Patents Examined by Michael Koczo
  • Patent number: 7284964
    Abstract: A pump leak monitor for use with a peristaltic pump comprises a pump housing and a pair of electrical contacts disposed along a bottom end of the pump housing. The electrical contacts are located such that the contacts are immersed in fluid when the pump is leaking. The fluid conducts electricity across the contacts and thereby closes an electrical circuit for providing an indication that a leak has been detected. By measuring an electrical parameter in the circuit, the pump leak monitor is capable of measuring the conductivity of the fluid in the pump housing. As a result, the pump leak monitor is capable of differentiating between different types of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Blue-White Industries
    Inventors: William M. McDowell, John T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7284966
    Abstract: A micro-pump having a first layer, a second layer and an intermediate flexible layer is disclosed. The first layer and second layer may be of moldable plastics. The intermediate layer may be a substantially flat PDMS membrane layer having an inlet hole and an outlet hole. The first layer and the second layer are disposed on either side of the intermediate layer to define a pumping chamber that encloses an actuatable portion of the intermediate layer and valve seats that abut the inlet hole and the outlet hole of the intermediate layer. The actuatable portion is moveable to increase and reduce the volume of the pumping chamber to allow pressure to lift the respective intermediate layer portions surrounding the inlet hole and the outlet hole to thereby draw fluid and expel fluid from the pumping chamber respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology & Research
    Inventors: Guolin Xu, Lin Kiat Saw, Dor Ngi Ting
  • Patent number: 7284969
    Abstract: A washer pump includes a case partitioned into a motor chamber, which accommodates an armature rotated when it is electrically energized, and partitioned into a pump chamber, which accommodates an impeller rotated being coupled to an armature shaft of the armature, wherein washing liquid is sucked into the pump chamber from a liquid suction port, which is communicated with the pump chamber, by the rotation of the impeller, and the washing liquid is discharged from a liquid discharge port which is communicated with the pump chamber, and the washer pump is characterized in that: a ventilation hole is provided on a partition wall to partition the pump chamber and the liquid suction port, a filter for filtering the washing liquid is detachably attached to the liquid suction port, an air passage is provided in the filter, and the air passage is communicated with the ventilation hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Akimoto, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7285208
    Abstract: Circulation systems for ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water. In one set of embodiments, water is drawn up from the depths of the body for exposure to the atmosphere and to generate an overall, high flow circulation pattern throughout the entire body. In other embodiments, the circulation in the body of water is primarily limited to an upper aerobic zone with only small and controlled volumes from a lower anaerobic zone being brought up. Each system preferably includes a flotation platform, dish, impeller, and draft tube with specific modifications to the various systems to adapt them for use in a variety of environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: PSI-ETS, a North Dakota partnership
    Inventors: Willard R. Tormaschy, Gary A. Kudrna, Tait J. Obritsch, Joel J. Bleth
  • Patent number: 7281527
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of deriving mechanical work from a combustion gas in internal combustion engines and reciprocating internal combustion engines for carrying out the method. The invention includes methods and apparatuses for managing combustion charge densities, temperatures, pressures and turbulence in order to produce a true mastery within the power cylinder in order to increase fuel economy, power, and torque while minimizing polluting emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: Clyde C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7281906
    Abstract: An oil pump for an automatic transmission includes a pump body having a pump chamber, a pump cover disposed so as to oppose to the pump body, an inner rotor disposed in the pump chamber and driven by a driving force from a torque converter and an outer rotor meshed with the inner rotor. The pump body includes a pump suction port, a pump discharge port a first oil, passage for supplying oil from a oil pan to the pump suction port, a second oil passage for returning excess oil of a first regulator to the first oil passage and a third oil passage having an outlet port for returning excess oil of a second regulator to the pump suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyooki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Tanikawa, Takanao Suzuki, Shinichi Takita
  • Patent number: 7278265
    Abstract: A catalytic combustor for a combustion turbine that employs a protective nickel aluminide diffusion barrier on its inside and outside surfaces with a porous alumina, zirconia, titania, and/or ceria, and bond phase coating on the outside surface in which a catalyst is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Anne Alvin, Basil Mucha, James Klotz
  • Patent number: 7278836
    Abstract: A metering pump that is capable of delivering a constant, rate of fluid over a wide range of viscosities at infinitely variable delivery rates. Two identical pumping chambers are provided with one operating in the suction mode, and the other in the discharge mode with each cylinder switching modes at each pumping cycle, thereby providing continuous delivery of fluid in and out of the pump. The displacement of the chamber is large in order to facilitate operation at a very slow cycle speed of only one to four reciprocations per minute. The fluid valves are mechanically operated providing for positive sealing thus enabling the pump to operate at very slow speeds without leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl L. Hammonds
  • Patent number: 7278834
    Abstract: A compressor assembly including a housing, a motor operatively linked to a compressor mechanism, a support structure, and a sheet of closed cell foam material. The motor and compressor mechanism are disposed within the housing. The housing, motor, and compressor mechanism define a compressor assembly weight. The foam material includes a first and an opposite second surface. The first and second surfaces are adhered to the housing and support structure, respectively, and substantially all of the compressor assembly weight is supported by the foam material. A method of mounting a compressor assembly including coupling a motor and a compressor mechanism, mounting the motor and compressor mechanism within a housing, and mounting the housing to a support structure wherein a sheet of closed cell foam material is disposed between the housing and the support structure and substantially all of the compressor assembly weight is supported by the foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Todd W. Herrick, Rick L. Bunch, Sukru Erisgen
  • Patent number: 7275917
    Abstract: A safety device (12) is disclosed for use in a hydraulic pump system (10). The device includes a generator (20) mounted between the power take off (14) and the hydraulic pump (24). Any time the hydraulic pump (24) is operated by the pto shaft (18) of the power take off (14), the generator is also powered to generate power to operate an audible alarm (28) such as a horn, siren or bell to warn the operator of pump operation. In a second embodiment, hydraulic pump system (100) uses a standard, readily available alternator (102) to generate power to operate the audible alarm (28). A selector valve (202) can be positioned between the pump (24) and lift cylinder to divert hydraulic fluid to a reservoir if the pump is inadvertently activated. The selector valve (202) can be operated manually by the driver when the vehicle is about to be put in motion by operating a control valve (212) or automatically by sensing vehicle motion, such as done by sensors in an ABS brake control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Clement Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Glen Hicks
  • Patent number: 7272930
    Abstract: A turbine engine exhaust diffuser assembly having a tuneable exhaust velocity profile is disclosed. The assembly includes structure that generates a desired, tunable velocity profile within working fluid exiting the exhaust diffuser assembly. The exhaust assembly includes an concentric boundary sleeves that extend along a central axis and form an exhaust flowpath between them. A flow deflecting member disposed within the flowpath longitudinally divides the flowpath into a first region and a second region. The first region is characterized by a first predetermined velocity profile, and the second region is characterized by a second predetermined velocity profile. The second velocity profile is determined by at least one pre-selected dimension of the flow deflecting member. Methods of maximizing HRSG energy extraction capacity and extending HRSG lifespan are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation
    Inventors: David James Wiebe, Eric Christopher Berrong
  • Patent number: 7267531
    Abstract: A pump system includes a peristaltic pump having a rotor, a motor and a controller. The motor is configured to drive the peristaltic pump so as to deliver a liquid product from a source to a receiving location. The controller monitors a drive current of the motor so as to track rotation of the pump's rotor. The controller counts units of rotation of the pump's rotor, and stops the motor when the counted units of rotation reach a specified target count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Anderson, Andrew J. Cocking
  • Patent number: 7264449
    Abstract: A liquid collection and disposal assembly for collecting and disposing of drainage liquid, the liquid collection and disposal assembly disposable in a pit and having a basin assembly with a collection cavity, a pump suspended in the collection cavity and a level detector to detect drainage liquid levels in the collection cavity. A controller responds to the level detector to activate the pump at predetermined levels of the drainage liquid to evacuate the drainage liquid. A transparent basin cover is supported on top of a basin member, and an effluent discharge pipe is connected to the basin cover and to a liquid outlet port of the pump, thereby supporting the pump a predetermined distance above the bottom of the collection cavity. The pump has a water jacket through which the discharging effluent passes to cool the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Little Giant Pump Company
    Inventors: Dick Harned, Bill Tusten
  • Patent number: 7261522
    Abstract: A fluid manifold usable with a welder and air compressor combination. The manifold is constructed of a single unitary manifold block and which is divided into two separate fluid communication systems that are isolated from each other by the manifold block itself. Each of the separate fluid communications systems provides various channels and external ports to access those fluid channels to enable the welder and air compressor combination to be more easily assembled and constructed by locating the manifold in a convenient location within the welder and air compressor combination and which has the necessary fluid channels and conduits already formed within the manifold so that the manufacturer or assembler can simply affix the proper fluid lines and system components to the manifold in carrying out the construction of the welder and air compressor combination and be assured that the proper fluid communication will be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert A. Bankstahl, Joseph Gitter
  • Patent number: 7258534
    Abstract: A medical pump includes a chassis having a fixed seat, and a main carriage having a carriage footing for receiving a fluid delivery device and restricting its movement. An actuator automatically moves the main carriage between open and closed positions to engage the fluid delivery device to the seat. The seat establishes the position of both the main carriage and fluid delivery device in the closed position. The actuator is connected to the main carriage by a rear carriage assembly having a manual release element for disengaging the actuator from rear carriage assembly and thereby from the main carriage. A processing unit detects jam conditions by processing carriage position data and electrical load data from the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hospira, Inc.
    Inventors: Marwan A. Fathallah, John S. Ziegler, David C. Franchino, Kent B. Chase, Todd J. Bakken, Daniel J. Lee
  • Patent number: 7252485
    Abstract: A tube type pumping apparatus having a resilient tube provided along a wall, a squeezing member positioned to move along the wall to squeeze the resilient tube against the wall, a squeezing member holder that holds the squeezing member; a cam member whose surface receives a driving force from a driving source to change positions of the squeezing member between an initial position away from the wall and a squeezing position near the wall, and a regulating force generator that provides a regulating force to the squeezing member at a transition time interval as the squeezing member moves from the initial position to the squeezing position. The regulating force generator and the cam member acting together to prevent the squeezing member from applying pressure against the resilient tube during the transition time interval. The squeezing member has a curved surface to maintain an alignment of the tube with the squeezing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Ito
  • Patent number: 7252484
    Abstract: A camouflaged inflation device for inflating pool toys and rafts includes a housing that includes a bottom wall, a top wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly from the top wall. The peripheral wall has a bottom edge having a peripheral lip thereon for receiving a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. The housing is camouflaged to appear as a poolside object. An air compressor is mounted on the bottom wall for providing pressurized air. An air supply hose has a first end fluidly coupled to the air compressor and a second end extending outwardly through a first aperture in the peripheral wall. Pressurized air supplied by the air compressor flows outwardly through the second end of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Robert D. Crumpley
  • Patent number: 7247005
    Abstract: A motor-driven gear pump assembly includes a rotary shaft rotatably mounted in a housing, and a pump mounted on the rotary shaft. The pump has a pressure chamber. A high-pressure seal is disposed around the shaft between the pump and the motor. A low-pressure seal is provided around the shaft between the high-pressure seal and the motor. An annular oil seal chamber is formed between the high-pressure seal and the low-pressure seal to surround the shaft. A recess chamber is formed around the oil seal chamber. Oil is introduced into the oil seal chamber until the portion of the rotary shaft in the oil seal chamber is completely submerged in the oil introduced while leaving air in the oil seal chamber. The oil in the oil seal chamber thus serves as a seal which positively prevents infiltration of air into the pump. If oil in the pump leaks through the high-pressure seal into the oil seal chamber, the air is compressed, thus absorbing any increase in the volume of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fuchida, Yoshitake Hisada
  • Patent number: 7244110
    Abstract: An electrically powered axial-flow fan has a hub to house the motor and support the fan blades. Small blades or vanes on the inside of the hub function as a radial-flow blower to draw cooling air through cooling ports on the electric motor housing. The vanes inside the hub cooperate with a flange surrounding the motor to form a low pressure chamber under the hub to improve cooling flow through the motor. This motor cooling air flow is then ejected into the exhaust stream of the axial-flow fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Hong, John R. Savage
  • Patent number: RE39813
    Abstract: A self-priming centrifugal pump including a supplementary vacuum pump and a float valve. The vacuum pump serves to draw liquid to the pump for priming and the float valve shut of flow to the vacuum pump when liquid reaches a predetermined level to prevent entry of liquid into the vacuum pump. In some embodiments the float valve includes an o-ring valve seal and the vacuum pump includes an oil delivery system to distribute oil from an oil reservoir to improve lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Roper Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Carnes, Milton K. Leonard, Robert B. Ray