Patents by Inventor Larry R. Stutts

Larry R. Stutts 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: 9500191
    Abstract: A compressor system including a lubricant inlet compresses a gas and discharges a mixed flow of compressed gas and lubricant. A valve housing includes a hot and a cooled lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet. A sleeve is disposed within the valve housing and is movable between a first and a second position. The sleeve defines a mixing chamber and includes a first aperture with the hot lubricant inlet and a second aperture with the cooled lubricant inlet. The hot and cooled lubricant mix in the mixing chamber are directed to the lubricant inlet of the compressor. A thermal element is positioned to sense a temperature and moves the sleeve in response. The movement of the sleeve varies the amount of hot lubricant admitted through the first aperture and varies the amount of cooled lubricant admitted through the second aperture to control a lubricant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Scarpinato, Larry R. Stutts, Sudhir Sreedharan
  • Publication number: 20120321486
    Abstract: A compressor system including a gas and a lubricant inlet. The compressor compresses a gas and discharges a mixed flow of compressed gas and lubricant. A valve housing includes a hot and a cooled lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet connected to the hot and cooled lubricant inlets. A sleeve is disposed within the valve housing and is movable between a first and a second position. The sleeve defines a mixing chamber and includes a first aperture with the hot lubricant inlet and a second aperture with the cooled lubricant inlet. The hot and cooled lubricant mix in the mixing chamber are directed to the lubricant inlet of the compressor. A thermal element is positioned to sense a temperature and moves the sleeve in response. The movement of the sleeve varys the amount of hot lubricant admitted through the first aperture and varys the amount of cooled lubricant admitted through the second aperture to control a lubricant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Scarpinato, Larry R. Stutts, Sudhir Sreedharan
  • Patent number: 6500243
    Abstract: An air compressor system having an air/oil separator for use with an air compressor, the air/oil separator including a separator tank having a side wall with an air exit port; a separator element hold down mechanism between the separator element and a lid mounted on the separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenge device which scavenges oil from the bottom of the separator element and passes the scavenged oil through the side wall of the separator tank. A method of replacing a separation element in a separation chamber of the air/oil separator including the steps of removing the separator element from the separation chamber without disconnecting the scavenge device attached thereto, and positioning a replacement separator element within the separation chamber, such that a scavenge device securely affixed thereto is caused to communicate with the side wall of the separator tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Roger Cook, Jason J. Link, Elizabeth B. Warner, Roger A. Fallows, Larry R. Stutts
  • Publication number: 20020104296
    Abstract: An air compressor system having an air/oil separator for use with an air compressor, the air/oil separator including a separator tank having a side wall with an air exit port; a separator element hold down mechanism between the separator element and a lid mounted on the separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenge device which scavenges oil from the bottom of the separator element and passes the scavenged oil through the side wall of the separator tank. A method of replacing a separation element in a separation chamber of the air/oil separator including the steps of removing the separator element from the separation chamber without disconnecting the scavenge device attached thereto, and positioning a replacement separator element within the separation chamber, such that a scavenge device securely affixed thereto is caused to communicate with the side wall of the separator tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Roger Cook, Jason J. Link, Elizabeth B. Warner, Roger A. Fallows, Larry R. Stutts