Patents Examined by Nathan Zollinger
  • Patent number: 9726174
    Abstract: An electric pump including a motor unit including an end cap attached to a motor cover, and a power supply bus bar having wiring inserted therein is integral with the end cap; a pump unit including a rotor having a vane groove for receiving a vane and connecting to the rotation shaft and also including a pump plate having a cam ring; and a cover covering the pump unit from a side opposite to the motor unit and provided with a connector box surrounding an insertion recessed portion into which the power supply bus bar is inserted. The cam ring has a penetration hole through which the power supply bus bar and wiring can be inserted, the wiring being electrically connected to a connection unit provided in the insertion recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: MIKUNI CORPORATION, KOKUSAN DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Tabata, Daiki Ihara
  • Patent number: 9719509
    Abstract: To provide a motor-driven compressor which suppresses heat generation, enables power saving, exerts excellent durability, lowers a manufacturing cost, and hardly produces a defective product. The motor-driven compressor according to the present invention comprises a cover. The cover includes a first connector portion, first and second wires, and first and second resin portions. The first and second wires include first and second terminal portions having a cylindrical shape, lead portions, and first and second lid portions that are supported at opening end portions of the first and second terminal portions. The first and second lid portions close the opening end portions of the first and second terminal portions, and thereby prevent an insulating resin from entering the first and second terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Junya Yano
  • Patent number: 9714644
    Abstract: A thermal actuator for a rotating shaft shutdown seal that has a piston with a portion of its axial length enclosed within a chamber shell with a material that expands upon a rise in temperature. The portion of the actual length of the piston within the chamber has at least two different diameters with the larger diameter leading in the direction of travel of the piston. Upon a rise in temperature, expansion of the material surrounding the piston within the chamber creates a force on the piston in the desired direction of travel. Below a preselected temperature the piston is positively locked with a passive release when the preselected temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Phillip J. Hawkins, Judith E. Hodgson, John W. Conrad, Lyman J. Petrosky
  • Patent number: 9714646
    Abstract: A capacity control valve includes: intake-side passages connecting an intake chamber that takes in fluid and a control chamber; a pressure-sensitive chamber formed midway along the intake-side passages; a liquid-refrigerant discharge valve that receives the pressure of the control chamber to open and close the intake-side passages; a pressure-sensitive body placed in the pressure-sensitive chamber, which extends to apply a biasing force to the liquid-refrigerant discharge valve in the direction of closing the valve, while contracting as the ambient pressure increases; and a solenoid that applies an electromagnetic drive force to control the main valve; wherein the pressure-sensitive body is supported on one side by the driving rod of the solenoid in a manner permitting relative motion, while connected on the other side to the liquid-refrigerant discharge valve, wherein the discharge valve structure and discharge flow passages for discharging liquid refrigerant are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Shirafuji, Toshinori Kanzaki, Naoki Nishimura, Hideki Higashidozono
  • Patent number: 9713660
    Abstract: A surgical cassette clamping system includes a mounting plate having a first side and a second side. A bracket system may be disposed adjacent the first side of the mounting plate. A clamp motor may be disposed adjacent the mounting plate and fixed relative to the mounting plate. The clamp motor may be operably connected to the bracket system to displace the bracket system relative to the mounting plate. The system may also include a plurality of pivot arms pivotably connected to the bracket system and extending adjacent the second side of the mounting plate. An engagement portion may be attached to each of the plurality of pivot arms that cooperatively engages the second side of the mounting plate, the engagement portion being operable to pivot the pivot arms when the bracket system moves relative to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baxter, Daniel J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9709042
    Abstract: A disc pump system includes a pump body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining a cavity for containing a fluid. The cavity having a resonant cavity frequency is formed by an internal sidewall and substantially closed at both ends by a first end wall and a driven end wall. The disc pump system includes an actuator that is driven a frequency (f) that corresponds to the fundamental resonant frequency of the actuator. The internal sidewall is configured to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature, thereby causing the actuator and cavity to have approximately the same resonant frequencies over a range of operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Aidan Marcus Tout
  • Patent number: 9708925
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a turbocharger includes an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for the compressor, operable to move between an open position and a closed position in the air inlet. The inlet-adjustment mechanism includes a variable-geometry orifice actuated by a rotatable actuator ring. In the closed position, the orifice's inner diameter is smaller than that of a shroud surface of the compressor housing and therefore dictates the effective inlet diameter for the compressor. In the open position the orifice no longer forms an inner diameter smaller than the shroud surface, so that the effective inlet diameter is determined by the shroud surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Mohtar, Pascal Villemin, Stephane Pees, William Joseph Smith, Aurelien Tingaud, Lionel Toussaint
  • Patent number: 9709066
    Abstract: A ventilating fan including a ventilating fan body provided with a motor, a frame having ventilating air outlets, and fan blades, an adapter and an electric element box. The ventilating air outlets include a top air outlet provided on a top face of the frame of the ventilating fan and a side air outlet provided on a side face of the frame of the ventilating fan which are communicated with each other. The adapter is provided with a raised structure adapted to the ventilating air outlet. With this structure, the height of the ventilating fan is reduced while air volume is ensured, so that the ventilating fan is adapted to be mounted onto various ceilings, and the cost can be saved while mounting of the adapter is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: Panasonic Ecology Systems Guangdong Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hongjian Yuan, Guangmin Zeng, Liang Tian, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9709049
    Abstract: A piston drive device includes: a crankcase; first and second compression cylinders fixed to the crankcase; first and second vacuum cylinders fixed to the crankcase; a rotational shaft rotatably supported within the crankcase; first and second compression pistons connected to the rotational shaft and reciprocating respectively within the first and second compression cylinders; and first and second vacuum pistons connected to the rotational shaft and reciprocating respectively within the first and second vacuum cylinders; wherein each diameter of piston heads of the first and second compression pistons is smaller than each diameter of piston heads of the first and second vacuum pistons, and the first and second compression pistons are connected to the rotational shaft so as to sandwich the first and second vacuum pistons in an axial direction of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SHINANO KENSHI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ueda, Eiji Okada
  • Patent number: 9709053
    Abstract: A piston pump for delivering fluids includes a piston, a cylinder element and a pressure chamber which is arranged between an inlet valve and an outlet valve and is closed by a cover, wherein a throttling mechanism for throttling the fluid flow is provided in the fluid flow downstream of the outlet valve, and a vehicle brake system has a piston pump of this type. The throttling mechanism includes a movable annular disc which is guided on the cylinder element and the internal diameter of which is adapted to the external diameter of the cylinder element, wherein the axial travel of the annular disc sets a variable first throttle cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Gaertner, Wolfgang Schuller
  • Patent number: 9709043
    Abstract: A submersible well pump assembly has a pump and an electrical motor for driving the pump. The motor has an electrical receptacle with a base and a central bore containing a plurality of motor electrical terminals. An annular groove in the base encircles the central bore and has a closed bottom. A motor lead extends to the motor for supplying power to the motor. An electrical connector on an end of the motor lead has a rim that inserts into the groove. Either the forward edge of the rim or the bottom of the groove is conical, defining an annular void within the groove that is triangular in cross section when the rim is fully inserted into the groove. A seal ring is located in the void of the groove and is deformed by the forward edge of the rim into sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gilmore, Jeffrey G. Frey, Michael R. Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 9696360
    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: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: RF Group LLC
    Inventor: Michael B. Rothbart
  • Patent number: 9670916
    Abstract: A compressor including a motor, a piston reciprocating by the motor, a crankcase having a middle wall portion formed with a communication hole, the crankcase housing the piston, a cylinder body secured to an inner surface of the middle wall portion, the cylinder body and the wall portion defining a cylinder chamber, and reciprocation of the piston increasing or decreasing a capacity of the cylinder chamber, and a cylinder head secured to an outer surface of the middle wall portion, the cylinder head and the middle wall portion defining an exhaust chamber communicated with the cylinder chamber through the communication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SHINANO KENSHI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 9556736
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure exchanger comprising a drum rotatable about an axis, a front plate arrangement having a front plate and a pressure shoe, said drum including a plurality of working cylinders, each working cylinder having a front opening and, during rotation of this drum, said front opening sliding over said pressure shoe along a path, said pressure shoe having at least two kidney-shaped openings, said kidney-shaped openings being arranged in said path. The hydraulic pressure exchanger should be operated with low noise. To this end said pressure shoe is arranged between said drum and said front plate and comprises at least one pressure cylinder arranged between two neighboring kidney-shaped openings, a piston being arranged in said pressure cylinder and resting against said front plate, said pressure cylinder being connected with a supply opening in a side of the pressure shoe opposite said front plate, said opening at least partly overlapping said path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Haraldur Sigurdsson
  • Patent number: 9551343
    Abstract: A fluid pump assembly is provided. The pump has a pair of units magnetically coupled to each other. The first unit contains a drive motor and a magnetic assembly. The second unit contains a magnetic assembly and a blade of a propeller/impeller for imparting movement to a fluid. As the first unit is activated by the drive motor, a magnetic flux is created which in turn rotates the magnetic assembly in the second unit, driving the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ecotech Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Marks, Patrick Clasen, Justin Lawyer
  • Patent number: 9523358
    Abstract: A magnetically driven micropump for handling small fluid volumes. The micropump includes a first chamber and a second chamber. A flexible membrane being disposed between the first and second chambers. The flexible membrane being magnetically coupled to an actuator for displacing the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Farid Amirouche, Yu Zhou, Matthew Lawrence Cantwell, Johan Citerin
  • Patent number: 9523359
    Abstract: A pump producing peristaltic pumping action by sequentially occluding a tube between staggered curved surfaces. The pump includes a pump frame with a platen with a plurality of curved surfaces. The curved surfaces of the platen operatively interact with opposing curved surfaces on a pressure plate assembly or the like. Pumping is accomplished via a tube sandwiched between the platen and the pressure plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Robert C. Geschwender
  • Patent number: 9512832
    Abstract: In a swash plate type variable displacement compressor, a lug plate includes a cylinder chamber and first and second guide surfaces. Inner peripheral edges of the first and second guide surfaces are defined respectively at parts where the peripheral edge of the cylinder chamber and the guide surfaces overlap with each other. When the inclination angle of a swash plate of the compressor is maximum, first and second guided surfaces and the first and second guide surfaces, respectively are brought into line contact with each other at a first position. At this time, first and second slide contact widths are maximum. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is minimum, the first and second guided surfaces and the first and second guide surfaces, respectively are brought into line contact with each other at a second position. At this time, the first and second slide contact widths are minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shinya Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Nakaima, Kengo Sakakibara, Yusuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9512836
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump for an internal combustion engine. The high-pressure fuel pump includes an improved configuration that beneficially simplifies certain features of the high-pressure fuel pump. The fuel pump possesses an inlet check valve positioned along an inlet fuel circuit and an outlet fuel circuit of the high-pressure pump that provides a path for a low-pressure inlet fuel flow to and a path for a high-pressure output fuel flow from a pumping chamber of the fuel pump. Because of the configuration of the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve, the complexity of high-pressure fuel pump is beneficially reduced, decreasing the cost of components and assembly and improving the life and reliability of high-pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony A. Shaull, Wesley R. Thayer
  • Patent number: 9494161
    Abstract: A motor includes a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical rotor unit configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a bearing unit arranged to rotatably support the rotor unit; a bearing holder arranged to hold the bearing unit; a disc-shaped or substantially disc-shaped base to which the bearing holder is fixed; a stator unit arranged inside the rotor unit and fixed to the bearing holder; and a circuit board arranged between the base and the stator unit and held by the stator unit. The circuit board is supported on the base through an insulative and flame-retardant vibration-preventing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC SERVO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yoneda, Takuma Ishii, Eiichi Hirata