Patents by Inventor Michael Brace Orndorff

Michael Brace Orndorff 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).

  • Publication number: 20190145397
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may comprise a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Patent number: 10174750
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump includes a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Patent number: 9752566
    Abstract: Diaphragm pumps, and pre-charging systems for use with such pumps, are disclosed. The diaphragm pump includes a first diaphragm that separates a cavity into a motive fluid chamber and a pumped media chamber, a charge chamber having a controlled volume, wherein the controlled volume is adjustable to vary a controlled mass of compressed fluid capable of being stored in the charge chamber, and one or more valves configured to (i) fluidly couple the motive fluid chamber to an exhaust chamber during a first stroke period, (ii) fluidly couple the charge chamber to a compressed fluid inlet during at least a portion of the first stroke period, and (iii) fluidly couple the charge chamber to the motive fluid chamber during a second stroke period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Publication number: 20170226997
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may comprise a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Patent number: 9664186
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may include a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Patent number: 9316218
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump that utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in the pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings are achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Publication number: 20150004006
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of diaphragm pumps with chamber crossventing, and methods of operating such pumps, are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of operating a diaphragm pump may comprise communicating compressed fluid from a compressed fluid inlet to a first motive fluid chamber to cause first and second diaphragms to move to a first end-of-stroke position, communicating compressed fluid from the first motive fluid chamber to a second motive fluid chamber while the first and second diaphragms are in the first end-of-stroke position, communicating compressed fluid from the compressed fluid inlet to the second motive fluid chamber to cause the first and second diaphragms to move to a second end-of-stroke position, and communicating compressed fluid from the second motive fluid chamber to the first motive fluid chamber while the first and second diaphragms are in the second end-of-stroke position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Publication number: 20150004003
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of diaphragm pumps, and pre-charging systems for use with such pumps, are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may comprise a first diaphragm that separates a cavity into a motive fluid chamber and a pumped media chamber, a charge chamber having a controlled volume, wherein the controlled volume is adjustable to vary a controlled mass of compressed fluid capable of being stored in the charge chamber, and one or more valves configured to (i) fluidly couple the motive fluid chamber to an exhaust chamber during a first stroke period, (ii) fluidly couple the charge chamber to a compressed fluid inlet during at least a portion of the first stroke period, and (iii) fluidly couple the charge chamber to the motive fluid chamber during a second stroke period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Publication number: 20150004019
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may comprise a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Michael Brace Orndorff
  • Publication number: 20140348667
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: WARREN RUPP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Patent number: 8801404
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump that utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in the pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings are achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Publication number: 20140037465
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Patent number: 8608460
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Publication number: 20130272901
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self-adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: WARREN RUPP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Patent number: 8485792
    Abstract: A method for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott
  • Publication number: 20100189577
    Abstract: A method for increasing compressed air efficiency in a pump utilizes an air efficiency device in order to optimize the amount of a compressed air in a pump. The air efficiency device may allow for controlling the operation of the air operated diaphragm pump by reducing the flow of compressed air supplied to the pump as the pump moves between first and second diaphragm positions. A sensor may be used to monitor velocity of the diaphragm assemblies. In turn, full position feedback is possible so that the pump self adjusts to determine the optimum, or close to optimum, turndown point of the diaphragm assemblies. As such, air savings is achieved by minimizing the amount of required compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: IDEX AODD, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. McCourt, Haihong Zhu, Michael Brace Orndorff, Jevawn Sebastian Roberts, Charles Randolph Abbott