Patents Examined by Richard A. Bertsch
  • Patent number: 5482445
    Abstract: A free piston engine having a fluid pressure unit which includes a cylinder and a piston arranged within the cylinder and reciprocating therein between the bottom dead center and the top dead center. The piston includes a plunger-shaped piston extension cooperating with the fluid pressure unit. This fluid pressure unit is equipped with an auxiliary member for moving the piston in a direction to its bottom dead center. This auxiliary member includes a connecting channel adapted to communicate a liquid pressure source with a room in which the plunger-shaped piston extension extends and which room is closed on one side by an axial face of the piston extension which is directed such that, by pressure loading the axial face, the piston is moved towards the bottom dead center. The axial face is formed on a ring slidably arranged on the plunger-shaped extension. The plunger-shaped extension includes a stop adapted for engagement by the ring when it is moved for displacing the piston to its bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Innas Free Piston B.V.
    Inventors: Peter A. J. Achten, Theodorus G. Potma
  • Patent number: 5482448
    Abstract: A valveless positive displacement pump having pistons that undergo both rotating and reciprocating motion. The assembly comprises a radially outer, ported first cylinder with an axially outer, closed off end, a radially intermediate combination element having outer surfaces serving as a first piston relative to the main cylinder and inner surfaces defining a cylinder for a second piston. The pistons are concentrically arranged, and each reciprocates and rotates within its own cylinder. The piston part of the intermediate element includes a first chordwise relief adjacent its axially inner end and a second chordwise relief in the middle of its shank portion. An access port extends through a wall of the second relief into the interior of the second element. The axially outer ends of first and second pistons each include means for connection to a drive unit with a rotational axis that intersects but is offset from the rotational and reciprocating pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventors: Richard G. Atwater, Kenneth L. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5482440
    Abstract: A blood processing assembly includes a separation element for separating blood from a source into a first component and a second component. The assembly also includes a fluid path that conveys blood between the source and the separation element. The fluid path includes one or more in-line cassettes that serve in association with peristaltic pumps to centralize pumping and valving functions of the system. The cassettes also serve to segregate the flow paths of the blood components from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventors: T. Michael Dennehey, Richard I. Brown, Warren P. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5482438
    Abstract: A medical infusion pump (10) including an improved electric motor assembly (256). The medical infusion pump (10) includes a pumping mechanism (250) and a pump chamber (132) in an operative position with respect to the pumping mechanism (250), the pumping mechanism (250) manipulating the pump chamber (132) to pump liquid through the pump chamber. An electric motor (256) having a rotatable drive shaft (316) is operably linked to the pump driving mechanism (250) and the pump driving mechanism (250) pumps a select amount of liquid through the pump chamber (132) on each rotation of the electric motor drive shaft (316). The improved electric motor assembly (256) includes a motor having a portion of a drive shaft (388) extending therefrom. A magnet (392) is attached to the extending portion of the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventors: Robert L. Anderson, Jeffrey P. Castleberry, Steve W. Stracener
  • Patent number: 5482351
    Abstract: A seat including a first portion; a support member borne by the first portion; and a second portion borne by the support member and disposed in space relation thereto, and wherein the seat is borne by the second portion, and wherein the first portion is positioned in force transmitting relation relative to the support member, and wherein force applied to the seat is transmitted through the first portion to the support member thereby causing the support member to deform and thus dissipate some of the force acting upon the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: ERDA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Young, Kurt F. Breuer, David E. Brandt
  • Patent number: 5482441
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling flow of a liquid includes a variable displacement liquid pump and a variable displacement liquid meter, the pump and meter being driven by the same drive motor. Containment structure defines a liquid flow path between the pump and meter for containing liquid received from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Clark Permar
  • Patent number: 5482442
    Abstract: A radial piston hydrostatic machine contained within a housing and comprising a cylinder-barrel mounted to rotate on a pintle-valve fixed to said housing. Two hydraulic-rams operatively acting on a track-ring to provide eccentric displacement relative to the pintle-valve to change the rate of fluid output from the machine. The hydraulic-rams being of unequal size and subjected to the same level of machine discharge pressure during periods when the level of discharge pressure is insufficient to cause an internally disposed pressure relief-valve to "open". A throttle-valve disposed in a fluid channel linking the cylinders of said hydraulic-rams and arranged to introduce a pressure differential across two said two cylinders during periods when the machine discharge pressure is sufficiently high to cause said pressure-relief-valve to "open".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Unipat AG
    Inventors: Arthur A. Blair, Christian H. Thoma
  • Patent number: 5480294
    Abstract: A peristaltic pumping apparatus includes a peristaltic pump rotor and pump race. A pump tube cassette includes a body for supporting a flexible tubing loop in an erect, outwardly bowed position for placement within the pump race and for removal from the pump race. A surface juxtaposed the peristaltic pump rotor and race carries a gripping jaw assembly. The gripping jaw assembly opens to receive the pump tube cassette body as the body is moved toward the pump rotor to place the tubing loop within the pump race. The gripping jaw assembly closes to secure the pump tube holder body on the surface in an orientation in which the tubing loop lies within the pump race for engagement with the peristaltic pump rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Di Perna, Richard L. West
  • Patent number: 5480286
    Abstract: An exhaust apparatus and a high vacuum pumping unit including such high vacuum device and an auxiliary vacuum pump are disclosed, wherein a high vacuum is achieved in a vacuum vessel such that the gas molecules within the vacuum vessel are ionized and accelerated to be exhausted and, further, in the high vacuum pumping unit, those gas molecules diffused back or desorbed from the vacuum pump are ionized and accelerated to be returned to the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nagai, Tohru Satake, Hideaki Hayashi, Takanari Yasui
  • Patent number: 5480287
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing pumping devices, particularly usable in sports shoes, including the monolithic molding of a body having at least one tubular passage and a first and a second seat for air venting and intake valves. The body furthermore includes at least one chamber with a partially open elastically deformable wall. The method entails the closure of the chamber, whereas the valves and at least one inflatable plenum chamber are associable within the body thus obtained, before closing it. The pumping device thus obtained has optimum functional characteristics as well as very low manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nordica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Adolfo Pozzebon, Alessandro Pozzobon, Alessandro Morandin
  • Patent number: 5480288
    Abstract: A pumping module is provided for use with an external dispensing machine, for dispensing pumped material. The pumping module has multiple motor driven pumps in modular cabinets which may be coupled together in various directions and three-dimensional space. Pumping modules located remote from the dispensing apparatus are directly coupled to the dispensing apparatus with continuous conduits which pass through intervening modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Fluid Management Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Leendert Hellenberg, Johannes H. Mink
  • Patent number: 5480289
    Abstract: A windshield washer pump includes an entrance connector having a check valve disposed therein and a plurality of annular raised portions disposed thereon, and an exit connector having a check valve disposed therein and a plurality of annular raised portions disposed thereon for effectively spraying the washing liquid and mating with various types of hoses, and a pair of vertical and longitudinal engagement holes disposed on a mounting bracket for easily mounting to the engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Albert Lee
  • Patent number: 5480291
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an underwater excavation apparatus comprising a tube (10) in which a propeller (18) is mounted for rotation. The tips of the propeller blades are formed with jets (30) supplied from a high pressure water supply through passages in the propeller blades. The jets impinge on vanes (31) mounted on the tube wall around the propeller to cause the propeller to rotate and thereby draw water through the tube from an inlet at one end to an outlet at the other end to act on the seabed. The apparatus is particularly useful for excavating trenches on the seabed and exposing previously covered installations on the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Underwater Excavation Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Sills
  • Patent number: 5478221
    Abstract: A miniature fan is mounted on a printed circuit board (PC board) and circulates air to help dissipate heat in enclosed electronic packages. The fan blades may rotate in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the PC board depending on available space. The method of mounting the miniature fan may be incorporated directly into the presently existing methods by which electrical components are mounted on a PC board, and which simplifies the mounting and manufacturing process such that mounting screws, lead wires, connectors, etc are eliminated, thus increasing efficiency and reducing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: LZR Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rami Loya
  • Patent number: 5478210
    Abstract: A vacuum pump includes a plurality of rotors accommodated in a housing, a plurality of bearings for supporting the shafts of the rotors, respectively, a fluid-suction opening and a fluid-discharge opening formed in the housing, and a motor for driving at least one of the rotors. The pump has a first pump structure section for suction and discharge of gas, the pressure of which is in a viscous flow region, by utilizing change in volume of a space formed by the rotors and the housing. A second pump structure section is provided for transporting gas, a pressure of which is in an intermediate flow region, and gas, the pressure of which is lower than a pressure of the intermediate flow region, by utilizing movement of the space from a suction side to a discharge side of the second pump structure section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Maruyama, Akira Takara
  • Patent number: 5478215
    Abstract: A full-circumferential flow pump has a circumferential fluid passage between a pump casing and a motor provided in the pump casing. The full-circumferential flow pump comprises a suction-side casing having a suction nozzle, and an outer cylinder connected to the suction-side casing and accommodating the canned motor therein. The suction-side casing and the outer cylinder have flanges, respectively extending radially outwardly from an open ends thereof. The adjacent flanges of the suction-side casing and the outer cylinder are clamped by clamping flanges to connect the suction-side casing and the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Masakazu Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Hiromi Sakacho, Koji Isemoto
  • Patent number: 5478222
    Abstract: A pump of compact design, which is hermetically sealed to the outside and has no shaft lead-outs to the outside, includes a housing with an internal partition dividing the inside of the housing into a drive section and a pump section. A single shaft, which is supported in the partition, carries on one side the rotor of an electric drive motor and on the other side the impeller of the pump. In the cavity of the drive section, a gas pressure is generated which assists in preventing the pumping material from passing into the drive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventors: Gotz Heidelberg, Peter Ehrhart, Otto W. Stuckmann, Roland Fischer
  • Patent number: 5478217
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump is disclosed having a pump body, a cylinder member rotatably accommodated within the pump body and a piston member within the cylinder member. At least a portion of the cylinder member is rotatable about the cylinder axis in step with the reciprocal motion of the piston relative to the cylinder. The rotatable portion of the cylinder has as least one flow port which communicates with the working volume of an intake or discharge port for material being pumped. The rotatable portion of the cylinder preferably has two flow ports, one which will communicate with the intake port and the other which will communicate with the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Duracell Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Jones
  • Patent number: 5478211
    Abstract: An ambulatory infusion pump system provides a continuous source of liquid medication to an ambulatory patient. The ambulatory infusion pump system includes a liquid medication reservoir (64) and a conduit (16) for conveying liquid medication from the reservoir to the patient. An ambulatory infusion pump (10) pumps liquid medication from the reservoir (64) to the patient (14) by manipulation of the conduit (16). A case (12) is provided for the ambulatory infusion pump (10) and the liquid medication reservoir (64). The case (12) includes a first chamber (440) receiving the ambulatory pump (10) and a second chamber (442) receiving the liquid medication reservoir (64). The first and second chambers are maintained in a juxtaposed position. An outlet through the case receives the conduit (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Mary C. Dominiak, Sheri A. Baltzer, Jeffrey P. Castleberry, Warren P. Heim
  • Patent number: 5478214
    Abstract: A compact redundant cooling module has four fans operated by two electric motors, one electric motor serving to operate two fans at one time to cool a heavy industrial engine as required for efficient operation; the other motor and pair of fans being rotated but not operated, in order to provide a backup system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Illinois Blower, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Howarth, William B. Howarth, Richard J. Bursh