Patents by Inventor Michael Ekholm

Michael Ekholm 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: 10214871
    Abstract: A screen intake has a central body with two screens attached on either end. Each of the screens has an interior that communicates with a hollow of the body via flow modifiers. These flow modifiers include one or more pipes disposed in the interior of the screens and through passages in ends of the body. A flow control support device disposed within the body supports the body's sidewall and divides the hollow into at least two portions—each communicating with flow from one of the flow modifiers. The device can include one or more plates disposed adjacent one another within the internal hollow with a peripheral edge attached to an inside of the body's sidewall. At least one of the one or more plates can be solid, or one or more of the plates can define openings therein allowing passage of at least some fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Aqseptence Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 10124279
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Aqseptence Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 9943786
    Abstract: A screen intake apparatus for a water intake system uses a cleaning system to clean one or more screen intakes. To clean debris from a screen, pipes in the interior of the screen receive pumped liquid (e.g., water or incompressible liquid) from a pump. Outlets, such as apertures or nozzles, on the pipes then direct the pumped liquid into the interior of the screen. One or more valves can vary, agitate, or pulse the flow of pumped fluid and/or can selectively deliver the pumped liquid to the pipes to remove collected debris from the exterior of the screen. A heater of the system can also heat the pumped liquid for delivery to the pipes to remove or prevent ice formation on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Aqseptence Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ekholm, Dilipkumar P. Shah
  • Patent number: 9328869
    Abstract: A vortex breaker fits over an outlet of a vessel. The breaker has a basket disposed on a base with an opening communicating with the vessel's outlet. The basket has a cylindrical sidewall screen with profiled wires arranged around bars that extend from the base. The basket also has a top screen attached to the sidewall screen. The top screen has wires arranged across a plurality of bars. Fluid flow passing through the screens is directed by the profiled wires and the bars. Below the top screen, a baffle plate diverts the fluid flow passing through the top screen to the periphery of the top plate. Inside the basket, a flow modifier has a vanes attached to the base and disposed radially around the base's opening. At least some of the vanes have cross-tees extending from the vane's sides to break the radially directed flow inside the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20150306527
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 9108127
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 9023456
    Abstract: A screen has a plurality of rods arranged longitudinally around a central axis. The rods have first and second edges (e.g., inner and outer edges). Each of the first edges defines a profile that varies in lateral distances from the central axis along a longitudinal length of the rod. For example, the first edges can have an undulating profile of crests and troughs. With the plurality of rods disposed around the central axis, the profile produces a varied surface on the screen when a plurality of wraps from one or more wires is disposed laterally around rods. These one or more wires attach to the first edges of the rods and form a plurality of gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Flansburg, Chad Mrazek, Michael Ekholm, David Mattsen
  • Patent number: 8876017
    Abstract: A variable flow control nozzle has a head, a tube, and a valve. The head disposes adjacent an opening and has a screen for passage of fluid flow into and out of the head's interior. The tube extends from the head through the opening and secures the head thereto. A tube passage communicates the interior of the head with the other side of the opening. The valve disposed in the passage has a first condition permitting first fluid flow from the passage to the interior of the head and has a second condition permitting second fluid flow from the interior to the passage. The second fluid flow may be greater than the first fluid flow. The tube can have first and second tube members with different internal diameters, and the valve can use a ball movable between positions in the tube members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ekholm, Richard C. Maxson
  • Publication number: 20140047664
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Bilfinger Water Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 8596261
    Abstract: Passive solar wire screens mount vertically on an edifice. The screens have rods vertically arranged parallel to one another and have wires horizontally arranged parallel to one another. The wires attach to the rods and have first surfaces facing away from the edifice in an upward direction from vertical. The wires also have second surfaces facing toward the edifice in a downward direction from vertical. When the sun has a summer elevation on the horizon, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto away from the wire screens. When the sun has a winter elevation on the horizon, however, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto toward the second surfaces, which in turn passively reflect the solar energy toward the edifice. A concave surface on the wires can also reflect thermal energy back to the edifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Maxson, Michael Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20130248028
    Abstract: A vortex breaker fits over an outlet of a vessel. The breaker has a basket disposed on a base with an opening communicating with the vessel's outlet. The basket has a cylindrical sidewall screen with profiled wires arranged around bars that extend from the base. The basket also has a top screen attached to the sidewall screen. The top screen has wires arranged across a plurality of bars. Fluid flow passing through the screens is directed by the profiled wires and the bars. Below the top screen, a baffle plate diverts the fluid flow passing through the top screen to the periphery of the top plate. Inside the basket, a flow modifier has a vanes attached to the base and disposed radially around the base's opening. At least some of the vanes have cross-tees extending from the vane's sides to break the radially directed flow inside the basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Johnson Screens, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 8505154
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 8491787
    Abstract: A mechanism levels and holds down lateral screens on a basin floor having drop pipes. Support plates fit underneath the lateral screens along their length, and bolts on the ends of these support plates can be used to level the screens. Anchor bolts are affixed to the basin floor using known techniques along and between the various screens. Hold-down bars then fit on these anchor bolts and are held by washers and nuts. Ends of these bars hold against the edges of the plates and the sides of the screens to hold them against the basin floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Screens, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Wolf, Garth Saul, Michael Ekholm, Ehrich Shaw, Frederick Granet, Fabrice Courageot, John Schwert
  • Patent number: 8439071
    Abstract: A vortex breaker fits over an outlet of a vessel. The breaker has a basket disposed on a base with an opening communicating with the vessel's outlet. The basket has a cylindrical sidewall screen with profiled wires arranged around bars that extend from the base. The basket also has a top screen attached to the sidewall screen. The top screen has wires arranged across a plurality of bars. Fluid flow passing through the screens is directed by the profiled wires and the bars. Below the top screen, a baffle plate diverts the fluid flow passing through the top screen to the periphery of the top plate. Inside the basket, a flow modifier has a vanes attached to the base and disposed radially around the base's opening. At least some of the vanes have cross-tees extending from the vane's sides to break the radially directed flow inside the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Screens, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20130061421
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20120312728
    Abstract: A mechanism levels and holds down lateral screens on a basin floor having drop pipes. Support plates fit underneath the lateral screens along their length, and bolts on the ends of these support plates can be used to level the screens. Anchor bolts are affixed to the basin floor using known techniques along and between the various screens. Hold-down bars then fit on these anchor bolts and are held by washers and nuts. Ends of these bars hold against the edges of the plates and the sides of the screens to hold them against the basin floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Wolf, Garth Saul, Michael Ekholm, Ehrich Shaw, Frederick Granet, Fabrice Courageot, John Schwert
  • Publication number: 20120298232
    Abstract: A vortex breaker fits over an outlet of a vessel. The breaker has a basket disposed on a base with an opening communicating with the vessel's outlet. The basket has a cylindrical sidewall screen with profiled wires arranged around bars that extend from the base. The basket also has a top screen attached to the sidewall screen. The top screen has wires arranged across a plurality of bars. Fluid flow passing through the screens is directed by the profiled wires and the bars. Below the top screen, a baffle plate diverts the fluid flow passing through the top screen to the periphery of the top plate. Inside the basket, a flow modifier has a vanes attached to the base and disposed radially around the base's opening. At least some of the vanes have cross-tees extending from the vane's sides to break the radially directed flow inside the basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20120298572
    Abstract: A screen intake has a central body with two screens attached on either end. Each of the screens has an interior that communicates with a hollow of the body via flow modifiers. These flow modifiers include one or more pipes disposed in the interior of the screens and through passages in ends of the body. A flow control support device disposed within the body supports the body's sidewall and divides the hollow into at least two portions—each communicating with flow from one of the flow modifiers. The device can include one or more plates disposed adjacent one another within the internal hollow with a peripheral edge attached to an inside of the body's sidewall. At least one of the one or more plates can be solid, or one or more of the plates can define openings therein allowing passage of at least some fluid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 8292089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a screen. The apparatus comprising a cylindrical screen for submerging in a fluid, the screen having an inlet pipe for connecting to a piping system, filter members, a first end, a second and a support structure. The support structure is one or more helical members which traverse the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Osborne, Michael Ekholm, Dan Ganfield
  • Publication number: 20120237727
    Abstract: A screen has a plurality of rods arranged longitudinally around a central axis. The rods have first and second edges (e.g., inner and outer edges). Each of the first edges defines a profile that varies in lateral distances from the central axis along a longitudinal length of the rod. For example, the first edges can have an undulating profile of crests and troughs. With the plurality of rods disposed around the central axis, the profile produces a varied surface on the screen when a plurality of wraps from one or more wires is disposed laterally around rods. These one or more wires attach to the first edges of the rods and form a plurality of gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Flansburg, Chad Mrazek, Michael Ekholm, David Mattsen