Patents by Inventor Lionel H. Ford

Lionel H. Ford 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).

  • Fluid degassing
    Patent number: 5064449
    Abstract: Cavitation takes place in a fluid flow passing through a constriction, such as a reduced bore in a pipe, to release dissolved gases. The gases can be collected and the fluid can flow along a diffuser section to recover pressure. The constriction can be formed by the axial outlet part of a votex valve included in the flow line. Cavitation in the fluid can be regulated by the control fluid supplied to the vortex valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Lionel H. Ford, Stephen A. Taylor
  • Fluidic apparatus
    Patent number: 4917151
    Abstract: A vortex amplifier having a vortex chamber is included in a fluid flow line. A sensor in the fluid flow line upstream of the vortex chamber and operable in response to changes in the fluid flow controls a valve in a further flow line for introducing a control fluid into the vortex chamber. The arrangement results in an automatic control in the fluid flow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Alan Blanchard, Lionel H. Ford
  • Direct weighing of liquid handling plant
    Patent number: 4817428
    Abstract: On-line density/weight measurements are made in liquid handling plant by isolating part of the plant, e.g. a tank such as an accountancy tank in nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, from the remainder of the plant in terms of force transmission and supporting the isolated part through the agency of a null-deflection weighing mechanism which cna be tared off to indicate the weight of liquid (and any solids content) occupying the isolated part of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Lionel H. Ford, Samuel N. Oruh, Jaswant Singh, Geoffrey S. Coldwell