Patents Examined by Bryan Lettman
  • Separable system for applying compression and thermal treatment
    Patent number: 8979915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a separable device for the application of compression and thermal therapy to a patient. A first section includes a reservoir, liquid pump and a thermal exchange system for the application of thermal therapy as well as a dock. The second section of the device includes an air compressor and at least one controller for the application of compression therapy and can be operated independently from the first section. Additionally, the second section may be engaged with a dock of the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Wilford, Aaron Stein, John Lewis, Fernando Ubidia
  • Oil-retaining bearing having magnetic stabilizer
    Patent number: 8979512
    Abstract: An oil-retaining bearing fan device includes a fan base seat, at least one oil-retaining bearing and at least one magnetic member. The oil-retaining bearing is disposed in a bearing hole of the fan base seat. The oil-retaining bearing has at least one receiving hole for receiving the magnetic member therein. The magnetic member serves to apply a magnetic attraction force to a shaft of the fan device to make the shaft quickly restore to its optimal operation position so as to reduce wear and lower the noises and vibration of the fan device in operation. Therefore, the lifetime of the fan device can be prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components (Chengdu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bor-Haw Chang, Shu-Fen Liu
  • Variable-speed scroll refrigeration compressor
    Patent number: 8974190
    Abstract: The compressor includes a sealed enclosure containing a compression stage, an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, an oil pump rotationally coupled to the rotor, including an oil inlet port connected to an oil sump, and control means arranged to command the operation of the motor in a start-up mode in which the rotor is rotated at a first speed of rotation included in a first speed range, and a normal operating mode in which the rotor is rotated at a second speed of rotation included in a second speed range higher than the first speed range. The compressor includes an oil injection device having an oil injection duct connected to a first oil outlet port of the oil pump and arranged to supply the compression stage with oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Feifei Wang
  • Mixed flow fan
    Patent number: 8974199
    Abstract: A mixed-flow fan features a housing (42); an impeller (43) journaled rotatably with respect to the housing, and equipped with fan blades (54); a generally cylindrical air conduit (50) defined between the fan housing and the impeller, the fan blades extending into the air conduit in order, during operation, to transport air; an external-rotor motor (75) having an internal stator (100) and an external rotor (81) which includes a tubular ferromagnetic yoke (63) partly embedded in material of the impeller. A cup-shaped yoke (72) fits into a central cavity (68) of the tubular yoke (63) and accommodates a permanent magnet arrangement (66) which interacts with the stator. The tubular yoke (63) and the cup-shaped yoke (72) together serve as a magnetic return path for the external-rotor motor. The structure minimizes damage during final assembly, and simplifies insertion of balancing weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Schmid, Tobias Maier, Martin Mueller, Matthias Weiss
  • Fan assembly
    Patent number: 8967980
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a system for creating a primary air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes an outlet for emitting the primary air flow, and defines an opening through which a secondary air flow from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the primary air flow emitted from the outlet. To allow a parameter of an air flow, formed from the combination of the primary and secondary air flows, to be adjusted by a user, the nozzle has an adjustable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Fitton, James John Thorn, Timothy Nicholas Stickney
  • Mechanical combustion engine coolant pump
    Patent number: 8967981
    Abstract: A mechanical combustion engine coolant pump for pumping a coolant for an internal combustion engine includes a stationary cylindrical support body. A rotatable driving wheel is supported by a driving wheel roller bearing at the stationary cylindrical support body. The rotatable driving wheel is configured to be driven by the internal combustion engine. A pump wheel is arranged at a rotatable rotor shaft. The pump wheel is supported by a shaft roller bearing at the stationary cylindrical supporting body. A switchable friction clutch is configured to couple the rotatable driving wheel with the pump wheel. The stationary cylindrical support body integrally comprises an inner ring of the driving wheel roller bearing. The stationary cylindrical support body integrally comprises an outer ring of the shaft roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Durand, Pierre Reininger, Laurent Finidori
  • Fan assembly
    Patent number: 8967979
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a system for creating a primary air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes at least one outlet for emitting the primary air flow, and defines an opening through which a secondary air flow from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the emitted primary air flow and which combines with the primary air flow to produce a combined air flow. The nozzle includes a user operable device for allowing a user to adjust selectively at least one parameter, for example at least one of the profile, the orientation and the direction, of the combined air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Fitton, James John Thorn, Timothy Nicholas Stickney
  • Mechanical coolant pump
    Patent number: 8967982
    Abstract: A mechanical coolant pump for an internal combustion engine includes a main pump body configured to be stationary. A pump wheel is rotatably supported by the main pump body. The pump wheel comprises a central axial inlet opening. The pump wheel is configured to pump a coolant from the central axial inlet opening radially outwardly. A valve disk configured to be axially shiftable is arranged in the pump wheel. An actuator is configured to actuate the valve disk so as to close the central axial inlet opening in a closed position of the valve disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Durand, Achim Broemmel
  • Air compressor with shut-off mechanism
    Patent number: 8961145
    Abstract: A compressor system is disclosed, comprising a first pump driven by a D/C motor, a second pump driven by an A/C motor, and a switch which allows a user to manually selectively engage of one of the D/C motor or A/C motor, including a gauge having a user settable shut-off mechanism which interrupts power to at least one of D/C or A/C motors. Also disclosed is a gauge configured to display system pressure independent of the user settable shut-off mechanism. A gauge having a rotatable bezel with a needle stop comprising a first needle rotatably coupled to a gauge shaft, and a second needle fixable coupled to the gauge shaft, and a spring disposed between the first and second needles, the spring configured to bias the first needle into the second needle so changes in pressure causes rotation of both is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Sean D. Hill, Lumin Li
  • Electronically controlled liquid dispensing system with modular tubing and power design
    Patent number: 8961146
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) having a power circuit component in combination with a SMPS controller. The power circuit component may be configured to provide power to a pump that provides fluid from a container to some other device, including an appliance. The SMPS controller may be configured to receive signaling containing information about at least one control parameter selected from a group including a pressure at an outlet of the pump, a fluid level in the container and the temperature of a motor of the pump, and also may be configured to shut off the power provided to the pump based at least partly on the signaling received so that the power circuit component substantially does not draw power and heat up when the pump is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: David L. Phillips, Humberto Valenzuela Meza, Jignesh N. Pandya, Ujjaval D. Joshi
  • Turbocharger
    Patent number: 8961151
    Abstract: A turbocharger shaft interconnects the compressor impeller and the turbine wheel and a bearing housing between the compressor and turbine houses a bearing assembly supporting the turbocharger shaft rotation. A shaft bore defined in at least one of the compressor, turbine or bearing housings receiving the shaft. A sealing arrangement for restricting leakage of lubricant along the shaft bore from the bearing housing to the compressor or turbine housing. The sealing arrangement comprises at least one sealing ring around the shaft in the shaft bore and a gas passage communicating with the shaft bore. A gas distribution circuit includes a valve movable between a first position in which gas passage is in communication with a gas supply path for supplying gas to the shaft bore and a second position in which the gas passage is in communication with a vent path for venting gas from the shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Fahim Ismail Patel, James Alexander McEwen
  • Spherical expansion compressor adapted to variable working conditions
    Patent number: 8956128
    Abstract: A spherical expansion compressor adapted to variable working conditions with a spherical inner chamber, comprises a rolling rotor compressor used as first-stage compression, compression working chambers, expansion working chambers, a gas tank and a pressure control circuit. The pressure control circuit is between the gas tank and a pressure-controlled inlet valve of the rolling rotor compressor, and controls the inlet valve to open/close according to pressure in the gas tank and maintains constant pressure in the tank. A working medium after first-stage compression enters the gas tank, where the pressure control circuit regulates the gas tank pressure. The working medium enters second-stage compression, and expands in the expansion-stage, forming the spherical expansion compressor adapted to variable working conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Xi'An Zhengan Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luyi Wang, Nan Xia
  • Beverage production module and method for operating a beverage production module
    Patent number: 8951020
    Abstract: A beverage production module that includes a pump for delivering a fluid from a tank to an extraction chamber, a power source for the pump and a controller for operating the pump and for controlling the voltage applied from the power source to the pump. The controller is adapted to operate the pump both at a normal operation voltage over a predefined time at a reduced voltage level. The invention further relates to a method for operating the pump of the beverage production module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Guido Piai, Stefan Etter
  • Pump system
    Patent number: 8951023
    Abstract: Pumping systems and methods for delivering a plurality of different pumpable materials serially at a location at substantially the same flow rate includes a plurality of diaphragm pumps, wherein each diaphragm pump has a first chamber for receiving a hydraulic fluid from a first and/or second hydraulic fluid source and a second chamber for receiving a material to be pumped from one of a plurality of pumpable material sources. A sensor is provided for detecting the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in each of the first chambers of the plurality of diaphragm pumps and is operable to activate the source of hydraulic fluid to ensure that the hydraulic fluid in each of the first chambers of the plurality of diaphragm pumps has an equivalent pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Stratabolt (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Donald Michael O'Connor
  • Poppet valve assembly
    Patent number: 8951026
    Abstract: A novel valve assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes a seat plate having a plurality of fluid conduits. The valve assembly may also include a plurality of poppet assemblies. In some embodiments, a poppet assembly of such a plurality includes at least one fluid port and a housing configured to be coupled to the seat plate to facilitate flow of a fluid through a respective fluid conduit via the at least one fluid port of the respective poppet assembly. Other devices, systems, and methods related to poppet assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Compression Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Zahroof Mohamed
  • Electrically driven gas compressor
    Patent number: 8944781
    Abstract: A horizontal type electrically driven gas compressor includes an electric motor installed in a suction chamber of a housing, a gas compression mechanism section installed in the housing and driven by the electric motor, a sucked refrigerant guide path for guiding a refrigerant from the suction chamber to the gas compression mechanism section, and a lubricating oil supply path for supplying a lubricating oil, which has been collected and stagnated in a bottom portion of the suction chamber, to the sucked refrigerant guide path, the lubricating oil supply path fluidly connecting the sucked refrigerant guide path and the bottom portion of the suction chamber at the position of the bottom portion of the suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotada Shimaguchi, Toshiharu Watanabe
  • Fuel pump assembly
    Patent number: 8939736
    Abstract: A fuel pump assembly may include a housing and a fuel pump within a fuel pump cavity. The fuel pump may include a motor, a pumping element driven for rotation by the motor, a pump body that maintains the position of the pumping element relative to the motor and the housing, and a flexible seal. The seal may be disposed between the pump body and the housing to provide a fluid tight seal between them. A portion of the seal may be disposed radially outwardly of a distal end of the pump body to radially position the pump body within the fuel pump cavity and a portion of the seal may be disposed axially outwardly of the distal end of the pump body to axially position the pump body within the fuel pump cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Israelson, Douglas W. Salowitz, Jr., David L. Speirs
  • Electric compressor
    Patent number: 8939739
    Abstract: An electric compressor includes a compression mechanism, an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism, and a drive circuit for controlling the electric motor. The drive circuit includes an external connector made of an insulating material. The external connector has a connecting terminal that is constructed to be electrically connected to an external power source. The drive circuit further includes a circuit board electrically connected to the connecting terminal and a filter element electrically connected to the circuit board. The drive circuit is accommodated in a metal housing. The filter element is integrally formed with the external connector such that contact of the filter element with the housing is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yusuke Kinoshita, Shingo Enami, Ken Suitou
  • Fuel supply apparatus
    Patent number: 8932026
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a fuel pump having an electrically driven motor. A controller is connected to the motor of the first fuel pump and is capable of determining an estimated pressure based on a value of current supplied to the motor and a rotational speed of the motor. The controller controls the motor so that the estimated pressure becomes relatively equal to a target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Akita
  • Diaphragm pump and pumping systems
    Patent number: 8932032
    Abstract: A process fluid pump can include a pump chamber, an inlet valve, and an outlet valve. Diaphragm regions can define at least a portion of each of the pump chamber, the inlet valve, and the outlet valve. The diaphragm regions can each have an actuation region with a surface that is convexly shaped when the formed actuation region is in a natural unstressed first state, and each formed actuation region can be actuated by a motive fluid to transition to a second state in which the surface is non-convexly shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy J. Orr