Patents Examined by Charles E. Cooley
  • Patent number: 8182408
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a rotating centrifuge rotor having a casing which defines an inner separation space. A set of separation discs is provided in the inner separation space. The centrifugal separator includes a torque transmitting part connected to the centrifuge rotor. A drive motor drives the torque transmitting part for rotation of the centrifuge rotor. The drive motor has a first axial end turned towards the centrifuge rotor and a second axial end turned away from the centrifuge rotor. The centrifugal separator includes a stationary frame and a first bearing and a second bearing, which are connected to the frame. The torque transmitting part is rotatably journalled in the first bearing and the second bearing. The first bearing is provided between the drive motor and the centrifuge rotor. The second bearing is provided outside the second axial end of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Roland Isaksson, Peter Thorwid
  • Patent number: 8182409
    Abstract: Embodiments of a centrifuge comprise a housing, a rotatable shaft extending upwardly into the housing and comprising a rare earth metal magnet disposed adjacent an upper surface of the rotatable shaft and a centrifuge basket configured to rotate with the rotatable shaft and magnetically coupled to the rare earth metal magnet of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The Western States Machine Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8177413
    Abstract: A novel barrier screw scientifically designed with new structural features that eliminate the shortcomings of the previous barrier screws and further improve their performance. The important new structural features include a structure of originating the barrier flight without creating any dead-spot while maintaining a constant solid channel width, a structure of terminating the barrier flight without creating any dead-spot while assuring good melt quality, a melt channel structure of avoiding excessively deep channel depth while assuring sufficient melt conveying capacity, and a solid channel structure of avoiding excessively large channel area with shallow channel depth while assuring good melt quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Chan I. Chung
  • Patent number: 8177412
    Abstract: A kneading apparatus includes a barrel having a cylindrical chamber; a screw assembly rotating in the chamber so that a material to be kneaded is extruded in the axial direction by the rotation, the screw assembly including a screw section having helical blades and a kneading blade section in order to allow the material to flow into the clearance between the inner wall of the chamber and the kneading blade section, and to apply shearing forces to the material; a metering feeder for feeding the material at a substantially constant volumetric or gravimetric rate into the chamber; an injecting device for injecting a heat-removing medium into the chamber; and a discharging device for separating the heat-removing medium from the material and discharging the heat-removing medium from the chamber. A kneading method using the kneading apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Murakami, Norifumi Yamada, Ko Takakura, Kimio Inoue
  • Patent number: 8177419
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer
  • Patent number: 8177415
    Abstract: A system and method for agitating pouched products traveling along a conveyor belt to facilitate heat transfer, blending, mixing and/or stirring of the contents thereof. An agitation station is located along the conveyor belt, and includes an agitator secured to one end of an arm, the arm being pivotally secured to the frame supporting the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Tarpaulin.com, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. White
  • Patent number: 8172740
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to centrifuge systems and methods for controlling centrifuge systems, wherein the systems in certain aspects are adapted for processing material, e.g., but not limited to drilling fluids with solids therein. One illustrative method includes providing a centrifuge system that is made up of, among other things, a bowl, a bowl motor system, a bowl variable frequency drive, a conveyor, a conveyor motor, a conveyor variable frequency drive, a pump, a pump motor, and a pump variable frequency drive. Additionally, the centrifuge system includes a control system that is adapted to control the bowl variable frequency drive, the conveyor variable frequency drive, and the pump variable frequency drive. The method includes controlling the centrifuge system in the G-force differential control mode by controlling the G-force on the bowl as the bowl is rotated by the bowl motor system so that the G-force on the bowl does not exceed a pre-set maximum G-force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventors: Khaled El Dorry, George Edward Smith, Mallappa Ishwarappa Guggari, William L. Koederitz
  • Patent number: 8172452
    Abstract: A mixing lid attachable to a beverage container, comprising a lid base having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central opening extending between the upper and lower surfaces and a mixing assembly rotatable about the central opening of the lid base. The mixing assembly includes a rotary plate disposed on the upper surface of the lid base and a rotary arm disposed on the lower surface of the lid base and attached to the rotary plate through the central opening in the lid. The rotary arm lies substantially flat against the lower surface of the lid. The mixing assembly includes a pivot arm pivotably attached at a first end of the pivot arm to the rotary arm. The pivot arm is pivotable from a first position lying flat against the interior surface of the lid to a second downward position extending toward the bottom of the beverage container. The mixing assembly includes a mixing arm pivotably attached to a second end of the pivot arm opposite the first end of the pivot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Stacked, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Bacon, George Ballard, Richard Rodican
  • Patent number: 8172448
    Abstract: A method and template are provided for modifying an asphalt dryer/mixer that includes an outer drum and an inner drum with a plurality of mixing paddles, the two drums forming an annular mixing chamber in which asphalt cement and aggregate materials are mixed. The template comprises a bracket marking portion that is adapted to locate one or more brackets on the inner drum and a paddle reference portion that is adapted to locate the bracket marking portion with respect to a mixing paddle. A mixing paddle to be referenced for locating a bracket is selected and the template is placed on the inner drum with the paddle reference portion referencing the selected mixing paddle. The template is used to mark the location of the bracket, the bracket is affixed to the outer surface of the inner drum at the bracket location marked; and an agitation strand is attached to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Astec, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Hudman, J. Greg Renegar, Michael C. Varner
  • Patent number: 8172456
    Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery system including a mixer and a delivery device. The mixer includes a paddle for mixing the components and a piston that pushes the mixed cement into the attached delivery device. The delivery device includes a tube into which the bone cement is forced from the mixer, and a plunger that forces the cement out of the tube during the medical procedure. The tube includes an entry port through which cement is introduced into the tube from the mixer. A one-way valve attached to the tube allows the cement to flow from the mixer through the entry port. After the cement is loaded in the tube, the delivery device is removed from the mixer. The valve blocks flow out of the entry port when the plunger is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Jared P. Coffeen, Christopher A. Rossman, Carlos Negroni, Jeffery D. Arnett, Josh Butters
  • Patent number: 8162531
    Abstract: A system for mixing the solid and liquid contents of a tank having an increased height using at least one flow generating device positioned proximate an outer wall of the tank and directed in a direction to discharge a flow having a rotational component and a generally upward component. A plurality of such flow generating devices may be positioned in one or more rings at various elevations within the tank. The flow generating devices are positioned such that resultant fluid flows within the tank contents include a flow in a generally rotational direction and a flow having components generally upward in the outer portion of the tank, inward in the upper portion of the tank, downward in the center portion of the tank, and outward in the lower portion of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Mark Crump
  • Patent number: 8157432
    Abstract: A drinking water distribution reservoir has a new draft tube mixing arrangement. An intermediate opening in the draft tube enables water to flow between the central passage of the draft tube and an intermediate portion of the tank. Directional walls can be provided on the intermediate opening to help direct flow, and a check valve can be used to prevent flow from the intermediate section of the tank into the draft tube or prevent flow from the draft tube into the intermediate section of the tank. A venturi portion can also be provided on the draft tube to help draw water from the intermediate portion of the tank into the draft tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: James B. Tysse, Greg A. Larson, Donald N. Ruehrwein
  • Patent number: 8157716
    Abstract: The centrifugal separator comprises a rotatable bowl having a separation chamber defined by a base. The base comprises a first outlet opening defined by a weir at a first level. An outlet chamber communicates with the separation chamber through a first outlet opening. The outlet chamber is connected with an outlet opening, which opens at a second level below the first level into an exterior of the bowl. The outlet chamber outlet opening is provided with an outlet nozzle with an outlet direction opposite the direction of rotation, and an overflow inlet opening is present in the outlet chamber, and is placed at a third level between the first and the second level. The overflow inlet opening communicates with an overflow outlet opening, that opens into the exterior of the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Bent Madsen
  • Patent number: 8152708
    Abstract: A centrifuge has a rotor for receiving a disposable processing unit. The centrifuge is configured such that the motor is attached to an enclosure and the enclosure is supported on a base. The connection between the base and the enclosure is a vibration isolator, and the isolator is positioned such that its effective line of action aligns with the effective plane of rotation of the rotor. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the processing units are held in a decanting position by a decant ring that moves vertically but does not rotate. The ring engages the top of the processing unit during decant and the abrasion is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Harvest Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Ellsworth, Paul McGovern
  • Patent number: 8152360
    Abstract: The invention provides a storage device with storage racks and a shaker where the undesired horizontal oscillations of the upper ends of the storage racks are small. The storage device for laboratory samples includes a shaker drive, a rack carrier being driven by said shaker drive for performing a shaking motion with horizontal component, at least one storage rack arranged on the rack carrier, which storage rack comprises vertical side walls, each side wall having a plurality of ledges arranged vertically above each other and forming storage locations for a plurality of laboratory samples on top of each other, and a counterweight assembly connected to an upper end section of the storage rack and being driven to exert a force opposite to the shaking motion in order to counteract an oscillation of the upper end section of the storage rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas Malin
  • Patent number: 8152707
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bio cell cleaning centrifuge including: a motor; a rotor rotated by the motor; holders that are equipped on the rotor and that hold test tubes to be pivotable toward a rotational radial direction of the rotor; a cleaning liquid distributor mounted on the rotor to supply a cleaning liquid to the test tubes; a locking mechanism that locks the holders so that the test tubes are in a vertical state with respect to the rotational radial direction; and a controller that controls the motor and the locking mechanism, wherein the holders are configured to hold the test tubes so that central axes thereof are inclined from a rotational axis direction toward a rotational tangent direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8152361
    Abstract: A mug body has an open top. A lid is fitted to the open top. The lid has first and second top to bottom holes formed therein. An arm extends down from the bottom of the lid into the mug body. An actuator handle extends out from the top of the lid, through the second hole. The actuator handle is coupled to the arm to move the arm relative to the mug body. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Sharron Swartz, John M. Serra
  • Patent number: 8147394
    Abstract: Centrifugation method and chamber for washing and continuous separation of blood constituents. This chamber comprises at least one first intake channel for the blood, at least one second intake channel for a sterile washing solution, at least one first outlet channel for at least one constituent of this blood, and at least one second outlet channel for a fluid composed of said washing solution and of the other blood constituents. The second intake channel has its downstream end continued on its periphery by a circular deflector. The latter extends into the bottom of the chamber and is terminated along its inner cylindrical side wall by a ridge, which defines a passage of annular cross section for the flow of said sterile washing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventors: Jean-Denis Rochat, Laurent Mosimann
  • Patent number: 8147122
    Abstract: A tip (10) for mixing a plurality of components and for dispensing the mixture. The tip is particularly suited for use with a bulk supply of the components (11). The tip is further particularly suited for the mixing and dispensing of reactive materials. The tip (10) includes a housing (32) having a stator (31) positioned therein. The housing (32) includes a plurality of feeder channels (20, 21) that correspond to outlet channels of the bulk storage device. At least one of the feeder channels (20, 21) has a length dimension such that it extends into the outlet channel of the bulk storage device to prevent cross-contamination of the components held within the bulk storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Pieroni
  • Patent number: 8147119
    Abstract: The Convenience Nectar Mixing and Storage Device consists of a container that is divided proportionately to allow for the precise measuring of the recommended sugar to water ratios used for nectar type bird and butterfly feeders. The device is adapted for supporting a removable divider that separates the container into proportionate volumes, 4 to 1, 6 to 1, and 9 to 1 that correspond to the commonly recommended sugar to water ratios for hummingbird, oriole, and butterfly nectar feeders. The device allows for the water and sugar compartments to be filled to the same “line of sight” level to facilitate the making of precise nectar sugar to water ratios. Once the sugar and water compartments are filled to the same level, the divider is removed to allow for mixing. In the preferred embodiment of the Convenience Nectar Mixing and Storage Devices, the container divider can be used as a stirring implement and lid to cover the container during storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Arnold Gregory Klein