Patents by Inventor Andrew Franko

Andrew Franko 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).

  • Publication number: 20190099763
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a centrifuge rotor, such as for use in a disc nozzle centrifuge, having a bowl including an improved positioning and orientation of discharge nozzles for facilitating tangential flow of fluid discharged therefrom relative to the rotor bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventor: Andrew Franko
  • Patent number: 10226774
    Abstract: A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Fluid Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Franko
  • Publication number: 20170368555
    Abstract: A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew FRANKO
  • Patent number: 6428591
    Abstract: A pressurized cyclone for separating solid material from a fluid flow in which the solid material is entrained in a gaseous fluid maintained in an elevated pressure. The cyclone includes a housing having upper and lower ends and defining a longitudinal axis. An agitator assembly is positioned within the housing proximate the lower end, and includes a plurality of radially extending agitator members supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis. A plurality of radially extending anti-rotation members are removably supported within the side wall, wherein the plurality of anti-rotation members are axially spaced relative to the plurality of agitator members. A motor is operably connected to the agitator members for rotating the agitator members about the longitudinal axis whereby the agitator members move relative to the anti-rotation members for agitating the solid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Fluid-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Wesley Bouchillon, Andrew Franko, John Anthony McBlane
  • Patent number: 5499720
    Abstract: A multiple hydrocyclone assembly includes a closed tubular vertical housing enclosing two concentric vertical cylinders which cooperate with the housing to define an inner cylindrical outlet chamber and concentric annular inlet and outer outlet chambers. Multiple hydrocyclones or cyclonettes are mounted in axially extending vertical rows and in corresponding radial positions in the cylinders from the outer surface the outer cylinder, and the housing and concentric cylinders are formed in sections which are coupled together in end to end relation. Individual cyclonettes can be removed and replaced after removal of one or more of the housing sections. In order to increase the pressure of the feed stock to be cleaned which is supplied to the cyclonettes in the upper portion or sections of the assembly, vertically extending flow channels are provided in the lower portion of the inlet chamber by omitting cyclonettes from the rows in the lower sections of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Fluid Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Bouchillon, Andrew Franko
  • Patent number: 5388708
    Abstract: A multiple hydrocyclone assembly includes a closed tubular vertical housing enclosing two concentric vertical cylinders which cooperate with the housing to define an inner cylindrical outlet chamber and concentric annular inlet and outer outlet chambers. Multiple hydrocyclones or cyclonettes are mounted in axially extending vertical rows and in corresponding radial positions in the cylinders from the outer surface of the outer cylinder, and the housing and concentric cylinders are formed in sections which are coupled together in end to end relation. Individual cyclonettes can be removed and replaced after removal of one or more of the housing sections. In order to increase the pressure of the feed stock to be cleaned which is supplied to the cyclonettes in the upper portion or sections of the assembly, vertically extending flow channels are provided in the lower portion of the inlet chamber by omitting cyclonettes from the rows in the lower sections of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Fluid Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Bouchillon, Andrew Franko