Patents Examined by Bryan Lettman
  • Patent number: 9534612
    Abstract: A control method of a fan comprises steps of: detecting a rotational speed of a blade and a rotor position of the blade; generating a control signal according to the rotational speed and a predetermined rotational speed; obtaining a Back-EMF waveform according to the control signal, the rotational speed, the rotor position and a waveform; adjusting the phase of the Back-EMF waveform; and outputting a switch control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jen-Hao Wu, Wei-Shun Huang, Tai-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 9534610
    Abstract: A fan assembly for generating an air flow within a room includes an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller to draw an air flow into the fan assembly, and a casing having an interior passage with a scroll section having a cross-sectional area that decreases from a scroll inlet section to a scroll outlet section. The scroll inlet section has an inlet port for receiving the air flow and the scroll outlet section has an outlet port for returning a first portion of the air flow to the scroll inlet section. The scroll section includes an air outlet for emitting a second portion of the air flow from the casing. The casing defines a bore through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Stewart, Mark James Adkin, David Andrew Tibbetts
  • Patent number: 9523365
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for closed-loop-control of a fluid conveying system that include at least one pump, at least one consumer, at least one controller valve, and at least one armature as an actuator of the at least one control valve. Pressure and volume flow rate of the consumer are controlled independently of each other by a decoupling controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: KSB Aktiengesellschaft, SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Joerg Kiesbauer, Domagoj Vnucec, Julian Fuchs, Ulrich Konigorski, Manfred Oesterle, Thomas Paulus
  • Patent number: 9518579
    Abstract: A thermal control valve for use in a lubricant flooded compressor system including a controller that generates a control signal includes a valve body including a hot coolant inlet, a cooled coolant inlet, a mixed coolant outlet, an actuator space, and a cylinder bore. A sleeve is positioned within the cylinder bore and is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, and an electrical actuator is at least partially disposed within the actuator space and is operable in response to the control signal to move the sleeve between the first position, the second position, and the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Scarpinato, Sudhir Sreedharan, James D. Mehaffey, Paul A. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 9512831
    Abstract: A hydraulic fan drive for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine of a mobile working machine or a construction machine, is configured to be switched off for a short time or by way of a transition in dependence on a load of the internal combustion engine. A shut-off valve, which is arranged in a working line connecting a variable-displacement pump to a fan motor, is configured to switch off the fan drive. The fan drive is further configured to be switched off by rotational speed monitoring of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Egon Rill
  • Patent number: 9506469
    Abstract: An air compressor includes a compressor body, an electric motor, a gear mechanism, a gear casing, a partitioning wall, and a screw seal. The screw seal locates in a through hole formed to the partitioning wall, where a rotating shaft of the electric motor passes through, and makes an air flow from the electric motor side to the gear mechanism side in the through hole with rotating of the rotation shaft. The air compressor also includes a bearing that supports that rotating shaft is arranged to the gear mechanism side of the partitioning wall, such that a rotor of the electric motor has overhang structure. The air compressor also includes a communication hole that communicates the electric motor side from the screw seal of the through hole and an outside of the air compressor not through the internal space of the casing of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Hideharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9500096
    Abstract: A system for producing mechanical energy. In some embodiments, the system includes a first source providing a first fluid, a fluid pressurization device, a second source supplying a second fluid, a first motor, and a second motor. The fluid pressurization device draws in the first fluid from the first source and increases the pressure of the first fluid. The first motor is driven by the second fluid, the second fluid decreasing in pressure and the first motor powering the fluid pressurization device as the second fluid passes through the first motor. The second motor receives a mixture of the first fluid from the first motor and the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device, whereby the second motor produces the mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Walter Warren Weaver, Frank Benjamin Springett, Eric Trevor Ensley
  • Patent number: 9500191
    Abstract: A compressor system including a lubricant inlet compresses a gas and discharges a mixed flow of compressed gas and lubricant. A valve housing includes a hot and a cooled lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet. A sleeve is disposed within the valve housing and is movable between a first and a second position. The sleeve defines a mixing chamber and includes a first aperture with the hot lubricant inlet and a second aperture with the cooled lubricant inlet. The hot and cooled lubricant mix in the mixing chamber are directed to the lubricant inlet of the compressor. A thermal element is positioned to sense a temperature and moves the sleeve in response. The movement of the sleeve varies the amount of hot lubricant admitted through the first aperture and varies the amount of cooled lubricant admitted through the second aperture to control a lubricant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Scarpinato, Larry R. Stutts, Sudhir Sreedharan
  • Patent number: 9500082
    Abstract: A method for machining a workpiece. An electrode is moved linearly in the direction of the workpiece to cause material to be removed from the workpiece, at least one end of a surface of the workpiece running obliquely to a guide edge of the electrode machining this surface. The electrode is moved at least partially with the electrode surface parallel to the surface, so that during the approach to the workpiece, areas of the workpiece having an irregular edge machined at a different intensity are formed, the difference in intensity of machining on the edge of the surface to be machined being compensated in that the surface to be machined is provided with a height profile adapted to the shape of the end of the surface to be machined. A blade ring segment and blade ring is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Martin Pernleitner, Christian Bichlmaier, Carsten Zscherp
  • Patent number: 9494159
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a water pumping system. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a solar electric powered, siphon-capable water pumping systems specifically configured for use in rooftop and other applications having similar need and conditions. Advantageously, a water pumping system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is configured to prevent pooling of water in low-lying areas of a roof and thereby limits the potential for damage to the roof and underlying structure that could otherwise result from such pooling of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Bryditzki, Dennis Allen Grubb
  • Patent number: 9488051
    Abstract: A single-flow turbine using CO2 as a working fluid. The turbine includes a balance piston portion configured to optimize an axial load of a rotor on a bearing with a fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the working fluid introduced into the turbine, wherein a flow path in which at least a part of the fluid passing through the balance piston portion is extracted from a middle part of the passing, and in which at least a part of the extracted fluid is urged to flow to a middle part of a passage where the working fluid passes and where rotor blades at a plurality of stages are provided, is formed at the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Maeda, Tsuguhisa Tashima, Shogo Iwai, Nobuhiro Okizono, Iwataro Sato, Kazutaka Tsuruta, Naoyuki Okamura
  • Patent number: 9476428
    Abstract: A turbine-driven alternator (i.e., a turbomachine) suitable for generating electrical power from process gas waste energy. In particular suitable for very high density process gases such as super critical CO2, R134a, R245fa, etc. The turboalternator comprises two separate machines, specifically, a turbine device and an alternator device operatively connected together by a coupling shaft. The rotating shaft assemblies for each machines on the turbine side and the alternator side are supported by hydrodynamic foil gas bearings. The foil gas bearings use process gas at the turbine side, enabling high-pressure operation (˜3000 psia) and thrust load balancing. At the alternator side, cooling fluid is used in the foil gas bearings, enabling high-speed (˜40,000 rpm), low-windage, oil-free operation with closed-loop shaft cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: R & D Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Giridhari L. Agrawal, Charles W. Buckley, Ali Shakil, Andrew Hamilton Coward
  • Patent number: 9470238
    Abstract: A turbocompressor system including a high speed motor (10) including a rotor (12) mounted in a rotative manner relative to the stator, wherein on the rotor (12) one or more impellers (11) are directly fixed, the stator including active motor structures and a shell (7), including a ferromagnetic stator core (6) and a winding being constructed as toroidally wound coils (5), the shell (7) is constructed in such a manner as to create additional open space between the stator core (6) and the shell (7), constituting a cooling channel (15) through which process gas is passed axially for directly cooling the active motor structures and the rotor (12), prior to compression by the one or more impellers (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventors: Hans Vande Sande, Cornelis Theodorus Philippi, Uwe Pahner
  • Patent number: 9470224
    Abstract: A piston-type compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft supported on the housing, a communication hole formed inside the drive shaft, a valve mechanism, and a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is inserted in the communication hole to disconnect a residual gas bypass passage and the communication hole from each other and to open the interior space of the cylindrical body to the communication hole. The valve mechanism includes an annular space defined outside the cylindrical body in the communication hole and multiple connection holes providing communication between the annular space and communication passages. The residual gas bypass passage is formed of the annular space and the multiple connection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takahisa Ban, Koji Kawamura, Yoshio Kimoto, Kengo Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9464630
    Abstract: A muffler for a positive displacement pneumatic motor includes a case, an inlet, a diffuser, a pathway, and sound absorbing material. The inlet and the diffuser are attached to the case. The pathway extends between the inlet and the diffuser and allows ice to travel through the muffler. The sound absorbing material is positioned in the pathway and includes more than one duct through which gas passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Roman, Adam K. Collins
  • Patent number: 9458860
    Abstract: A fan with a sound muffling box includes a box having a box inlet port and a box outlet port located on opposite sides from each other; and a double suction centrifugal fan encased in the box. The centrifugal fan includes a motor, a discharge port, an impeller, a scroll, and a casing side plate. The casing side plate has a motor-side inlet port, and an opposite-motor-side inlet port opposite to the motor-side inlet port with respect to the impeller. The discharge port is inclined with respect to the box outlet port. The fan with the sound muffling box further includes a sound insulating board disposed on the box inlet port in such a manner as to hide the opposite-motor-side inlet port and also to divide the box inlet port into plural regions when the inside of the box is viewed from the box inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akimasa Uehara
  • Patent number: 9453498
    Abstract: A pitch drive system for a wind turbine includes a pitch drive motor, a first position detector, a driver, a second position detector, and a controller. When the blades rotate to a mechanical zero position, a position value detected by the first position detector is a first zero point position value. The driver is operable to store the first zero point position value. When the blades rotate to the mechanical zero position, a position value detected by the second position detector is a second zero point position value. The controller is operable to store the second zero point position value. When a corresponding back up command is received, the first zero point position value stored in the driver is backed up into the controller, and the second zero point position value stored in the controller is backed up into the driver respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Ding He, Jian Wang, Hong-Yan Liu, Zhi-Guang Gao
  • Patent number: 9453505
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a fire pump controller are provided. An example method includes causing a power supply coupled to a an electric motor-driven water pump through a fire pump controller in a fire protection system to provide power to the water pump, and monitoring the performance of the power supply during the motor starting period by measuring the voltage and/or current of its output under motor load conditions. The method may also include providing visual indications, such as traces or starting signatures of motor power supply voltages and/or currents during the motor starting period for the purposes of observation and troubleshooting motor power supply and power train performance problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ASCO POWER TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Stephens, Harlan A. Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 9447795
    Abstract: Fluid pumping system and method comprise a pumping chamber with inlet and outlet ports. The pumping chamber is in thermal communication with a thermal system for alternating the gas temperature inside the pumping chamber between heated and cooled states. A first valve controls a first fluid communication between the pumping chamber and the external environment, and a second valve controls a second fluid communication between the pumping chamber and the fluid container. The pumping chamber and the valves cooperate to generate a vacuum and a negative potential pressure of the gas inside the pumping chamber by the effect of the gas temperature alternation when the gas passes from a heated state to a cooled state and by controlling the first and second fluid communications. The generated vacuum and negative potential pressure inside the pumping chamber enable pumping of the fluid from the fluid container inside the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Fathi M. Allan
  • Patent number: 9447782
    Abstract: A compressor system and method for the isothermal compression of industrial gases includes a compression cylinder into which an industrial gas having impurities can be introduced and compressed via a displacement fluid, and an expansion space for the desorption of impurities from at least part of the displacement fluid after the displacement fluid sorbs impurities from the gas during compression in the compression cylinder. The displacement fluid may compress the gas and sorb contaminants from the gas, and following the compression, at least a portion of the displacement fluid may be conducted to an expansion chamber to desorb the impurities from the fluid and remove the impurities from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz Heuer