Patents by Inventor Gordon R. Hakola

Gordon R. Hakola 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: 7896165
    Abstract: A materials classifying cyclone with at least one vibrator for transmitting generated vibrations into the downwardly swirling slurry of materials to interrupt the flow pattern thereof so that some of the smaller particles trapped in the outer portions of the slurry are freed for movement into the vortex of the cyclone to increase the operating efficiency of the cyclone. In a first embodiment, the cyclone has a solid metallic conical housing with the vibrator attached to the periphery of the housing. In a second embodiment, a plurality of longitudinal struts in spaced apart relationship provide the conical housing with open sides with the vibrator mounted on one of the struts which transmit the vibrations to abrasion resistant liners mounted in the housing. In still another embodiment, the vibrator is coupled to an abrasion resistant liner which is exposed in one of the open spaces of the conical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 7762402
    Abstract: Cyclones having an inlet housing and depending conical housing with abrasion resistant liners and a mechanism for replacing the worn out liners without having to remove the cyclones from their working positions and disassembling them. Liner segments are provided in the inlet housing for easy removal and a lifting ring is provided in the bottom end of the conical housing for supporting a stack of liners and an apex cone. Hoisting straps on the lifting ring are used to lift the ring and the stacked liners out of the opened top of the cyclone. A modified cyclone is also disclosed having an open-sided conical housing with special metal reinforced liners in the conical housing and such liners are used as the inlet housing and cover in place of the conventional all metal components. Plural compression applying devices load the liners and apex cone in sealed engagement with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Publication number: 20080290008
    Abstract: Cyclones having an inlet housing and depending conical housing with abrasion resistant liners and a mechanism for replacing the worn out liners without having to remove the cyclones from their working positions and disassembling them. Liner segments are provided in the inlet housing for easy removal and a lifting ring is provided in the bottom end of the conical housing for supporting a stack of liners and an apex cone. Hoisting straps on the lifting ring are used to lift the ring and the stacked liners out of the opened top of the cyclone. A modified cyclone is also disclosed having an open-sided conical housing with special metal reinforced liners in the conical housing and such liners are used as the inlet housing and cover in place of the conventional all metal components. Plural compression applying devices load the liners and apex cone in sealed engagement with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 7404491
    Abstract: Cyclones having abrasion resistant liners with a system and method for replacing the liners when they worn out due to the destructive nature of the materials being classified in the cyclone. The cyclone includes segmented inlet housing liners which are separately removable through the opened top of the cyclone housing. A lifting ring in the bottom of a conical housing has an apex cone and plural cone liners supported in a stacked array thereon within the conical housing and hoisting straps are used to lift the lifting ring, the apex cone and the array of cone liners out of the opened top of the cyclone housing without having to remove the cyclone from its operating position and completely disassemble the cyclone. Wear detector bolts attach the inlet head liners and a cage-like conical housing allows direct viewing of wear detecting weep holes provided in the liners mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 7357824
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for replacing worn out liners in material classifying cyclones which include segmented inlet housing liners that are removable through the opened top thereof. In a first embodiment, a stacked array of the especially configured liners are supported on a lifting ring in the conical housing of the cyclone and lifting straps are used to extract the lifting ring and the liners. In a second embodiment, a special hoist is inserted into the liners and operated to clamp onto the liners and hold them in the stacked array and then the hoist and the attached liners are extracted. In either embodiment, the liners are extracted without removing the cyclone from its operating position and completely disassembling the cyclone. The extracted liners are moved to a work station for replacement as needed. Refurbished liner arrays are inserted into the cyclone by using the lifting ring or the special hoist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 7347332
    Abstract: A cyclone for classifying materials has at least one vibrator attached to the downwardly tapering conical housing thereof to set up vibrations which interrupt the normal flow pattern of the downwardly swirling slurry of materials so that some of the smaller particles which would otherwise be trapped in the slurry are freed so that an increased amount of the smaller particles will move into the vortex created in the cyclone and thereby increase the operating efficiency of the cyclone. In a first embodiment, a conventional cyclone having a solid metallic conical housing is modified by having the vibrator attached to the periphery of the conical housing. In a second embodiment, an open-sided conical housing having a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal struts with the vibrator mounted on a strut which is configured to transmit vibrations to the metallic substrates of abrasion resistant liners mounted in the conical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 7185765
    Abstract: Cyclones having abrasion resistant liners with a system and method for replacing the liners when they worn out due to the destructive nature of the materials being classified in the cyclone. The cyclone includes segmented inlet housing liners which are separately removable through the opened top of the cyclone housing. A lifting ring in the bottom of a conical housing has an apex cone and plural cone liners supported in a stacked array thereon within the conical housing and hoisting straps are used to lift the lifting ring, the apex cone and the array of cone liners out of the opened top of the cyclone housing without having to remove the cyclone from its operating position and completely disassemble the cyclone. Wear detector bolts attach the inlet head liners and a cage-like conical housing allows direct viewing of wear detecting weep holes provided in the liners mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 4623458
    Abstract: A quick release apex apparatus for a cyclone includes a semirigid cast urethane, neoprene/fiberglass, or plastic housing having a liner chemically bonded to the interior of the semirigid housing. The semirigid housing includes an integral splash skirt and an upper annular flange for clamping the apex to the bottom flange of a cone of the cyclone. A quick release split ring clamp has a first section bolted to the flange of the cone and a second section pivotally connected to the first section. A single worker can change a worn apex of large cyclone by using one hand to hold the apex in its proper position and the other hand to release the second section of the quick release clamp and swing it away from the apex flange. The worker then removes the worn apex, sets it aside, lifts a replacement unit into alignment with the cone, swings the second section of the quick release clamp closed and locks it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola
  • Patent number: 4541934
    Abstract: A quick release apex apparatus for a cyclone includes a semirigid cast urethane, neoprene or rubber apex with an integral splash skirt and an upper annular flange for clamping the apex to the bottom flange of a cone of the cyclone. A quick release split ring clamp has a first section bolted to the flange of the cone and a second section pivotally connected to the first section. A single worker can change a worn apex of even a large cyclone by using one hand to hold the apex in its position and the other hand to release the second section of the quick release clamp and swing it away from the apex flange. The worker then removes the worn apex, sets it aside, lifts a replacement unit into alignment with the cone, swings the second section of the quick release clamp closed and locks it. An outer portion of the apex assembly is ribbed. An adjustable clamp band is disposed about the ribs, allowing gradual tightening of the apex to compensate for orifice wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Inventor: Gordon R. Hakola