Patents by Inventor Kirk Neer
Kirk Neer 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: 20230349393Abstract: A circulation system is provided to move a coolant liquid in a coolant chamber (44) formed between a housing (40) and a motor shroud (42) of a pump (10) for a fluid being worked upon. The circulation system has a coolant impeller (54) in a coolant impeller chamber (56). The coolant impeller is driven by a drive shaft (20) that also drives a primary impeller (24) that moves the fluid being worked on. The coolant impeller is positioned along the drive shaft between the motor and the primary impeller. The coolant impeller has a wide inner portion (74) and a peripheral base disk (76) that define a radially-offset suction eye (72) and support a plurality of impeller blades (70). A seal spring (86) compressively acts on the inner portion, providing a mechanical seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Kirk Neer, Mark Kowalak
-
Patent number: 11471893Abstract: A grinder accessory is useful for a pump in a wastewater application. The grinder accessory has a cutter plate and a cutting body that co-act on solids, especially fibriform solids. The cutter plate has first and second planar faces, mounted in an inlet of the pump, with a plurality of through holes and a central aperture. The cutting body is poised atop the first planar face and extends through the central aperture to rotationally couple with a drive shaft of the pump. A central hub of the cutting body has a plurality of arms that extend radially proximate to the first planar face, so that a leading edge of the arms interacts with the through holes on solids passing therethrough. A housing defines a cutting chamber around the cutter plate and the cutting body to protect them and to induce swirling action.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kirk Neer, Alex Crabtree
-
Publication number: 20220001388Abstract: A grinder accessory is useful for a pump in a wastewater application. The grinder accessory has a cutter plate and a cutting body that co-act on solids, especially fibriform solids. The cutter plate has first and second planar faces, mounted in an inlet of the pump, with a plurality of through holes and a central aperture. The cutting body is poised atop the first planar face and extends through the central aperture to rotationally couple with a drive shaft of the pump. A central hub of the cutting body has a plurality of arms that extend radially proximate to the first planar face, so that a leading edge of the arms interacts with the through holes on solids passing therethrough. A housing defines a cutting chamber around the cutter plate and the cutting body to protect them and to induce swirling action.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Kirk Neer, Alex Crabtree
-
Patent number: 9181960Abstract: A break-away fitting facilitates installation and removal of a pump in wet well system, along at least one guide rail. When installed, the fitting mates an outlet of the pump to an outlet pipe of the wet well. The fitting has a body with a first and a second surface, the surfaces arranged to be substantially perpendicular to each other. A flanged opening in the first surface is sized and adapted for attaching the body to the outlet flange of the pump. The second surface has indentations for engaging the at least one guide rail, so that the body slides in the vertical channel. To minimize the dangers from static electricity in the wet well, the body may be formed from a non-sparking material, such as brass or bronze, or a surface of the indentations may be covered by a non-sparking material, including high-density polyethylene or poly(tetrafluoroethylene).Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: CRANE PUMPS & SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Kirk Neer
-
Publication number: 20150285252Abstract: A pump is provided to convey solids-containing wastewater from a basin, such as a sewage basin. The pump has a pump housing that is adapted to be arranged in the basin with an inlet thereof positioned to receive the solids-containing wastewater. An outlet of the pump housing is arranged to eject pressurized wastewater through an outlet of the basin. A pump chamber is arranged in a flow conduit formed in the pump housing between the inlet and the outlet. A regenerative turbine impeller is arranged for rotation in the pump chamber. A grinder is also arranged for rotation in the pump housing between the inlet and the outlet, especially between the inlet and the pump chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Brandon Cross, Kirk Neer
-
Publication number: 20150021901Abstract: A break-away fitting facilitates installation and removal of a pump in wet well system, along at least one guide rail. When installed, the fitting mates an outlet of the pump to an outlet pipe of to wet well. The fitting has a body with a first and a second surface, the surfaces arranged to be substantially perpendicular to each other. A flanged opening in the first surface is sized and adapted for attaching the body to the outlet flange of the pump. The second surface has indentations for engaging the at least one guide rail, so that the body slides in the vertical channel. To minimize the dangers from static electricity in the wet well, the body may be formed from a non-sparking material, such as brass or bronze, or a surface of the indentations may be covered by a non-sparking material, including high-density polyethylene or poly(tetrafluoroethylene).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2012Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: CRANE PUMPS & SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Kirk Neer, Chih M. Lin
-
Patent number: 7578657Abstract: An arrangement (10) for controlling the liquid level in a basin (60) by selectively actuating a pump (64) has an environmentally-sealed enclosure (22) with an internal volume subject to thermal and pressure effects. A first (14) and a second (16) pressure sensing means are positioned in the enclosure and a barrier fluid (18) fills a balance of the internal volume. The first sensing means (14) is in a first chamber (22a) of the enclosure (22) and the second sensing means (16) is in a second chamber (22b). The barrier fluid (18) has a first portion (18a) in the first chamber (22a) and a second portion in the second chamber (22b). The first pressure sensing means (14) communicates an “on/off” signal to the pump (64). Diaphragms (26, 40) in the respective chambers (22a, 22b) allow the device to adjust to changes in atmospheric pressures. The barrier fluid (18) is electrically non-conductive, chemically non-reactive with any materials comprising the pressure sensing means and, preferably, an oil.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Kirk Neer, Stephen Pasley
-
Publication number: 20060060685Abstract: A grinder pump system that is simpler to install, and permits ready access to the pump system components, has a grinder pump station for receiving a grinder pump. The pump station has a basin with an interior volume to provide a well for receiving sewage. A sewage inlet port and a sewage discharge port allow, sewage to flow into and out of the basin interior volume. The basin is positioned below grade, and sewage is directed thereto through a sewage source. An access riser is selectively coupled to the basin, and extends to the ground surface. Pump system components mounted within the basin are accessible via the access riser and an opening on the basin top surface. A lid assembly is selectively removably coupled to the access riser to close the system from the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2004Publication date: March 23, 2006Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Peter Jazenski, Kirk Neer
-
Publication number: 20050175466Abstract: An arrangement (10) for controlling the liquid level in a basin (60) by selectively actuating a pump (64) has an environmentally-sealed enclosure (22) with an internal volume subject to thermal and pressure effects. A first (14) and a second (16) pressure sensing means are positioned in the enclosure and a barrier fluid (18) fills a balance of the internal volume. The first sensing means (14) is in a first chamber (22a) of the enclosure (22) and the second sensing means (16) is in a second chamber (22b). The barrier fluid (18) has a first portion (18a) in the first chamber (22a) and a second portion in the second chamber (22b). The first pressure sensing means (14) communicates an “on/off” signal to the pump (64). Diaphragms (26, 40) in the respective chambers (22a, 22b) allow the device to adjust to changes in atmospheric pressures. The barrier fluid (18) is electrically non-conductive, chemically non-reactive with any materials comprising the pressure sensing means and, preferably, an oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: August 11, 2005Inventors: Mark Kowalak, Kirk Neer, Stephen Pasley