Patents by Inventor John F. Schaupp

John F. Schaupp 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: 11692433
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
  • Patent number: 11603866
    Abstract: A submersible fluid pump suitable for use in a landfill well includes an outer case extending along a vertical axis and at least partially defining an interior of the fluid pump, a fluid inlet and outlet, a discharge tube within the outer case and disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a float positioned around the discharge tube and within the outer case such that the float is within the discharge tube and the outer case, the float being movable along the discharge tube in an axial direction, a pneumatic valve configured to introduce pressurized air into the interior of the fluid pump, an actuator configured to open and close the pneumatic valve, and a plurality of magnets comprising a first magnet fixed with respect to the actuator and a second magnet fixed with respect to the float, the second magnet configured to magnetically repel the first magnet as the float moves to tip the actuator to either open or close the pneumatic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Steven R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20230053955
    Abstract: A pneumatically driven fluid pump apparatus is disclosed which includes a pump casing having an inner wall, a pump cap secured at a first end of the pump casing, and a liquid discharge tube in communication with the pump cap and extending at least partially within an interior area of the pump casing toward a second end of the pump casing, and where fluid is admitted into the pump casing at the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Donald Lee Schultz, Matthew Thomas McKeown
  • Patent number: 11560786
    Abstract: A fluid level sensor system is disclosed for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has a main body and an inlet housing coupled to the main body. The inlet housing has an internal chamber in communication with an ambient environment within the well. A bellows within the main body communicates with the internal chamber of the inlet housing. A movable element is responsive to movement of the bellows. A sensor detects when the movable element moves from a first position, indicating a first fluid level in the well, to a second position indicating a second fluid level within the well. An indicator is operably associated with the movable element and moves into a position to be viewable when the sensing element is moved to the second position, to provide a visual indication that the second fluid level has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman, William C. Allen, III
  • Patent number: 11529658
    Abstract: A pneumatically driven fluid pump apparatus is disclosed which includes a pump casing having an inner wall, a pump cap secured at a first end of the pump casing, and a liquid discharge tube in communication with the pump cap and extending at least partially within an interior area of the pump casing toward a second end of the pump casing, and where fluid is admitted into the pump casing at the second end. The pump cap has an airflow inlet for receiving a pressurized airflow from an external pressurized air source, which helps displace liquid collecting within the pump casing upwardly through the liquid discharge tube. A flow channeling subsystem is in communication with the airflow inlet and directs the pressurized airflow towards the inner wall of the pump casing to create a swirling airflow within the pump casing that extends along at least portions of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Donald Lee Schultz, Matthew Thomas McKeown
  • Publication number: 20220356801
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
  • Patent number: 11448238
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Wells, William C. Allen, III, Matthew T. McKeown, Mark T. Weinberger, John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman
  • Publication number: 20220290694
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid pump which has a pump casing, a top cap securable to an upper end of the pump casing and having an air intake port and a fluid discharge port. A fluid discharge tube extends to adjacent a lower end of the pump casing. A one-way check valve is disposed adjacent the lower end of the pump and forms a one-way path to admit fluid into the pump casing during a fill cycle of operation of the pump. A one-way check valve at the discharge port allows fluid to escape during a discharge cycle. An auger element is disposed inside the pump casing for causing a swirling, rotational fluid flow during a fluid eject cycle, in response to a jet of compressed air released into the pump casing, in which fluid having collected within the pump casing is forced by the jet of compressed air into and up through the discharge tube, and out from the pump casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Joseph Lawrence Schaffer, Mark T. Weinberger, Daniel P. Ross, Brett M. Crouse, Steven Richard Wells
  • Patent number: 11408274
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, William C. Allen
  • Publication number: 20220136381
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pump system having a pneumatically actuated fluid pump, which makes use of standard cycle counter to assist in determining when an air supply control valve is stuck in an open state after a fluid discharge cycle has completed. The system includes an electronic controller which receives signals from the cycle counter. The signals indicate a position of a sensing element inside the cycle counter. The electronic controller uses the signals to determine if the sensing element is still experiencing a pressurized airflow after a fluid discharge cycle has completed and the air supply control valve has been commanded to close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Q.E.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: John F. SCHAUPP
  • Patent number: 11261883
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow turning system for imparting a rotational, swirling motion to a fluid flowing through the flow turning system. The system may comprise a housing and a flow turning element supported within the housing. The flow turning element may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes projecting into a flow path of the fluid as the fluid flows through the flow turning system. The vanes impart a swirling, circumferential flow to the fluid to help prevent contaminants in the fluid from adhering to downstream components in communication with the flow turning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Donald Lee Schultz, Bradley Peake
  • Publication number: 20210199001
    Abstract: A fluid level sensor system is disclosed for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has a main body and an inlet housing coupled to the main body. The inlet housing has an internal chamber in communication with an ambient environment within the well. A bellows within the main body communicates with the internal chamber of the inlet housing. A movable element is responsive to movement of the bellows. A sensor detects when the movable element moves from a first position, indicating a first fluid level in the well, to a second position indicating a second fluid level within the well. An indicator is operably associated with the movable element and moves into a position to be viewable when the sensing element is moved to the second position, to provide a visual indication that the second fluid level has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Leonard Felton STEVENS-MOMAN, William C. ALLEN, III
  • Publication number: 20210115768
    Abstract: A submersible fluid pump suitable for use in a landfill well includes an outer case extending along a vertical axis and at least partially defining an interior of the fluid pump, a fluid inlet and outlet, a discharge tube within the outer case and disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a float positioned around the discharge tube and within the outer case such that the float is within the discharge tube and the outer case, the float being movable along the discharge tube in an axial direction, a pneumatic valve configured to introduce pressurized air into the interior of the fluid pump, an actuator configured to open and close the pneumatic valve, and a plurality of magnets comprising a first magnet fixed with respect to the actuator and a second magnet fixed with respect to the float, the second magnet configured to magnetically repel the first magnet as the float moves to tip the actuator to either open or close the pneumatic valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: John F. Schaupp, Steven R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20200347719
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid level sensing system for sensing a fluid level in a well. The system has an upper housing in communication with a lower housing, with the lower housing having a first bore in communication with a fluid in the well, and a second bore isolated from the first bore and in communication with at least one of a vacuum gauge or an external vacuum source. The upper and lower housings house a first flexible bag and a second flexible bag, with the first bag housed within the second bag. A portion of the first bag communicates with the first bore and is responsive to a change in pressure within the first bore caused by a changing fluid level in the well. A portion of the second bag communicates with the second bore and exerts a reference pressure on the first bag. A sensing subsystem senses expanding and contracting movement of the bags and generates a signal indicative of a change in a level of the fluid in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Q.E.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, William C. ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20200334515
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cycle counter apparatus for use with an air-driven fluid pump. The apparatus may have a main housing having a bore in communication with a pressurized fluid signal being applied to remove a liquid from a location filling with the liquid. A magnet housing may be included which is moveable linearly within the bore of the main housing in response to the pressurized fluid signal entering the bore. A magnet may be secured to the magnet housing. A switch housing may be included which is operably associated with the main housing and which includes first and second longitudinally spaced apart sensing components. The sensing components are used to detect movement of the magnet in response to the pressurized fluid signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Leonard Felton STEVENS-MOMAN, William C. ALLEN, III
  • Publication number: 20200309114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pneumatically driven fluid pump apparatus having an outer pump housing for collecting liquid to be pumped, and a valve assembly in communication with liquid admitted through an inlet end of the outer pump housing and collecting within the outer pump housing. The valve assembly includes a housing assembly and a poppet valve assembly disposed within the housing assembly to act as a one-way check valve when pumping collected liquid out from the outer pump housing. The poppet valve assembly includes a poppet valve component including a relief area that helps to depressurize an interior area of the valve assembly, to facilitate rapid movement of the poppet valve element from an open position toward a closed position, when only a pressurized fluid flow being used to eject the collected liquid is flowing past the poppet valve component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicants: Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc., Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, David A. FISCHER, Steven Richard WELLS, Donald Lee SCHULTZ, Matthew Thomas MCKEOWN, William C. ALLEN, III
  • Publication number: 20200263706
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Steven R. Wells, William C. Allen, III, Matthew T. McKeown, Mark T. Weinberger, John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman
  • Publication number: 20200263705
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow turning system for imparting a rotational, swirling motion to a fluid flowing through the flow turning system. The system may comprise a housing and a flow turning element supported within the housing. The flow turning element may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes projecting into a flow path of the fluid as the fluid flows through the flow turning system. The vanes impart a swirling, circumferential flow to the fluid to help prevent contaminants in the fluid from adhering to downstream components in communication with the flow turning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, Donald Lee SCHULTZ, Bradley PEAKE
  • Publication number: 20190308226
    Abstract: A pneumatically driven fluid pump apparatus is disclosed which includes a pump casing having an inner wall, a pump cap secured at a first end of the pump casing, and a liquid discharge tube in communication with the pump cap and extending at least partially within an interior area of the pump casing toward a second end of the pump casing, and where fluid is admitted into the pump casing at the second end. The pump cap has an airflow inlet for receiving a pressurized airflow from an external pressurized air source, which helps displace liquid collecting within the pump casing upwardly through the liquid discharge tube. A flow channeling subsystem is in communication with the airflow inlet and directs the pressurized airflow towards the inner wall of the pump casing to create a swirling airflow within the pump casing that extends along at least portions of the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: John F. SCHAUPP, Donald Lee SCHULTZ, Matthew Thomas MCKEOWN
  • Patent number: 8888018
    Abstract: A system for dispensing pulverulent coating material comprises a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a device for movably supporting a nozzle, the nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material and providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, a deflector supported by the device and spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material, and a source of high-magnitude electrostatic potential coupled to impart electrostatic potential to the dispensed pulverulent material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kui-Chui Kwok, John F. Schaupp