Patents Examined by Roland G. McAndrews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5833440
    Abstract: A magnetically-powered linear displacement device is disclosed which can be used as the highly efficient pollution-free prime mover. The linear displacement device utilizes a permanent magnet whose flux density can be readily shifted from one of two parallel magnetic paths within the displacement device. A pair of pole pieces made of magnetically soft material abuts portions of the permanent magnet and conducts the magnetic flux in two different magnetic circuit pathways such that the permanent magnet's flux can flow in either direction, and if the magnetic flux is travelling along a first of these parallel paths through a movable armature, that armature will be attracted toward the ends of the pole pieces. If the magnetic flux is then shifted to the second path of these two parallel paths, then that movable armature will not be attracted to the pole pieces, and a compression spring can be used to push that movable armature away from the pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: James T. Berling
  • Patent number: 5823753
    Abstract: An electrically driven air pump has a housing incorporating an electric motor in one section of the housing and a pump mechanism coupled to the motor in another section of the housing. The housing has a pump cover enclosing the pump mechanism, made of plastic and having an end wall to which a metal reinforcement member is joined by injection molding. The metal reinforcement member is formed as a ring having inner and outer perimetral surfaces and a plurality of radial slots are formed in the ring for passage of the plastic material therethrough to anchor the reinforcement member to the end wall. The slots extend from the inner perimetral surface of the ring towards the outer perimetral surface but terminate before reaching the outer perimetral surface. The outer perimetral surface of the metal reinforcement member is free and unobstructed for undergoing dimensional change due to temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Kemmerling
  • Patent number: 5678983
    Abstract: Discharge valve actuating system for hermetic compressors of the type having a piston (3) reciprocating inside a cylinder (2) which pumps gas to a discharge chamber (22) maintained in selective fluid communication with the cylinder (2) through a discharge orifice (12) provided on a valve plate (10) and closed by a respective reed discharge valve (40). There is at least one subchamber (70) which maintains with the discharge chamber (22) a fluid communication that is constantly blocked by a movable blocking element (60) which moves between an operative position of contact with the discharge valve (40) when at a closed position and an inoperative position of spacing from said discharge valve (40). The inoperative and operative positions are defined as a function of the pressure inside the discharge chamber (2) in relation to the pressure existing in the subchamber (70) during each pumping cycle of the piston (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira De Compressores S/A - Embraco
    Inventor: Dietmar Erich Bernhard Lilie
  • Patent number: 5674055
    Abstract: An improved sampling pump has utility for withdrawing fluid from a pressurized source and outputting fluid to a sampling container. The fluid pump assembly of the present invention includes an operator unit for reciprocating a plunger, and a side body port positioned within the pump body for receiving a removable filter. A pressure regulator has an inlet positioned within a side body port of the pump body and regulator outlet port in fluid communication with the operator unit. A collar rotatable with respect to a regulator housing is provided for reducing installation costs and for optionally removing condensate from the regulator. An adjustable discharge valve is pressure balanced for increasing the reliability of the pump. An improved seal is utilized for dynamic seal engagement between the pump body and the pump plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: PGI International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Spencer M. Nimberger, Robert L. Ward
  • Patent number: 5672053
    Abstract: An improved reed type compressor discharge valve assembly uses a conventional reed and reed stop, but increases flow efficiency past the reed with a uniquely configured valve plate. The valve plate has a round discharge port of conventional size and diameter, but the surface of the valve plate beneath the reed is formed with a recessed channel that opens into the near edge of the port. This provides a more open and less restricted flow path out of the port, and creates an effectively greater opening height for the reed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Nick George Sabha
  • Patent number: 5662460
    Abstract: A pneumatic pump having a variable buoyant actuator to substantially reduce the volume of a float, thereby increasing the fluid capacity for any pump of a given size. The pump includes an elongated housing, a sealable fluid entry aperture and a pipe communicating between an interior and an exterior of the housing. The housing includes a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall extending from the bottom wall and terminating in an opening. A switchable valve control having a pod closes the opening. The pod has a plurality of valve seats and a plurality of corresponding valve elements, with the plurality of valve seats defining fluid inlet and output ports. The actuator is coupled to alternatingly placed valve elements in sealing engagement with fluid inlet and outlet ports in response to a level of fluid in the housing. The variable buoyant actuator includes first buoyant member disposed proximate to the bottom wall, and a buoyant amplifier disposed opposite to the first buoyant member, proximate to the pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: D. Bruce Modesitt
  • Patent number: 5660534
    Abstract: A downhole sucker rod pump especially well adapted for use in pumping thick oils and oils containing particles of sand or rock includes helical grooves or apertures for producing an intermittent unidirectional rotation of the plunger without appreciably restricting the flow of oil through the pump. This rotation distributes wear more uniformly around the plunger. In a first embodiment, helical apertures are provided in the cage portion at the upper end of the plunger. Because of their large axial extent, these apertures collectively provide an outlet of large area for the oil, and thus restrict the flow only slightly. Because of their inclination these apertures produce a torque on the cage and plunger. In a second embodiment, a second plunger is attached to the upper end of the cage. The second plunger includes helical grooves in its cylindrical outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Jerry M. Snow
  • Patent number: 5660530
    Abstract: Pumping under the present invention includes movement of material, in a first embodiment fluid and in a second embodiment a piston assembly, between first and second positions including detection of said material at each position. Control circuitry and supporting mechanical and fluid coupling responsive to material position toggles the pump into alternate modes of operation driving the material toward each point. The pump arrangement has fewer moving parts than traditional pumps and enjoys higher reliability for its simplified design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Iraj Rafei
  • Patent number: 5655885
    Abstract: A double-displacement pump is compact, has a modular fluid subassembly made up a substantially cylindrical pump body and a piston reciprocally driven within the pump body. An outlet fluid cavity is formed between the pump body and a surrounding housing structure, enabling the subassembly to be removed as a unit without the need to disconnect auxiliary systems, such as a pressure control system or a priming system. In a preferred embodiment, the subassembly is retained within the housing structure by an inlet fitting which includes a check valve. A second check valve is then provided in the piston itself, which has a stem threadingly engaged with a reciprocal drive element. A sleeve received over the stem serves to compress a fluid sealing structure against a flange of the piston when the stem is fully engaged with the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Yang Woong Chung
  • Patent number: 5655890
    Abstract: A toy pump device includes a tube in which a piston rod is slidably received, a piston connected to an end of the piston rod, the piston having a tubular portion extending therefrom with a first slot defined therein and a seal slidably mounted to the tubular portion, the tube having a protrusion extending therefrom so as to have a head mounted thereto which has a hollow tube, a member slidably received between the head and the protrusion wherein an inner tube extends from an inner periphery of the head and a second slot defined in the inner tube such that when pushing the piston rod, air enters into the hollow tube via a top hole defined in the end having the head mounted thereto and the second slot to inflate a balloon mounted to the hollow tube, and when pulling the piston rod, the member closes the top hole such that the pressurized air in the balloon is avoided from leaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Kuo-Hua Liao
  • Patent number: 5653584
    Abstract: A vertically oriented high pressure water pump system including a vertically oriented motor, an intermediate flange and an axial drive water pump wherein the intermediate flange verticaly unites the motor and the high pressure water pump and further includes an axial thrust bearing and a thrust bearing sleeve for coupling the motor drive shaft in the axial drive pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Officine Meccaniche FAIP S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Mazzucato, Carlo A. Cuneo, Gus Alexander
  • Patent number: 5653582
    Abstract: Liquid ring pumps with rotating canisters are supported by at least one radial fluid bearing pad. The bearing fluid is either a gas or a liquid. The radial fluid bearing pads can be of either the hydrodynamic or hydrostatic type. Holes in each bearing pad are used to introduce bearing fluid to the clearance between the rotating canister and the housing of the pump. Each radial bearing pad can be mounted to the housing using a ball joint or a bladder. Access ports formed in the housing provide access to the radial bearing pads. Axial fluid bearings are mounted to the housing using shims or threaded bolts so that the axial position of the axial bearings can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: The Nash Engineering Company
    Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Richard G. Cadotte, Thomas R. Dardis, Harold K. Haavik, Ellis J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 5651665
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump having a flow control valve for recirculating a fraction of the discharge of a rotating group of the pump and an externally adjustable pressure relief valve. The flow control valve includes a cylindrical bore in a housing of the pump, a discharge passage intersecting the bore, a recirculation passage intersecting the bore, and a valve spool slideable in the bore. A valve body on the housing closes an open end of the cylindrical bore and cooperates with the valve spool in defining a spring chamber connected to the discharge passage. A spring in the spring chamber biases the valve spool to a position corresponding to zero recirculation. The relief valve includes a stepped bore in the valve body, a valve seat in the stepped bore, a valve element, a spring biasing the valve element against the valve seat, and a spherical metal spring seat interference fitted in the stepped bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Devrim Can, James Leroy Davison
  • Patent number: 5649808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing accidental manual rotor reversal in a peristaltic pump is provided. A peristaltic pump may be provided with a hand crank or the like to drive a rotor assembly of the pump manually in the event of failure of the electric motor drive of the pump. An indicator may provide information to the pump operator to inform the operator of the direction in which the pump was rotating when last driven by the electric motor. Further an alarm device may alert the operator when the operator is attempting to rotate the pump in the direction opposite the direction in which the pump was rotating when last driven by the electric motor or the direction last selected by the operator before loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: COBE Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Gruszecki, Jon Steven Ingebrigtsen, Bruce S. Ellingboe
  • Patent number: 5649468
    Abstract: A swash plate type hydraulic motor switchable between high speed and low speed, comprises a main case, a cylinder block supported in the main case to be rotatable about a rotational axis, the cylinder block including a plurality of plungers having longitudinal axes extending parallel to the rotational axis, a swash plate supported in the main case for contacting forward ends of the plungers and pivotable about a pivotal axis between a high speed position and a low speed position, the pivotal axis extending parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis, and two trunnions projecting on the pivotal axis from opposite peripheral positions of the swash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kou Tsurumi, Shinichi Hamada
  • Patent number: 5649809
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double diaphragm pump having flexible diaphragms disposed in displacement spaces and connected and mechanically coupled to piston rods, the displacement spaces being communicated via check valves to a suction manifold on the one hand and to a pressure manifold on the other hand, wherein each diaphragm is connected to a piston rod, which piston rods extend coaxially and are mounted on opposite sides to a guide frame having at least one lineal guide for a guide block which rotatably mounts a crank pin of a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Abel GmbH & Co. Handels-und Verwaltungsgesllschaft
    Inventor: Volker Stapelfeldt
  • Patent number: 5647728
    Abstract: An improved liquid ring machine having a housing that has a circular inside contour and side shields arranged at its faces, at least one of which is provided with a control disk. The rotor of the machine is eccentrically mounted in the side shields to rotate relative to the machine housing. The rotor comprises a hub, blades, and a center wall that extends radially over the entire circumference of the rotor from the rotor hub to the free end of the blades. A partition wall is attached to the machine housing, lies in the same plane as the center wall and surrounds the center wall such that a gap exists between the center wall and the partition wall. The gap may be easily adjusted by pivoting the machine housing relative to the side shields, i.e., the control disks, and the rotor, around a pivot point that lies outside of the center axis. The machine housing may be secured in place in its pivoted position in each instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Siebenwurst, Hans Kuhn, Bernhard Tews
  • Patent number: 5645407
    Abstract: This invention involves a balanced single stage linear compressor with an oil-filled cavity to equalize pressure on the diaphragm. The oil-filled cavity further includes a volume compensating gas chamber and a passive balancer. A balance mass is attached to the bellows and is supported by a fluid film bearing. The balance mass is arranged so that the oil displaced by the piston acts on the mass and displaces the mass in a direction opposite to that of the piston thereby balancing the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Mechanical Technology Inc.
    Inventors: James Kralick, Nicholas Vitale
  • Patent number: 5641275
    Abstract: The grooved shaft for a magnetic-drive centrifugal pump preferably has an axial groove with a semi-elliptical or U-shaped groove cross section. Adjoining the axial groove is a flat area which is tapered tangentially relative to a substantially cylindrical shaft area. The grooved shaft optimally has a front shaft radius and a rear shaft radius, wherein the front shaft radius is smaller than the rear shaft radius such that the front shaft radius may be oriented near an impeller intake to decrease hydraulic flow resistance. Meanwhile, the rear shaft radius provides increased axial and radial load capacity for the grooved shaft. In practice, the grooved shaft is incorporated into a magnetic-drive centrifugal pump and the groove is statically oriented in a position of minimal radial loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Ansimag Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred P. Klein, Jeff S. Brown
  • Patent number: 5641274
    Abstract: A low pressure side fuel path extending from a fuel inflow port to a feed pump, and a chamber, which can communicate with an inflow/outflow port, are formed by partitioning inside a housing. A cam ring, shoes and rollers are provided in the low pressure side fuel path to induce low pressure, low temperature fuel into the area surrounding the rollers. A space that communicates with the low pressure side fuel path without constriction is formed on the upstream side on the back surfaces of the shoes. A phase of the cam ring and the control sleeve is fixed with the adapter provided on the boundary of the low pressure side fuel path and the chamber. An intake passage communicating with the intake port may be formed in the adapter to shorten the intake path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kubo, Tsumayoshi Motoyoshi, Jun Matsubara