Patents by Inventor Michael Danner

Michael Danner 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: 9717192
    Abstract: A fill and drain fitting assembly for a hydroponic flood table having a fill fitting to permit water to be pumped into the flood table and an overflow drain fitting which is mountable in an outlet opening of the flood table. The overflow drain fitting including a housing and a strainer which is partially received within the housing. The strainer includes at least one inlet opening formed therein and is vertically adjustable within the housing to a predetermined height. The drain fitting strainer is releasably locked at the predetermined height within the drain fitting housing, to permit water in the flood table which is above the predetermined height to enter the at least one inlet opening of the strainer and exit the bottom end of the drain fitting strainer and, in turn, the bottom end of the drain fitting housing via a fluid transmission channel established therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Eugene G. Danner Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Danner, Steven Sawicki
  • Publication number: 20050098493
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a three position valve having a diverter which directs flow through the filter in three ways: filter, rinse, and backwash. The filter also has a manually activated agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Patent number: 6709582
    Abstract: A combined filter and skimmer assembly for ponds includes a submersible filter box containing replaceable filter media, the filter box having a water inlet, a skimmer coupling coupled to an upstanding conduit coupled to a skimmer head, and a water outlet adapted to be coupled to an underwater pump. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the filter box is rectangular with a removable lid. The lid has a raised central portion wherein lies the water inlet. The water inlet is preferably adjustable as to the size of the inlet. The skimmer coupling is also located in the raised portion of the lid and is spaced apart from the water inlet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the skimmer head preferably includes a floating cup which automatically adjusts to the level of the surface of the pond. Optionally the floating cup is free to tilt to adjust for an angular difference between the surface of the lid and the surface of the pond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Publication number: 20030196941
    Abstract: A combined filter and skimmer assembly for ponds includes a submersible filter box containing replaceable filter media, the filter box having a water inlet, a skimmer coupling coupled to an upstanding conduit coupled to a skimmer head, and a water outlet adapted to be coupled to an underwater pump. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the filter box is rectangular with a removable lid. The lid has a raised central portion wherein lies the water inlet. The water inlet is preferably adjustable as to the size of the inlet. The skimmer coupling is also located in the raised portion of the lid and is spaced apart from the water inlet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the skimmer head preferably includes a floating cup which automatically adjusts to the level of the surface of the pond. Optionally the floating cup is free to tilt to adjust for an angular difference between the surface of the lid and the surface of the pond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Patent number: 6309188
    Abstract: A ceramic bearing system for a centrifugal pump includes two substantially identical circular ceramic shafts, two substantially identical non-circular ceramic washers and two substantially identical non-circular ceramic bearing members. The centrifugal pump incorporating the bearing system includes an impeller shaft having one of the circular ceramic shafts mounted in each end and a non-circular recess in a rear end thereof for receiving one of the non-circular ceramic washers. The impeller is provided with a non-circular recess in a front end thereof for receiving the other non-circular ceramic washer. One of the non-circular ceramic bearing members is mounted in a non-circular hole or recess in the pump volute and the other non-circular ceramic bearing member is mounted in a non-circular hole or recess in the rear of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Patent number: 5967744
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump, includes a pump volute having a substantially axial inlet port and a substantially radial outlet port and is substantially symmetrical about the axis of the outlet port, with the outlet port being flanked by a first and second side wall, an impeller rotably mounted inside the pump volute, a drive motor coupled to the impeller for imparting rotational movement to the impeller, and a gate mounted between the impeller and the outlet port. The gate is in the form of a resilient flap having a fixed end and a free end. The flap free end is movable between a first operating position where the free end is biased against one of the first and second walls during operation of the pump and a second non-operating position in which the gate is disposed in a normal unbiased position spaced between the first and second walls when the pump is not in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Patent number: 5586862
    Abstract: An AC motor driven centrifugal pump includes an AC motor, a symmetrical pump volute, and an impeller shaft which is coupled to an impeller hub having a plurality of radial vanes or fins. The pump volute is symmetrical about a vertical axis with an axial inlet port and substantially tangential side walls feeding a radial outlet port. According to the invention, a movable gate is arranged between the impeller and the outlet port. The impeller hub is arranged axially with the inlet port and has a smaller diameter than the inlet port so that fluid entering the inlet port is free to flow around the impeller hub and into the spaces between the vanes. The gate is free to move and to rest against the interior of opposite tangential side walls of the volute. When the impeller begins to turn, the pivotal gate moved under the force of the fluid flow to rest against the opposite side wall blocking the passage of fluid backflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Michael Danner
  • Patent number: 5078867
    Abstract: A water filtration system for an aquarium which combines mechanical and biological filtration in a compact and economic assembly. In one embodiment, aquarium water is utilized by a pump assembly to rotate a wheel which rotates in and out of the water to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria which removes dissolved ammonia from the water. The water is also passed through a mechanical filter to provide mechanical filtration. In another embodiment, adsorptive foam separation to remove soluble waste is combined with mechanical filtration. Other embodiments include an arrangement to extend the life of a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventor: Michael Danner