Patents by Inventor Lowell D. Hansen

Lowell D. Hansen 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: 9435338
    Abstract: Vane pump mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring is supported by a journal bearing. A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20140248171
    Abstract: Vane pump mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring is supported by a journal bearing. A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: EATON INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8740593
    Abstract: Vane pump mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring is supported by a journal bearing. A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes. This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090148309
    Abstract: Vane pump (10) mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring (70) is supported by a journal bearing (80). A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes (26). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: MARTIN A. CLEMENTS, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7491043
    Abstract: Vane pump (10) mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring (70) is supported by a journal bearing (80). A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes (26). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Argo-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7108493
    Abstract: Vane pump (10) mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring (70) is supported by a journal bearing (80). A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes (26). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Argo-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20040136853
    Abstract: Vane pump (10) mechanical losses are reduced by removing vane friction losses and replacing them with lower magnitude journal bearing fluid film viscous drag losses. A freely rotating cam ring (70) is supported by a journal bearing (80). A relatively low sliding velocity is imposed between the cam ring and the vanes (26). This permits the use of less expensive and less brittle materials in the pump by allowing the pump to operate at much higher speeds without concern for exceeding vane tip velocity limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6398528
    Abstract: A dual lobe, split ring, variable displacement roller vane pump is provided for supplying an aircraft engine varying amount of fuel. In a preferred application, the pump is used with a gas turbine engine. The pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing and having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of roller vanes operatively mounted within the slots. The pump further includes a pair of port plates mounted on either side of the rotor and two cam segments received around the rotor. The cam segments each have a curvilinear surface for cooperating with the rotor, the port plates, and the roller vanes to define a plurality of pumping chambers. The cam segments are independently movable to create varying volumetric pumping chambers along the curvilinear surface of the cam segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Argo-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Lowell D. Hansen, E. Kent Miller, Sam Maxwell
  • Patent number: 5183392
    Abstract: A rotary hydraulic machine having particular utility as a fuel pump for aircraft turbine engines that combines the desirable features of vane-type and centrifugal-type machines of similar character--i.e., high pressure positive displacement at low speed combined with improved reliability, package size and weight. This is accomplished, in accordances with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, by providing a combined vane- and centrifugal-type pump that is configured to function as a pressure-compensated single-lobe vane pump for engine starting, and as a centrifugal pump at normal operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5123810
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid pump for aircraft turbine engine fuel delivery systems comprises a housing having a pump drive shaft mounted for rotation therewithin. A centrifugal pump stage includes an impeller coupled to the drive shaft and having a circumferential array of radially extending passages with inlet ends adjacent to the shaft and outlet ends at the periphery of the impeller. An inducer stage includes a spiral inducer coupled to the shaft to rotate coaxially with the impeller and having an outlet end adjacent to the inlet end of the impeller passages. An injector stage includes a passage in the housing for feeding fluid to the inlet end of the inducer, and a circumferential array of nozzle orifices in the housing aligned with the injector passage and receiving fluid from a collection cavity that surrounds the periphery of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5064362
    Abstract: A vane-type rotary hydraulic machine that comprises a housing, a rotor mounted within the housing and having a plurality of radially extending peripheral slots, and a plurality of vanes individually slidably mounted in the rotor slots. A cam ring within the housing surrounds the rotor and has a radially inwardly directed surface forming a track for sliding engagement with the vanes. Symmetrical diametrically opposed fluid pressure cavities are formed between the cam ring surface and the rotor, and fluid inlet and outlet passages in the housing are coupled to the fluid pressure cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5051065
    Abstract: A rotary hydraulic vane pump includes a rotor mounted within a housing, with a plurality of vanes individually slidably disposed in corresponding slots in the rotor periphery. A cam ring surrounds the rotor within the housing and has a radially inwardly facing vane track defining as least one arcuate fuel pressure cavity between the rotor and the cam ring. A fuel inlet in the housing includes a primary inlet port opening into the cavity at the leading circumferential edge of the cavity with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor within the housing. A pump outlet includes an outlet port that opens into the cavity adjacent to the trailing circumferential edge of the cavity. A secondary inlet port opens into the cavity circumferentially between the primary inlet port and the outlet port, and is directly connected to the pump outlet port such that fluid, at outlet pressure is available at the secondary inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5017086
    Abstract: A hydraulic periphery pump that includes a housing having a pump drive shaft mounted for rotation about its axis. An impeller is coupled to the drive shaft for rotation within the housing and has a disc-shaped body with axially orientated substantially flat side faces. A circumferential array of vanes are formed around the periphery of the impeller body. Backup plates in the housing have flat faces opposed to the impeller side faces. An arcuate fluid chamber surrounds the impeller periphery and has angularly spaced fluid inlet and outlet ports. Axially orientated slots or channels in the impeller side faces cooperate with fluid passages in the backup plates to centrifugally boost fluid pressure and, in effect, form a liquid-piston boost first stage for the periphery pump chamber, or to form a two-stage impeller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Vickers Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5017098
    Abstract: A split-discharge balanced dual-lobe vane-type rotary hydraulic machine that comprises a housing, a rotor mounted within the housing and having a plurality of radially extending peripheral slots, and a plurality of vanes individually slidably mounted in the rotor slots. A cam ring within the housing surrounds the rotor and has a radially inwardly directed surface forming a track for sliding engagement with the vane. Opposed symmetrical pressure cavities are formed between the cam ring surface and the rotor, and fluid inlet and outlet passages in the housing are coupled to the fluid pressure cavities. The fluid inlet and outlet passages include a fluid inlet port opening into each cavity adjacent to one circumferential edge thereof, a first fluid outlet port opening into each cavity adjacent to the opposing circumferential edge thereof, and a second fluid outlet port opening into each cavity at a position circumferentially between the inlet and first outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lowell D. Hansen, J. Richard Hurley, Jean J. Schweitzer, Walter J. Zoya
  • Patent number: 4963080
    Abstract: A rotary vane-type hydraulic fluid flow divider in which a rotor is mounted on a stub shaft for free rotation within a housing. A plurality of vanes are individually slidably mounted in radial slots on the rotor and engages a surrounding cam ring to form fluid cavities. A pair of cam plates are mounted in fixed position with respect to the cam ring and have radially orientated surfaces that engage the vanes and position the vanes adjacent to the cam ring. The fluid cavities communicate with a common inlet and a pair of outlets for dividing inlet fluid flow between the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4925372
    Abstract: A rotary hydraulic vane pump includes a rotor mounted within a housing, with a plurality of vanes individually slidably disposed in corresponding slots in the rotor periphery. A cam ring surrounds the rotor within the housing and has a radially inwardly facing vane track defining as least one arcuate fuel pressure cavity between the rotor and the cam ring. A fuel inlet in the housing includes a primary inlet port opening into the cavity at the leading circumferential edge of the cavity with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor within the housing. A pump outlet includes an outlet port that opens into the cavity adjacent to the trailing circumferential edge of the cavity. A secondary inlet port opens into the cavity circumferentially between the primary inlet port and the outlet port, and is directly connected to the pump outlet port such that fluid at outlet pressure is available at the secondary inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4222712
    Abstract: A multiple displacement pump system and method utilizing a single fixed displacement pump having pumping elements providing both first and second sets of pumping chambers. Circuit means having a fluid utilization conduit provides for delivery of fluid to said fluid utilization conduit which is either the sum of fluid delivered from both sets of pumping chambers or from only one set of pumping chambers. Additionally, the circuit means includes various alternate forms of control dependent upon pressure in a part of the system or on speed of a mechanism utilizing the pumped fluid to establish conditions wherein fluid delivered by the system is at either a desired flow rate or within a range of flow rates at different pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin F. Huber, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4183723
    Abstract: A vane-type double lobe hydraulic pump having a casing with a rotor having a plurality of slots with each slot mounting a vane for tracking of a surrounding cam ring and porting for pumping from both undervane and intervane pumping chambers. The cam ring has two generally elliptical sections of different contour whereby the volumes of fluid pumped by the vanes in coacting with one of said sections differ from the pumped volumes of the vanes when coacting with the other section. In one embodiment, there are four independent volume outputs while, in other embodiments, valve elements control the output of the pump whereby it may be the total of the pumped fluid or lesser amounts including only the volume pumped by the vanes in coacting with one of said cam ring sections or only part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Lowell D. Hansen, Melvin F. Huber
  • Patent number: 4102606
    Abstract: A multiple displacement pump system utilizing a single fixed displacement pump having pumping elements providing both first and second sets of pumping chambers. Circuit means having a fluid utilization conduit provides for delivery of fluid to said fluid utilization conduit which is either the sum of fluid delivered from both sets of pumping chambers or from only one set of pumping chambers. Additionally, the circuit means includes various alternate forms of control dependent upon pressure in a part of the system or on speed of a mechanism utilizing the pumped fluid to establish conditions wherein fluid delivered by the system is at either a desired flow rate or within a range of flow rates at different pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin F. Huber, Lowell D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4035115
    Abstract: A vane pump having a rotor with a plurality of vanes movably carried in slots in the rotor and having their positions controlled by a cam ring surrounding the rotor and with port means for supplying fluid to the spaces between the vanes and withdrawing fluid under pressure from said spaces with additional port means coacting with a selected number of a plurality of passages in the rotor and associated one with each of the spaces between successive vanes whereby the spaces between vanes are filled in the conventional manner together with the additional filling action through the passages in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Lowell D. Hansen