Patents Assigned to Flow Systems
  • Patent number: 8772559
    Abstract: A biochar generator may include a pyrolysis chamber, a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber and a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber. A biochar collection chamber sensor may sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar. A controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor may utilize the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 8600568
    Abstract: A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant and a main that connects a plurality of pump stations to the wastewater treatment plant. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well and a pump carried by the wet well to pump the wastewater. The system may include a central server and a sensor in communication with the central server to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level. The level of wastewater within the wet well may be systematically manipulated responsive to the central server to control the fluid flow in the wastewater treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 8594851
    Abstract: Reductions in energy consumption and maintenance requirements for operating a wastewater treatment plant are achieved by controlling the operation of pumps at pump stations along a force main in a systematic fashion. The operation of the pumps is controlled to manage the flow of wastewater along the force main to minimize energy consumption, to eliminate sediment, to manage peak pressures encountered by smaller pumps and to avoid septic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Publication number: 20130299332
    Abstract: A biochar generator may include a pyrolysis chamber, a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber and a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber. A biochar collection chamber sensor may sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar. A controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor may utilize the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 8530787
    Abstract: A flow tester may use a low impedance flow meter to test a hole at a predetermined Reynolds number. The flow tester may be mounted to a robot so that testing may be fully automated. For example, the flow tester may be incorporated into a laser drilling workcell and used to test flow characteristics of a test coupon or workpiece to calibrate or verify the laser settings. Another example may be used for testing flow characteristics of a finished workpiece. The flow tester may have a testing tip that is compliant to form a seal against a workpiece, and the testing tip may be able to seal against angled, curved, or other surfaces. The flow tester may be capable of testing individual holes or groups of holes and determining an effective cross sectional area for the hole at the predetermined Reynolds number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Carter
  • Patent number: 8521452
    Abstract: A liquid level determination system includes pressure determination components that include an interference dampener to mitigate interference originating from a bubbler air compressor. The system may include a pressure pipe with a pressure sensing pipe end located adjacent to the pressure determination components and a bubbler pipe end locatable at least partially in a wet well. The wet well may include a pump that has a volute. The pressure pipe may further include layered pipe sections, and the position of the bubbler pipe end may be calculated so that it is not lower than a level substantially equivalent to a center line through the volute. The bubbler air compressor may provide air pressure to the pressure pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, James Marion Boyd, Darrell Lee Manchester, Gregory Louis Valenti
  • Patent number: 8381762
    Abstract: The invention relates to the metering of fluids at low flow rates. More particularly, the invention provides a flow regulator for flows as low as about ½ ml per hour, provided with locking means for any set value within its range. The flow regulator comprises: an inner non-revolving core element, an outer housing, having a hollow base section and being revolvably supported co-axially with the core element, first and second chambers disposed between the core element and the outer housing, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the first chamber and the inlet of the second chamber being connected by a flow restriction path, a diaphragm separating the two chambers and sealing an inlet to a discharge tube when pressure in the first chamber is higher than pressure in the second chamber, and a circular spring placed in the secondary chamber below the diaphragm and around the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: MFS Medical Flow Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Ofer Shay
  • Patent number: 8340929
    Abstract: A liquid level determination system to determine the level of a liquid in a wet we is disclosed. The system may include pressure determination components and a pressure pipe with a pressure sensing pipe end located adjacent to the pressure determination components and a bubbler pipe end locatable at least partially in the wet well. A transducer is used to determine a pressure level within the pressure pipe maintained by a bubbler air compressor. A level detection processor may analyze the pressure level to determine a liquid level in the wet well. An interference dampener is included to mitigate interference originating from the bubbler air compressor. The interference dampener may be provided by transducer plug to restrict air flow. Alternatively, the interference dampener may be provided by a computer operated program to monitor and mitigate the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, James Marion Boyd, Darrell Lee Manchester, Gregory Louis Valenti
  • Publication number: 20120222994
    Abstract: A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant and a main that connects a plurality of pump stations to the wastewater treatment plant. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well and a pump carried by the wet well to pump the wastewater. The system may include a central server and a sensor in communication with the central server to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level. The level of wastewater within the wet well may be systematically manipulated responsive to the central server to control the fluid flow in the wastewater treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Smaidris
  • Patent number: 8260872
    Abstract: A data transmission system may include a master node and a slave node. Both the master node and the slave node may comprise modbus simulators. The master node may initialize by receiving register data into its status repository from a status repository on the slave modbus simulator. After initialization, historical events may be transmitted from a historical repository of the slave modbus simulator to a historical repository of the master modbus simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, R. Brent Saunders
  • Patent number: 8228190
    Abstract: A valve malfunctioning detection system for use in a vacuum sewer system including a vacuum pit in fluid communication with a vacuum station is provided. The vacuum pit includes a vacuum sewer valve that is moveable between an opened position and a closed position. The valve malfunctioning detection system may include a radio unit adapted to be carried by the vacuum pit, a gateway radio in communication with the radio unit, a hub radio in communication with the gateway radio to receive a signal transmitted by the gateway radio, and a server in communication with the hub radio. The signal transmitted by the radio unit may include an indication of a status of the vacuum sewer valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, R. Brent Saunders, Edward C. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 7857040
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for use with exhaust pipes. A shroud inlet communicates with a rear chamber, which communicates with a front chamber via a center plate vent. The front chamber communicates with a shroud outlet. Ambient air entering the rear chamber is routed around at least one J-pipe in the rear chamber, and around a collector in the front chamber, thus being twice heated prior to exiting the heat exchanger through the shroud outlet. The double heating provided by this design increases the efficiency of the heat exchanger. The collector is attached to the center plate by means of a full-penetration fillet weld, and the J-pipes are attached to the center plate, a front plate, and a pipe assembly baffle by stitch welding external to the J-pipes, thus strengthening the integrity of the hermetic seal between exhaust gasses and ambient air passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Power Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Strohmayer
  • Patent number: 7681356
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for irrigating a plant, the method including the step of placing an end of a fibrous wick (50) in communication with a source of water (21) with the wick (50) delivering the water to a moisture zone proximal to a subterranean root structure of the plant. The deliver of this water is controlled by constricting the wick (50) to a predetermined degree by means of a constriction member (30) in order that the irrigation of the plant is substantially self regulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sensitive Flow Systems Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Leonard Frederick Sheldrake, Craig Mounsey, Neil Davidson, Mark Gilroy, Cambell Smyth
  • Publication number: 20080035753
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for irrigating a plant, the method including the step of placing an end of a fibrous wick (50) in communication with a source of water (21) with the wick (50) delivering the water to a moisture zone proximal to a subterranean root structure of the plant. The deliver of this water is controlled by constricting the wick (50) to a predetermined degree by means of a constriction member (30) in order that the irrigation of the plant is substantially self regulating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Sensitive Flow Systems Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Leonard Frederick Sheldrake, Craig Mounsey, Neil W Davidson, Mark A Gilroy, Cambell Smyth
  • Publication number: 20040142696
    Abstract: A spectral reuse transceiver-based communication system conducts communications between a master site and a plurality of remote sites using a selected portion of a communication bandwidth containing a plurality of sub-bandwidth channels. Each remote site transceiver monitors the communication bandwidth for activity on the sub-bandwidth channels, and informs a master site transceiver which sub-bandwidth communication channels are absent communication activity and therefore constitute clear channels. The master site transceiver compiles an aggregate list of clear channels from all the remote sites and then broadcasts the aggregate list to the remote sites. The master site and a remote site then conduct communications therebetween by frequency-hopping and/or orthogonal frequency multiplexing among the clear channels using an a priori known PN sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Brent Saunders, Thomas F. Smaidris, Edward Carl Gerhardt, William R. Highsmith, Gregory M. Powell, David M. Odom, Larry W. Koos
  • Patent number: 6374599
    Abstract: A tuned exhaust system for a multi-cylinder, reciprocating, internal combustion engine is disclosed. Each exhaust tube has approximately the same overall length resulting in a predetermined resonant frequency. The overall length includes the sum of the header tube length and the internal length of the collector assembly portions of the exhaust channels in the heat exchanger box. Calculating the correct length and bending the pipes to fit in the space available resulted in increased horsepower, reduced fuel consumption, cooler cylinder head temperatures, reduced noise and vibration for four-cylinder and six-cylinder aircraft engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Power Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5790752
    Abstract: A highly efficient in-line fluid heater is suitable for heating ultra-pure fluids. Preferably, the heater can be used for heating various fluids, including water, as part of a "wet bench" system used in a wafer processing fabrication facility for the semi-conductor industry. Many other uses for this in-line heater can be envisioned; e.g., water industry, gas processing, and any other use requiring an ultra-clean, highly efficient, non-contact method of raising the temperature of various liquids and gases. The preferred in-line heater utilizes one or more elongated lamps that generate IR radiation as the heating elements. A vessel is provided through which the fluid to be heated is passed. Typically, the vessel is a tube. The tube is preferably a straight single diameter tube, but can be formed in any convenient shape. For ultra-pure fluids, the vessel is formed of an inert or non-reactive material such as quartz. Preferably, the vessel is transparent to the IR radiation generated by the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Hytec Flow Systems
    Inventors: Noah L. Anglin, Roy J. Machamer, Stanley J. Hludzinski, Robert G. Garber
  • Patent number: 5609757
    Abstract: A filter housing assembly for the filtration of liquids at high temperature and high pressure and for reduction of particles having a housing for a filter cartridge, a flanged cap, that is slidingly inserted into the housing, and having a cap nut for fastening and tightly sealing the cap to a lip on the housing. The interface housing-cap having grooves, with centerlines offset in opposite directions, for receiving sealants and cone-shaped surfaces on the flange and the lip opposing flat surfaces on the cap nut and the flange, respectively, for achieving a tight seal. The housing having a bottom with a concentric cylindrical recess with a concave-convex edge for receiving the nose of the cartridge. The housing also having a spacer for holding the upper part of the cartridge concentric for efficient filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Hytec Flow Systems
    Inventors: John J. Schiavo, Robert G. Garber
  • Patent number: 5195878
    Abstract: A liquid pump is disclosed having a center block containing inlets and outlets for liquid to be pumped and air to operate the pump with associated valves for liquid and air. A pair of opposed cylinders are provided on opposite sides of the center block and each containing a collapsible bellows connected to a sleeve forming a piston with the liquid being pumped in the chamber within the bellows. Push rodes extend from one piston to the other so that the piston pumping liquid out pushes the other piston to fill with liquid. The bellows have conbolutions of selectively varying wall thickness, and tapered single or dual compression seals are provided where the bellows are joined to the center block. An inflow conical valve and an outflow shuttle valve are provided for each cylinder, and vent tubes are provided to cool the bellows and to actuate the air valve at the end of the piston stroke. An encapsulated sheet member is provided in each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hytec Flow Systems
    Inventors: John Sahiavo, Robert Garber
  • Patent number: D668132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Safe Flow Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Peperas