Patents Assigned to Fluid Handling LLC
  • Patent number: 10066672
    Abstract: A vertical in-line split couple pump includes a motor shaft having a motor shaft collar; a pump shaft having a pump shaft collar with a pump shaft angled collar surface oblique to an axis of the motor and pump shafts; and a coupler having coupler halves that attach together, that have a couple groove to receive the motor shaft collar, and have a couple angled groove to receive the pump shaft collar. The couple angled groove has a couple angled groove surface oblique to the axis. The coupler halves respond to a force that moves them together to couple the pump and motor shaft together, moves the pump shaft angled collar surface in relation to the couple angled groove surface, causing the pump shaft to move upwardly towards the motor shaft along the axis, to provide a way to jack-up and recouple the pump shaft and any impeller attached thereto by one mechanic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Waltz, Bruce M. Burkelman, James R. Roberts, Joel E. Swanson
  • Patent number: 10048701
    Abstract: Apparatus, such as a pump controller, features a signal processor configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about a linear set point control curve based at least partly on an adaptive set point control curve related to fluid being pumped by a pump in a pumping system, and determine a control set point based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor may be configured to provide a control signal containing information to control the pump based on the control set point determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, James J. Gu, Graham A. Scott
  • Patent number: 9938970
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a hydronic sensorless pumping system, that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about motor readout values of power and speed, and also about pump and system characteristics equations together with empirical power equations that are constructed by a polynomial best-fit function together with pump affinity laws based upon a pump curve published by a pump manufacturer; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a pump or system pressure and a flow rate at the motor readout values of power and speed, based upon the signaling received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, James J. Gu, Graham A. Scott
  • Patent number: 9897084
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about an adaptive or self-calibrating set point control curve and a varying equivalent system characteristic curve based at least partly on an instant pump pressure and a flow rate using an adaptive moving average filter, and equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the instant pump pressure and the flow rate to corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped using a discrete numerical approach; and determine an adaptive pressure set point, based at least partly on the signaling received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, James J. Gu, Graham A. Scott
  • Patent number: 9846416
    Abstract: A signal processor receives signaling containing information about flow rates from sensorless converters in zone circulators in heating/cooling zones controlled by temperature sensors in a hydronic heating system in order to derive an adaptive pressure set point to meet the flow rates requested by the heating/cooling zones using an adaptive system and flow control curve equation, the signaling containing information about total flow rates requested by the zone circulators; determines desired pump speeds for the zone circulators to meet temperature requirements in heat zones; provides corresponding signaling containing information about the desired pump speeds; and/or determines the adaptive pump control curve equation based upon an adaptive system curve and as a moving maximum system flow rate depending on an adaptive pressure set point, a system flow rate requested by temperature loads, a minimum pressure at no flow, a control curve setting parameter, and an adaptive moving maximum flow and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, James J. Gu, Graham A. Scott
  • Patent number: 9714717
    Abstract: A flow switch assembly features a two-part base assembly having lower and upper base parts. The lower base part is made from a metallic material, adapted on piping having a fluid flow, and configured with a central orifice to receive a paddle arm that pivots on an axis and responds to fluid flow in the piping. The upper base part is made from a non-metallic material, configured with a corresponding central orifice to receive the paddle arm, and configured with a channel to receive a pivot arm to mount and allow the paddle arm to pivot on the axis to actuate an ON/OFF switch in response to fluid flow. The non-metallic material has a lower coefficient of heat transfer than the metallic material to reduce condensation build-up in the flow switch assembly when the flow switch assembly is used in cold applications and exposed to temperatures below freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Nimesh Pratapbhai Karia, Girish Subhash Mukkawar, Navalkishor Birdhilal Agrawal, Brijeshkumar Kantilal Meghpara
  • Patent number: 9611856
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: process signaling containing information about an equilibrium point of pump differential pressure and system pressure formulated in a hydronic domain by utilizing pump and system characteristic curve equations so as to yield system pressure and flow rate at any particular load and time in a pump hydronic system, including using a multi-dimensional sensorless conversion technique; and determine equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the pump differential pressure and flow rate to their corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped by using a discrete numerical approach, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, Graham A. Scott, James J. Gu
  • Patent number: 9366582
    Abstract: A combination valve includes an isolation shutoff valve to prevent a fluid flow; a check valve to prevent backflow and gravity circulation of fluid flow; a pressure sensor to sense a pressure measurement of fluid flow and determine pressure sensor signaling containing information about a sensed pressure measurement; a temperature sensor to sense a temperature measurement of fluid flow and determine temperature sensor signaling containing information about a sensed temperature measurement; and a flow measurement sensor to sense a flow measurement of fluid flow and determine flow measurement signaling containing information about a sensed flow measurement. The pressure sensor, temperature sensor and flow measurement sensor are all embedded and preassembled in the combination valve with the isolation shutoff valve and the check valve as part of one integral composite unit or component, so as to form a combination isolation valve and check valve with integral flow rate, pressure and/or temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC.
    Inventors: Florin Rosca, Glenn E. Huse, Stanley P. Evans
  • Patent number: 9170137
    Abstract: A valve is provided having a valve housing/body configured to be arranged in, or form part of, a piping having a fluid flow, and configured with a pressure tap arranged at a location along the piping to allow pressure of the fluid flow of the piping to be measured, and also having a rotatable orifice plate configured to rotate in the valve body/housing on an axis of rotation positioned at a different location along the piping than the pressure tap for rotating between a first rotatable position for providing a normal fluid flow operation and a second rotatable position substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow for providing a direct flow measurement of the fluid flow determined based on signaling sensed by the pressure tap sensor containing information about a measured pressure at the pressure tap when the orifice plate is in the second rotatable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC.
    Inventors: Stanley P. Evans, Florin Rosca, Mahesh Nair, Amit Welekar
  • Patent number: 9016140
    Abstract: A valve includes a body having upstream and downstream ports to measure upstream and downstream pressures and configured on a common axis, and a ball arranged in the body to rotate re the common axis between open and closed positions to allow for fluid flow and no fluid flow. The ball has a calibrated member having a calibrated orifice to allow fluid flow and has a flow coefficient and upstream and downstream pressure taps located upstream and downstream of the calibrated orifice and in fluidic communication with the upstream and downstream ports to measure upstream and downstream pressures when in the open position and angled re the common axis, so a direct flow measurement of fluid flow is determined based on a measured pressure differential between upstream and downstream pressure taps re the flow coefficient of the calibrated orifice when in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stanley P. Evans, Florin Rosca, Glenn E. Huse, Donald A. Kahn
  • Publication number: 20140311254
    Abstract: A valve is provided having a valve housing/body configured to be arranged in, or form part of, a piping having a fluid flow, and configured with a pressure tap arranged at a location along the piping to allow pressure of the fluid flow of the piping to be measured, and also having a rotatable orifice plate configured to rotate in the valve body/housing on an axis of rotation positioned at a different location along the piping than the pressure tap for rotating between a first rotatable position for providing a normal fluid flow operation and a second rotatable position substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow for providing a direct flow measurement of the fluid flow determined based on signaling sensed by the pressure tap sensor containing information about a measured pressure at the pressure tap when the orifice plate is in the second rotatable position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stanley P. EVANS, Florin ROSCA, Mahesh NAIR, Amit WELEKAR
  • Publication number: 20140288716
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: process signaling containing information about an equilibrium point of pump differential pressure and system pressure formulated in a hydronic domain by utilizing pump and system characteristic curve equations so as to yield system pressure and flow rate at any particular load and time in a pump hydronic system, including using a multi-dimensional sensorless conversion technique; and determine equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the pump differential pressure and flow rate to their corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped by using a discrete numerical approach, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Handling LLC.
    Inventors: Andrew A. CHENG, Graham A. SCOTT, James J. GU
  • Publication number: 20140249682
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about calibrated motor speed and power data for a hydronic pumping system; and determine system pumping flow rate and pressure associated with an equivalent hydronic system characteristic variable, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined. The corresponding signaling may contain information used to control the hydronic pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Handling LLC.
    Inventors: Andrew A. CHENG, Graham A. SCOTT, James J. GU
  • Publication number: 20140140837
    Abstract: A suction diffuser or arrangement is provided featuring a main suction diffuser body and a flow conditioning arrangement. The main suction diffuser body is configured with an inlet to receive an incoming fluid flow, an interior cavity to receive the incoming fluid from the inlet, and an outlet to receive the incoming fluid from the interior cavity and provide an outgoing fluid. The flow conditioning arrangement is configured in relation to the inlet and also comprises a flow conditioning portion having at least one inwardly contoured surface, configured to extend into the interior cavity, diffuse the incoming fluid passing from the inlet into the interior cavity, and provide a flow conditioning that produces a uniform flow of the outgoing fluid by directing the incoming fluid towards the outlet, based at least partly on a contoured design corresponding to the at least one inwardly contoured surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stanley P. EVANS, JR., Mikhail P. STRONGIN, Florin ROSCA, Manish SHARMA, Ravi K. LAVETI, Sameer K. ANDE
  • Publication number: 20140137663
    Abstract: A valve includes a body having an upstream port to measure upstream pressure and a downstream port to measure downstream pressure, both ports configured re a common axis, and includes a ball arranged in the body to rotate re the common axis between open and closed positions to allow for fluid flow/non-fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventor: Fluid Handling LLC
  • Patent number: 8700221
    Abstract: The present invention provides, e.g., apparatus comprising at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and computer program code being configured, with at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: respond to signaling containing information about an instant pressure and a flow rate of fluid being pumped in a pumping system, and obtain an adaptive control curve based at least partly on the instant pressure and flow rate using an adaptive moving average filter. The adaptive moving average filter may be based at least partly on a system flow equation: SAMAt=AMAF(Qt/?{square root over (?Pt)}), where the function AMAF is an adaptive moving average filter (AMAF), and the parameters Q and ?P are a system flow rate and differential pressure respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Cheng, James J. Gu
  • Publication number: 20140005841
    Abstract: Apparatus, such as a pump controller, features a signal processor configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about a linear set point control curve based at least partly on an adaptive set point control curve related to fluid being pumped by a pump in a pumping system, and determine a control set point based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor may be configured to provide a control signal containing information to control the pump based on the control set point determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. CHENG, James J. GU, Graham A. SCOTT
  • Patent number: D686699
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Paul Evans, Jr., Florin Rosca, Glenn Edward Huse, Donald Arthur Kahn
  • Patent number: D706394
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC.
    Inventors: Stanley Paul Evans, Jr., Florin Rosca, Glenn Edward Huse, Donald Arthur Kahn