Patents by Inventor James E. Bell

James E. Bell 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: 20200217240
    Abstract: A supercharger intercooler includes three sequential Anti-Reversion Plenums (ARPs) separated by heat exchangers, in right and left air paths between the supercharger and intake ports. The intercooler resides above and beside the supercharger and has paths for each bank of a V8 engine. An air flow from the supercharger is up and into a first ARP, is split into right and left flows into right and left first heat exchangers, passes into second ARPs and turns down, flows though right and left second heat exchangers into third ARPs and then into the engine. Reversion pulses from the engine are reduced by each ARP, increasing air flow into the engine, and reducing pulsations in the air flow, thereby increasing power, improving fuel economy, throttle response, driveability, and reducing emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: James E. Bell
  • Patent number: 8752531
    Abstract: A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and then loops around the supercharger housing proximal to a hot outlet end of the supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop cools the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan-Erik Oscarsson
  • Publication number: 20140130782
    Abstract: A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and then loops around the supercharger housing proximal to a hot outlet end of the supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop cools the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan-Erik Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 8544453
    Abstract: A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and loops around a hot outlet end of a screw type supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop circles the front rotor bearings thereby cooling the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located in the outlet end wall between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan-Erik Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 8539936
    Abstract: A pressure equalization system reduces or eliminates a pressure differential across supercharger rotor shaft seals. Under high boost, rotor shaft seals often fail, allowing hot compressed air into an oil lubricated space containing rotor bearings and gears (and vented to ambient pressure), reducing oil lubricating effectiveness and resulting in increased wear and failure. Under low or non boost operation, the pressure differential is reversed causing the lubricating oil to leak into the supercharger interior and accelerated rotor seal wear. The pressure equalization system includes flow restrictive seals on both rotor shafts, separated from the rotor shaft seals by vented spaces, thereby isolating the rotor shaft seals from boost or vacuum in the supercharger interior and reducing or eliminating the pressure differential across the rotor shaft seals. Maintaining close to atmospheric pressure on both sides of the rotor shaft seals during boost and vacuum operation reduces wear and failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan Erik Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 8046997
    Abstract: A screw compressor type supercharger includes an improved supercharger bypass valve including a spring biasing the bypass valve towards an open position. The spring may be a compression spring integrated into a bypass valve diaphragm, an extension spring extending parallel to a diaphragm arm, or a torsion spring on a bypass valve butterfly shaft. The spring is selected and installed to hold the bypass valve open at all vacuum levels and at up to one PSI of boost, and then to allow the bypass to close between one PSI and six PSI boost, and to be closed at above six PSI boost. The resulting control of the bypass valve prevents damage to the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jodi L. Bell
  • Publication number: 20110088667
    Abstract: A pressure equalization system reduces or eliminates a pressure differential across supercharger rotor shaft seals. Under high boost, rotor shaft seals often fail, allowing hot compressed air into an oil lubricated space containing rotor bearings and gears (and vented to ambient pressure), reducing oil lubricating effectiveness and resulting in increased wear and failure. Under low or non boost operation, the pressure differential is reversed causing the lubricating oil to leak into the supercharger interior and accelerated rotor seal wear. The pressure equalization system includes flow restrictive seals on both rotor shafts, separated from the rotor shaft seals by vented spaces, thereby isolating the rotor shaft seals from boost or vacuum in the supercharger interior and reducing or eliminating the pressure differential across the rotor shaft seals. Maintaining close to atmospheric pressure on both sides of the rotor shaft seals during boost and vacuum operation reduces wear and failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan Erik Oscarsson
  • Publication number: 20110073081
    Abstract: A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and loops around a hot outlet end of a screw type supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop circles the front rotor bearings thereby cooling the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located in the outlet end wall between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan Erik Oscarsson
  • Publication number: 20100300415
    Abstract: A screw compressor type supercharger includes an improved supercharger bypass valve including a spring biasing the bypass valve towards an open position. The spring may be a compression spring integrated into a bypass valve diaphragm, an extension spring extending parallel to a diaphragm arm, or a torsion spring on a bypass valve butterfly shaft. The spring is selected and installed to hold the bypass valve open at all vacuum levels and at up to one PSI of boost, and then to allow the bypass to close between one PSI and six PSI boost, and to be closed at above six PSI boost. The resulting control of the bypass valve prevents damage to the supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jodi L. Bell
  • Publication number: 20040166020
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems serve to collapse steam in effluent released from steam sterilizers and sterilizer systems. These systems include tanks or containers configured for receiving and holding fluids, for example, water, and include a fluid outlet and a port that receives the released effluent. A conduit extending into the tank from the effluent receiving port provides a path for the steam to the fluid in the tank, to collapse the steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: James E. Bell
  • Patent number: 5562001
    Abstract: A tool for use in aligning a vehicle door. A vehicle typically has a door lock assembly which receives a lock pin on the door frame, or similar article, to secure the vehicle door in a closed position. The tool of the present invention has a comparable lock pin toward one end which can be "locked" into the vehicle lock assembly and, at an opposed end, a portion for engaging the vehicle door frame lock pin. The lock pin engaging portion is structured so that, at least, the door and the door frame are horizontally fixed in a desired ajar relationship. This frees both hands of the tool user to make the desired door adjustment. The tool of the preferred embodiment is used with a standard breaker bar, with extension if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: James E. Bell