Patents by Inventor Gary W. Westermeyer

Gary W. Westermeyer 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: 20260021432
    Abstract: An oil separator is described herein comprising a housing with first and second oil-gas separation sections and a lower oil reservoir. The second oil-gas separation section includes a bulk mesh portion that occupies a majority of the space between the inner wall of the housing and an outer wall of a central outlet tube for separated gas. An impingement plate is positioned between the second separation section and the oil reservoir section, and is configured to reduce gas turbulence in order to minimize oil re-entrainment into the gas. Related systems and methods also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2025
    Publication date: January 22, 2026
    Inventors: Gary W. Westermeyer, David Robert Frenk
  • Publication number: 20250354852
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed herein that is configured to detect a liquid level in a liquid-containing vessel, the assembly comprising a first electrical circuit board disposed in a case and including an LED emitting component, an LED detecting component, and a switch-activating component, a sight window assembly configured to be mounted in an opening in a wall of the liquid-containing vessel at a location remote from the case, the sight window assembly including a housing with a first end section supporting a glass component with an apex configured to be disposed proximate the inner side of the wall of the vessel, and a second end section supporting a cable support module, a first fiber optic cable connecting the LED emitting component to the glass component and a second fiber optic cable connecting the LED detecting component to the glass component, the second fiber optic cable transmitting light reflected through the glass component to the LED detecting component when gas is present in the vessel at a designat
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Applicant: Westermeyer Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Westermeyer, David Robert Frenk
  • Patent number: 7810351
    Abstract: An oil separator for separating oil from a refrigerant gas and oil mixture on the high side of a refrigeration/chiller system comprising, a housing having an upper chamber with an inlet for the refrigerant gas and oil mixture, and having a refrigerant gas outlet therefrom, the outlet conduit being connected to multiple outlets for delivery of refrigerant gas to multiple condenser circuits in the system, and said housing also having a lower chamber with an oil outlet therefrom, and at least one oil filter in said upper chamber for removing oil out of the mixture for transfer to the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5685331
    Abstract: An oil level regulator is provided for controlling the oil level in the crankcase of one or more refrigeration compressors or the like. The regulator has a closed chamber for containing the oil. An inlet valve assembly extends into the chamber and includes a float-controlled valve for introducing liquid into the chamber as necessary to maintain the oil level in the chamber and compressor crankcases. The inlet valve assembly includes a vertically telescoping piston for adjusting the float valve and the oil level regulator in the regulator chamber. The piston is moveable from outside the chamber in response to rotation of a concentric stem having a bore through which oil flows into the chamber. The float valve includes a lever bracket which extends horizontally across the chamber to contact a top of a float ball. The lever bracket pivots to cause side-to-side motion of a valve needle against a valve seat to control oil flow into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: AC & R Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5542499
    Abstract: An oil level regulator is provided for controlling the oil level in the crankcase of one or more refrigeration compressors or the like. The regulator has a closed chamber for containing the oil. A float-controlled switch is operable to actuate a solenoid valve for introducing liquid into the chamber as necessary to maintain the oil level in the chamber and compressor crankcases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: AC&R Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5404730
    Abstract: An improved oil/gas separator having an upright cylindrical housing with a radial oil/gas inlet and a gas outlet pipe arranged within the housing downward and terminating within the housing with an open end. A helical wall is mounted coaxially around the gas outlet pipe and an oil collection zone is arranged below the open end of the gas outlet pipe. A drip ring is mounted at a low end portion of the gas outlet pipe adjacent to the open end to prevent oil from being entrained into the gas proceeding into the open end. A replaceable porous filter can be provided above an exit end of the gas outlet pipe for a last stage of oil removal from the gas flowing through the separator. A baffle is arranged below the porous filter and above the helical wall for collecting oil removed by the porous filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: AC&R Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5271245
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved oil separator in which the oil/refrigerant mixture is caused to flow through two different filter elements. Each of the filter elements is contained in a separate chamber within the separator. A valve assembly is also provided that selectively permits only oil to flow from the first chamber to an oil collection area in the second chamber. The valve assembly regulates the flow of collected oil to the collection area such that the oil/refrigerant mixture cannot escape from the first chamber except by flowing through the filter element of the second chamber. In one embodiment, the valve assembly can include an elongated oil drain extending from a first end adjacent to an oil drain aperture in a dividing wall separating the first and second chambers to a second, open end. A valve seat is formed on the second end of the oil drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: AC&R Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer
  • Patent number: 5113671
    Abstract: A device for separating oil from a gas is provided which includes a housing forming a peripheral wall with an inlet at a top end of the housing for receiving an oil/gas mixture, a gas outlet formed by a conduit extending through the top end of the housing and an oil outlet at a bottom end of the housing. Within the housing there is a helical wall extending between the gas outlet conduit and the peripheral wall to cause the oil/gas mixture to flow in a largely circumferential path along the peripheral wall. Between the helical wall and the peripheral wall there is provided a mesh screen for collecting and separating the oil from the oil/gas mixture. The collected oil drips from the screen to a baffle with apertures therein which directs the oil therethrough for receipt in an oil collection zone below the baffle. The gas outlet conduit has an opening above the baffle for permitting relatively oil-free gas to exit the oil separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: AC&R Components Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Westermeyer