Patents Examined by Alexander Comley
  • Patent number: 9562455
    Abstract: Proposed is a dosing module for injecting liquid urea-water solution into the exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine, which dosing module is composed of two pumps, specifically a delivery pump (5) and an aeration pump (15). This permits firstly the injection of urea-water solutions and secondly safe and reliable ventilation of the system when the internal combustion engine is to be shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ewgenij Landes, Peter Boehland
  • Patent number: 9528439
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes: an interior flowpath defined through a combustor and a turbine; an aft frame forming an interface between the combustor the turbine, the aft frame comprising a rigid structural member that circumscribes the interior flowpath, wherein the aft frame includes an inner wall that defines an outboard boundary of the interior flowpath; a circumferentially extending fuel plenum formed through the aft frame; and outlet ports formed through the inner wall of the aft frame. The outlet ports may be configured to connect the fuel plenum to the interior flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9528521
    Abstract: A controllable coolant pump driven by a belt pulley for internal combustion engines is equipped with a valve slide. A seal is disposed on the outer edge of the wall plate between the plate and the outer cylinder of the valve slide. At least one additional flow outlet opening is disposed on the pump housing, the outlet volume stream of which openings can be additionally controlled, aside from the controllable volume stream that exits from the flow exit opening. The flow outlet opening from which the controllable outlet volume stream exits is connected with an outflow opening disposed near the rear wall of the valve slide, in the pump chamber rear wall, via an outflow channel. The outflow opening is enclosed by a ring seal disposed in the pump chamber rear wall, which enters into operative engagement with the valve slide in its rear end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC GPM GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Pawellek
  • Patent number: 9523359
    Abstract: A pump producing peristaltic pumping action by sequentially occluding a tube between staggered curved surfaces. The pump includes a pump frame with a platen with a plurality of curved surfaces. The curved surfaces of the platen operatively interact with opposing curved surfaces on a pressure plate assembly or the like. Pumping is accomplished via a tube sandwiched between the platen and the pressure plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Robert C. Geschwender
  • Patent number: 9523358
    Abstract: A magnetically driven micropump for handling small fluid volumes. The micropump includes a first chamber and a second chamber. A flexible membrane being disposed between the first and second chambers. The flexible membrane being magnetically coupled to an actuator for displacing the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Farid Amirouche, Yu Zhou, Matthew Lawrence Cantwell, Johan Citerin
  • Patent number: 9511178
    Abstract: A pump drive for an extracorporeal blood pumping system including an adjustable drive magnet. The pump drive may be coupled to a blood pump which includes a pump impeller. The pump drive may include a stepper motor for dynamically adjusting the position of the drive magnet. The position of the drive magnet may be varied to vary the distance between the drive magnet and an impeller magnet of the pump impeller. Adjusting the position of the drive magnet may include dynamically adjusting the drive magnet and may include axially moving the drive magnet to thereby vary a magnetic attraction force between the drive magnet and the impeller magnet which may thereby minimize forces acting on one or more bearings of a pump impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger A. Naidyhorski, Brian J. Steffens, Craig D. Petersen
  • Patent number: 9512836
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump for an internal combustion engine. The high-pressure fuel pump includes an improved configuration that beneficially simplifies certain features of the high-pressure fuel pump. The fuel pump possesses an inlet check valve positioned along an inlet fuel circuit and an outlet fuel circuit of the high-pressure pump that provides a path for a low-pressure inlet fuel flow to and a path for a high-pressure output fuel flow from a pumping chamber of the fuel pump. Because of the configuration of the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve, the complexity of high-pressure fuel pump is beneficially reduced, decreasing the cost of components and assembly and improving the life and reliability of high-pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony A. Shaull, Wesley R. Thayer
  • Patent number: 9512832
    Abstract: In a swash plate type variable displacement compressor, a lug plate includes a cylinder chamber and first and second guide surfaces. Inner peripheral edges of the first and second guide surfaces are defined respectively at parts where the peripheral edge of the cylinder chamber and the guide surfaces overlap with each other. When the inclination angle of a swash plate of the compressor is maximum, first and second guided surfaces and the first and second guide surfaces, respectively are brought into line contact with each other at a first position. At this time, first and second slide contact widths are maximum. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is minimum, the first and second guided surfaces and the first and second guide surfaces, respectively are brought into line contact with each other at a second position. At this time, the first and second slide contact widths are minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shinya Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Kengo Sakakibara, Yusuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9506458
    Abstract: In a liquid supply apparatus, plungers which respectively expand and contract pump chambers are reciprocated linearly in an axial direction with their phases shifted to each other, thereby continuously discharging liquid. In a pump block, drive rods are mounted so as to be reciprocatable in an axial direction. At a center in an axial direction of shafts attached to the drive rods, drive rollers are mounted, and rollers are mounted at both ends of the shafts. Guide grooves which support the guide rollers are formed in guide blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KOGANEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeo Yajima
  • Patent number: 9500197
    Abstract: A pump assembly for a vehicle transmission that is coupled to a prime mover, a chain drive assembly, a hydraulic pump with a rotor, and a planetary gear set. A drive sprocket of the chain drive assembly is rotationally coupled with the prime mover. The planetary gear set includes first, second, and third members. The first member is rotatable with the pump and the third member is rotatable with the driven sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: John C. Schultz, Philip C. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9494156
    Abstract: A pump that includes a pump body 10 which sucks in air from an inlet 7 and discharges the air; a hydraulic pump which pressure-feeds a lubricating oil to the pump body 10 in accordance with the driving of the pump body 10; a non-return valve 70 which is disposed in a valve accommodation portion 6 between the inlet 7 and the pump body 10 to open and close the valve accommodation portion 6; an air introduction path 19 which introduces air into a cylinder 74 of the non-return valve 70; and an air introduction valve 60 which opens the air introduction path 19 when the hydraulic pump is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ULVAC KIKO, INC.
    Inventors: Koichi Maruyama, Junichi Aikawa, Naoto Yotsugi, Kotaro Iwagoshi
  • Patent number: 9494080
    Abstract: A fuel pumping unit has a low pressure pump, a high pressure pump, and a drive input which drives the low and high pressure pumps. The low pressure pump supplies, in use, fuel at a boosted pressure to the high pressure pump. The fuel pumping unit further has a low pressure housing containing the low pressure pump, and a high pressure housing containing the high pressure pump. The housings are joined together at a housing interface. The drive input is contained in one of the housings, whereby drive from the drive input is transferred across the interface to the pump in the other housing. The housing interface includes a gap which interposes between the high pressure pump and the low pressure pump. A layer of substantially stagnant fuel is trapped, in use, in the gap to reduce heat transfer from the high pressure pump to the low pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CONTROLS AND DATA SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: David Nicholas Neate, Jonathan Masters
  • Patent number: 9494162
    Abstract: An axial fan, having an inner electric motor and a fan wheel connected to the electric motor so as to rotate with it and has a plurality of wheel blades defining a blade length and extend outwardly from the electric motor. A fan housing surrounds the fan wheel. The fan housing is connected to the motor via holding struts which extend to the outside from the motor to the fan housing. A motor housing is provided on the motor behind the fan wheel and accommodates a motor electronics system. A flow duct having an inflow opening and an outflow opening is fastened to the motor behind the fan wheel such that the inflow opening is arranged offset to the outside with respect to the outflow opening. The outflow opening is oriented in such a way that an air flow which exits the outlet opening is guided onto the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Haaf, Christian Haag, Sven Walter
  • Patent number: 9482229
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor includes an electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor so as to compress refrigerant gas, a metal housing accommodating the electric motor and the compression mechanism, a suction passage communicable with interior of the housing wherein refrigerant gas flows through the suction passage, a discharge passage communicable with the interior of the housing wherein refrigerant gas discharged from the compression mechanism flows through the discharge passage and a check valve that is provided in at least one of the suction passage and the discharge passage, opened while the compressor is in operation and closed while the compressor is at a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Taku Adaniya
  • Patent number: 9476425
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring an Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) are provided, and example of an apparatus includes a rotation rate or other sensor located in, for example, an ESP gauge. When the ESP is started the rotating elements rotate in a first direction while the static elements will experience an opposing torque in a second opposite direction. The small rotational movement of the ESP gauge housing, for example, is sensed by the sensor and is used to determine the direction of rotation of the motor and pump to ensure proper ESP motor and/or ESP assembly configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Eric Atherton
  • Patent number: 9470151
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bushing that is non-round in cross-section, the bushing receivable within an aperture. A fastener passes through the bushing to retain a second component to a third component with respect to the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jose E. Ruberte Sanchez, Joey Wong, Mark J. Ricciardo, Russell B. Hanson
  • Patent number: 9470217
    Abstract: The embodiments herein disclose a method and system for measuring and controlling an amount of flow and volume of liquid/fluid and/or electrical energy. The method and system obtains a plurality of values for the electrical parameters of an electro-pump, including voltage value, current value and active/reactive energy value; calculates the plurality values; and determines and controls the amount of instant flow and volume of the liquid/fluid based on the calculated values. The system/method gathers these two measuring and controlling features such as measuring and controlling the volume of liquid and amount of energy in one casing, thereby providing a secure reference for both the parameters at the same time for underground water resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventors: Mohsen Taravat, Hossein Nazarbolandjahromi
  • Patent number: 9422818
    Abstract: A rotor wheel for a gas turbine engine, the wheel including: a metal holder disk including a plurality of teeth at its periphery, the teeth extending radially outwards from the disk; a plurality of composite material blades, each blade including a root engaged between two adjacent teeth of the holder disk and that is held against the teeth by a pivot connection; a clamp disk including a plurality of teeth at its periphery extending in an axial direction, the clamp disk being fastened against the holder disk and on the same axis, with each of its teeth taking up a circumferential position between a blade root and a tooth of the holder disk; and a mechanism exerting a clamping force in a circumferential direction urging the teeth of the clamp disk against the blade roots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Stephane Pierre Guillaume Blanchard, Laurent Pierre Joseph Ricou
  • Patent number: 9410721
    Abstract: A heating element that includes a ceramic material doped with various elements is described. The heating element can be heated by forcing a fuel to flow through the ceramic material, where the fuel interacts with the dopants. The interaction can produce energy in the form of heat. Inventive aspects of the present material include apparatus and methods for modulation of the heat energy, physical features providing for an increase in the rate of heat release, optimization of materials and material morphology for quantity and efficiency of heat release and provision for fueling and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brown Cravens Taylor
    Inventor: Dennis Cravens
  • Patent number: 9408991
    Abstract: A pump unit can achieve significant size reduction while maintaining the performance thereof. Micropumps are arranged in a lattice pattern with rows and columns, and a discharge port of at least a micropump arranged in the most downstream row is directly connected to an integrated discharge port. The pump unit further includes: a discharge direct-connection mechanism for connecting respective discharge ports of a plurality of micropumps in a middle row directly to the integrated discharge port; an intake direct-connection mechanism for connecting respective intake ports of the micropumps directly to a fluid to be supplied first; a series-connection mechanism for connecting a discharge port of a micropump in an upstream row directly to an intake port of a micropump in a downstream row; and a controller for controlling the discharge direct-connection mechanism, the intake direct-connection mechanism, and the series-connection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Metran Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufuku Nitta, Jun Nitta