Patents by Inventor Jeffrey D. LOPES

Jeffrey D. LOPES 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: 11898804
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features: a cold fluid inlet manifold, a hot fluid inlet manifold and at least one spiral fluid pathway. The cold fluid inlet manifold receives cold fluid and provide cold inlet manifold fluid. The hot fluid inlet manifold receives hot fluid and provide hot inlet manifold fluid. The at least one spiral fluid pathway includes cold spiral pathways configured to receive the cold inlet manifold fluid and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and hot spiral pathways configured to receive the hot inlet manifold fluid and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid. The cold spiral pathways and the hot spiral pathways are configured in relation to one another to exchange heat between the cold spiral pathway fluid and the hot spiral pathway fluid so that the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid warms the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 11511372
    Abstract: A pump features a trimmed impeller having a trimmed impeller diameter that is less than a standard full-sized diameter of a standard full-sized impeller for a standard full-sized casing, and having a circumferential outer edge; and a modified standard full-sized casing having dimensions corresponding to the standard full-sized casing and configured to house the trimmed impeller for pumping a fluid, having an outer peripheral wall, and having an inner annular volute portion between the circumferential outer edge of the trimmed impeller and the outer peripheral wall configured with a volume of material deposited using an additive manufacturing process so as to fill in vacant space otherwise caused by the trimmed impeller diameter being less than the standard full-sized impeller diameter. The additive manufacturing process is a directed energy deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Publication number: 20220128309
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features: a cold fluid inlet manifold, a hot fluid inlet manifold and at least one spiral fluid pathway. The cold fluid inlet manifold receives cold fluid and provide cold inlet manifold fluid. The hot fluid inlet manifold receives hot fluid and provide hot inlet manifold fluid. The at least one spiral fluid pathway includes cold spiral pathways configured to receive the cold inlet manifold fluid and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and hot spiral pathways configured to receive the hot inlet manifold fluid and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid. The cold spiral pathways and the hot spiral pathways are configured in relation to one another to exchange heat between the cold spiral pathway fluid and the hot spiral pathway fluid so that the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid warms the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Patent number: 11193716
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features: a cold fluid inlet manifold, a hot fluid inlet manifold and at least one spiral fluid pathway. The cold fluid inlet manifold receives cold fluid and provide cold inlet manifold fluid. The hot fluid inlet manifold receives hot fluid and provide hot inlet manifold fluid. The at least one spiral fluid pathway includes cold spiral pathways configured to receive the cold inlet manifold fluid and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and hot spiral pathways configured to receive the hot inlet manifold fluid and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid. The cold spiral pathways and the hot spiral pathways are configured in relation to one another to exchange heat between the cold spiral pathway fluid and the hot spiral pathway fluid so that the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid warms the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 11060796
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features first spiral channels configured to form rows and columns of coiled hot fluid pathways to receive hot fluid; and second spiral channels configured to form corresponding rows and columns of coiled cold fluid pathways to receive cold fluid having a temperature less than the hot fluid. The first spiral channels and the second spiral channels are configured to alternate every other row and column so as to form a matrix of alternating rows and columns of coiled hot and cold fluid pathways separated by alternating coiled walls that act as both fluid separators and conduits through which heat is transferred between the hot fluid and cold fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID HANDLING LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 10697462
    Abstract: A pump features a two-part axial flow shaft having a static inner shaft portion and a rotating outer shaft portion; the static inner shaft portion having static diffuser vanes, and also having two shaft ends configured to affix to a frame of a pump so the static inner shaft portion does not rotate; and the rotating outer shaft portion having an outer portion configured to affix to a rotor of the pump to rotate the rotating outer shaft portion, also having rotating impeller vanes configured inside and coupled to the outer portion to move the fluid axially along the two-part axial flow shaft as the rotating outer shaft portion axially rotates in relation to the static inner shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 10514042
    Abstract: A pump features an impeller having a rotating disk with a front side and a back side. The impeller is arranged to rotate on a shaft with the front side nearest an inlet and the back side nearest a motor housing, so as to provide a main flow of liquid being pumped and a rear impeller flow of the liquid being pumped in an area between the back side of the impeller and the motor housing. The back side has a spiral-shaped vane configured to constantly sweep, and expel any debris from the area between the back side of the impeller and the motor housing. The spiral-shaped vane is formed as a curve that emanates from a central point defined by an axis of the impeller and gets progressively farther away as the curve revolves at least one complete revolution around the central point or axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 10323646
    Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: William A. Gell, III, Jeffrey D. Lopes, Jesus Estrada, Randall H. Moormann
  • Publication number: 20190063842
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features: a cold fluid inlet manifold, a hot fluid inlet manifold and at least one spiral fluid pathway. The cold fluid inlet manifold receives cold fluid and provide cold inlet manifold fluid. The hot fluid inlet manifold receives hot fluid and provide hot inlet manifold fluid. The at least one spiral fluid pathway includes cold spiral pathways configured to receive the cold inlet manifold fluid and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and hot spiral pathways configured to receive the hot inlet manifold fluid and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid. The cold spiral pathways and the hot spiral pathways are configured in relation to one another to exchange heat between the cold spiral pathway fluid and the hot spiral pathway fluid so that the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid warms the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20180320703
    Abstract: A pump features a trimmed impeller having a trimmed impeller diameter that is less than a standard full-sized diameter of a standard full-sized impeller for a standard full-sized casing, and having a circumferential outer edge; and a modified standard full-sized casing having dimensions corresponding to the standard full-sized casing and configured to house the trimmed impeller for pumping a fluid, having an outer peripheral wall, and having an inner annular volute portion between the circumferential outer edge of the trimmed impeller and the outer peripheral wall configured with a volume of material deposited using an additive manufacturing process so as to fill in vacant space otherwise caused by the trimmed impeller diameter being less than the standard full-sized impeller diameter. The additive manufacturing process is a directed energy deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20180200683
    Abstract: A spiral mixing chamber for dissolving a gas into a liquid, features a new and unique combination of a cap and a mixing plate. The cap may include a gas injector configured to receive gas. The mixing plate may include: a liquid inlet configured to receive liquid, a mixture outlet configured to provide a mixture of the gas and liquid from the spiral mixing chamber, and a flow path configured as a spiral geometry having a spiral that winds in a continuous and gradual curve around a central point from the liquid inlet to the mixture outlet, the flow path having flow path obstructions configured to cause disturbances in the flow which generates turbulent vortices that work to break apart bubbles in the mixture flowing through the spiral mixing chamber or device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20180128278
    Abstract: A pump features a two-part axial flow shaft having a static inner shaft portion and a rotating outer shaft portion; the static inner shaft portion having static diffuser vanes, and also having two shaft ends configured to affix to a frame of a pump so the static inner shaft portion does not rotate; and the rotating outer shaft portion having an outer portion configured to affix to a rotor of the pump to rotate the rotating outer shaft portion, also having rotating impeller vanes configured inside and coupled to the outer portion to move the fluid axially along the two-part axial flow shaft as the rotating outer shaft portion axially rotates in relation to the static inner shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20170370652
    Abstract: A spiral heat exchanger features first spiral channels configured to form rows and columns of coiled hot fluid pathways to receive hot fluid; and second spiral channels configured to form corresponding rows and columns of coiled cold fluid pathways to receive cold fluid having a temperature less than the hot fluid. The first spiral channels and the second spiral channels are configured to alternate every other row and column so as to form a matrix of alternating rows and columns of coiled hot and cold fluid pathways separated by alternating coiled walls that act as both fluid separators and conduits through which heat is transferred between the hot fluid and cold fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Patent number: 9810241
    Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: William A. Gell, III, Jeffrey D. Lopes, Jesus Estrada, Randall H. Moormann
  • Publication number: 20170248143
    Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: William A. GELL, Jeffrey D. LOPES, Jesus ESTRADA, Randall H. MOORMANN
  • Publication number: 20170099982
    Abstract: A pump mounting system for mounting a pump to a beverage dispensing system, featuring a pump having a housing configured with a pump-to-mounting bracket portion, and having a pump-to-hose connector portion; an elastic pump mounting bracket having a corresponding pump-to-mounting bracket portion configured to couple to the pump-to-mounting bracket portion of the pump in order to couple together the elastic mounting bracket and the pump, and having a system mounting bracket portion connected to the corresponding pump-to-mounting bracket portion to couple to at least some portion of the system, the elastic pump mounting bracket to dampen the transmission of vibration from one end of the pump to the system; and a flexible looped hose connection having a corresponding pump-to-hose connector portion to coupled to the pump-to-hose connector portion of the pump, and having a hose-to-system connector portion to couple to a corresponding hose-to-system connector portion of the system, an intermediate looped hose connec
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20160186758
    Abstract: A pump has a housing that includes an inlet to receive a liquid to be pumped, an outlet to provide the liquid being pumped, a pumping chamber between the inlet/outlet; and a motor shaft to rotate in the pumping chamber. The impeller is arranged on the motor shaft, includes radially curved vanes to rotate inside the pumping chamber to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet; and includes anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vane extensions that extend along the axis of the shaft, rotate with one part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part outside the inlet for submerging in liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw the liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially curved vanes to generate pressure to force entrapped air from the pumping chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Publication number: 20160138605
    Abstract: A pump having an impeller with front and back sides, for rotating on a shaft with the front side nearest an inlet and the back side nearest a motor housing, to provide a main flow of the liquid from the inlet to the outlet and a rear impeller flow of the liquid in an area between the impeller's back side and the motor housing. The back side having a logarithmic spiral-shaped vane to constantly sweep, and expel debris from, the area. The logarithmic spiral-shaped vane defined by an equation: r=e?/tan(?), where r and theta (?) are the radius and azimuthal angle defined using a polar coordinate system having an origin at a center point of the impeller; and beta (?) is an angle perpendicular to which a force acting on the debris will be oriented relative to a line tangent to a circle centered at the center of the impeller and extending out to the point of contact between the vane and the debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. LOPES
  • Patent number: D735240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory Cook, Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: D752110
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventors: Gregory Cook, Jeffrey D. Lopes