Patents by Inventor Bruce Maki

Bruce Maki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8083506
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a double action simplex pump including a pump body with a first half and a second half joined together to form an enclosed cavity. The first half includes a first pipe member and the second half includes a second pipe member. A first end of the first pipe member is a fluid inlet port and a second end of the second pipe member is a fluid outlet port. The enclosed cavity defines a first pocket and a second pocket each in fluid communication with a first lumen of the first pipe member and a second lumen of the second pipe member. A first valve assembly is positioned in the first pocket and a second valve assembly is positioned in the second pocket. Each of the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly includes a valve casing supporting an inlet poppet valve, an outlet poppet valve, and a central opening located between the inlet poppet valve and the outlet poppet valve. The central opening is aligned with one of a plunger and a diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke
  • Publication number: 20100303649
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a double action simplex pump including a pump body with a first half and a second half joined together to form an enclosed cavity. The first half includes a first pipe member and the second half includes a second pipe member. A first end of the first pipe member is a fluid inlet port and a second end of the second pipe member is a fluid outlet port. The enclosed cavity defines a first pocket and a second pocket each in fluid communication with a first lumen of the first pipe member and a second lumen of the second pipe member. A first valve assembly is positioned in the first pocket and a second valve assembly is positioned in the second pocket. Each of the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly includes a valve casing supporting an inlet poppet valve, an outlet poppet valve, and a central opening located between the inlet poppet valve and the outlet poppet valve. The central opening is aligned with one of a plunger and a diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke
  • Patent number: 7775781
    Abstract: A double-acting, simplex, fluid handling pump is designed to facilitate an optional configuration as either a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump. An injection molded plastic pump body comprises two bilaterally symmetrical halves that include internal pockets and grooves for clamping and retaining first and second generally identical valve assemblies at opposing end portions of the pump body. When configured as a plunger pump, first and second plunger are arranged to move 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to one another within stationary guide sleeves that are clamped within the pump body where one plunger effecting a suction stroke while the other effects a compression stroke. When configured as a diaphragm pump, the plungers are removed from the connecting rods and replaced by diaphragms and a change is made in the valve casing employed but a majority of the remaining parts of the pump assembly remain unchanged from what is used in the plunger pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hypro, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke
  • Publication number: 20080267801
    Abstract: A double-acting, simplex, fluid handling pump is designed to facilitate an optional configuration as either a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump. An injection molded plastic pump body comprises two bilaterally symmetrical halves that include internal pockets and grooves for clamping and retaining first and second generally identical valve assemblies at opposing end portions of the pump body. When configured as a plunger pump, first and second plunger are arranged to move 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to one another within stationary guide sleeves that are clamped within the pump body where one plunger effecting a suction stroke while the other effects a compression stroke. When configured as a diaphragm pump, the plungers are removed from the connecting rods and replaced by diaphragms and a change is made in the valve casing employed but a majority of the remaining parts of the pump assembly remain unchanged from what is used in the plunger pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke
  • Patent number: 7390175
    Abstract: A double-acting, simplex, fluid handling pump is designed to facilitate an optional configuration as either a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump. An injection molded plastic pump body comprises two bilaterally symmetrical halves that include internal pockets and grooves for clamping and retaining first and second generally identical valve assemblies at opposing end portions of the pump body. When configured as a plunger pump, first and second plunger are arranged to move 180° out-of-phase with respect to one another within stationary guide sleeves that are clamped within the pump body where one plunger effecting a suction stroke while the other effects a compression stroke. When configured as a diaphragm pump, the plungers are removed from the connecting rods and replaced by diaphragms and a change is made in the valve casing employed but a majority of the remaining parts of the pump assembly remain unchanged from what is used in the plunger pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hypro, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke
  • Publication number: 20050191190
    Abstract: A double-acting, simplex, fluid handling pump is designed to facilitate an optional configuration as either a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump. An injection molded plastic pump body comprises two bilaterally symmetrical halves that include internal pockets and grooves for clamping and retaining first and second generally identical valve assemblies at opposing end portions of the pump body. When configured as a plunger pump, first and second plunger are arranged to move 180° out-of-phase with respect to one another within stationary guide sleeves that are clamped within the pump body where one plunger effecting a suction stroke while the other effects a compression stroke. When configured as a diaphragm pump, the plungers are removed from the connecting rods and replaced by diaphragms and a change is made in the valve casing employed but a majority of the remaining parts of the pump assembly remain unchanged from what is used in the plunger pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: Hypro Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Maki, Daniel Beilke
  • Patent number: 6808374
    Abstract: A sanitary pump with gear shaft bearing blocks in opposed cylindrical portions of a pump body bore, blocks constituting hand removable structural pump ends. Gear shaft bearings extending completely through blocks for easy cleaning, sealed by O-rings and clamp plates. Oval gear cavity bore between cylindrical portions of body bore extends only length of largest of interchangeable gears. Seals at end of gear cavity eliminate entrapment zones. Minimal intrusion of bearing blocks into gear cavity allows large operating temperature range. Shaft seals are contained in a hand removable cartridge. Complete pump disassembly by one manually operated clamp. Gear shaft diameters differ assuring correct assembly. Mount receives pump, tie rods sealing pump and securing to mount. Mount allows pump removal without changing pump-drive alignment. Pin and groove engagement of pump to mount allows 90° interval pump ports orientation. Pump displacement is altered with interchangeable gears and drive end bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignees: Niagara Pump Corporation, Hypso Corporation
    Inventors: Iver J. Phallen, Richard J. Jezuit, Jr., David C. Messing, Gregory N. Tufte, Frank L. Amyotte, Bruce A. Maki
  • Publication number: 20030235509
    Abstract: A high aspiration compound valve enabling controlled fluid flow from a piston pump. It is comprised of a somewhat cylindrical housing containing a compound valve seat body creating a seal with either a suction valve or a discharge valve based upon the position of the piston's stroke within the housing. Fluid is drawn in during the down stroke of the piston through the open suction valve concentrically placed around the center housing cavity. The fluid is then pumped through the housing by the piston and utilizes a direct in-line discharge valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Hypro Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce A. Maki
  • Publication number: 20030206811
    Abstract: In an axial, variable displacement, positive displacement pump having a swash plate mounted on a drive shaft for rotation therewith and a non-rotatable wobble plate surrounding the swash plate but isolated there from through bearings includes a slide mechanism disposed on the shaft that can be axially displaced along the shaft as the shaft is being driven to thereby vary the angle of inclination of the swash plate and wobble plate relative to the drive shaft. The pump further includes a unitary in-line valve assembly including suction and discharge poppet valves for each cylinder whereby the overall diameter of the cylinder block can be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Hypro Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Daniel A. Beilke, Robert Hosfield, David G. Vensland
  • Publication number: 20020159906
    Abstract: A sanitary design gear pump in which two gear shaft bearing blocks constitute hand removable structural end bodies of the pump. The gear shaft bearing journals extend completely through the blocks for easy cleaning and are sealed by O-rings retained by simple clamp plates. Gear cavity bore extends only the length of the largest gears, among interchangeable gear sizes. Bearing block to gear cavity seals are located at the ends of the gear bore to eliminate entrapment zones, minimal intrusion of the bearing blocks into the gear cavity allowing a large pump operating temperature range. Shaft seals of many different types can be contained in a simple hand removable cartridge. Complete pump disassembly is by one manually operated tee-handled clamp fastener. The drive and driven gear shafts are of different diameters to aid and assure correct assembly. The assembled pump slides into a pump mount with integral tie rods sealing the pump and securing it to the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Iver J. Phallen, Richard J. Jezuit, David C. Messing, Gregory N. Tufte, Frank L. Amyotte, Bruce A. Maki
  • Patent number: 6394753
    Abstract: Flexible vane pumps (also referred to as rubber impeller pumps) are commonly used in the marine engine coolant market. Replacement of the flexible (rubber) impeller has proven to be difficult, particularly for larger pumps located in the confines of an engine compartment of a boat and for impellers encrusted with salt, sand or otherwise stuck to the pump shaft. To aid in extracting impellers, an end piece on the impeller has been added such that a tool having flanges can be inserted into a space between the end piece and the impeller. The end piece on the impeller can also be used as an end plate to engage a threaded shaft for jacking the impeller onto a pump shaft. An alignment cone can be added to the pump housing for aligning the impeller with the pump shaft and pump housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, Dan A. Beilke, Jeffrey W. Bona
  • Patent number: 6203302
    Abstract: A high pressure fluid forcing pump having a cavity adaptable for receiving an impeller assembly rotatable within the cavity of the pump. The impeller assembly includes an impeller engaged between first and second spaced apart bearing plates and having tips fixed to the bearing plates adjacent an outer circumference of the bearing plates. The impeller includes a locking arrangement that ensures that the impeller rotates about a motor shaft of the pump. The shaft is positioned in the cavity of the housing, wherein the rotational axis of the shaft and impeller are offset from the longitudinal axis of the cavity and first and second bearing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce A. Maki
  • Patent number: 6116855
    Abstract: A flexible impeller has an insert design incorporating a threaded end within its insert that cooperates with a threaded removal tool for jacking the impeller from the shaft by rotation of the threaded removal tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce A. Maki
  • Patent number: 6095776
    Abstract: A fluid handling pump for precise metering applications includes a flexible impeller mounted on a shaft that is eccentric to the centerline of a cylindrical chamber of the pump's housing. The impeller includes a plurality of flexible walls, that cooperate with an integrally molded hub and a rim like spokes, to define a plurality of compressible chambers. During rotation of the impeller, the volume of the compressible impeller chambers varies from a maximum in passing the pump's suction port to a minimum when sweeping past the pump's discharge port. In this way, a peristaltic pumping action takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce A. Maki
  • Patent number: 5449280
    Abstract: A pump having a housing with an integral fluid reservoir and flexible end plates to permit the pump to be run dry for an extended period of time. A pair of reservoirs are provided, one each side of a pumping chamber. These reservoirs are in fluid communication with the pumping chamber via openings provided through the end plates of the pumping chamber and slots in the impeller hub. When the pump is run dry, fluid stored in these reservoirs is permitted to be released into the pumping chamber to provide a lubrication between the impeller and the chamber walls, thus reducing friction. The chamber end plates are thin and flexible. These end plates can bow outwardly due to the impeller expanding from increased heat when the pump is run dry, and thus reduce friction with the impeller. Accordingly, the pump can be run dry for an extended period of time without damaging or destroying the pump impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, David L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5402569
    Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing a sophisticated cam profile liner used in pumps and compressors. A non-circular cam profile liner is fabricated from multiple parts, preferably two identical cam liner halves mated together. Each cam profile liner half is generally crescent-shaped, and is manufactured from a single mold using conventional molding techniques. Window openings are formed in the cam profile liner without the need for hand-placing inserts in the mold. Further, no taper is formed in the cam profile liner. Accordingly, the present invention is suitable for use in precision sliding vane pumps, as well as flexible and roller-type pumps. Since each cam profile liner half is identical to the other, a symmetrical cam chamber is defined by the cam profile liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Hypro Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Maki, David L. Thompson