Patents by Inventor James E. McLachlan

James E. McLachlan 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).

  • Method and apparatus for controlling a pump upstream of a centrifuge
    Patent number: 5494584
    Abstract: A method for removing insoluble materials from a liquid mixture, including spinning at least one centrifuge separator at a predetermined speed and pumping the mixture to the spinning centrifuge separator at a predetermined rate. The rate in which the mixture is pumped to the separator is varied in response to a variable angular moment of force in the centrifuge separator caused by density variations in the mixture. The method is carried out by an apparatus including at least one centrifuge separator coupled in fluid communication to at least one pump. A closed-loop feedback system is operably coupled to the devices driving both the separator and the pump to control the rate in which the mixture is supplied to the separator. The rate is determined by the angular moment of force in the separator which then allows the system to increase, maintain, or decrease the output of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: James E. McLachlan
    Inventors: James E. McLachlan, Michael G. Domagalski, Bruce I. Gilman
  • Method and apparatus for removing solids from a liquid
    Patent number: 5344570
    Abstract: A method for removing insoluble materials from a liquid mixture, including spinning at least one centrifuge separator at a predetermined speed and pumping the mixture to the spinning centrifuge separator at a predetermined rate. The rate in which the mixture is pumped to the separator is varied in response to a variable angular moment of force in the centrifuge separator caused by density variations in the mixture. The method is carried out by an apparatus including at least one centrifuge separator coupled in fluid communication to at least one pump. A closed-loop feedback system is operably coupled to the devices driving both the separator and the pump to control the rate in which the mixture is supplied to the separator. The rate is determined by the angular moment of force in the separator which then allows the system to increase, maintain, or decrease the output of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: James E. McLachlan
    Inventors: James E. McLachlan, Michael G. Domagalski, Bruce I. Gilman