Patents Examined by Geoffrey S Lee
  • Patent number: 10634133
    Abstract: Electronic systems for controlling submersible pumps are provided herein. In certain configurations, a pump system includes three or more submersible pumps used for pumping fluid from a reservoir, sensors used for generating sense signals indicating a fluid level of the reservoir, and a control circuit for selectively activating the pumps based on the sense signals so as to control pumping of fluids from the reservoir. In certain implementations, the control circuit is operable in a plurality of user-selectable operating modes associated with different pump activation sequences in response to the fluid level of the reservoir rising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: See Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Johnson, Franklin J. Cathell
  • Patent number: 10612553
    Abstract: A ceiling fan includes a fan motor housing; a motor positioned within the motor housing; a plurality of fan blades rotatable by the motor; a fan controller and a wired remote control. The fan controller includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a wireless communication module and an electronic circuit coupled with the wireless communication module and is configured to control the motor to rotate the plurality of fan blades. The wired remote control device is coupled to the printed circuit board and is configured to send user selected signals to the electronic circuit on a first frequency. The electronic circuit is configured to be responsive to signals from the wired remote control device on the first frequency and to be responsive to signals from the wireless communication module on a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Matthew McPherson, Jeremy Tarr
  • Patent number: 10590920
    Abstract: A pump device (1) is provided comprising: a shaft (2), rotor means (3a, 3b) fixed to said shaft (2) in rotational direction, said rotor means (3a, 3b) having pressure chambers (5a, 5b) the volume of which varying during a rotation of said rotor means (3a, 3b), port plate means (15a, 15b) having a through going opening (16a, 16b) for each of said pressure chambers (5a, 5b) and being connected to said rotor means (3a, 3b) in rotational direction, and valve plate means (17a, 17b) cooperating with said port plate means (15a, 15b). It is intended to pressurize a high volume of fluid, in particular water, within a limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Welm Friedrichsen, Lars Martensen, Frank Holm Iversen, Palle Olsen, Stig Kildegaard Andersen
  • Patent number: 10578005
    Abstract: An apparatus includes two pumps and a circuit-changing valve connected to two cooling circuits, with the valve being controlled by a pressure differential created by the pumps. This simplifies controls, reduces components of the pumping system, and also provides a backup pump for each system. The valve's spool is controlled so that when the first pump is started before the second pump (or it generates a higher fluid pressure), the valve causes the two pumps to be connected in a serial arrangement with fluid being pumped through the first circuit and then through the second circuit. But when the second pump is started before the first pump, the valve causes the two pumps to be connected in a parallel arrangement so that the first pump moves fluid only through the first circuit, and the second pump moves fluid only through the second circuit. The valve includes an anti-dithering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Michael Mitteer, Bradley John Vecellio
  • Patent number: 10514035
    Abstract: A pump is provided. The pump includes a fluid inlet section; a fluid outlet section; a stator axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section; a rotor axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section, the rotor and the stator defining a fluid flow space radially therebetween; a movable inlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space; and a movable outlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid flow space into the fluid outlet section. The rotor is rotatable inside of the stator by electromagnetic forces urging the rotor towards the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hemphill, Philip George
  • Patent number: 10502201
    Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor includes providing a dynamic model for a motor of the linear compressor, estimating values for each unknown constant of a plurality of unknown constants of the dynamic model for the motor and repeatedly updating the estimate for each unknown constant of the plurality of unknown constants of the dynamic model for the motor in order to reduce an error between a measured value for the electrical dynamic model and an estimated valve for the electrical dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Srujan Kusumba, Gregory William Hahn, Michael Lee McIntyre, Joseph W. Latham
  • Patent number: 10495074
    Abstract: A pump arrangement (1) is provided comprising a driving shaft (2), cylinder drum means (3a, 3b) fixed to said shaft (2) in rotational direction and having a plurality of cylinders (6a, 6b), and a piston (7a, 7b) in each cylinder, each piston (7a, 7b) having a slide shoe (8a, 8b) in contact with driving surface means (8a, 8b). Such a pump arrangement should produce a pressure with low undulations. To this end said cylinder drum means (3a. 3b) comprise at least a first cylinder drum (3a) and a second cylinder drum (3b), said cylinder drums (3a, 3b) being fixed to said common shaft (2) in rotational direction, wherein the cylinder drums (3a, 3b) are offset with respect to each other in rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Welm Friedrichsen, Stig Kildegaard Andersen, Lars Martensen
  • Patent number: 10487826
    Abstract: The invention relations to a hydraulic machine of the Dry-Case construction type comprising a hydraulic machine housing for receiving a hydrostatic driving mechanism for conveying hydraulic fluid with a driving shaft operational connected with the driving mechanism. The driving shaft is mounted rotatable about its longitudinal axis in the hydraulic machine housing. Neither the driving mechanism, nor the driving shaft nor its bearings splash or move in a sump of the hydraulic fluid. Lubricant can be pumped to bearings of the driving shaft and to the driving mechanism by a lubrication pump arranged on the driving shaft and being driven by driving shaft. The lubrication pump do not splash in a sump of the hydraulic fluid either and comprise a suction port which leads to a hydraulic fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions GmbH & Co., OHG
    Inventor: Harry Rasch
  • Patent number: 10443593
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting water is described. The apparatus includes a large number of identical units that contain fresh water, for example, and which float on the sea. The units are alternately controlled to rise and fall with a first tide and to remain at low tide during the next tide. This motion, along with valves to allow fresh water to flow in one direction only, provide a water transport system that operates using tidal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Walter Chen
  • Patent number: 10400767
    Abstract: An electric pump unit is provided that ensures capability for lubricating a plain bearing and in which a lubricating oil passage is formed with a simple structure. This pump unit includes: a pump in which a rotor placed in a pump chamber of a pump housing rotates; and an electric motor having a motor shaft coupled to the rotor. The motor shaft is rotatably supported by a cylindrical plain bearing disposed in the pump housing. An oil seal is provided on the opposite side to the pump chamber with the plain bearing between so as to be located between the pump housing and the motor shaft. Oil supply grooves are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the plain bearing so as to extend through the plain bearing in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasukata Miyagawa, Noriyuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10393106
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for pumping a feedstock slurry through a device. The system includes a pressure pump, a first sensor, a second sensor, a controller, and a control valve. The pressure pump includes a plunger configured to pressurize the slurry to a first pressure prior to the slurry entering the device. The first sensor is configured to sense a second pressure of the slurry entering the device. The second sensor is configured to sense the position of the plunger. The controller is configured to determine a change of position of the plunger based on the sensed position of the plunger and to control the movement of the plunger by setting a plunger mode based on the second pressure of the slurry and the change of position of the plunger. The control valve is configured to control the flow rate of the slurry through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SUSTAINABLE WASTE POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Gillespie, III, Christopher Paul Gillespie
  • Patent number: 10344467
    Abstract: A submersible pump system including a pump base with a rail mounting point, a submersible pump configured to mate with to the pump base and to glide along a guide rail mounted to the rail mounting point, and a guide rail, made from one or more connected guide rail sections, defining a polygon shape and including a slot that extends between top and bottom ends of the guide rail. Brackets for connecting the guide rail to a vault may be attached to the slot of the rail. Additional mounting brackets or accessories may also be attached to the slot. The pump glides along the rail from the top of the vault to the bottom of the vault and automatically mates with the pump base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BRYX GROUP LLC
    Inventor: John Mark Wootten
  • Patent number: 10208741
    Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor is provided. The method includes estimating an acceleration of the motor of the linear compressor using at least a robust integral of the sign of the error feedback. A position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at the bottom dead center point is also determined based at least in part on a measured current to the motor of the linear compressor and an estimated acceleration of the motor. The position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at a top dead center point is calculated based at least in part on the position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at the bottom dead center point and a stroke length of the motor of the linear compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Srujan Kusumba, Gregory William Hahn, Michael Lee McIntyre, Joseph W. Latham
  • Patent number: 10119541
    Abstract: A pump device having a drive shaft which has a drive section that can be coupled with a drive system. The pump device includes a vacuum pump that can be driven by the drive shaft. The vacuum pump includes a rotor and at least one blade that can be moved in radial direction in the rotor and that divides pressure chambers. The pump device also includes a lubrication pump that can be driven by the drive shaft. The vacuum pump is arranged between the drive section and the lubrication pump. A locking device is provided between the rotor and the lubrication pump in which, when activated, the at least one blade remains in a radially internal position when the rotor is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Joma-Polytec GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Blank, Torsten Helle, Martin Thoma