Patents Examined by Paul Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 6244830
    Abstract: A vane-cell pump, has a rotor that is arranged in a lifting ring that forms at least one suction region and one pressure region. Radial slots extend over the entire width and are arranged on the circumferential surface of the rotor. Vanes are arranged in the slots in a radially movable manner, with stationary lateral limiting surfaces (lateral surfaces) that adjoin the rotor and the lateral edges of the vanes in a sealing manner. At least one of the lateral surfaces comprises a groove that extends within the range of motion of lower vane chambers and the other lateral surface comprises at least one lower vane pocket that is assigned to the suction region and connected to the pressure region within the range of motion of the lower vane chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Luk, Fahrzeug-Jydraulik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 6024545
    Abstract: A tube-pump of the invention comprising; an elastic-tube disposed in a ring-shaped form along the inner surface of a cylindrical chamber, a ring-shaped pressure member driven by an eccentric cam device disposed within said ring-shaped elastic tube which is pressed by the circular motion of said ring-shaped pressure member, and plural supporting means allowing a pressing motion to said elastic tube and preventing continuous rotating motions of said pressing member in a same direction holding said pressure member in said cylindrical chamber by said plural supporting means. By employing this pump construction, elongation of elastic tube and changes of its inner diameter possible by continuous rotations of ring-shaped pressure members into the same direction can be prevented, and at the same time, the pump output capacity can be kept at constant without damaging said elastic tube, remarkably improving the pump durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Aqua Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Morioka
  • Patent number: 6015272
    Abstract: A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh, The United States of America as represented by Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James F. Antaki, Bradley Paden, Gregory Burgreen, Nelson Groom
  • Patent number: 5988988
    Abstract: A capacity control valve device for a variable capacity swash plate compressor which includes at least one piston, a suction port, a suction chamber, and a refrigerant inlet passage communicating the suction port with the suction chamber, in which each piston has its stroke changed to control delivery quantity of the compressor. The control valve device is arranged at an intermediate portion of the refrigerant inlet passage, for controlling differential pressure between the suction port and the suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tokumasu
  • Patent number: 5957666
    Abstract: A tandem-type pump assembly having a first housing and a second housing. A first main pump and a second main pump are coaxially aligned and disposed in the first housing. A first driving shaft having a first end and a second end is rotatably supported in the first housing and coaxially interconnects the first main pump and the second main pump. A driving gear is fixed to the first end of the first driving shaft for rotation therewith. A second driving shaft is rotatably supported in the second housing for driving an auxiliary pump. A driven gear is fixed to the second driving shaft for rotation therewith and directly engages the driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Sub Lee
  • Patent number: 5947708
    Abstract: An axial flow valve system for a linear compressor which is capable of enhancing the operation of the compressor by securely fixing an intake valve comprising an axial flow valve system to prevent an undesired axial movement of the intake valve, promptly carrying out an opening-closing operation and improving the reliability of the valve opening-closing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Park, Hyung Kook Lee
  • Patent number: 5944489
    Abstract: A fluid pump includes main support bearings for supporting the impeller shaft and back-up bearings for supporting the shaft upon failure of the main support bearings. The back-up bearings are positioned between the main support bearings and shaft driver/motor, and have a radial clearance with the shaft which is greater than the radial clearance between the main support bearings and shaft and yet is small enough to prevent any shards that may result from failure of the main support bearings from passing through the radial clearance space between the back-up bearings and shaft and damaging other rotating parts of the pump. A diagnostic monitor detects wear or failure of the main support bearings by sensing relative shaft displacement. Also, a controller causes the driver to shut down when a predetermined amount of allowable wear of the main support bearings is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Crane Co.
    Inventors: Paul E. Vaughn, James Lobach, Edward W. Mattes
  • Patent number: 5924846
    Abstract: A cover for a sewer basin with a pump is provided with upper and lower members. The bowl-like lower member has a central cavity which may be closed in a water-tight fashion by placement of the upper member onto the lower member in a frictional fit. A flanged surface on the lower member allows it to be sealed in water-tight relationship over a maintenance entry into the basin. A control panel for the pump is mounted in the central cavity. Access may be had to the control panel without a need to open the basin, and access may be had to the basin interior without a need for opening the central cavity or the control panel housed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Arnold, Jr., Thomas R. Baughman, Jason D. Fogt, Douglas Milby, Brian Mitsch, Art Morris, Kirk W. Neer, Doug Strief
  • Patent number: 5908287
    Abstract: An improved suction noise muffler mounting apparatus for a hermetic compressor which is capable of more simply mounting a suction noise muffler to a cylinder head, for thus reducing the number of fabrication processes and increasing the productivity of a hermetic compressor, which includes a suction noise muffler head having a protrusion having a predetermined height and formed on the upper surface thereof and integrally engaged to an upper end of the suction noise muffler, and a fixing member provided for mounting the suction noise muffler to a portion of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Min Kim, Jae Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 5899672
    Abstract: A positive displacement inductive pump which includes a pair of steel cylinders or sleeves having a non-magnetic corrosion resistant inner surface and non-magnetic alloy rings disposed at each cylinder end. Three ferromagnetic pole pieces having an axial opening are provided with each cylinder disposed between a respective pair of the pole pieces and connected to the pole pieces with the alloy rings. A pair of oppositely disposed steel plates connected to the pole pieces forms a magnetically conductive circuit between the pole pieces. A piston positioned within the bore defining a displacement chamber adjacent to each end of the bore. The piston includes a rod formed of magnetic material with a corrosion resistant lining encapsulating the rod. The pistons outer lining surface forms a seal with the material on the inner surface of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventor: Laurence R. Salamey