Patents Examined by Michael K. Gray
  • Patent number: 6585496
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with an oil reservoir that is self-regulating dependent on the overall lubricant level in the compressor. The reservoir is provided by a structural member having an inner rim and a bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a metering orifice that returns lubricant to the main sump. The metering orifice will ensure that undue amounts of lubricant are not maintained in the reservoir during low oil operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventor: Zili Sun
  • Patent number: 6582205
    Abstract: A grease/water pumping and separating system is provided with a pump mechanism that utilizes a motivating fluid to pump a grease/water mixture. The mixture is sucked into and discharged out of a pumping cavity. A movable biasing boundary, such as a piston, separates the motivating fluid from the grease/water mixture. The pump mechanism pumps the grease/water mixture to a separator unit which separates the grease and water components and directs the grease to a retaining tank and the gray water component of the grease/water mixture to an appropriate outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 6579068
    Abstract: A suspended p-GaN membrane is formed using photochemical etching which membrane can then be used in a variety of MEMS devices. In the illustrated embodiment a pump is comprised of the p-GaN membrane suspended between two opposing, parallel n-GaN support pillars, which are anchored to a rigid substrate below the pillars. The p-GaN membrane bows upward between the pillars in order to relieve stress built up during the epitaxial growth of membrane. This bowing substantially increases the volume of the enclosed micro-channel defined between membrane and substrate below. The ends of membrane are finished off by a gradual transition to the flat underlying n-GaN layer in which fluidic channels may also be defined to provide inlet and outlet channels to microchannel. A traveling wave or sequential voltage applied to the electrodes causes the membrane to deform and provide a peristaltic pumping action in the microchannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Paul M. Bridger, Robert P. Strittmatter, Robert A. Beach, Thomas C. McGill
  • Patent number: 6579075
    Abstract: A compressor for refrigeration cycles, which is provided with a noise attenuation structure on the interior wall of the discharge plenum, is disclosed. In the compressor of this invention, a valve seat is covered with a head cover at its top to form a discharge plenum between the valve seat and the head cover. This discharge plenum temporarily stores a pressurized working fluid therein. The valve seat has a fluid inlet used for allowing an introduction of the pressurized working fluid into the discharge plenum, and a fluid outlet used for discharging the pressurized working fluid from the discharge plenum. A control valve is mounted to the valve seat so as to control the fluid inlet. A plurality of micro-projections are provided on the interior wall of the discharge plenum for absorbing and attenuating impact waves of the working fluid during an introduction of the working fluid into the discharge plenum, thus attenuating operational noises and vibrations caused by the impact waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Seop Lee, Sang Heon Yoon
  • Patent number: 6579073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor-and-pump assembly including an electric motor and a piston pump, in particular for slip-controlled brake systems of automotive vehicles, wherein pistons of the pump are adapted to be driven by way of an eccentric, and the drive shaft of the electric motor and a support axle of the piston pump are separately designed, and wherein a three-ring bearing furnished with an eccentric intermediate ring is arranged on the support axle. According to the present invention, at least one counterbalance weight is provided in the proximity of the eccentric for the purpose of noise reduction and enhanced truth of running of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves Ag & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Dieter Dinkel, Hans-Dieter Reinartz
  • Patent number: 6575711
    Abstract: A method is disclosed which limits soiling of internal turbomachine parts from dirt originating with process gas. In between at least two successive faces in which the turbomachine is operated normally, and during which time only process gas is introduced into the inlet of the turbomachine, a cleaning phase is initiated. During this phase, a substance in a dense state is introduced at the inlet which is capable of dissolving the dirt on internal parts of the turbomachine. Process gas and the dirt dissolving substance are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Thermodyn
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Pugnet, Henri Hus, Daniel Tricot
  • Patent number: 6575713
    Abstract: There is provided a vacuum pump which suppresses the propagation of vibrations to an external container without the use of a damper. The vacuum pump has an outer cylindrical portion, a rotor portion and a stator portion accommodated within the outer cylindrical portion to define a transferring portion for a gas sucked from an inlet port, a magnetic bearing for supporting the rotor portion with respect to the stator portion, a motor for rotating the rotor portion with respect to the stator portion, and a base for supporting the outer cylindrical portion and the stator portion. A vibration absorbing member is interposed between the stator portion and the base, which has a natural frequency F=(f1+f3)/2±(f1−f3)/4, provided that f1, f2 and f3 respectively denote a natural frequency of nutation in conical mode, a natural frequency in parallel mode and a natural frequency of procession in the conical mode, when the rotor portion is rotated at a rated speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ohtachi, Hirotaka Namiki, Akira Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6568915
    Abstract: The number of seal members relating to a gas flow control valve can be reduced. A displacement control valve 25 is attached to a fixed coupling surface 193 on the outer wall surface of a rear housing 19. A gasket 45 is interposed between end surfaces 362 and 414 of the displacement control valve 25 side and a coupling surface 193. A sealing elastic layer 452 of the gasket 45 is in close contact with the end surfaces 362 and 414, and a sealing elastic layer 453 is in close contact with the coupling surface 193. A pressure supply passage 30 and a gas passage 413 are communicated with each other via a communication port 454 on the gasket 45. A pressure supply passage 31 is communicated with an insertion recess 33 that is communicated with a valve port 431.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Naoya Yokomachi, Tatsuya Koide, Toshiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 6568913
    Abstract: A variable displacement swash plate type compressor which incorporates a lubricant pump coupled to one end of the drive shaft of the compressor, wherein the lubricant pump provides positive lubricant flow within the compressor and facilitates the lubrication of compressor components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guntis V. Strikis, Shane A. Harte, Yong Huang
  • Patent number: 6568912
    Abstract: A method for measuring the pumping operating parameters of a diaphragm delivery unit, the conductivity of a resistance device mounted on a diaphragm being measured, at least over one pumping period, as a time-dependent quantity, and this quantity being used in the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Gerhard Röhner
  • Patent number: 6568922
    Abstract: A pump cylinder in which a pump plunger is guided which divides the cylinder into a forward and a rearward subspace, which, in the forward subspace, has a connection for taking in the fluid medium to be delivered, the rearward subspace of the pump cylinder containing one or several electrochemical gas consumption cells for a consumption gas, an electric circuit being provided which is constantly or temporarily connected with the electrodes of the gas consumption cell, is characterized in that the rearward part of the pump cylinder is filled with an electrochemical consumption gas, and the electric circuit is designed for causing a gas consumption current so that the pump cylinder forms a device for implementing a process for collecting pasty masses, liquids, gases and mobile objects for a previously determinable time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: August Winsel
  • Patent number: 6561773
    Abstract: An internal housing is surrounded by an external housing, forming an external space. A total quantity of fuel, pumped by the fuel feed pump into the external housing is divided in such a manner into two subquantities of fuel such that the subquantity of fuel, required by a motor, flows out of the fuel feed pump after flowing through the external space and an internal pump housing space. The other subquantity of fuel flows to a pressure regulator without flowing through the external and internal spaces of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gregor Fischer
  • Patent number: 6558125
    Abstract: The injector of the invention serves for applying contrast media for X-ray or nuclear spin tomography and has a tube (3), as well as a roller pump (7) surrounded at least partially in peripheral direction by the tube (3) for transporting the fluid from a storage vessel (2) to a cannula. A pressure chamber (10) connected with the interior of the tube (3) through an opening (9) in the tube wall is provided, which has a component (11) adjustable under the effect of the fluid pressure, acting upon a pressure sensor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Ulrich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Futterknecht
  • Patent number: 6558133
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a supply passage for supplying refrigerant gas from a discharge chamber to a crank chamber and a bleed passage for bleeding the refrigerant gas from the crank chamber to a suction chamber. An oil separator is connected to a drive shaft and is located in the bleed passage. The oil separator rotates together with the drive shaft to centrifugally separate lubricant oil from the refrigerant gas that flows in the bleed passage. An oil chamber is formed in a compressor housing for receiving the separated oil. The pressure in the oil chamber is equal to or greater than the pressure in the crank chamber. The lubricant oil rapidly returns to the crank chamber through a return passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Hiroshi Uneyama, Minoru Mera
  • Patent number: 6554587
    Abstract: The pump of the present invention preferably includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a chamber located in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet port. A diaphragm is sealingly secured in the chamber and, together with the housing, define a fluid passageway from the inlet port to the outlet port. An electromagnetic assembly or other driving device is preferably secured to the housing and is positioned to move the diaphragm in order to pump fluid through the pump. In some preferred embodiments, the electromagnetic assembly includes a plunger positioned and adapted to move the diaphragm against the biasing force of a spring. Improved diaphragms and diaphragm features are also disclosed, including a two-part diaphragm structure, diaphragm sealing portions for sealing the fluid chamber from driving and biasing assemblies of the pump, and inherently biased diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: SHURflo Pump Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Paolini, Joseph A. Pascual, Jonathan Dinh
  • Patent number: 6554585
    Abstract: A power generating assembly structured to have dual functionality by combining an interactive operation of both an engine assembly and a compressor assembly in an at least partially segregated or isolated relation to one another within a common housing. The engine assembly may be connected to anyone of a plurality of different power take-offs in order that the power generated thereby is capable of doing work. Concurrently the compressor assembly is operative to pressurize a fluid flow passing there through and more specifically to increase the pressure of a refrigerant vapor which, after compression is transfer to a condenser or other utilitarian device for operation of a space conditioning or like facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Giorgio Maracchi
  • Patent number: 6554582
    Abstract: A pump has a main unit (18) for pumping a transferred liquid which is actuated by an secondary unit (20) which pumps a working liquid. The secondary unit (20) has a hub (64) which is rotably mounted in a housing (16). The hub has a cylindrical guiding surface (SG) which is rotatable in the housing. A shoulder (FE) axially positions the hub in the housing. The guiding surface and shoulder cooperate with rotation guiding and axial positioning elements on the housing. The hub connects to a swashplate (62) which actuates a piston (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Peugeot Automobiles SA, Siemens VDO Automotive
    Inventor: Alain Belec
  • Patent number: 6554578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a diaphragm pump with a device for controlling the position of a diaphragm separating the conveying chamber from the displacement chamber. As a replacement of the mechanical control of the refilling process, a pressure sensor is arranged in the displacement chamber, which is connected with an evaluation unit designed for generating a refill signal, which is switched so it actuates a refill valve through an operative connection. Advantageously, a second sensor for detecting the piston travel is provided, whose signal is linked with the signal from the pressure sensor. The invention furthermore relates to a method for controlling the position of a diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Bran & Luebbe GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Siegel
  • Patent number: 6551069
    Abstract: A compressor with a capacity modulation system includes a compression chamber, a rotatable shaft within the compression chamber, and a roller mounted on the shaft in contact with a wall of the compression chamber. A suction channel is in fluid communication with the compression chamber for providing fluid at a suction pressure and a discharge channel is in fluid communication with the compression chamber for removing fluid at a discharge pressure. A re-expansion channel adjacent to the compression chamber has a first end forming a re-expansion port in the wall of the compression chamber. A re-expansion chamber is connected to the re-expansion channel. A valve disposed in the re-expansion channel is movable between a first position, in which the valve allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the re-expansion chamber, and a second position, in which the valve prevents fluid communication between the compression chamber and re-expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bristol Compressors, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Narney, II, David T. Monk, Joseph F. Loprete
  • Patent number: 6547529
    Abstract: A sensor, system, and method for determining whether sufficient water is present to safely operate a pump. The sensor includes first and second conductive fittings that are physically and electrically isolated from one another by a third non-conductive fitting. Electrodes are secured to the exteriors of the first and second fittings and are electrically connected to an electronic detection device. The electronic detection device applies a voltage across the first and second fittings and detects a current flowing between the first and second fittings. The current is correlated to the presence of water between the first and second fittings. If the detected current is below a predetermined minimum, the electronic detection device turns off the pump to prevent dry-running thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Donald Gross