Patents Examined by Michael K. Gray
  • Patent number: 6416297
    Abstract: A compressor that generates relatively little noise and prevents partial clutch engagement and gas leakage when the inclination of a cam plate is suddenly decreased by a great amount. The compressor includes a control valve that electrically controls the compressor displacement based on external information. The rear end of a drive shaft is supported by a shaft bore formed in a cylinder block. A stopper is located endwise of the drive shaft to limit axial movement of the drive shaft. The stopper may be very stiff spring or a rigid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Keiichi Kato, Hajime Kurita, Hirotaka Kurakake, Satoshi Inaji
  • Patent number: 6416291
    Abstract: Flow parameters in a fluid delivery assembly are determined by monitoring pressure responses and processing those responses along with information regarding the fluid flow. In one aspect, a processor controls the pump to pump flow quantities in accordance with a pseudorandom code. Portions of the resulting pressure signal sensed at the conduit is averaged, and the averaged values are then decoded in accordance with the pseudorandom code. An estimate of the equilibrium pressure is generated from the decoded average pressure values, while a summation of the pressure samples is generated from the undecoded pressure signals. The resistance to fluid flow of the system is determined from the estimated equilibrium pressure and pressure summation. For low flow rates, a processor controls the pump to pump fluid in a series of fluid boluses, with each fluid bolus delivered in the beginning of a separate timeslot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Butterfield, Allen B. Farquhar
  • Patent number: 6412173
    Abstract: The present invention provides a very compact, lightweight, turbomolecular pump for evacuating a chamber at volumetric flowrates of less than 10 liters per second. In one embodiment a turbomolecular pump is provided having a bladed rotor disposed within a housing, and mounted for rotation at one end on a passive magnetic main bearing and at the other end on a ball bearing. The pump is configured such that the magnetic bearing carries a majority of the rotor unbalance load. The rotor may be beneficially tapered from a larger diameter at the high vacuum end to a smaller diameter at the low vacuum end. The invention also provides a method of machining the blades of the rotor from a rotor blank using a single point tool in a two-step numerical control lathe operation. In another method of the invention, the rotor blades are individually cut using a high speed circular slitting saw by plunging the saw radially into the rotor blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Johnson, Michael R. McNamee, Jason L. Addink
  • Patent number: 6409484
    Abstract: An oil supply unit of a linear compressor including: a well-closed container filled with oil; a frame installed within the well-closed container; a cylinder fixed at the frame; a piston inserted, in the cylinder and being linearly and reciprocally moved by a linear motor; an oil cylinder fixed at the lower portion of the frame so as to be put in the oil filling the well-closed container, and being vibrated in the horizontal direction according to the reciprocal movement of the piston; an oil piston inserted in the oil cylinder in a manner of dividing the inside of the oil cylinder to a suction space and a discharge space that are communicated to each other, and being vibrated in the horizontal direction; an oil suction installed at the outer side of the suction side of the oil cylinder, for opening and closing the suction side of the oil cylinder; an oil discharge valve installed at the outer side of the discharging side of the oil cylinder, for opening and closing the discharging side of the oil cylinder; an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Yeol Hyun
  • Patent number: 6409485
    Abstract: A sealing system that provides a secure seal against liquid transfer in harsh environments, such as those found in wellbore applications. The sealing system utilizes a connector housing having an axial passage. The interior passage is sized to receive at least a portion of a single support block. The support block is secured to the housing by a retainer, such as a packing gland or a plurality of screws. The single block includes axial openings to individually support and isolate the conductors of a power cable when the power cable is connected to a submersible component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. K. Ebner
  • Patent number: 6409479
    Abstract: A variable displacement piston pump/motor has a simple, compact structure that is suited for use as an oil-pressure generating device for machine presses and the like. In the variable displacement piston pump/motor, a flywheel and a rotation shaft of a pump device are disposed and connected concentrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Aida Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ito, Hisanobu Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6406266
    Abstract: An inventive scroll compressor has its motor protector circuit mounted on the compressor pump unit. In this way, increased temperature from reverse rotation of the orbiting scroll causes the motor protector unit to quickly stop operation of the motor. Preferably, the motor protector unit is mounted on the non-orbiting scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Jason Hugenroth, Edward A. Tamayko, Thomas Barito
  • Patent number: 6406270
    Abstract: An air compressor includes a fuel tank at least partially supported by the air compressor guard, allowing for a larger fuel tank and eliminating the need for a separate fuel tank support. The air compressor includes a gasoline engine connected to an air pump via a belt; the guard covers the belt. A frame may also partially support the fuel tank. The air compressor may also include a manifold assembly, where the manifolds are connected via a unique mechanism. Two manifolds, each having a plate extending therefrom, surround a regulator, and the manifold plates are connected using a set of bolts. The regulator is held to the manifolds by being clamped between the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Coleman Powermate, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy Kopel
  • Patent number: 6406278
    Abstract: The pump has a body including at least a fuel compression chamber and an actuating chamber enclosing the actuating members of the pump; the on-off valve is defined by an independent operating assembly insertable in fluidtight manner inside a hole in the body; the hole connects an inlet conduit to the actuating chamber and to a feed conduit of the compression chamber; the assembly of the valve has a sleeve in turn having an opening located at the fuel feed conduit and which is closed by a shutter sliding inside the sleeve; the sleeve has two seats for two seals located on opposite sides of the opening; and the feed conduit is straight, and can be formed using a drilling tool through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Angelo Beatrice
  • Patent number: 6398519
    Abstract: A swash plate compressor includes a cylinder block having positioned therein a plurality of cylinders and a crank chamber. Each of a plurality of pistons has a head portion and a skirt portion. The head portion of the piston is slidably disposed within one of the cylinders. The skirt portion of the piston slidably abuts on an inside surface of the crank chamber, and by its action the pistons are prevented from nutating axes when the pistons are driven in a reciprocating motion within the cylinders upon rotation of the swash plate. The crank chamber has a truncated cone-shape, the inside diameter of which is reduced between a top dead center and a bottom dead center of the piston. The structure for the swash plate compressor according to this invention reduces vibration and noise caused by the nutation of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Fukai, Keiji Shimizu, Masayuki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6398509
    Abstract: A rod body 30 is formed of magnetostrictive material and includes one end portion 30 fixed, and a piston 35 is fixed to the other end portion 30b of the rod body 30. The piston 35 is slidably disposed within a cylinder 36 in which there is formed a pump chamber 37. A suction port 39 for sucking lubricating oil into the pump chamber 37 is formed in the cylinder 36, while a suction valve 40 for preventing the lubricating oil from flowing out from the suction port 39 is disposed in the suction port 39. In the cylinder 36, there is disposed a nozzle 20 which communicates with the pump chamber 37 and has a sectional area smaller than the lubricating oil passage sectional area of the suction valve 40. There is disposed a coil 43 outside the rod body 30 and, to the coil 43, there is connected a control device 6 for controlling the supply of a current to be supplied to the coil 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Okazaki, Taikou Nawamoto, Kenichi Sugiyama, Satoshi Dairokuno
  • Patent number: 6398510
    Abstract: A tank (1) having saturated water (2) is connected to a pump (5) via a suction line (4). The actual values of the pressure and/or temperature in the tank (1) are detected to a measuring arrangement (7) and supplied to a control apparatus (8), in which the actual values are compared with fixed values. In a water reservoir (9) there is admixing water, the temperature of which is lower than the actual temperature in the tank (1). This water reservoir (9) is connected to the suction line (4) via an inflow line (11). An actuator (12) which is activated by the control apparatus (8) is arranged in the inflow line (11). When the actual values in the tank (1) reach the fixed values, so that the pump (5) could experience cavitation, the actuator (12) is opened by means of the control apparatus (8), in order to introduce admixing water into the suction line (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Erhard Liebig, Jens Wötzel
  • Patent number: 6398518
    Abstract: A multi-stage compressor, including a system for the injection of a cooling liquid into at least a portion of the compressor stages to increase the efficiency of the multi-stage compressor by reducing the temperature of the compressed gas produced in the multi-stage compressor. A cleaning solution may also be injected through nozzles used for the injection of the cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Watson Cogeneration Company
    Inventor: Steve Ingistov
  • Patent number: 6398527
    Abstract: A double-acting reciprocating motor with uni-directional fluid flow path comprises a piston disposed within a cylinder. A first chamber is defined by the cylinder space between the piston and a cylinder base. A second chamber is defined by the cylinder space between the piston and a cylinder head. Fluid is introduced into the motor through an inlet port and into the first chamber. A pass-through valve controls the flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. An outlet valve regulates the draining of fluid from the second chamber through an outlet port. The outlet port and the inlet port are associated with opposite ends of the motor. Differential fluid pressure urges the piston towards the cylinder head when the pass-through valve is closed and the outlet valve is open. The piston surface facing the second chamber is larger than the piston surface facing the first chamber, so the piston moves towards the cylinder base when the pass-through valve is open and the outlet valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: Anker Gram, Mihai Ursan
  • Patent number: 6398521
    Abstract: An adapter for coupling a motor to a pump includes a collar having a first end being removably coupled to a motor housing and a second end being removably coupled to a pump housing of differing size. The collar forms an internal cavity. The drive coupler further includes a drive coupler disposed within the internal cavity, coaxially aligned with the collar. The adapter further includes a motor shaft portion on the drive coupler being configured to engage a motor shaft on a first end, and being configured to engage a pump shaft on a second end. The drive coupler is configured to engage a motor shaft and pump shaft of differing diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Idil Yorulmazoglu
  • Patent number: 6393831
    Abstract: A turbojet engine is made from a drum-like portion having a circular blade section extending inwardly therefrom, a support member, and a bearing arranged around a circle having a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the blade section. The drum-like portion is rotatably mounted within the support member on the bearing. Instead of a turbine spinning on a shaft, a turbine spinning within a drum is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Christos C. Chamis, Isaiah M. Blankson, William A. Richter
  • Patent number: 6394767
    Abstract: The terminal 25 is projected outward and the injection molding is applied to the stator assembly 20 to obtain the stator assembly 24 finished with the first injection molding, subsequently the board holding stator assembly 39 is obtained by soldering the PC board 24 to the terminal 25 and the PC board 24 is injection-molded. Since the injection molding is employed, the number of process of which is smaller than comparing with the casting molding, the improvement of the productivity and the manufacturing cost are intended. The variation of the thickness of the resin between the stator and the PC board being apt to be generated in the conventional art is not invited, in its turn, the deformation, breakage of the PC board and the snapping of wire of the electronic circuit which may be generated due to the variation are not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6394774
    Abstract: A fuel feeding aggregate for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, the fuel feeding aggregate has a housing having a suction-side end and a pressure-side end, a check valve integrated in the pressure-side aid and provided for fuel supply to injection valves, and an additional check valve integrated in the suction-side end in the housing and maintaining a system pressure in the fuel feeding aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kuehn, Dieter Schreckenberger
  • Patent number: 6390780
    Abstract: A liquid pump and controller with separate pump activation and deactivation mechanisms that are both closed detector devices is provided. The pump activation mechanism includes a float device that activates a pump motor when water within a housing of the pump reaches a high water level. The pump deactivation mechanism includes a sensor that detects the load on the pump motor and deactivates it when the sensed load indicates that the water within the pump housing has reached a low water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Rule Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott K. Batchelder, Richard J. Hauss, James T. Burrill
  • Patent number: 6390779
    Abstract: Apparatus for and method of monitoring the condition of an air compressor. The apparatus includes a plurality of appropriately located sensors for sensing operating parameters of the air compressor and for outputting signals indicative of the condition of each of the operating parameters. An information processor is connected to receive the output signals from the sensors and to communicate output control signals in response thereto. The control signals contain information that allows appropriate control and maintenance of the air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Cunkelman