Patents Examined by Eugene L. Szczecina, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4909713
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprising a race having an internal surface for supporting a flexible tube in a tube pumping region, and a rotor rotatably mounted about a rotor axis and carrying rollers that travel in a circular path adjacent to the tube pumping region, the rollers having a large diameter central portion between smaller diameter portions to cause the tube to be self-aligning at the central portion. Also disclosed are a cover mounted on the race for movement in a direction parallel to the rotation axis between a loading position spaced from the race sufficiently to permit insertion of the tube through a tube insertion opening into a tube mounting region and an operational position in which the tube insertion opening is closed; and self-loading a tube into a peristaltic pump via rollers having a small diameter end portion and an adjacent larger diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Michael Finsterwald, George J. Eilers
  • Patent number: 4907950
    Abstract: A fluid pump has two pairs of rectangular oppositely-disposed pistons. The pistons of each pair travel simultaneously in opposite directions at the same speed and over the same distance. Valving is provided by a reciprocating port plate, in face-to-face relation to the piston, driven in a circular path from two spaced crankpins and which in turn drives the associated piston. The sliding movement of the port plate controls the alignment of inlet and exhaust ports in the piston and port plate. The excursion or "throw" of the pistons can be varied from zero to maximum. A crankpin throw-adjusting mechanism simultaneously adjusts the throw of each crankpin, some in one direction, some in the opposite, so that all chambers are automatically adjusted for varying, but always identical, displacements. Self-lubricated seals between the piston and chamber walls are spring loaded, by an elastomerically sealed structure having non-linear deflection-to-force characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventor: Michel A. Pierrat
  • Patent number: 4906168
    Abstract: A peristaltic pump which utilizes a length of elastic tubing in effecting pumping action comprising a frame; a pumping chamber on the frame including peristaltic pumping means for progressively squeezing and releasing consecutive portions of an intermediate section of the tubing to pump fluid in the tubing in a predetermined direction; and tubing feeding means on the frame comprising gripping means to engage the outer periphery of the tubing, on at least one section adjacent to the tubing intermediate section, and feed the tubing through the pumping chamber in the predetermined direction at a controlled rate during pumping of the fluid. Preferably, the means to engage and feed the tubing comprises a powered wheel or roller mechanism having a friction gripping surface to controllably feed the tubing into the pump chamber. The roller may be configured to engage both tubing being fed into and tubing being fed out of the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Inventor: Ronald E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4904166
    Abstract: A motor-pump assembly for an agitator-type clothes washing machine includes a motor with a vertical drive shaft having upper and lower ends that extend above and below the top and bottom end bells of the motor casing. The lower end of the drive shaft carries a pulley for rotating the input shaft of a belt driven transmission actuating an associated agitator and spin tub. The upper end of the drive shaft carries a water pump impeller contained within a pump casing that rests on a dishlike drip shield, the shield in turn resting on the top end bell of the motor casing. The pump casing, the drip shield, and the top end bell of the motor casing are maintained in vertical alignment with each other by a pair of springlike metal clips that can be easily removed to allow for pump replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Wasemann
  • Patent number: 4904168
    Abstract: A cassette and a cassette receptacle assembly are provided for use in an ocular surgical system. The cassette includes a housing which defines an arcuate race. A flexible tube extends across the race and conveys a fluid when compressed by the rollers of a roller pump. A slot is defined by the housing at the point where the tube forms a bend prior to entering the race. The slot has a height which is preferably smaller than the diameter of the tube and therefore prevents the tube from flattening as the rollers urge it away from the slot. The cassette mounting assembly includes a pair of cams which urge the cassette into a locked position with respect to the roller pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: United Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cavoto, Anthony DiGiacomo, Christopher V. Kayser, Joseph D. Spinosa
  • Patent number: 4902206
    Abstract: A bellows pump which is disclosed herein has two bellows made of a plastic material and provided with liquid inlet and outlet ports for transferring a liquid by expanding and contracting the bellows. The bellows pump comprises cylinder cases in each of which the bellows is vertically expandably and contractably contained and mounted at its access port side to a ceiling of said cylinder cases, gas pumping means for alternately feeding a compressed gas from a lower end thereof into the cylinder cases, a pair of rods passed through bottoms of the cylinder cases and fixed to the lower ends of the bellows, and adapted to be moved in response to the expansion and contraction of the bellows, and actuating means adapted to be operated in response to the up and down movement of the rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignees: Haluna Kabushiki Kaisha, Nisso Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Nakazawa, Jisaburo Naito, Hiroyuki Horiki, Tutomu Kawashima
  • Patent number: 4902203
    Abstract: A housing (10) encloses a dual outlet, dual rotor blower between two cast parts (11 and 12) having internal partitions (31) dividing a volute region (30) of the housing. Flanges (32) on opposite ends of the motor (15) nest between the partitions for mounting the motor and its rotors (16) in the volute region. A discharge plenum (35) communicates with each of the rotors and spans the distance between them, and partitions (31) extend into the plenum. A pair of conveying nozzles (40) discharge from the plenum; but some of the air passes around the ends (33) of partitions (31), where it flows over motor (15) and out through vent openings (34). Confronting flanges (13, 14, and 24) are fastened together to assemble the motor and rotors within two cast parts (11 and 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Inventor: Harold W. Sager
  • Patent number: 4900236
    Abstract: Ceiling fan consisting of a rotatable assembly to which the fan blades are attached and a stationary assembly connected to capable of being connected to a suspension means. These assemblies have a common centerline, and the rotary assembly comprise the rotor and the stationary assembly the stator, located concentrically inside the rotor, of an electric motor. The rotatable assembly is mounted rotatable relative to the stationary assembly by means of a tubular member extending coaxially with the centerline and a shaft located therewithin. Two bearings are located at a distance one above the other and are mounted between the shaft and the tubular member, at least one of which bearings comprises a rolling bearing. The other one of the two bearings comprises a journal bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: SKF Industrial Trading and Development Co.
    Inventor: Hendrikus J. Kapaan
  • Patent number: 4900235
    Abstract: A windshield washer pump including comprising an impeller chamber having a reversible impeller rotatably mounted therein and an inlet for windshield washer fluid communicating therewith. Dual outlets communicate between the impeller chamber and opposite ends of an adjacent outlet chamber. A piston is slidably mounted in the outlet chamber intermediate axially aligned tubular discharge passages extending from the outlet chamber. Oppositely disposed projections are formed on the piston for being alternately urged into engagement with the tubular discharge passages, permitting the alternate pumping of fluid through the tubular discharge passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: McCord Winn Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmie G. Perkins, James W. Grim
  • Patent number: 4895499
    Abstract: Outlet valve assembly for a paint sprayer and the like includes a spring stop engageable by the outlet valve during opening of the outlet valve to dampen the outlet valve movement during opening of the outlet valve. There is a slight initial clearance between the spring stop and outlet valve when the outlet valve is in the closed position. During each cycle of operation of the paint sprayer, the impact of the outlet valve striking the spring stop compresses the spring stop somewhat, whereby the distance between the spring stop and outlet valve when the outlet valve is in the closed position is less than when a rigid stop is used to obtain the desired amount of outlet valve travel during opening of the outlet valve. At the end of the delivery stroke of the pump, the force of the spring stop acting on the outlet valve pushes the outlet valve to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventor: Eugene F. Gargas
  • Patent number: 4895495
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump includes a cylindrical member, a resin coil bobbin, a printed circuit board, a holder, and pump housing. Engaging projections are formed on a peripheral portion of a surface of the coil bobbin, which opposes the lid, and the electromagnetic pump components are held in the pump housing while they are biased in the axial direction of the cylindrical member by utilizing the engaging projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takatoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 4895494
    Abstract: A double acting diaphragm pump includes a flat valve construction which is reversible to provide valving for both the inlet and outlet to the pumping chamber. A modular manifold construction cooperates with the flap valve construction to facilitate ease of replacement of the flap valve construction and case of repair of the diaphragm pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: The ARO Corporation
    Inventor: Richard K. Gardner
  • Patent number: 4895496
    Abstract: A refrigeration motor compressor assembly has a housing including a lubricant sump in the bottom thereof into which the lower end of the drive shaft and associated rotor extend. A shield is provided which is positioned by the drive shaft and extends above the oil level in the sump in surrounding spaced relationship to the lower end of the rotor. As the rotor rotates within the shield, lubricant contained therein is thrown out of the surrounding shield and a close fit between the shield and the shaft restricts return flow of lubricant into the area occupied by the rotating rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventor: John P. Elson
  • Patent number: 4893991
    Abstract: The efficiency and accuracy of a peristaltic pump is increased simply and inexpensively by controlling the cross sectional configuration of the section of flexible tubing which is operated upon the pump thrust members during a pumping operation. Specifically, the section of tubing, which is normally generally cylindrical in configuration, is held partially constricted or compressed upon being mounted in the pump, so that it becomes generally oval in cross sectional configuration. The thrust members of the pump, when the latter is operating, thus repeatedly compress a section of tubing which is already partially compressed, and which never is allowed to expand fully back to its cylindrical configuration. This substantially reduces the drop in feed rate heretofore experienced by similar pumps because of tubing fatigue and augument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventors: James F. Heminway, Eric P. Freischlag
  • Patent number: 4892464
    Abstract: A pump apparatus for supplying water and air via suitable respective feeding apparatus to a swimming pool or similar facility, with an electric motor for driving the pump apparatus comprising channel sections surrounding, at least partially, the electric motor by forming an annular gap, the air being feedable through the channel sections to a collecting chamber which is connected to a supply member for delivering air to said water feeding apparatus and/or to said swimming pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Martin T. Schydlo
  • Patent number: 4890984
    Abstract: A modular infusion pump system utilizes a positive displacement pump for pumping a known quantity of fluid for each stroke. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fixed combs cooperate with a resilient tube to define a known pumping volume. A plurality of movable combs are interdigitated with the fixed combs and are periodically linearly directed to cause the pump volume to be compressed, and therefore the fluid expelled. A rotary to linear drive system is connected with the movable combs and a ratchet system prevents counterrotation when the motor is in the off position. Valves are disposed above and below the pumping unit to appropriately seal off the pumping volume. The valves and the movable combs are operated by means of cams carried by a common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventors: Richard K. Alderson, Ronald D. Sleater, James R. Talley
  • Patent number: 4889475
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed twin rotary compressor is disclosed wherein a pair of rotary vane compressors are synchronously, coaxially coupled to respective axial ends of a drive motor by a quill disposed in a rotatable rotor thereof. The rotary compressor crankshafts are coupled to the quill with their eccentric portion oriented opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotation. Counterbalancing weights are mounted to the motor end rings oppositely the adjacent eccentric portion with respect to the axis of rotation. A suction accumulator is provided having a pair of tubes extending from fluid outlets on the accumulator to respective fluid inlets associated with the pair of compressors. The tubes pass through a pair of spaced apertures in the housing and effectively mount the suction accumulator to the housing. A method of assembling the compressor assembly, including accumulator, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Edwin L. Gannaway, Arturo L. Ortiz
  • Patent number: 4887942
    Abstract: A pressure exchanger for transfer of pressure energy from a liquid flow of one liquid system to a liquid flow of another liquid system includes a housing (1) with inlet and outlet ducts forming pairs of ducts for each liquid flow. A cylindrical rotor (8) is rotably arranged in the housing (1), the rotor having a number of axial bores adapted to sequential connection with the passages and thus alternately carry liquid of high pressure of the respective systems. According to the invention the duct openings facing the rotor (8) are found approximately as a segment with a control angle of 180.degree. and a partition wall is formed between these openings. These large openings permit fast liquid flows which fluctuate only to a slight extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Leif J. Hauge
  • Patent number: 4886430
    Abstract: A canned pump is described which includes a motor, impeller, shaft, and high inertia flywheel mounted within a hermetically sealed casing. The flywheel comprises a heavy metal disk made preferably of a uranium alloy with a stainless steel shell sealably enclosing the heavy metal. The outside surfaces of the stainless steel comprise thrust runners and a journal for mating with, respectively, thrust bearing shoes and radial bearing segments. The bearings prevent vibration of the pump and, simultaneously, minimize power losses normally associated with the flywheel resulting from frictionally pumping surrounding fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Luciano Veronesi, ALbert A. Raimondi
  • Patent number: 4881876
    Abstract: The groove (13) for detecting the presence of a fluid between the membranes (1, 2) and indicating that one or other of them has broken, is profiled so as to be bullet-shaped, thereby preventing the membranes from being extruded into the groove under the effect of pumping pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Dosapro Milton Roy
    Inventor: Alain Laziou