Patents by Inventor Dirk A. Caudill

Dirk A. Caudill 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: 8104110
    Abstract: A water circulating system, such as a spa system, is disclosed having a flow control feature. In one embodiment, the spa system includes a tub, a pump assembly and a controller. The pump assembly includes a BLDC motor and circulates water from the tub's outlet port to its inlet port. The controller sets the speed of the BLDC motor to any speed within the speed range of the BLDC motor in response to a user input to adjust the flow rate of the water to the inlet port of the tub. The spa system may also produce at least one jetting mode in response to a user input. The jetting mode may be a pulse mode, a sinusoidal mode, a ramp mode, or a saw-tooth mode. In another spa system, a first pump operates at a first speed to heat the circulating water when a heater is activated, and at a second speed when the heater is not activated. In other embodiments, the spa system includes a jetting pump assembly that includes a BLDC motor and a circulating pump assembly that operates at two speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk A. Caudill, Eric S. Cole
  • Publication number: 20080168599
    Abstract: A water circulating system, such as a spa system, is disclosed having a flow control feature. In one embodiment, the spa system includes a tub, a pump assembly and a controller. The pump assembly includes a BLDC motor and circulates water from the tub's outlet port to its inlet port. The controller sets the speed of the BLDC motor to any speed within the speed range of the BLDC motor in response to a user input to adjust the flow rate of the water to the inlet port of the tub. The spa system may also produce at least one jetting mode in response to a user input. The jetting mode may be a pulse mode, a sinusoidal mode, a ramp mode, or a saw-tooth mode. In another spa system, a first pump operates at a first speed to heat the circulating water when a heater is activated, and at a second speed when the heater is not activated. In other embodiments, the spa system includes a jetting pump assembly that includes a BLDC motor and a circulating pump assembly that operates at two speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Dirk A. Caudill, Eric S. Cole
  • Patent number: 6200108
    Abstract: A pump which is designed to be mounted within a recirculating water system where a portion of the recirculating water is diverted (bypass water) and cause to flow through the motor chamber with this recirculating water to absorb heat that is produced during the operation of the motor. The heated bypass water is then added back to the recirculating water. The pump includes an electric motor which is mounted within a pump motor chamber of a motor housing and is completely enclosed therein. The pump motor chamber is filled with oil thereby submerging of the electric motor in oil. A water conducting tube is mounted within the pump motor chamber and surrounds the electric motor. The tube inlets water from the pressure side of the pump impeller, conducts this bypass water entirely through the tube and then discharges the bypass water into the inlet of the recirculating water to the pump impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Aqua-Flo, Incorporated
    Inventors: Dirk A. Caudill, Reuel S. Orocio
  • Patent number: 5930852
    Abstract: A pump which is designed to be mounted within a recirculating water system where a portion of the recirculating water is diverted and caused to flow through the pump with this recirculating water to absorb heat that is produced during the operation of the motor. The heated diverted water is then added back to the recirculating water system. The pump includes an electric motor which is mounted within a motor housing and is completely enclosed therein. An electrically insulative mounting arrangement mounts the motor relative to the motor housing preventing the conductance of electricity therebetween. The motor housing is filled with oil thereby submerging of the electric motor in oil. The motor housing is enclosed within a seal plate. Surrounding the motor housing is an annular chamber through which the liquid is caused to flow. A baffle arrangement is located within the annular chamber to direct the flow of the liquid so that all area across the surface of the pump housing has liquid flowing thereacross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Aqua-Flo, Incorporated
    Inventors: Eugene M. Gravatt, Dirk A. Caudill