Patents by Inventor Alan Lin Kao

Alan Lin Kao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9046090
    Abstract: An impeller vane includes at least one groove on a high pressure or working surface of the impeller vane to increase pump efficiency and reduce pump power requirements. The impeller vane includes a groove or a plurality of grooves formed on the high pressure surface of the vane. The grooves extend from a leading end of the vane to a trailing end of the vane. The grooves define ridges on either side of each groove that extend the length of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan Lin Kao, Lance Travis Robinson, David Wayne Chilcoat
  • Publication number: 20130101446
    Abstract: An impeller vane includes at least one groove on a high pressure or working surface of the impeller vane to increase pump efficiency and reduce pump power requirements. The impeller vane includes a groove or a plurality of grooves formed on the high pressure surface of the vane. The grooves extend from a leading end of the vane to a trailing end of the vane. The grooves define ridges on either side of each groove that extend the length of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alan Lin Kao, Lance Travis Robinson, David Wayne Chilcoat
  • Patent number: 6893207
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump pumps well fluid with a high gaseous content by utilizing an impeller design for use in gaseous liquids. The impeller has high discharge angles and large balance holes. The impeller has short and long vanes alternating with each other. The shorter vanes have a leading surface that is concave in shape. In one design, the longer vanes have a radially outward portion of a leading surface that is concave in shape. The radially outward portion of the longer vanes of this design has substantially the same radius of curvature as the shorter vanes. The radially inward portion of the leading edge of the longer vanes can be concave or convex in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Lin Kao
  • Publication number: 20040047728
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump pumps well fluid with a high gaseous content by utilizing an impeller design for use in gaseous liquids. The impeller has high discharge angles and large balance holes. The impeller has short and long vanes alternating with each other. The shorter vanes have a leading surface that is concave in shape. In one design, the longer vanes have a radially outward portion of a leading surface that is concave in shape. The radially outward portion of the longer vanes of this design has substantially the same radius of curvature as the shorter vanes. The radially inward portion of the leading edge of the longer vanes can be concave or convex in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Alan Lin Kao
  • Patent number: 6676366
    Abstract: A gas-handling centrifugal pump has impellers for pumping gaseous materials containing up to 50% by volume free gas. The impellers have split vanes with high exit angles up to about 90 degrees and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The split vanes define flow passages that contain large diameter balance holes that typically range between 45% to 100% of the width between each split vane. The gas-handling centrifugal pump can be used as a charge pump for a centrifugal pump in a lower tandem configuration within a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Lin Kao
  • Publication number: 20030170112
    Abstract: A gas-handling centrifugal pump has impellers for pumping gaseous materials containing up to 50% by volume free gas. The impellers have split vanes with high exit angles up to about 90 degrees and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The split vanes define flow passages that contain large diameter balance holes that typically range between 45% to 100% of the width between each split vane. The gas-handling centrifugal pump can be used as a charge pump for a centrifugal pump in a lower tandem configuration within a well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Lin Kao