Patents Examined by Dnyanesh Kasture
  • Patent number: 7578657
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for controlling the liquid level in a basin (60) by selectively actuating a pump (64) has an environmentally-sealed enclosure (22) with an internal volume subject to thermal and pressure effects. A first (14) and a second (16) pressure sensing means are positioned in the enclosure and a barrier fluid (18) fills a balance of the internal volume. The first sensing means (14) is in a first chamber (22a) of the enclosure (22) and the second sensing means (16) is in a second chamber (22b). The barrier fluid (18) has a first portion (18a) in the first chamber (22a) and a second portion in the second chamber (22b). The first pressure sensing means (14) communicates an “on/off” signal to the pump (64). Diaphragms (26, 40) in the respective chambers (22a, 22b) allow the device to adjust to changes in atmospheric pressures. The barrier fluid (18) is electrically non-conductive, chemically non-reactive with any materials comprising the pressure sensing means and, preferably, an oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Kirk Neer, Stephen Pasley
  • Patent number: 7572114
    Abstract: A pump includes a pump housing and an end cap, which is attached to the pump housing at the top and has an oil suction port at one end and an oil relief port at one lateral side. A connecting cap is connectable to the end cap opposite to the pump housing in one of a number of positions in different directions and which has two ports cut through the two opposite ends thereof for letting in and out a fluid to/from a hydraulic motor. Two plugs are selectively fastened to one of the two ends of each of the two ports of the connecting cap to control the flow direction of the fluid passing to/from the hydraulic motor through the connecting cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sonic Tractor Parts, Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Chuan Lee
  • Patent number: 7547200
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump is disclosed having pump motor with a rotating motor shaft and a shaft axis; a peristaltic pump head rotatably mounted on the motor shaft; a raceway having a semi-circular track arranged around the pump head and coaxial with the shaft axis, wherein the track has a beveled edge at an entrance to the raceway to receive a tube loop being loaded into the pump; the pump head includes at least one roller orbiting the raceway and compressing the tube loop against said raceway, and a cartridge to which the tube loop is attached and mountable on the raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: CHF Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: John J. O'Mahony, Sonny Behan
  • Patent number: 7534096
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a progressing cavity pump to maintain the motor operating under power disturbance conditions. For a blackout condition, a backspin controller uses regenerative power to provide controlled deceleration of the pump, counteracting backspin and preventing backspinning freely. For a brownout condition, a power dip controller weakens the motor field to maximize pump production consistent with reduced input power availability. For a phase loss or voltage imbalance condition, a phase loss controller reduces motor power output to keep drive system output power at or below single phase capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry W. Schulz
  • Patent number: 7534097
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling multi-fluid flow in a micro channel is disclosed. The apparatus has a first inlet for a first fluid; a second inlet for a second fluid; a first outlet; and a second outlet. The micro channel is operatively and fluidically connected to the first inlet, the second inlet, the first outlet and the second outlet. The micro channel is for receiving the first fluid and the second fluid under pressure-driven flow; there being an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid when in the micro channel. The apparatus also includes a pair of electrodes for having a first electric field applied thereto for a controlling the fluid flow velocity of the first fluid along the micro channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Teck Neng Wong, Nam Trung Nguyen, Chun Yang, Chee Kiong John Chai, Kim Tiow Ooi, Cheng Wang, Yan Dong Gao
  • Patent number: 7534099
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump is able to deliver accurate volumes over the life of a pump set that is operated on by the pump to drive the flow of fluid. The pump delivers fluid in small volumes or aliquots. In order to deliver fluid at any particular selected flow rate, the pump determines how often the rotor will rotate. The pump is able to calculate aliquot volume based on selected flow rate, but also on a factor that compensates for changes in the dimensions of the pump set over its life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Christopher A. Knauper, Eric B. Holderle, Joseph A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 7513759
    Abstract: Tapered valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate corresponding outwardly flared discharge and suction bores, as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate a variety of valve styles, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: George H. Blume
  • Patent number: 7497668
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas-supply system, particularly for a gas turbine, having a gas-carrying pipeline, a controllable compressor arranged in the pipeline and at least one consumer connected to the pipeline and located downstream from the compressor. The compressor is regulated as a function of a comparison between the setpoint discharge pressure of the compressor and the actual discharge pressure of the compressor. The energy consumption of the compressor can be reduced in that the setpoint discharge pressure of the compressor is determined as a function of a setpoint admission pressure of the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andreas Brautsch, George Mitsis, Patrick Queloz, Floris Van Straaten
  • Patent number: 7481630
    Abstract: A housing for a hand held vacuum cleaner is so constructed that a suction motor mounting bracket which is enclosed by a lower housing section, is removably secured to an upper housing section. A suction coupling pipe section is either an integral part of or directly secured to the suction motor mounting bracket, so that forces introduced to a suction tool attached to the suction coupling pipe section are transmitted through the mounting bracket to the upper housing section thereby at least partly relieving the lower housing section from forces passing from the suction tool to the handle and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Stein & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Liffers, Bernd Falkenstein