Patents Examined by Emmanuel Sayoc
  • Patent number: 7029245
    Abstract: A unit for pumping fluid, particularly blood, is provided with an enclosure that has two half-shells and an elastic membrane fixed perimetrically to the enclosure in order to divide its space into two parts. One of the half-shells is provided with valves that are located at the opening of two connecting ducts for the intake and delivery of the fluid, and the other half-shell is connected to a line of working fluid that is alternately pressurized and depressurized. The first valve is a disk-shaped sheet made of elastic material. The first valve is in a central position with a support that is fixed to the opening of the first duct for connection to the outside and is suitable to rest at its peripheral region on the support. A second valve is a sheet of elastic material located at the peripheral region of the disk at the opening of the second duct for connection to the outside which lies at the peripheral region of the opening of the first duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sorin Group Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Edgardo Costa Maianti, Nicola Ghelli, Ivo Panzani
  • Patent number: 7029239
    Abstract: A system may include a PWM generator and control logic. The PWM generator is configured to generate a PWM signal having a duty cycle dependent on a duty cycle value generated by the control logic. The control logic is configured to generate the duty cycle value to have a piecewise linear relationship with temperature such that at least two of a plurality of linear segments defined by the piecewise linear relationship have different slopes. In some embodiments, the piecewise linear relationship may be continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 7025571
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling a reciprocating compressor capable of inexpensively and exactly controlling a position of a piston in a cylinder, by which a top clearance is minimized according to the information of a phase difference between a square wave of a piston stroke and a square wave of a current supplied to the compressor. The apparatus comprises a driving section for driving the reciprocating compressor by varying an angle or ignition in response to a control signal; a current phase detecting section for outputting a square wave corresponding to the detected current supplied to the compressor; a stroke phase detecting section for outputting a square wave corresponding to a stroke of the compressor; and a control section for controlling the angle of ignition of the driving section according to the phase difference between the square wave produced from the current phase detecting section and the square wave produced from the stroke phase detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Hwan Jeun
  • Patent number: 7023167
    Abstract: Apparatus for driving a three-phase compressor assembly from a single-phase electrical power supply having first and second power lines, said three-phase compressor assembly comprising a compressor having a rotatable shaft, an electrical motor having a rotatable shaft coupled to the rotatable shaft of the compressor, the electrical motor having at least first, second and third motor windings and having at least first, second and third terminals connected to the first, second and third windings, means adapted to connect the first and second power lines of the single-phase power supply to the first and second terminals and a torque augmentation circuit for injecting current into the third terminal and including a capacitor and an electrical component in series with the capacitor, said electrical component having resistive characteristics and having means for essentially interrupting the current being injected into the third terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Otto J. M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7018178
    Abstract: A control system for a variable displacement pump. The control system is operably associated with an engine control unit for passively or actively controlling the output of the pump in response to signals from the engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Hunter, Dennis Koenig
  • Patent number: 7014432
    Abstract: A fuel pump includes a housing, a pump section, a motor section including a commutator, a cover disposed at one end of the housing, a pair of brushes disposed in a pair of brush holes formed in the cover to be in contact with the commutator; and a pair of brush springs, disposed in a pair of spring holes formed in the cover, and an engaging member for restricting the brushes to move toward the motor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Iwanari
  • Patent number: 7014428
    Abstract: A control system for a variable displacement compressor uses a mechanical valve to minimize energy consumption in an air conditioning system. The control system can also provide instantaneous indications to the vehicle controller of air conditioning power consumption to avoid engine loading. Controls are also used to contain oil within the compressor and to minimize its presence downstream of the compressor into the gas cooler and evaporator parts of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas S. Pitla, Yong Huang, Vipen Khetarpal
  • Patent number: 7011507
    Abstract: A pump according to the present invention has a circular diaphragm 4 placed at the bottom of a casing 2. At the bottom of the diaphragm 4, a piezoelectric element 6 is installed in contact with the diaphragm 4. A narrow space between the diaphragm 4 and the top wall of the casing 2 constitutes a pumping chamber 8. An inlet flow path 12 and an outlet flow path 14 are open to the pumping chamber 8, wherein a check valve 10 is installed in the inlet flow path 12. Immediately downstream of the pumping chamber, the outlet flow path 14 has a narrow segment 16. The narrow segment 16 of the outlet flow path has ½ the diameter and ¼ the cross sectional area of the outlet flow path 14. The outlet flow path 14 has a return inlet 22, which is connected to a return outlet 23 in the inlet flow path via an active valve 24. The active valve 24 is opened and closed freely by an actuator 26 made of shape-memory alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Seto, Kunihiko Takagi
  • Patent number: 7003838
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic pig advance system comprising a control volume chamber containing hydraulic fluid and a force transmitting member. The system further comprises two directional control valves which can be selectively repositioned to cause hydraulic fluid to cycle the force transmitting member back and force such that in each cycle, a metered amount of hydraulic is transmitted into a pig housing where it causes a pig to move a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7004729
    Abstract: A compressor, in particular for air conditioning systems in motor vehicles, having a housing, a housing sealing cover, a drive shaft with bearings and a drive device for pistons that are displaced back and forth. The drive device transfers the rotational displacement of the drive shaft into the back-and-forth displacement of the pistons. The compressor also includes a cylinder block, in which the pistons that are displaced back and forth take in and compress coolant, a valve device, in addition to a valve plate with intake and discharge valves comprising intake and discharge chambers for an intake pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone. A cylinder head may be a separate element from the housing, in pot-shaped form, or the housing sealing cover. The intake and discharge chambers, the valve device, and the cylinder block may be situated in the closed side of the pot-shaped housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: LuK Fahrzeug-Hyrdaulik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Georg Weber, Peter Barth, Jean-Claude Gnaly, Volker Seipel
  • Patent number: 7001155
    Abstract: A compressor impeller for use with a boreless turbocharger is provided in accordance with this invention. The compressor impeller comprises an integral hub projecting axially therefrom that includes a partial bore therein that extends from an open to a close bore end. The bore includes a threaded portion that is configured to accommodate threaded engagement with an end of a common shaft disposed through a turbocharger housing and attached at an opposite end to a turbine wheel. The hub is specially configured so that the threaded portion has a relatively increased wall thickness when compared to a remaining portion of the bore disposed between the threaded portion and the end of the bore. The bore is configured providing a section having a reduced wall thickness, between the threaded portion and the bore closed end, for purposes of providing a preferential stress relief mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Cabrales, Gerald Duane LaRue, John M. Wilson, Angus Lemon
  • Patent number: 7001154
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for controlling a linear compressor. The linear compressor control apparatus has a collision detection unit, a control unit, and a compressor driving unit. The collision detection unit detects a collision of a piston with a valve due to the operations of the linear compressor. The control unit determines whether the collision of the piston occurs on the basis of an output signal from the collision detection unit, and resets maximum amplitude data of the piston of the linear compressor when the collision occurs. The compressor driving unit controls the maximum amplitude of the piston of the linear compressor under the control of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 7001156
    Abstract: An improved structure of an air inflation device is disclosed. External air is drawn to the motor and cylinder to provide rapid cooling so that the efficiency of the motor is maintained. In the present invention, a plurality of air filters is used to filter air. Thereby the air inflation device is useful and practical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6997684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan arrangement comprising a radial or diagonal fan (370) with which a direct current motor (32) is associated as drive motor, further comprising a digital control element (23, 24) such as a microcontroller or microprocessor, associated with that direct current motor (32), and comprising a program, associated with that digital control element (23, 24), for controlling the current flowing through the direct current motor (32), which program is embodied to generate a substantially constant current in the motor (32) in the working rotation speed range of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Hahn, Hermann Rappenecker
  • Patent number: 6991436
    Abstract: An air compressor having a cooling fan that cools both a pump and an electric motor. Baffle compress air against the top of the motor, causing it to break up and flow around fours sides of the motor and through the motor. The pump includes an elongate intake tube or muffler that attenuates pump intake noise. A compressor tank for the air compressor includes a roll cage for protecting a condensate valve for the compressor tank. The compressor tank includes a rim base formed on the bottom of the compressor tank that permits the compressor tank to rest on a surface without additional supports or legs. Controls and gauges are mounted in the bottom clamshell piece, and openings on a top fit around the controls and gauges. The top and the bottom are aligned with guides so that the controls and gauges may be properly aligned with the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Powermate Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Beckman, Andrew Kopel, Paul Klimek, Jan Davidson
  • Patent number: 6991438
    Abstract: In a piston pump for providing high-pressure fuel in a common-rail fuel injection system including a camshaft (2), which is mounted rotatably in a pump housing (1) and which has at least one eccentric cam 93) for operating a pump piston (4, 14) in an approximately radial direction with respect to the camshaft (2), in order to reduce the wear of the piston pump, a piston-rod element (6, 16, 26, 36, 46) is arranged between each pump piston (4, 14) and the eccentric cam (3) so as to transmit the stroke movement (5) and the force from the eccentric cam of the camshaft (2) to the pump piston (4, 14) by a rolling movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerd Blessing, Swen Fleisch, Karl-Heinz Hoffmann, Manfred Müller, Claus Stenger, Bernd Wiemann
  • Patent number: 6986651
    Abstract: A pump priming apparatus including a housing through which fluid object material may be urged to flow, the housing including an intake portion and a pumping portion downstream from the intake portion. The apparatus further includes a piston assembly carried for reciprocation in the housing, the piston assembly and the housing being configured such that a partial vacuum is developed in the pumping portion of the housing as the piston assembly moves through the pumping portion of the housing toward the intake portion of the housing and such that the partial vacuum is substantially released upon the movement of the piston assembly into the intake portion of the housing, thereby causing the fluid object material in the intake portion of the housing to flow into the pumping portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Balcrank Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Whisenant, Rodney W. Burnette
  • Patent number: 6986650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus suitable for coupling seismic or other downhole sensors to a borehole wall in high temperature and pressure environments. In one embodiment, one or more metal bellows mounted to a sensor module are inflated to clamp the sensor module within the borehole and couple an associated seismic sensor to a borehole wall. Once the sensing operation is complete, the bellows are deflated and the sensor module is unclamped by deflation of the metal bellows. In a further embodiment, a magnetic drive pump in a pump module is used to supply fluid pressure for inflating the metal bellows using borehole fluid or fluid from a reservoir. The pump includes a magnetic drive motor configured with a rotor assembly to be exposed to borehole fluid pressure including a rotatable armature for driving an impeller and an associated coil under control of electronics isolated from borehole pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip B. West
  • Patent number: 6986645
    Abstract: A hybrid compressor system affords maximum cooling capability by making full use of an additional motor to improve the fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicle while ensuring passenger compartment cooling when the engine is stopped. The hybrid compressor system includes a compression unit for compressing a refrigerant, a motor for driving the compression unit, and disconnection means for disconnecting the drive force of a vehicle engine. In the hybrid compressor system, when the thermal load of the refrigeration cycle system lies within a predetermined range in a higher load region, the control means connects the disconnection means to allow the vehicle engine to drive the compression unit. When the thermal load of the refrigeration cycle system lies within a lower load region of the predetermined range, the control means disconnects the disconnection means to allow the motor to drive the compression unit even while the vehicle engine is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Iwanami, Keiichi Uno, Yasushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6984113
    Abstract: An oil pressure operated pump for marine steering gears includes a multiple piston oil pressure operated pump controlled by a steering wheel, a valve housing mounted under the pump, a bottom cover closing the valve, the valve housing and the cover each including channels, threaded holes for reciprocal fastening thereof, non-threaded bores for oil pressure connections, a valve set lodged in the valve housing for non-return and adjustment of oil flow, the valve set including a generally parallelepiped shaped tubular shell having a generally external square shape, a central tubular through-hole, and lathe-turned ducts, a double acting oil pressure cylinder including a shaft movable in the central tubular through-hole for controlling a direction of an engine or rudder of a boat, and valves for controlling fluid flow and thereby movement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ultraflex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Gai