Patents by Inventor Grant Bechard

Grant Bechard 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: 20200149559
    Abstract: A method of hydraulic actuation that includes positioning a piston within the chamber of a cylinder body, the chamber including a gas region and a fluidized region, the sidewall of the piston including at least one sealing surface for engaging the sidewall of chamber; and traversing the piston between a portion of the gas region and a portion of the fluidized region, wherein a distance of travel within the chamber that the piston traverses between the gas region and the fluidized region is less than a length of the sidewall of the piston. By increasing the length of the piston sidewall and decreasing the distance of travel for the piston, the method eliminates or substantially reduces fluid carry over in accumulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Grant Bechard, Jonathan Steinbiss, Brandon Smith
  • Patent number: 8888958
    Abstract: A pressure diffuser washer comprising: an outer wall, an inner wall adjacent to the outer wall, the inner wall defining annular baffle chambers between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein each of the annular baffle chambers is configured to connect to a source of a wash liquid, a reciprocating screen assembly adjacent to the inner wall, the reciprocating screen assembly defining a first annular chamber between the inner wall and the reciprocating screen assembly, an area in the inner wall defining a gap associated with each of the annular baffle chambers, wherein the wash liquid from an annular baffle chamber flows through the gap into the first annular chamber, and an annular baffle screen plate covering the gap, wherein the annular baffle screen plate defines openings sized to prevent rocks and other large particulate debris from entering the annular baffle chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Bechard, Keith Vogel, Jay Sheerer, Edward James Cummings, Carl Luhrmann
  • Publication number: 20140182802
    Abstract: A pressure diffuser washer comprising: an outer wall, an inner wall adjacent to the outer wall, the inner wall defining annular baffle chambers between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein each of the annular baffle chambers is configured to connect to a source of a wash liquid, a reciprocating screen assembly adjacent to the inner wall, the reciprocating screen assembly defining a first annular chamber between the inner wall and the reciprocating screen assembly, an area in the inner wall defining a gap associated with each of the annular baffle chambers, wherein the wash liquid from an annular baffle chamber flows through the gap into the first annular chamber, and an annular baffle screen plate covering the gap, wherein the annular baffle screen plate defines openings sized to prevent rocks and other large particulate debris from entering the annular baffle chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Grant BECHARD, Keith Vogel, Jay Sheerer, Edward James Cummings, Carl Luhrmann
  • Patent number: 8157956
    Abstract: A bearing cylinder for a screen assembly of a pressurized pulp diffuser, the bearing cylinder including: a plurality of segments of the bearing cylinder wherein the segments are arranged side-by-side to form the bearing cylinder; and each of said segments includes a first region formed of a hard material resistant to damage from sand and rocks, and a second region formed of a soft material that thermally expands and conforms to bearing surfaces opposite to the bearing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: John Weston, Carl Luhrmann, Keith Vogel, Grant Bechard, James Oropallo, Mark Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7976682
    Abstract: A pulp washer including: a cylindrical assembly of trays to receive pulp, wherein the assembly rotates the trays through at least one wash stage; a housing having a header to direct pulp to the trays and the at least one wash stage, wherein the housing has at least one access port aligned with one or more of the trays; a screen plate in each tray of the assembly, wherein the screen plate has apertures sized to retain pulp fibers and allow liquid to pass through the plate, and a screen hinge attached to a side edge of the screen plate and to the tray, wherein the screen plate pivots about the hinge to allow a cleaning spray to be applied to an outer screen plate surface and a back screen plate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Bechard
  • Publication number: 20100155003
    Abstract: A bearing cylinder for a screen assembly of a pressurized pulp diffuser, the bearing cylinder including: a plurality of segments of the bearing cylinder wherein the segments are arranged side-by-side to form the bearing cylinder; and each of said segments includes a first region formed of a hard material resistant to damage from sand and rocks, and a second region formed of a soft material that thermally expands and conforms to bearing surfaces opposite to the bearing cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: John Weston, Carl Luhrmann, Keith Vogel, Grant Bechard, James Oropallo, Mark Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20100071864
    Abstract: A pulp washer including: a cylindrical assembly of trays to receive pulp, wherein the assembly rotates the trays through at least one wash stage; a housing having a header to direct pulp to the trays and the at least one wash stage, wherein the housing has at least one access port aligned with one or more of the trays; a screen plate in each tray of the assembly, wherein the screen plate has apertures sized to retain pulp fibers and allow liquid to pass through the plate, and a screen hinge attached to a side edge of the screen plate and to the tray, wherein the screen plate pivots about the hinge to allow a cleaning spray to be applied to an outer screen plate surface and a back screen plate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: Grant Bechard