operation by the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Uchida, Atsuya Hirabayashi, Takeshi Seto, Takahiro Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9347449
    Abstract: A submersible pump apparatus comprising a motor assembly, a pump assembly, and a plastic motor base. The motor assembly is either a canned motor assembly or a four inch motor assembly. The canned motor assembly is designed to prevent the immediate destruction of the submersible pump apparatus upon the occurrence of the breaching or leaking of the seals. The pump assembly is designed with either a single stage pump or double stage pump that utilizes a unique combination of propellers and intermediate flow straighteners, and driving mechanisms for the same. The plastic motor base is designed to accommodate attachment of either the canned motor assembly or the four inch motor assembly to the same pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Willis Dane
  • Patent number: 9334744
    Abstract: A vane assembly (21) for an axial flow turbine engine provides a plurality of nozzles (22) arranged symmetrically around a turbine axis formed by an inner hub (26), an outer casing (27) and vanes (23) intermediate pairs of adjacent nozzles. The nozzles have a cross-section normal to the turbine axis that changes smoothly with the position of the cross-section along the turbine axis from a first shape having a minimum radius of curvature of a first value that is no less than a limit L, providing the cross-section with no highly curved corners, to a second shape having a minimum radius of curvature of a second value less than the first value, providing corners. This allows the secondary flow structure to be designed to improve aerodynamic loss and cooling performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ISIS INNOVATION LTD
    Inventor: Thomas Povey
  • Patent number: 9309894
    Abstract: A household fan for providing the feel of a natural breeze includes a motorized impeller for providing airflow, a controller, an interface, and a breeze setting. The controller is coupled to the motorized impeller for changing one or more characteristics of the airflow. The interface is in communication with the controller for receiving human instructions for the controller. The breeze setting may be selected by way of the interface and implemented via the controller to operate the motorized impeller. The breeze setting varies at least one of the characteristics of the airflow, where one of the characteristics varied via the breeze setting is intensity of the airflow that is output by the motorized impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Russell Scott Magaziner
  • Patent number: 9303648
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a rotary pump, an electrical motor, and a seal section. A drive shaft extends from the motor into the pump. A radial bearing for the shaft includes a bearing sleeve secured to the shaft for rotation. A bushing rotatably receives the bearing sleeve in sliding contact. A support member has a receptacle into which the bushing locates. The receptacle has a greater inner diameter than an outer diameter of the bushing, defining an annular gap. A bearing carrier has a bore into which the support member is secured against rotation and radial movement relative to the bearing carrier. A compliant member in the gap in engagement with the bushing and the support member prevents rotation of the bushing relative to the support member and allows limited radial movement of the bushing relative to the bearing carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: John J. Mack
  • Patent number: 9284963
    Abstract: A dryer with a modular blower assembly that allows easy assembly and field servicing through replacement of the blower assembly as a unit. The blower assembly generally includes unique motor mounts that allow a motor assembly to be secured within a housing without being directly fastened to other members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: American Dryer, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Michael
  • Patent number: 9261090
    Abstract: Diaphragm pump for delivering a fluid, in particular an exhaust-gas aftertreatment medium, such as an aqueous urea solution for example, comprising a working chamber (1) which is delimited by a working diaphragm (2) and which can be connected via a first valve (3) to an inlet (4) and via a second valve (5) to an outlet (6), and an electromagnet (7) which comprises a coil assembly (8) and an armature (9) which interacts with the coil assembly (8) and is operatively connected to the working diaphragm (2). According to the invention, the valves (3, 5) are configured in a valve plate (10) which is arranged between the coil assembly (8) and the armature (9). Exhaust-gas aftertreatment system having a diaphragm pump of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Haeberer
  • Patent number: 9243642
    Abstract: A cooling system for use in a portable communication device includes a detection module, a cooling module and a central control module. The detection module detects whether the portable communication device is in a communication state and generates an acknowledgement signal. The cooling module includes a fan and a driving unit. The central control module is electrically coupled to the detection module and the driving unit, detects an operational temperature of said device, and generates a detected temperature value corresponding to the detected operational temperature. The central control module controls the fan to operate in a silent mode or a cooling mode. The central control module controls the fan to operate in the silent mode if the central control module receives the acknowledgement signal when the detected temperature value is smaller than a temperature threshold value, else the central control module controls the fan to operate in the cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SUNONWEALTH ELECTRIC MACHINE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Patent number: 9243619
    Abstract: A pump chamber is connected to an outlet-side buffer chamber via an outlet channel, and pumps a liquid from the outlet-side buffer chamber. A pressure vibration generated within the pump chamber when the volume of the pump chamber is decreased includes various kinds of information relating to the operating states of the liquid feed pump, such as mixing of bubbles, pumping pressure, dissolved gas amount, and liquid feed amount. Thus, it is possible to detect the pressure vibration, thereby simply and easily detecting the various kinds of information relating to the operating states of the liquid feed pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Takahiro Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9217589
    Abstract: The refrigeration compressor according to the invention comprises a sealed enclosure containing a compression stage (7) and provide with a refrigerant inlet and outlet (6, 18), the compressor being configured such that under usage conditions, a flow of refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant inlet, the compression stage, and the refrigerant outlet. The compressor has an oil pan (24) and oil recirculation means arranged to orient the oil contained in the oil pan into the flow of refrigerant when the oil in the oil pan exceeds a predetermined oil level (34). The recirculation means include a recirculation line (35) housed in the sealed enclosure and comprising an inlet port (36) situated at a height substantially corresponding to the predetermined oil level, an outlet port (37) emerging in the refrigerant flow, and an intermediate part (38) connecting the inlet and outlet ports. The intermediate part (38) includes a first portion (38a) extending below the predetermined oil level (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: DANFOSS COMMERCIAL COMPRESSORS
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Philippe Dugast
  • Patent number: 9212661
    Abstract: An electric compressor includes a housing, an electric motor, a compression mechanism, and a resin molding. The electric motor includes a coil having coil ends projecting from each of two end surfaces of the stator. Refrigerant flows through the housing that accommodates the electric motor. The resin molding covers each coil end and includes an opening that exposes part of the coil end to the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukasaku, Shozo Hamana