Patents Assigned to Duramax Marine, LLC
  • Patent number: 10697703
    Abstract: A multiple-stacked marine heat exchanger for cooling at least one heat source in a marine vessel having an upper marine heat exchanger with a forward beveled end and upper coolant flow tubes connected thereto, a lower marine exchanger having a forward beveled end which converges with the forward beveled end of the upper marine heat exchanger and lower coolant flow tubes connected thereto, and an ambient water passageway extending through each pair of stacked marine heat exchangers in the multi-stacked marine heat exchanger. In one situation, the beveled ends cooperate to form a stagnant pressure region near the entrance to the ambient water passageway to create an increase in pressure at the entrance to create jets of turbulent water flowing through the passageway to break up the laminar boundary layer and increase heat transfer from the coolant flow tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Frank E. Horvat, Joseph H. Andulics
  • Patent number: 10179637
    Abstract: A keel cooler assembly comprising a coolant tube including a plurality of turbulence enhancers for improving the heat transfer of the coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the coolant. In one embodiment, the turbulence enhancers are provided for generating turbulent wakes in the coolant for disrupting laminar boundary layers for improving heat transfer. In another embodiment, the turbulence enhancers are provided for generating and propagating turbulent vortexes in the coolant to enhance mixing of the bulk coolant for improving heat transfer. In other embodiments, turbulators, including inserts or impediments, are provided having various configurations and being arranged in predetermined patterns for enhancing turbulence of the coolant for improving keel cooler heat transfer efficiency without substantially increasing pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: P. Charles Miller, Jr., Frank E. Horvat
  • Publication number: 20180283793
    Abstract: A multiple-stacked marine heat exchanger for cooling at least one heat source in a marine vessel having an upper marine heat exchanger with a forward beveled end and upper coolant flow tubes connected thereto, a lower marine exchanger having a forward beveled end which converges with the forward beveled end of the upper marine heat exchanger and lower coolant flow tubes connected thereto, and an ambient water passageway extending through each pair of stacked marine heat exchangers in the multi-stacked marine heat exchanger. In one situation, the beveled ends cooperate to form a stagnant pressure region near the entrance to the ambient water passageway to create an increase in pressure at the entrance to create jets of turbulent water flowing through the passageway to break up the laminar boundary layer and increase heat transfer from the coolant flow tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Frank E. Horvat, Joseph H. Andulics
  • Patent number: 9957030
    Abstract: A keel cooler assembly comprising a liquid coolant tube including a plurality of turbulence enhancers for improving the heat transfer of the liquid coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the liquid coolant. In one embodiment, the turbulence enhancers generate turbulent wakes in the liquid coolant for disrupting laminar boundary layers for improving heat transfer. In another embodiment, the turbulence enhancers generate and propagate turbulent vortexes in the liquid coolant to enhance mixing of the bulk liquid coolant for improving heat transfer. In other embodiments, turbulators, including inserts or impediments, are provided having various configurations and being arranged in predetermined patterns for enhancing turbulence of the liquid coolant for improving keel cooler heat transfer efficiency without substantially increasing pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: P. Charles Miller, Jr., Frank E. Horvat
  • Publication number: 20150191237
    Abstract: A keel cooler assembly comprising a coolant tube including a plurality of turbulence enhancers for improving the heat transfer of the coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the coolant. In one embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating turbulent wakes in the coolant for disrupting laminar boundary layers for improving heat transfer. In another embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating and propagating turbulent vortexes in the coolant to enhance mixing of the bulk coolant for improving heat transfer. In other embodiments, turbulators, including inserts or impediments, are provided having various configurations and being arranged in predetermined patterns for enhancing turbulence of the coolant for improving keel cooler heat transfer efficiency without substantially increasing pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: P. Charles Miller, JR., Frank E. Horvat
  • Publication number: 20150020996
    Abstract: A keel cooler assembly comprising a coolant tube including a plurality of turbulence enhancers for improving the heat transfer of the coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the coolant. In one embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating turbulent wakes in the coolant for disrupting laminar boundary layers for improving heat transfer. In another embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating and propagating turbulent vortexes in the coolant to enhance mixing of the bulk coolant for improving heat transfer. In other embodiments, turbulators, including inserts or impediments, are provided having various configurations and being arranged in predetermined patterns for enhancing turbulence of the coolant for improving keel cooler heat transfer efficiency without substantially increasing pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: P. Charles Miller, JR., Frank E. Horvat
  • Patent number: 8376029
    Abstract: A fluid flow diverter is provided in a standard rectangular header of a keel cooler for optimizing the coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes of the keel cooler. The improvement enhances the internal coolant flow and subsequent heat transfer efficiency similar to what has been realized with a non-rectangular header, for example, a header with a beveled wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Rericha, Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey
  • Publication number: 20090145591
    Abstract: A fluid flow diverter is provided in a standard rectangular header of a keel cooler for optimizing the coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes of the keel cooler. The improvement enhances the internal coolant flow and subsequent heat transfer efficiency similar to what has been realized with a non-rectangular header, for example, a header with a beveled wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Rericha, Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey
  • Patent number: 7490992
    Abstract: A bearing unit for holding a shaft, the bearing unit having a housing and integral lands extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing for tangentially engaging the rotating shaft, the bearing unit being made from a slippery polymer alloy comprising a heterogeneous composition of a thermoplastic in a continuous phase, a thermoplastic rubber compound dispersed in the thermoplastic and a lubricant dispersed in the thermoplastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Lee Orndorff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7481262
    Abstract: A keel cooler having a standard header with an internal beveled bottom wall, with orifices on the inner wall of the exterior tubes extending into the header, the orifices being in the natural flow path of the coolant flow. The orifices are sufficiently large so as not to restrict the flow of coolant. A fluid flow diverter is additionally provided in the header of the keel cooler for facilitating coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey, P. Charles Miller, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080063327
    Abstract: A bearing unit for holding a shaft, the bearing unit having a housing and integral lands extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing for tangentially engaging the rotating shaft, the bearing unit being made from a slippery polymer alloy comprising a heterogeneous composition of a thermoplastic in a continuous phase, a thermoplastic rubber compound dispersed in the thermoplastic and a lubricant dispersed in the thermoplastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC an Ohio limited-liability company
    Inventor: Roy Orndorff
  • Patent number: 7328740
    Abstract: A multiple-pass heat exchanger having opposing headers with beveled end walls, one header having nozzles on opposite sides of a separator wall for delivering heat exchange fluid at one temperature from one or more nozzles on one side of the separator wall, the heat exchanger having one set of fluid flow tubes for conveying the fluid in one direction to the other header and another set of fluid flow tubes for carrying the fluid in the opposite direction from the latter header for delivering to the header with a nozzle or nozzles for discharging the fluid from the latter header at a changed temperature. There is also disclosed a multiple systems combined heat exchanger having an opposing headers with beveled end walls, wherein at least two heat exchangers independent of each other share the respective headers which are divided from each other by separator walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Eric K. Peoples, Michael W. Brakey
  • Patent number: 7290932
    Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water-lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Lee Orndorff, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20070187066
    Abstract: A keel cooler having a standard header with an internal beveled bottom wall, with orifices on the inner wall of the exterior tubes extending into the header, the orifices being in the natural flow path of the coolant flow. The orifices are sufficiently large so as not to restrict the flow of coolant. A fluid flow diverter is additionally provided in the header of the keel cooler for facilitating coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC - a limited-liability corporation of the State of Ohio
    Inventors: Jeffrey Leeson, Michael Brakey, P. Miller
  • Patent number: 7201213
    Abstract: A keel cooler having a standard header with an internal beveled bottom wall, with orifices on the inner wall of the exterior tubes extending into the header, the orifices being in the natural flow path of the coolant flow. The orifices are sufficiently large so as not to restrict the flow of coolant. A fluid flow diverter is additionally provided in the header of the keel cooler for facilitating coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey, P. Charles Miller, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20060201652
    Abstract: A multiple-pass heat exchanger having opposing headers with beveled end walls, one header having nozzles on opposite sides of a separator wall for delivering heat exchange fluid at one temperature from one or more nozzles on one side of the separator wall, the heat exchanger having one set of fluid flow tubes for conveying the fluid in one direction to the other header and another set of fluid flow tubes for carrying the fluid in the opposite direction from the latter header for delivering to the header with a nozzle or nozzles for discharging the fluid from the latter header at a changed temperature. There is also disclosed a multiple systems combined heat exchanger having an opposing headers with beveled end walls, wherein at least two heat exchangers independent of each other share the respective headers which are divided from each other by separator walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Leeson, Eric Peoples, Michael Brakey
  • Patent number: 7044194
    Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger, the header having a beveled closed end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Eric K. Peoples, Michael W. Brakey
  • Patent number: 6921206
    Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Lee Orndorff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6896037
    Abstract: A keel cooler having a standard header with an internal beveled bottom wall, with orifices on the inner wall of the exterior tubes extending into the header, the orifices being in the natural flow path of the coolant flow. The orifices are sufficiently large so as not to restrict the flow of coolant. A fluid flow diverter is additionally provided in the header of the keel cooler for facilitating coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Michael W. Brakey, P. Charles Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6866271
    Abstract: A sealing device for use with a drive shaft of a water vessel. The sealing device comprises a housing for a seal and bearing, a compression ring, a lip seal flange attachment and a diaphragm for tracking the movement of the shaft. The diaphragm is made of a resilient, flexible material and is operatively connected to the seal housing. In operation, the diaphragm tracks the motion of the drive shaft so that the drive shaft may move freely in the hull of the vessel. The diaphragm allows the rigid seal housing to also move in response to any axial, lateral or circular-axial (wobble-like) movement of the shaft so that a constant seal around the shaft is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventor: George MacDonald