Patents Examined by Michael K. Gray
  • Patent number: 6244825
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for protecting a vacuum pump from being overloaded while maintaining the vacuum condition. A pump-protecting device comprises a power detector for detecting power consumption of a motor for driving a vacuum pump as a load received by the motor, and a control means for decreasing the speed of revolution of the motor when the value of power consumption detected by the power detector is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sasaki, Naoki Yuzuhara, Akihiko Imai
  • Patent number: 6244033
    Abstract: A process for a steam turbine-generator system that includes a boiler and a train of steam turbines and a gas turbine generator system. Exhaust gas from the gas turbine superheats the high pressure steam produced by the boiler in the steam generator system and reheats a steam side stream extracted at an intermediate point on the steam turbine train in the steam generator system after which the reheated steam side stream is fed back into the steam turbine train downstream of the extraction point. Further, the exhaust gas preheats a steam condensate stream formed by condensing the exhaust steam from the downstream steam outlet on the steam turbine train after which the preheated condensate is recycled back to the boiler. The gas turbine exhaust gas superheats the high pressure steam and reheats the steam side stream before it preheats the steam condensate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Roger Wylie
  • Patent number: 6244834
    Abstract: A compressor of scroll type or the like, in which, in order to change the discharge capacity automatically in accordance with the rpm (rotational speed) of a shaft (4) by simple means, the centrifugal force exerted on a movable scroll (9) orbiting with the rotation of the shaft (4) is used as a vibratory force to forcibly vibrate a spool (23) constituting a valve body supported on an elastic member (25), thereby opening and closing bypass holes (22) for establishing communication between a working chamber (V) and a suction chamber (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Matsuda, Mitsuo Inagaki, Takashi Inoue, Shigeki Iwanami
  • Patent number: 6244838
    Abstract: The invention is a system and process for pumping fluids in lines, comprising using, on the lines, a pump with at least two alternating fluid pumping units. Each pumping unit (PU1, PU2) comprises a cylinder (2) and a piston (1) alternately displaceable in the cylinder under the action of a power source (M), under the control of a control device (PC), with, for both pistons, imposed displacement functions (f(t), g(t)) suitably phase-shifted in relation to one another so as to obtain a first operating mode corresponding to substantially constant delivery rate. This pump is operated in the same circuit according to the complementary second operating mode corresponding to a substantially constant intake rate by inversion of the direction of displacement of the pistons so as to apply to the pistons displacement functions (−f(t), −g(t)) symmetrical to those corresponding to the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Institut du Francais Petrole
    Inventors: François Couillard, André Renot
  • Patent number: 6241490
    Abstract: A multirotor vacuum pump including a housing, at least two rotors located in the housing and cooperating with each other so that as a result of a contactless movement of the at least two rotors relative to each other, working chambers, into which a to-be-pumped gas is fed, are formed, with at least one of the at least two rotors being hollow, and a drive formed as an external rotor motor having its rotor elements arranged on an inner surface of the at least two rotors, and stator elements fixedly mounted inside the at least one of the at least two rotors opposite the rotor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
    Inventor: Christopher Mark Rippl
  • Patent number: 6241489
    Abstract: An internal electrical connector includes at least one electrical conductor overmolded by a body formed from an electrically non-conducting material. The connector is received by a bore extending through a valve body for an anti-lock brake system hydraulic control unit. An electronic control unit mounted upon a first surface of the valve body is electrically connected to one end of the connector while the other end of the connector is electrically connected to a pump motor mounted upon a valve body surface opposite from the electronic control unit. The connector is free to move both transversely and axially within the valve body bore to compensate for component tolerance stack up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Douglas Lewin, Paolo Rea, James Cossins
  • Patent number: 6241479
    Abstract: In a method of compressing a gas, a compression which is simple to realize is achieved in that, in a first step, a foam (21) is formed from the gas and a liquid, in which foam (21) the sonic velocity is markedly lower than in the gas and in the liquid taken by themselves, in that, in a second step, the foam is directed at supersonic velocity through a nozzle (19, 20) and the gas located in the foam is thereby compressed, and in that, in a third step, the compressed gas and the liquid are separated from one another behind the nozzle (19, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Döbbeling, Bettina Paikert
  • Patent number: 6241483
    Abstract: A compressor comprises a drive shaft supported in a housing, a piston accommodated in a cylinder bore and connected to the drive plate, a valve plate for separating the cylinder bore from the suction chamber and the discharge chamber. A discharge passage passes through the housing and the valve plate to connect the discharge chamber to the external circuit. Gas is sent from the discharge chamber to the external circuit through the discharge passage. A check valve is located on the valve plate to selectively open and close the discharge passage. The check valve checks gas flow from the external circuit to the discharge chamber. This prevents the pressure in the crank chamber from increasing to an excessive degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Keiichi Kato, Hajime Kurita, Hirotaka Kurakake, Satoshi Inaji
  • Patent number: 6241487
    Abstract: A fluid powered diaphragm pump is provided which includes three means for supplementing the pilot valve signal to the main fluid valve spool. The means include a cross porting of the main fluid valve spool, or engineered orifices that communicate pressurized air being delivered to one of the inner diaphragm chambers of the pump to the main fluid valve spool by way of either the intermediate bracket or the pilot valve housing. Design features also include the location of the pilot valve assembly immediately below the pressurized fluid inlet cap and between the inlet cap and the main fluid valve assembly. Further, an integrated exhaust muffler is mounted directly to the main fluid valve housing and the main fluid valve housing includes a segmented sleeve assembly which makes it easier to service the main fluid valve assembly and, specifically, the main fluid valve spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Warren Rupp, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 6234766
    Abstract: A pump system suitable for pumping a hot medium, such as hot mixtures of liquid and solid substances (slurries), includes at least one displacement pump, such as a membrane pump, at least one bidirectional flow pipe, and a second pipe connected to the pump chamber of the displacement pump. The bidirectional flow pipe is connected at a first end to a first and a second one-way valve. A supply pipe for drawing an amount of medium from the supply pipe is connected to the bidirectional flow pipe via the first one-way valve and a discharge pipe for discharging an identical amount of medium from the bidirectional flow pipe is connected to the bidirectional flow pipe via the second one-way valve. The second pipe is provided in a horizontal plane. The displacement pump is associated with an expansion accommodating feature to allow the displacement pump to move when the bidirectional flow pipe or second pipe expand. A partition element is provided in the bidirectional flow pipe to restrict flow through the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Envirotech Pumpsystems Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelis Johannes De Koning
  • Patent number: 6227826
    Abstract: A leak-proof compression pump, which includes a base frame, a pressure cylinder fastened to the base frame, the pressure cylinder having a fluid chamber, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, and a fluid pumping mechanism mounted in between the base frame and the pressure cylinder, the fluid pumping mechanism including an actuating member fixedly connected between the pressure cylinder and the base frame, the actuating member having an integrated semispherical diaphragm reciprocated in and out of the fluid chamber to draw fluid into the fluid chamber through the fluid inlet and to force fluid out of the fluid chamber through the fluid outlet, a reciprocating rod driven to reciprocate the diaphragm of the actuating member, and a supporting cup connected between the actuating member and the reciprocating rod for enabling the diaphragm of the actuating member to be moved in and out of the fluid chamber in the pressure cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Chi-Chung Lo
  • Patent number: 6227821
    Abstract: A two-cylinder air compressor has a motor with a through drive shaft. Identical housings are provided at each end of a cylindrical spacer sleeve that surrounds the motor. The housings include cylinder housing extensions each of which mounts a cylinder sleeve, a valve plate and a head. The heads are part of a one-piece cylinder head member. Wobble pistons are mounted on each end of the motor shaft and operate in the cylinder sleeves. The cylinder sleeves rest on a floor in the housing which has integrally formed passages for cooling air to circulate around the cylinder sleeves. The one-piece cylinder head member includes integral tubes connecting the heads. The integral tubes span the distance between the heads and are spaced from the outside of the spacer. The housings may be joined by through bolts or without bolts by press fitting the bearings in the housing, press fitting the housings to the spacer sleeve, and press fitting the motor shaft into the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Leu, Jeffrey W. Bergner
  • Patent number: 6227811
    Abstract: A variable capacity swash plate type compressor 10 incorporates a swash plate 34 to effect movement of at least an associated piston 44 to vary the capacity of the compressor 10. The structure of the swash plate 34 and piston 44 minimize the bending moment exerted on the piston 44 during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignees: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc., Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventor: Hewnam Ahn
  • Patent number: 6227806
    Abstract: Lift pump guard for a pump operable by an electrical motor. The lift pump guard monitors variable parameters and actuates a relay to electrically terminate operation of the pump motor when the pump is dry running. Also a method of protecting a pump from dry running compares a measured parameter to a predetermined value and terminates operation based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Felix Libfeld
  • Patent number: 6224345
    Abstract: A pressure/vacuum generator is established by coupling the pressure port of a vacuum generator to an air pressure source while coupling a valve in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum generator. When the valve is in a normally open condition (i.e, the exhaust vented to atmosphere), the vacuum port of the pressure/vacuum generator generates a vacuum. When the valve is closed, thereby closing off the exhaust port, the vacuum port becomes a pressure port. Thus, this pressure/vacuum generator can be used in any number of fluid (liquid and gas) systems (e.g., fluid recovery system, fluid transfer system, etc.)that require both a pressure source and a vacuum source while using a minimum number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Bijur Lubrication Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher C. Dussault
  • Patent number: 6224342
    Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the flow of liquid in a conduit provides a barrier positioned in the conduit to prevent flow of liquid past the barrier in a lower region and defining a gap region above that lower region and adjacent the barrier. A duct having a first end for positioning within the lower region of the conduit upstream of the barrier and a second end for positioning in the gap region of the conduit to direct the flow of liquid through the duct from an area upstream of the barrier through the gap region to an area downstream of the barrier. An air pump communicates with the duct to force air into the first end of the duct under sufficient pressure to mix with water in the area of the first end of the duct and rise with the water through the duct and out the second end of the duct to the downstream side of the barrier. A plurality of apparatuses may be located at pre-determined intervals along the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: City of Richmond
    Inventors: Samuel Oliver Russell, Arthur James Louie
  • Patent number: 6220824
    Abstract: A vacuum pump, such as a turbomolecular pump, a molecular drag pump or a hybrid pump, is adapted for use with a backing pump. The vacuum pump includes a housing having an inlet port and an exhaust port for coupling to the backing pump, one or more vacuum pumping stages disposed in the housing, each of the vacuum pumping stages having a stationary member and a rotating member, and a gas turbine. The gas turbine includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet coupled to the exhaust port, and a rotor coupled to the rotating members of the vacuum pumping stages. A gas flow, produced by the backing pump, through the gas turbine causes the rotor and the rotating members of the vacuum pumping stages to rotate, wherein gas is pumped by the vacuum pumping stages from the inlet port to the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventor: Marsbed Hablanian
  • Patent number: 6220830
    Abstract: A high efficiency blower (14) includes a body (18) having an inner venturi surface (22) aligned with a flow axis (38) through the body. A motor/fan assembly (36) includes a motor (42) and a fan blade assembly (46) mounted to a shaft (48) extending from the motor. Several flow-straightening supports (40) support the motor/fan assembly within the body and locate the fan blades at the throat (28) of the venturi surface. High efficiency is created by mounting the motor fan assembly within the venturi surface and by the use of the flow-straightening supports. The high efficiency blower may be used as a part of a relatively simple, inexpensive, self-contained soil remediation system (2) which requires no external source of power and very little upkeep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Bechtel National, Inc.
    Inventor: Fariborz M. Bzorgi
  • Patent number: 6217295
    Abstract: A swash plate (3, 18) and pistons (6, 17) included in a swash plate type compressor are made of an aluminum alloy as a base material. Rotation-preventive interfering surfaces (6d, 17d) of the pistons (6, 17) which interfere with another member to restrain the pistons from rotation about their axes are coated with a film of a solid lubricant. Sliding contact surfaces (6a, 17a) of the pistons (6, 17) in sliding contact with surfaces defining cylinder bores (5, 16) are coated with a film of a solid lubricant. When the rotation-preventive interfering surfaces (6d) of the pistons (6) come into impulsive contact with the outer circumference (3b) of the swash plate (3), the outer circumference (3b) of the swash plate (3) is coated with a lubricating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takayuki Kato, Hayato Ikeda, Seiji Katayama, Masaaki Taga
  • Patent number: 6213734
    Abstract: The motor fuel delivery unit for delivering motor fuel includes a delivery pump (11) and an electric motor (12) for driving the delivery pump (11). The delivery pump (11) includes a housing (13) provided with a pump chamber (14) and an impeller wheel (16) arranged in the pump chamber (14). The electric motor (12) includes a stator (28) provided with an armature winding (32) and a rotor (29) provided with permanent magnets (30). The electric motor (12) is brushless and consists of the impeller wheel (16) of the delivery pump (11). The stator (28) has an inner ring face consisting of a peripheral wall (143) of the pump chamber (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Imhof, Klaus Dobler, Michael Huebel