Patents by Inventor Donald D. Schaefer

Donald D. Schaefer 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: 4909716
    Abstract: A large slide valve member concentrically mounts a small slide valve member or slide stop at one end thereof proximate to a helical screw rotary compressor discharge port with the small and large slide valve members movable as a unit for varying the built in volume ratio of the compressor. The small slide valve member is shiftable independently of the large slide valve member to vary the capacity of the machine. A large diameter cylinder fixedly mounted to the end of the compressor casing remote from an outlet port slidably mounts interiorly a smaller diameter cylinder fixed to the large slide valve via a spindle. The small slide valve is fixed to one end of a piston rod which extends through a bore within the large slide valve member and the spindle and terminates internally of the small diameter sliding inner cylinder and has fixed thereto a piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush
    Inventors: Joseph S. Orosz, Donald D. Schaefer, Anthony J. Bianco
  • Patent number: 4545742
    Abstract: A vertical axis hermetic compressor includes an inner cylindrical housing fixed internally of a sealed outer enclosure bearing paired helical screw rotors defining with the inner housing closed thread compressor compression chambers. An electrical drive motor overlies the rotors and is shaft connected to one of the rotors. Compressed refrigerant vapor, where refrigerant is the working fluid, discharges through the motor rotor. A deflector within the top of the outer enclosure such that oil impacted by gas flow discharging axially from the motor adheres to the deflector to provide oil separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4508491
    Abstract: A modular three block assembly provides unloading control for a hydraulic cylinder functioning to variably position a slide valve on a helical screw rotary compressor. A first compressor block is fixedly and sealably mounted within the hermetic compressor outer casing and has through holes leading to a first tube connected to a source of oil under discharge pressure forming the hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic cylinder, a second tube connected to the hydraulic cylinder and a third tube to the suction tube returning low pressure vapor to the compressor suction side. A needle valve block is fixedly mounted to the external face of the compressor block and bears within longitudinal through passages paired needle valves determining the load and unload flow rates for the hydraulic fluid passing through said compressor block through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4477233
    Abstract: A vertical axis hermetic compressor includes an inner cylindrical housing fixed internally of a sealed outer enclosure bearing paired helical screw rotors defining with the inner housing closed thread compressor compression chambers. An electrical drive motor overlies the rotors and is shaft connected to one of the rotors. Compressed refrigerant vapor, where refrigerant is the working fluid, discharges through the motor rotor. Centrifugal force functions as a primary oil separator for oil entrained within the working fluid. An inverted dish deflector underlies a gas discharge port axially within the top of the outer enclosure such that oil impacted by gas flow discharging axially from the motor adheres to the deflector to provide secondary oil separation while the gas passes about the periphery of the deflector to escape through the discharge opening of the outer enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4383802
    Abstract: Parallel connected compressors are provided with an oil management scheme in which an oil equalization port on one compressor is connected via an oil return solenoid operated valve within a small diameter line to an injection port of a second compressor, and vice versa. When the oil level in one compressor drops to a level sensed by an oil float switch, the oil float switch changes state, the oil return solenoid operated valve is opened, feeding its injection port and energizing a one minute on delay timer. Failure of the oil float switch to reset itself causes the compressor to go off on oil failure, and the oil return solenoid operated valve is closed. If the oil float switch resets itself at any time during the first minute, upon resetting, an off delay timer is energized to keep the oil return solenoid operated valve open for an additional minute, and the compressor continues to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian J. Gianni, Donald D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4220197
    Abstract: A compact, helical screw compressor/expander unit mounted in a vehicle and connected to the vehicle engine driven drive shaft has inlet and outlet ports and a capacity control slide valve and a pressure matching or volume ratio slide valve, respectively, for said ports. A refrigerant loop includes the compressor, a condenser mounted in the path of air flow over the engine and an evaporator mounted in a fresh air/cab return air flow duct for the occupant. Heat pipes thermally connect the cab air flow duct to the engine exhaust system which also bears the vapor boiler. Selectively operated damper valves control the fresh air/cab return air for passage selectively over the evaporator coil and the heat pipes as well as the exhaust gas flow over opposite ends of the heat pipes and the vapor boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Dunham-Bush, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Schaefer, David N. Shaw, Joseph A. M. Gagnon