Patents by Inventor Eric L Forman

Eric L Forman 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: 8047222
    Abstract: An air operated double diaphragm includes an air valve, air chambers, a center section between the air chambers, pump chambers and diaphragms between the air and pump chambers harnessed together with a piston rod. The air valve includes a statically dissipative body having a bore therein with a statically insulative liner in the bore. The statically insulative liner is fully enclosed within the statically dissipative body. A valve element is slidably positioned in the liner. The liner includes annular tenons to mate with annular mortises in the statically dissipative body and an end cap is used to close the valve cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Gary K. Lent, Eric L Forman
  • Patent number: 6257845
    Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump including two opposed pump chambers with an air motor having air chambers therebetween. The pump chambers and air chambers form pumping cavities divided by diaphragms. Each pump chamber includes an inlet ball valve and outlet ball valve. An inlet manifold is positioned below the pump chambers and an outlet manifold above. Tie-rods extend both across the pump from one pump chamber to the other with nuts to place the assembly in compression. Tie-rods also extend from the outlet manifold through the pump chambers, to the inlet manifold and to feet mounted therebelow. Two plates, one to either side of the air motor extend to grooves in the inlet and outlet manifold and also extend to grooves in the pump chambers so as to close of the side of the pump structure. With the plates, an outlet manifold is provided from which air may be exhausted remotely. The ball valves include small diametrical clearance and a limitation on lift for added performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert F. Jack, Eric L. Forman, James E. Humphries, Gary K. Lent
  • Patent number: 6168394
    Abstract: A double diaphragm pump driven by alternating charges of air includes air chambers and pump chambers to form pump cavities. Diaphragms extend across the pump cavities and are held by their periphery between the mating pump chambers and air chambers. Elbows are coupled with the pump chambers at the inlets and outlets thereof with each of the elbows being identical and including a valve cavity to receive a ball valve. Each ball valve includes a seat with a threaded portion accommodated in either the elbow when the elbow is used at the inlet or the pump chamber at the outlet. The ball valves further include a ball and a ball cage. The components are sized to insure that when the ball is fully unseated, the minimum cross-sectional flow area is at the pump outlet. Sealing surfaces are associated with the valve seat and the associated structure to receive a compressible seal. Annular bolting flanges allow components to be reoriented for particular applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Eric L Forman, Greg Dearen, Thomas English
  • Patent number: 6142749
    Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump including two opposed pump chambers with an air motor having air chambers therebetween. The pump chambers and air chambers form pumping cavities divided by diaphragms. Each pump chamber includes an inlet ball valve and outlet ball valve. An inlet manifold is positioned below the pump chambers and an outlet manifold above. Tie-rods extend both across the pump from one pump chamber to the other with nuts to place the assembly in compression. Tie-rods also extend from the outlet manifold through the pump chambers, to the inlet manifold and to feet mounted therebelow. Two plates, one to either side of the air motor extend to grooves in the inlet and outlet manifold and also extend to grooves in the pump chambers so as to close of the side of the pump structure. With the plates, an outlet manifold is provided from which air may be exhausted remotely. The ball valves include small diametrical clearance and a limitation on lift for added performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert F. Jack, Eric L. Forman, James E. Humphries, Gary K. Lent
  • Patent number: 5957670
    Abstract: A pump having a center section including an actuator housing and an air valve is arranged with air chambers to either side of the actuator housing. Diaphragms are associated with the air chambers to create enclosed cavities for alternately pressurizing and venting the air chambers. Pumping chambers are positioned outwardly of the diaphragms and assembled with intake and exhaust manifolds and one-way valves to pump materials with operation of the diaphragms. The actuator uses a pilot shifting shaft which is shuttled by movement of the diaphragms. An air valve is controlled by the pilot shifting shaft to control flow to and from the air chambers. Diffusers include outwardly tapered oblong holes with ports from the air valves. An expansion chamber surrounds the diffusers and a exit to a standard muffler provides a smaller cross-sectional area than the diffuser outlet cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Duncan, Eric L. Forman
  • Patent number: 5743170
    Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for an air driven diaphragm pump having a circular configuration with an inner attachment portion, an outer attachment portion and an annular flexure portion bounded by transition portions to the inner and outer attachment portions. The annular flexure portion is configured with a constant radius of curvature concave on the air chamber side. The curvature is such that the center of curvature lies substantially within a plane also including the transition portion between the annular flexure portion and the inner attachment portion. The diaphragm is molded in this shape to avoid the creation of internal stress and permanent strain resulting from use of the diaphragm. Fabric is positioned across the diaphragm closest to the air chamber side and being about one-third of the total thickness of the diaphragm from the air chamber side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Wilfred D. Pascual, Eric L. Forman
  • Patent number: D426553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Wilden Pump & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert F. Jack, Eric L. Forman