Patents Examined by Nathan Zollinger
  • Patent number: 10018195
    Abstract: A pump intake pressure control apparatus includes a conduit joining a pump to a liquid source, a flow controller configured to control the flow of liquid through the conduit, pressure sensors for detecting the pressure of the liquid in the conduit upstream and downstream of the flow controller, and an electronic master controller programmed to receive input from the pressure sensors and to actuate the flow controller to reduce the pressure downstream of the flow controller to a predetermined approximate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: John E. McLoughlin
  • Patent number: 10001144
    Abstract: A blower has a centrifugal impeller driven by an electric motor. The centrifugal impeller has a base plate, a cover plate defining an air inlet, a plurality of blades mounted between the base plate and the cover plate, and a reinforcement ring mounted to the cover plate around the air inlet. The cover plate includes an outwardly extending flange at the air inlet. The reinforcement ring has a flange fitted around the flange of the cover plate. Each blade has cover plate mounting portions and base plate mounting portions. The cover plate has blade mounting holes engaged with the cover plate mounting portions. The base plate has blade mounting holes engaged with the base plate mounting portions. The reinforcement ring increases the strength of the cover plate, to avoid breakage under high speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventors: Jun Feng Shen, Ching Hang Leung, Siu Chun Tam
  • Patent number: 9995291
    Abstract: A sealed compressor of the present invention comprises an electric component (111); a compression component (113) actuated by the electric component (111); and a sealed container (101) which accommodates therein the electric component (111) and the compression component (113), and stores lubricating oil therein; wherein the compression component (113) includes a crankshaft (135) including a main shaft (137) and an eccentric shaft (139); a cylinder block (117) including a bearing unit (123) supporting the main shaft (137) such that the main shaft is rotatable, and a cylinder (121) defining a compression chamber (119); and a suction muffler (131) through which a refrigerant gas (115) flows from an interior of the sealed container (101) to an interior of the compression chamber (119); a separating wall (165) is provided between the suction muffler (131) and the electric component (111); a first space (159) is formed between the suction muffler (131) and the separating wall (165); and a second space (163) is form
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC APPLIANCES REFRIGERATION DEVICES SINGAPORE
    Inventors: Kenji Kinjo, Hiromitsu Iwata, Akihiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9989071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic unit including a motor housing for receiving components of an electric motor; having a pump housing for receiving components of a pump, which is driven in order to pump a pressure medium from the electric motor, the pump housing having at least one through-bore for fixing the motor housing to the pump housing by a screw; and having a control device which is arranged on the pump housing face opposite the motor housing. A retaining region for the screw is provided in the through-bore of the pump housing for the purpose of an efficient attachment, the retaining region having an inner thread which is cut or tapped into the retaining region by the thread of the screw during the screw-in process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Andreas Heise
  • Patent number: 9982675
    Abstract: A method for controlling the power limit of a pump device includes controlling the power limit of the pump device on the basis of a pump media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta measured inside a control box of the pump device. A pump device, in particular a centrifugal pump, is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a control box wherein temperature sensors for measuring a media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta are arranged in the control box so as to control the power limit of the pump device depending on the measured media temperature Tm and an ambient temperature Ta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Kim Hulegaard Jensen, Lars Sund Mortensen, Jan Carøe Aarestrup
  • Patent number: 9982669
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pump and a storage volume in fluid communication with a discharge port of the pump. The pump includes a housing defining a pump bore and a pump piston disposed in sliding engagement with the pump bore, the pump piston being in selective fluid communication with the discharge port of the pump. A method for operating the pump system includes determining a time to drain an amount of a first fluid from the storage volume, and retracting the pump piston within the pump bore at a target retraction rate based at least partly on the time to drain the first fluid from the storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Desiderio, Daniel Puckett, Steven Grant, Joshua Steffen
  • Patent number: 9951767
    Abstract: A vibrational fluid mover includes a housing having at least one actuator element positioned thereon that vibrates responsive to a wave shape voltage applied thereto, such that a volume of a chamber in the housing increases and decreases to entrain and eject fluid into/out from the chamber. A control system is operably connected to the actuator element to cause the voltage to be provided thereto so as to actively control the movement of the actuator element. The control system is programmed to set a baseline value for an operational parameter of the vibrational fluid mover generated responsive to a target voltage and frequency being provided, monitor operation of the vibrational fluid mover during operation at the target voltage and frequency, identify a deviation of the operational parameter from the baseline value, and modify the voltage and frequency provided to the actuator element based on any deviation of the operational parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gamal Refai-Ahmed, John Anthony Vogel, Christian M. Giovanniello
  • Patent number: 9945374
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods utilizing multiple parallel pumps to deliver a mixture of the proppant and clean fluid via a manifold trailer. One method of providing a step-change in proppant concentration includes selecting a first flow rate for a first pump connected between a first input node and first output node, calculating a first transit time for a flow of a fluid at the first flow rate through a first flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the first pump, and to the first outlet node, and calculating a second flow rate for a second pump connected between the first input node and the first output node such that a second transit time for a flow of the fluid through a second flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the second pump, and to the first outlet node is equal to the first transit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Stanley V. Stephenson, Wesley J. Warren
  • Patent number: 9937444
    Abstract: According to embodiments described in the specification, a pumping system for use in a tailings pond is provided. The pumping system comprises a pump support and at least one mooring element coupled to the pump support. The at least one mooring element has an extended position for fixing the pump support to a bed of the tailings pond, and a retracted position for permitting movement of the pump support towards a shore of the tailings pond. The at least one mooring element is configured for transitioning from the extended position to the retracted position when a distance from the shore to the pump support exceeds a threshold as a result of a change to tailings pond geometry, and for returning to the extended position following movement of the pump support to reduce the distance below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Weir Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Vert, Richard Haight
  • Patent number: 9937291
    Abstract: A piston pump is described for pumping a fluid. The pump includes at least one cylinder having a piston movable inside the cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder by a drive, each cylinder having at an end face a mounting flange having at least one cylinder opening, and a chamber having a volume that changes when the associated piston is moved in the cylinder. The piston pump has an inlet port for supplying and an outlet port for draining the fluid. A rotatable valve plate is arranged on the other side of the mounting flange. The mounting flange has at least one passage in the region of the inlet port and the outlet port, respectively, through which the fluid can flow between the inlet port and/or the outlet port and the other side of the mounting flange. The valve plate has fluid-transporting means by which, upon rotation of the valve plate at least one cylinder opening can be connected to a passage of the inlet and/or the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: B. BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Eberhard
  • Patent number: 9927479
    Abstract: A sump, ejector, or other pump monitor configured to monitor the amperage of electric current power supplied through the pump monitor to a pump and communicate one or more signals regarding the amperage or variations in amperage to a remote signal receiving device which indicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump. In various embodiments, the pump monitor operates with a remote pump failure warning system. The remote signal receiving device or remote pump failure warning system provides suitable warnings to one or more user access devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RF Group LLC
    Inventor: Michael B. Rothbart
  • Patent number: 9909598
    Abstract: A submersible landfill pump system may include sensors to detect conditions inside the pump and/or well. In some embodiments, the sensors can be placed along an electrical wire within the well and provide sensor data to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Landtec North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchal Cassel, Jamie Tooley, Scott Marcell
  • Patent number: 9909576
    Abstract: A cryogenic pump comprising a shaft disposed in a bearing. The shaft rotates with respect to the bearing housing, and the shaft includes an end with an angled face. The pump includes a drive at one end of the bearing housing. A tappet passage is formed through the drive housing. A pushrod housing connects to the drive housing. The pump includes a piston and a tappet sliding within the tappet passage. The tappet has a base end disposed within the tappet passage and a rod end extending below the tappet end of the drive housing. A fluid cavity is in the tappet passage between the piston and the tappet. The pump includes a pushrod connected to the tappet. The angled face of the shaft rotates and drives the piston toward the drive housing, pushing fluid within the fluid cavity against the tappet, driving the pushrod away from the drive housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Cory A. Brown, Bryan E. Nelson, Dana R. Coldren
  • Patent number: 9909579
    Abstract: A tubing assembly is provided that can comprise a plurality of tubes or lumens that can be disposed within a head of a peristaltic pump. The tubing assembly can provide a flow rate or volume capacity that is generally equal to or greater than that achieved with a comparable prior art tube while operating at higher pressures than that possible using the prior art tube. Further, in accordance with some embodiments, the tubing assembly can achieve a longer working life than a comparable prior art tube, and the load on the pump motor can be reduced such that the pump life is increased and/or a larger pump motor is not required to achieve such advantageous results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Blue-White Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Gledhill, III, John Nguyen, Steven Lee Smith
  • Patent number: 9907901
    Abstract: A fluid management system includes a disposable cassette carrying inflow and outflow tubing sections that are configured for releasably mating with a console including a control unit and a pair of roller pump heads. The console may automatically identify the disposable cassette and weigh the fluid in an inflow source. During operation, the system can monitor pressure in the working space, and provide for inflow and outflow control to maintain any desired operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Benedek Orczy-Timko, Csaba Truckai
  • Patent number: 9901949
    Abstract: A water spraying system includes an engine, a pump driven by the engine, the pump including a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure, a sprayer fluidly coupled to the pump outlet, the sprayer including a flow restriction valve and a trigger for manipulating the flow restriction valve so that movement of the trigger selectively opens and closes the flow restriction valve, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of water into the pump, and a controller coupled to the flow sensor. The controller is configured to turn off the engine following a set time period of sensed flow below a threshold flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 9903359
    Abstract: A vale unit includes a valve frame and two valve plates. The valve frame defines a valve opening. The valve plates are formed with protrusions. Each of the valve plates has a connecting end that is formed with a notch. The connecting ends are connected to each other. The protrusions protrude from peripheries of the notches. Each of the protrusions has a contact end. The contact ends cooperatively define a gap therebetween. The valve plates are co-rotatable about an axis between a closed position, in which the valve plates substantially close the valve opening, and an opening position, in which the valve plates open the valve opening. The gap has a width varying in response to co-rotation of the valve plates between the opening position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: National Taiwan Ocean University
    Inventors: Chau-Chang Chou, Te-Chun Wu, Wen-Jin Cherng
  • Patent number: 9890779
    Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell including a suction inlet, a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant, a piston reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder, a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space, and at least one nozzle, through which at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve may flow, the at least one nozzle being disposed in the cylinder. The at least one nozzle may include an inlet, through which the refrigerant may be introduced, and an outlet having a diameter less than a diameter of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kwangwoon Ahn, Donghan Kim, Seongho Ha
  • Patent number: 9879662
    Abstract: A pump assembly and methods of use and conversion including a sealed housing, at least one in-tank, not sealed pump contained in the sealed housing, an outlet check valve inside each pump, and an over pressure relief passage formed around the pumps in the sealed housing. The pump assembly may also include a common fuel inlet, a common fuel outlet; at least two of the pumps, a compact design, a mounting bracket, a sealed electrical inlet, a pre filter, a post filter, a pressure regulator, a returnless fuel supply, a pressure regulator, a return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Holley Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Ray Weckerly, Larry Joe Tipton
  • Patent number: 9878341
    Abstract: A water spraying system includes an engine, a pump driven by the engine, the pump including a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure, a sprayer fluidly coupled to the pump outlet, the sprayer including a flow restriction valve, a trigger for operating the flow restriction valve, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless start signal indicating release of the flow restriction valve, a wireless receiver, and a controller coupled to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver receives the wireless start signal from the wireless transmitter and in response the controller activates the pump by starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Gilpatrick