Recirculation Of Separated Motive Fluid Patents (Class 417/77)
  • Patent number: 8491273
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to ballast systems for marine structures. The ballast system comprises a ballast tank and a pump. The pump comprises a low side and a high side and the ballast system comprises a first inlet conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid communication between the ballast tank and the low side. The ballast system is adapted to provide a first operating condition in which first operating condition a fluid is pumped from the low side to the high side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GVA Consultants AB
    Inventor: Lars-Olof Liberg
  • Patent number: 8393876
    Abstract: A combined canned motor-pump operates directly in the process fluid without the need for shaft seals or buffer or lubricating fluids. The pump incorporates an integral gas-separating system that includes gas separating hydraulics and a flow path that returns the gas to the main gas/oil separator. The gas-separating system includes a pump inlet for accepting incoming multiphase flow, at least one blade rotatable about the axis of rotation, an open annulus region for separating gas from liquid in the multiphase flow, at least one radial hole in the shaft for directing separated gas to the axial hole, and a pump outlet for discharging liquid from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corp.
    Inventors: Donald P. Sloteman, Cliff H. Campen, Eric S. Conaway
  • Patent number: 7901191
    Abstract: An enclosure (100) comprising a wall structure (110) defining a container space (112) and electronic devices (114) contained within this space (112). The wall structure (110) includes an entrance for providing an operative fluid (e.g., a heat-transfer fluid) into the container space (112) and an exit for draining the operative fluid therefrom. The wall structure (110) includes an inducement chamber that, when a motive fluid is introduced through an inlet (120), produces a differential pressure that induces the operative fluid in the container space (112) to flow through the exit to an outlet (122). The wall structure (110) can be at least partially constructed from a stack (400) of plates having openings and grooves forming the inlet, the outlet, the entrance, the exit, the fluid circuits, and the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Parker Hannifan Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Odar, Rex J. Harvey, Michael A. Benjamin, Peter V. Buca
  • Patent number: 7891954
    Abstract: A method for conveying material by applying a pressure difference in a conveying conduit (4), in which method the material is fed into the conveying conduit (4) and in the conveying conduit further into a separating device (5), where the material being conveyed is separated from conveying air, in which method a negative pressure is created in the conveying conduit (4) by means of an ejector apparatus (6), whose suction side is connected to the separating device (5), said ejector apparatus being operated using an operating medium consisting of a liquid mist, especially an aqueous liquid mist, said medium being sprayed through at least one spraying nozzle (122) into an ejector tube (128) directed into a separating element (38). In the method, the generation of the negative pressure to be produced is intensified according to need by limiting the flow of gases, such as air, into the ejector tube (128) from the direction opposite to the spraying direction of its operating medium, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Maricap Oy
    Inventor: Goran Sundholm
  • Patent number: 7810572
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to improve delivery of the multi-phase mixture, in particular hydrocarbons from a well, and to limit the free gas volume. According to the invention, this object is attained in that a partial liquid flow (13) is split off on the pressure side from the main delivery flow and guided to the high-pressure side of at least one ejector pump (2) arranged on the suction side as an auxiliary delivery device. The pump installation provides a feed line (7) connecting the pressure chamber of the displacement pump (1) with the high-pressure side of at least one ejector pump (2), whereby the ejector pump (2) is arranged on the suction side in the delivery direction of the displacement pump (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Joh. Heinr. Bornemann GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Uwe Brandt, Gerhard Rohlfing, Dietrich Mueller-Link
  • Patent number: 7744352
    Abstract: A jet pump assembly and method for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation is disclosed. The jet pump assembly includes a jet pump interposed between a tubing string and a packer. The jet pump includes a body having an outer surface, a lower tubular end, an upper tubular end connected to a lower end of the tubing string, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower tubular end. The pump body further has a plurality of radial inlet ports intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end in a non-intersecting relation to the injection ports. The central axial bore is shaped to provide a non-restricted flow path from the point the injection ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Latigo Pipe and Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Parr
  • Patent number: 7708059
    Abstract: A subsea rotary gas separator system has a separator located adjacent the discharge of the pump for separating gas from the high pressure liquid stream exiting the pump. Some of the high pressure liquid is recycled back to the inlet of the pump to maintain a liquid-rich inlet stream for the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Chris K. Shaw
  • Patent number: 7707849
    Abstract: A first evaporator connected to an outlet side of an ejector, a second evaporator connected to a refrigerant suction port of the ejector, a throttle mechanism arranged on an inlet side of a refrigerant flow of the second evaporator and for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant flow are provided. Furthermore, the ejector, the first evaporator, the second evaporator and the throttle mechanism are assembled integrally with each other to construct an integrated unit having one refrigerant inlet and one refrigerant outlet. Hence, mounting performance of an ejector type refrigeration cycle can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naohisa Ishizaka, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Takano, Mika Gocho, Hiroshi Oshitani, Haruyuki Nishijima, Makoto Ikegami, Naoki Yokoyama, Etsuhisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 7572109
    Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of thermopneumatic capillary micropumps and manufacturing methods thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, a thermopneumatic capillary micropump generally includes a lower substrate having a pump-entrance for injecting fluids and a pump-exit for exhausting the fluids. The micropump also includes one or more micro-heaters for generating heat and electrodes for applying voltage to the micro-heaters. One or more air chambers substantially cover the micro-heaters. A pump chamber unit, which is capable of being filled up with the fluids, is coupled to the air chambers, the pump-entrance, and the pump-exit. An airing channel is coupled to the air chambers for helping maintain the pressure of the air in the air chambers at about the same level. An oxide layer is deposited on an upper substrate of the micropump. The upper and lower substrates are thermopneumatically coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ajou University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Sang Sik Yang
  • Patent number: 7497667
    Abstract: A jet pump assembly for removing fluid from a well bore extending into a formation is disclosed. The jet pump assembly includes a jet pump interposed between a tubing string and a packer. The jet pump includes a body having an outer surface, a lower tubular end, an upper tubular end connected to a lower end of the tubing string, and a central axial bore intersecting the upper tubular end at a discharge end and extending partially through the pump body toward the lower tubular end. The pump body further has a plurality of radial inlet ports intersecting the central axial bore and a plurality of production ports extending from the lower tubular end to the upper tubular end in a non-intersecting relation to the injection ports. The central axial bore is shaped to provide a non-restricted flow path from the point the injection ports intersect the central axial bore to the discharge end of the central axial bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Latigo Pipe and Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Parr
  • Patent number: 7469683
    Abstract: A fuel supply system is provided for delivering fuel from a tank to an engine of a motor vehicle through a fuel line. The system is provided with a pressure relief valve to divert fuel from the fuel line during engine shut down conditions when fuel flow to the engine is not desired. The pressure relief valve has a fuel outlet that is provided with backpressure during engine operation. The backpressure enables the pressure relief valve to be set at a lower level because the backpressure is added to set point pressure to determine opening of the pressure relief valve. Lowering the set point of the pressure relief valve allows fuel to be diverted from the engine at a lower fuel line pressure. In one embodiment backpressure is provided by fluid communication from a jet pump supplying fuel from the fuel tank to a fuel system reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Mason, Werner Schneider, John Lennen, Martin Kling, Martin Ptacek, David Liskovec, Martin Sykora, Thomas Wieland, Erik Hahmann
  • Publication number: 20080118371
    Abstract: A variable geometry ejector pump is configured to receive pressurized fluid from one or more pressurized fluid sources and to control fluid pressure and temperature down stream of the pump to a variety of pressure and temperature values. The variable geometry ejector pump includes a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, a variable geometry ejector, an ejector valve, an actuator, a mixing section, a diffuser section, and an actuator control mechanism. The actuator control mechanism is adapted to receive one or more control signals, and is operable, in response to the control signals, to control the actuator, to thereby control fluid pressure and temperature down stream of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Vasquez, Paul W. Banta
  • Patent number: 6942463
    Abstract: A combination water pump/air compressor system for performing two separate functions with one unit by providing compressed air and water. The combination water pump/air compressor system includes a piping configuration including a main pipe capable of carrying a combined compressed air and water, and also including valve members being connected to the main pipe; and also including a water and air pressure accumulator assembly being connected to one of the valve members and being adapted to be connected to water and air sources for providing compressed water to the main pipe; and further includes an air injector being connected to the main pipe for creating air bubbles in the water in the main pipe; and also includes a water and air mixer assembly being connected to the main pipe for pressurizing the spongy liquid/gas mixture; and further includes a water and air separator assembly also being connected to the main pipe for separating compressed air from compressed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventors: Beneah T. Ogolla, Gregory T. Lee
  • Patent number: 6910343
    Abstract: In an ejector cycle having an ejector, a decompression amount of refrigerant between a gas-liquid separator and an evaporator is adjusted by a differential pressure control valve, so that a pressure increasing amount in a pressure increasing portion of the ejector is controlled to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount. Therefore, a suction pressure of refrigerant to be sucked to the compressor can be restricted from being excessively increased in accordance with the increase of the pressure increasing amount in the ejector, and it can prevent heat radiating capacity of a radiator from being decreased. Thus, a sufficient cooling capacity can be always obtained in the ejector cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yukikatsu Ozaki, Hirotsugu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6817837
    Abstract: A recirculating liquid jet pump for moving a wide variety of materials is described. The pump is preferably equipped with an intermediate collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir may also be connected to a separate container for de-watering solid-liquid mixtures to enable mixture liquid to be separated from the solids without bringing the separated liquid into contact with the motive fluid of the jet pump and without the use of excessive amounts of jet pump motive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Walker-Dawson Interest, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hutchinson, Richard F. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20040219029
    Abstract: The fuel supply apparatus according to the invention is improved in a simple manner in that it is provided with short fuel lines. According to the invention, the drive line of the suction jet pumps is connected to a pressure line downstream of the fuel supply pump and has at least one check valve or a siphon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Kleppner, Hans-Peter Braun, Wolfgang Gabauer, Oliver Wahl, Thomas Wieland, Erich Eiler, Ludger Kuermann, Juergen Weikert
  • Patent number: 6799435
    Abstract: In a vapor compression refrigeration system, an evaporator and a gas-liquid separator are received in a common casing, so that the gas-liquid separator and the evaporator are placed close to each other. Thus, it is possible to limit heat absorption of the liquid phase refrigerant from the atmosphere to reduce the heat loss upon discharge of the refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator. Also, it is possible to reduce pressure loss in a refrigerant passage between the gas-liquid separator and the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mika Saito, Hirotsugu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6797401
    Abstract: Electromagnetic wave absorbing materials comprising magnetic alloy particles and an insulating matrix are disclosed. The magnetic alloy particles comprise a transition metal such as Fe and/or Co, and further comprise at least one refractory metal such as Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. The magnet alloy particles may further include Ni and/or Al, or other alloying additions which provide the desired absorption characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic alloy particles comprise an Fe—Cr—Ni—Al alloy. The insulating matrix of the electromagnetic wave absorbing material may comprise a water miscible polysilicate or a refractory cement. The materials may be provided in the form of coatings that are applied to a substrate, such as the hot engine exhaust area of an aircraft. The electromagnetic wave absorbing materials are capable of functioning at very high temperatures for extended periods of time while retaining satisfactory electromagnetic wave absorbing properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed-Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Dale P. Herron
  • Publication number: 20040013534
    Abstract: A system for moving a wide variety of materials using a recirculating liquid jet pump is described. The system is preferably equipped with an material collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir is also connected to a removal means and controller so that suctioned material can be removed from the collection reservoir concurrently with action of the liquid jet pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Hutchinson, Richard F. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20040013535
    Abstract: A recirculating liquid jet pump for moving a wide variety of materials is described. The pump is preferably equipped with an intermediate collection reservoir enabling the placement of material to be suctioned into the collection reservoir without bringing together the material to be suctioned with the motive fluid of the liquid jet pump. The collection reservoir may also be connected to a separate container for de-watering solid-liquid mixtures to enable mixture liquid to be separated from the solids without bringing the separated liquid into contact with the motive fluid of the jet pump and without the use of excessive amounts of jet pump motive fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Hutchinson, Richard F. Dawson
  • Patent number: 6511307
    Abstract: A method for producing a vacuum, which includes feeding an ejecting vaporous medium into the gas ejector, evacuating an ejected gaseous medium by the ejecting vaporous medium, mixing of the vaporous and gaseous mediums and forming a mixture of the two, evacuating this mixture by a liquid-gas ejector whose nozzle is fed by a liquid ejecting medium, condensing the vaporous ejecting medium and its dissolving in the liquid ejecting medium in the liquid-gas ejector, forming a liquid-gas mixture and subsequent separating the liquid-gas mixture into compressed gas and a liquid phase which is used further as the liquid ejecting medium of the liquid-gas ejector. Substances which are reciprocally soluble in each other or mixtures of such substances are used as the vaporous and liquid ejecting mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Serguei A. Popov, Anatoli M. Doubinski
  • Publication number: 20020146324
    Abstract: A method for producing a vacuum, which includes feeding an ejecting vaporous medium into the gas ejector, evacuating an ejected gaseous medium by the ejecting vaporous medium, mixing of the vaporous and gaseous mediums and forming a mixture of the two, evacuating this mixture by a liquid-gas ejector whose nozzle is fed by a liquid ejecting medium, condensing the vaporous ejecting medium and its dissolving in the liquid ejecting medium in the liquid-gas ejector, forming a liquid-gas mixture and subsequent separating the liquid-gas mixture into compressed gas and a liquid phase which is used further as the liquid ejecting medium of the liquid-gas ejector. Substances which are reciprocally soluble in each other or mixtures of such substances are used as the vaporous and liquid ejecting mediums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Serguei A. Popov, Anatoli M. Doubinski
  • Patent number: 6431694
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise fluid pumps having two expandable chambers, with each chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. Each chamber further has a pressurizing wall causing the chamber to expand or contract, thus drawing fluid into the chamber or expelling it from the chamber. The pressurizing walls of the two chambers are in mechanical communication, such that when one chamber is expanding, the other chamber is compressing. Multiple check valves prevent retrograde motion of the ink through the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Graham Ross
  • Publication number: 20020048518
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of petrochemistry, in particular to a method of compressing a gaseous hydrocarbon-containing medium, for example, different hydrocarbon gases including flares produced in the oil refining and petrochemical industries. A distillate of a rectifying column of an atmosphere-vacuum oil refining unit is fed as the fresh liquid working medium into a circulation loop of a liquid hydrocarbon-containing medium, which contains a liquid-gas jet device, a separator and a pump. The liquid hydrocarbon-containing medium is removed from the circulation loop to a cracking and rectifying unit in which the liquid hydrocarbon-containing medium is subjected to cracking with subsequent rectification in the rectifying column of that unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Valery Grigorievich Tsegelsky
  • Patent number: 6354807
    Abstract: A method for producing a vacuum, which includes feeding an ejecting vaporous medium into the gas ejector, evacuating an ejected gaseous medium by the ejecting vaporous medium, mixing of the vaporous and gaseous mediums and forming a mixture of the two, evacuating this mixture by a liquid-gas ejector, forming a liquid-gas mixture and subsequent separating the liquid-gas mixture into compressed gas and a liquid ejecting medium of the liquid-gas ejector. Substances which are reciprocally soluble in each other or mixtures of such substances are used as the vaporous and liquid ejecting mediums. A pumping-ejection system implementing the method includes a gas ejector, a liquid-gas ejector, a pump, a separator, a pressure pipeline and a vaporizing device for transforming a portion of the liquid ejecting medium into the vaporous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Serguei A. Popov, Anatoli M. Doubinski
  • Patent number: 6352413
    Abstract: A pumping-ejection system has a vacuum separator, a pump connected through its suction port to the vacuum separator, an inlet liquid-gas ejector, a discharge liquid-gas ejector and an outlet separator. The outlet separator is furnished with a pipe for liquid tapping, which connects the outlet separator to the vacuum separator. The liquid inlet of the discharge ejector is connected to the discharge side of the pump. The introduced pumping-ejection system requires lower power inputs for its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Serguei A. Popov
  • Patent number: 6334758
    Abstract: A pump-ejector compression unit is furnished with a receiver, and a mixing chamber of a liquid-gas ejector and a separator are located inside the receiver. An outlet of the mixing chamber is connected to the separator, the receiver is partly filled with a motive liquid, the liquid outlet of the receiver is connected to the suction side of a pump and the gas outlet of the receiver is connected to a consumer of a compressed gas. There is another embodiment of the compression unit, wherein the mixing chamber outlet is connected to a chamber for conversion of a gas-liquid flow. The introduced pump-ejector compression unit has an increased efficiency factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Serguei A. Popov
  • Patent number: 6312229
    Abstract: The introduced process essentially includes feeding a gas-liquid flow from a liquid-gas ejector into a hydrodynamic device for adjusting the flow speed, where the gas-liquid flow is exposed to an expansion and hence a subsonic flow regime is provided. The introduced process is implemented by a pumping-ejector unit furnished with a hydrodynamic device for adjusting the flow speed. An inlet of this device is connected to an outlet of a liquid-gas ejector, an outlet of the device is connected to a separator. The hydrodynamic device defines a profiled canal diverging in the flow direction or a collection of divergent canals arranged one after another in series. The described operating process and related pumping-ejector unit ensure a more reliable and efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Serguei A. Popov
  • Patent number: 6302655
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of jet technology. Essentially a pumping-ejector unit comprises a separator and a liquid-gas ejector. Gas inlet of the ejector is connected to a source of evacuated medium, outlet of the ejector is connected to the separator and nozzle's inlet of the ejector is connected to the discharge side of a pump. The pumping-ejector unit is furnished with a jet pump. Outlet of the jet pump is connected to the suction side of the pump, nozzle's inlet of the jet pump is connected to the discharge side of the pump, evacuated medium inlet of the jet pump is connected to the separator. There is another variant of embodiment of the unit, wherein the nozzle's inlet of the jet pump is connected to a source of ejecting medium. The described pumping-ejector unit exhibits an increased reliability and effectiveness and it has a wider control range of operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Serguei A. Popov
  • Patent number: 6042341
    Abstract: A suction nozzle operated with compressed air is used to generate vacuum in hollow spaces connected on the suction side. Two cylindrical nozzle bores (1, 2) that are coaxial to one another, through which a compressed air flow flows, which are separated by a suction slit (3) are provided. The nozzle bore (2) on the downstream side has a diameter that is at least slightly larger than the nozzle bore (1) on the upstream side. In order to improve the suction action in the suction slit (3) and to simplify the manufacture, it is provided that a downstream bore (17), which continuously expands in the direction of flow (arrow 4) and whose axial length (a3) corresponds to at least twice the length (a2) of the nozzle bore (2) on the downstream side, is connected to the nozzle bore (2) on the downstream side. The downstream bore (17) has a conical design and has a cone angle (.alpha.) of about 3.degree. to 6.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Siegfried Richter
  • Patent number: 5993166
    Abstract: A diffusion pump having a hollow outer body and a heater to heat working fluid that is used in the pump. The hollow outer body includes an outlet for connection to a backing pump and an inlet for communication with the chamber to be evacuated. A sump contains the working fluid and a reservoir for the working fluid surrounds the sump as an integral part of the hollow body. The surrounding reservoir decreases service intervals and reduces heat up and cool down time. The reservoir can be formed of two cylindrical surfaces concentric with the central axis of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Graeme Huntley
  • Patent number: 5582509
    Abstract: A vacuum aspirator apparatus uses circulating water from a reservoir while avoiding or reducing temperature rise in the circulating water. The apparatus consists of a reservoir with aspiration and cooling circuits, both of which are external to the reservoir, the aspiration circuit containing one or more aspirators with vacuum ports at which a vacuum can be drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Quilty, Keith Kaste
  • Patent number: 5366395
    Abstract: A pulsating impeller system is provided for moving a body through a fluid medium. The pulsating impeller includes an enclosure mounted on a vessel or other body. The enclosure is provided with an inlet-outlet aperture to facilitate the flow of the fluid medium into and out of the enclosure. An expansible membrane is positioned in the enclosure. The volume of the expansible membrane is inflated and deflated on a regular cycle by a compressed air or other similar system in the vessel. When the enclosure is placed in a fluid, such as water, and the expansible membrane inside the enclosure is inflated, the volume of the membrane is increased, which results in the water being forced through the outlet hole in the enclosure to propel the vessel. This force will generate a reactive force which will thrust the enclosure and vessel in the opposite direction. The vessel may be provided with a plurality of enclosures, and each enclosure may have one or more expansible membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: The University of Toledo
    Inventors: Naser Mostaghel, Edward Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 5363664
    Abstract: A hydraulic refrigeration system (10) employs as a preferred embodiment a hydrocarbon fluid as a refrigerant in combination with a non-miscible carrier fluid. A plurality of stages (110, 210, 310) of hydraulic refrigeration system (10) may be used by conveying the segregated refrigerant vapor from each stage to the entrainer (240, 340) of the next succeeding stage (210, 310). The liquid refrigerant of the last stage (310) is conveyed to an evaporator (416), which may be remotely located. The outflow of the evaporator (416) is conveyed to the entrainer (140) of the first stage (110). Second and succeeding stages include a non-miscible carrier fluid return line (268) connected to the respective separators (214, 314) for returning the non-miscible carrier fluid to the separator (114) of the first stage (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: HRB, L.L.C.
    Inventors: George Beakley, Craig Hosterman, Warren Rice
  • Patent number: 5287694
    Abstract: A fluid channeling system includes a fluid ejector, a heat exchanger, and a fluid pump disposed in series flow communication The ejector includes a primary inlet for receiving a primary fluid, and a secondary inlet for receiving a secondary fluid which is mixed with the primary fluid and discharged therefrom as ejector discharge. Heat is removed from the ejector discharge in the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger discharge is compressed in the fluid pump and channeled to the ejector secondary inlet as the secondary fluid In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature of the primary fluid is greater than the maximum operating temperature of a fluid motor powering the fluid pump using a portion of the ejector discharge, with the secondary fluid being mixed with the primary fluid so that the ejector discharge temperature is equal to about the maximum operating temperature of the fluid motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Y. Davis, Bradley D. Hitch
  • Patent number: 5088896
    Abstract: A jet pump having a rotatable venturi cartridge to permit any of several different sized venturi tubes to be aligned with a nozzle in the pump casing. A knob is provided on the pump casing to permit convenient rotation of the venturi cartridge. Printed indicia on the knob align with an indicator arrow to visually indicate the setting of the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: The Marley Company
    Inventors: Darryl M. Nielsen, Dorothy D. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 4880357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining sub-atmospheric pressures including a venturi tube having a first end and a second end, a nozzle located in the first end of the venturi tube for spraying fluids, a collection chamber connected to the second end of the venturi tube for receiving fluids sprayed from the nozzle, a vacuum chamber connected to the first end of the venturi tube, an outlet connected to the collection chamber for removing fluids from the collection chamber, and a pump connected to the outlet for pumping fluids from the outlet to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventor: Terrence L. Mathers
  • Patent number: 4792284
    Abstract: A device for creating a pressure difference in the flow of a fluid which may be a liquid or a gas and a number of technical applications. The fluid medium is fed along the longitudinal axis of a double cone, consisting of two coaxial hollow cones linked by their smallest faces. At the narrowest point of the double cone a depression occurs in the fluid flow which is made accessible to the outside by means of a lateral connection piece. Compared with a conventional venturi the present double cone offers increased efficiency owing to its special shape, which is defined by geometric parameters. The high efficiency of the double cone, which can be further improved by a special embodiment, makes the device suitable for a number of technical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventors: Paul W. Straub, John H. Stark, Michel Vermot
  • Patent number: 4516987
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing air and other gases entrained in water or other liquid and, more particularly from water delivered from a steam condenser and used in a steam-generating system for powering a prime mover of a torpedo. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum for centrifuging a volume of water and air to separate the water from the air, a pitot probe for drawing water from the container under pressure, a water-driven air jet pump within the rotatable drum and communicating with the separated air to pump the air into a collection chamber and build up the pressure thereof, a nozzle for directing a portion of the water drawn through the pitot probe to the air jet pump for operation thereof and a relief valve for controlling the discharge of air under pressure from the collection chamber to an exhaust area which may be a pressurized area within the torpedo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Niggemann
  • Patent number: 4249864
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump for producing a vacuum, the pump recirculating fluid through a vacuum chamber into which a vacuum line opens, the flow of water across the chamber carrying air or gas therewith to produce the required vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Auscoteng Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Norman L. Foley
  • Patent number: 4149828
    Abstract: The invention provides a jet pump system for removing dust from aeriform substances. The dust-laden, aeriform substance is entrained by at least one water jet pump to cause precipitation of the dust and water as sludge out of the aeriform substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Industrie Patente Anstalt
    Inventor: Ambrogio E. Affri
  • Patent number: 4053181
    Abstract: Apparatus for extracting mineral resources lying on the bottom of sea into a working ship floating on an ocean utilizing circulating current based on the difference of water levels. A hollow box shaped tank has its bottom opened and sunk liftably into the sea bottom through a rope from the working ship. The tank is equipped with a rotatory driving mechanism and trawled along the sea bottom while stirring it when the ship travels on the ocean. An elongated flexible coaxial pipe comprises an inner pipe and a coaxial outer pipe, each having at its lower end a fanwise shaped hopper mouth disposed within the tank through the upper wall thereof. The coaxial pipe passes through an internal seawater cistern in the bottom wall portion of the working ship and has its upper portion within an external seawater cistern mounted on the upper portion of the working ship. A suction pump is joined to the upper end of the coaxial inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Inventor: Nakaji Saito