Patents by Inventor Michael Fields

Michael Fields 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: 6605132
    Abstract: A system for treating air for supply to an enclosed space in which the air is to be breathed, includes an inlet through which air can enter the system from atmosphere for supply to the enclosed space, and a regenerative adsorption assembly having at least two chambers which contain an adsorbent material, arranged so that air flowing in the inlet for supply to the enclosed space can pass through one of the chambers for adsorption of contaminants before supply to the enclosed space while adsorbent material in another of the chambers is purged of adsorbed contaminants. A recirculation path is provided for supplying air from the enclosed space to the inlet to be mixed with air from atmosphere before it is supplied to the enclosed space. The system includes structure for adjusting the resistance to flow of air through the recirculation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventor: Robert Michael Fielding
  • Patent number: 6568100
    Abstract: A gas dryer includes a housing, and a drying drum in the housing which is permeable to allow a flow of gas through the drum between its opposite first and second ends. A first flow guide is located at the first end of the drum and a second flow guide is located at the second end of the drum. The first and second flow guides define between them a primary region of the drum for a primary gas flow to flow through the drum, and a secondary region of the drum for a secondary gas flow to flow through the drum, and are mounted for rotation about the drum axis so that boundaries between the primary and secondary regions rotate around the drum. The permeable structure of the drying drum and the flow guides allow the primary and secondary gas flows to flow through their respective regions of the drum without significant mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventors: Robert Michael Fielding, Colin Thomas Billiet, Desideratus Julius Sienack
  • Patent number: 6526674
    Abstract: A drum dryer comprises a drying drum which is arranged for a gas to flow through it to be dried from a first end of the drum to its opposite second end, and a housing in which the drum is located with a space around the drum between the internal wall of the housing and the external surface of the drum. Gas can be directed into the space through a housing inlet, to flow in the space to the first end of the drum where it can be admitted into the drum for drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventors: Robert Michael Fielding, Colin Thomas Billiet, Desideratus Julius Sienack
  • Publication number: 20020197172
    Abstract: Several transmission embodiments selectively communicate rotary drive to an orbiting scroll to achieve capacity modulation. In these embodiments, when the motor is driven in a first direction, the orbiting scroll is driven at a rate which is equal to the motor speed. However, if the motor is driven in a reverse direction, the orbit rate of the orbiting scroll is reduced. The transmission ensures that the orbiting scroll member itself is driven in the proper forward direction regardless of whether the motor is being driven in forward or reverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph F. Loprete, John R. Williams, Gene Michael Fields, Joe T. Hill
  • Publication number: 20020056373
    Abstract: A system for treating air for supply to an enclosed space in which the air is to be breathed, includes an inlet through which air can enter the system from atmosphere for supply to the enclosed space, and a regenerative adsorption assembly having at least two chambers which contain an adsorbent material, arranged so that air flowing in the inlet for supply to the enclosed space can pass through one of the chambers for adsorption of contaminants before supply to the enclosed space while adsorbent material in another of the chambers is purged of adsorbed contaminants. A recirculation path is provided for supplying air from the enclosed space to the inlet to be mixed with air from atmosphere before it is supplied to the enclosed space. The system includes structure for adjusting the resistance to flow of air through the recirculation path according to the resistance that is provided to the flow of air from atmosphere into the enclosed space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventor: Robert Michael Fielding
  • Patent number: 6287089
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a non-orbiting scroll wherein the base is sealed to the housing. That is, the non-orbiting scroll provides the function of the scroll member, and also the function typically provided by a separator. A heat shield is positioned between the discharge pressure chamber and the base of the non-orbiting scroll. Leakage paths are provided to allow refrigerant to communicate between the discharge pressure chamber and spaces between the heat shield and the non-orbiting scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: John R. Williams, Tracy Milliff, Joe T. Hill, Todd Dewar, Gene Michael Fields
  • Patent number: 6264452
    Abstract: A scroll compressor has a check valve plate assembly with a reinforcing device to increase the strength of the check valve plate. The check valve plate is stamped from a relatively thin steel reed material. Notched areas are provided during stamping to enable the formation of rolled laterally spaced pins which provide an axis along which the check valve plate may pivot. The reinforcing device is in the form of a slot rolled pin, a spiral rolled pin, or a solid pin, fitted within a bore formed by the rolled laterally spaced pins of the check valve plate. The notched areas of the check valve plate are weakened due to the reduction of the local cross sectional area of the laterally spaced pins. Insertion of the reinforcing device significantly reduces the incidence of cracking that occurs at the notched areas of the check valve plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Zili Sun, Gene Michael Fields
  • Patent number: 6247907
    Abstract: A sealed compressor incorporates a relatively thin counterweight. The relatively thin counterweight is able to fit within a much smaller space than prior art cast counterweights. The relatively thin counterweight allows the reduction of the overall length of the sealed compressor, and thus provides very valuable benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: John R. Williams, Tracy Milliff, Gene Michael Fields, Thomas Barito
  • Patent number: 6247909
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided within a sealed housing. Although the invention is shown with regard to a scroll compressor, it should be understood that aspects of the invention have benefit to any type sealed compressor. A lower bearing is attached directly to a housing end cap. The lower bearing is easily and accurately attached to the end cap, and reduces the complexity and cost of assembly of a sealed compressor. In particular, the end cap is provided with upset portions spaced circumferentially by gaps. The bearing is secured to the upset portions by welding. Oil can flow through the gaps and into a space beneath the bearing such that it can reach oil passages in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: John R. Williams, Tracy Milliff, Joe T. Hill, Gene Michael Fields, Michael R. Young
  • Patent number: 6227830
    Abstract: Several discharge check valve arrangements for scroll compressors move the check valve closer to the discharge port and the compression chambers. This reduces the amount of discharge pressure backflow, and thus reduces the amount of reverse rotation at shutdown. In one type of check valve arrangement, a plug is mounted within a check valve chamber to provide a stop for the check valve. The plug allows the check valve to seat against its valve seat while the compressor is operating to allow gas to flow around the check valve into a discharge plenum. At shutdown, the check valve arrangement is constructed to cause the check valve to rapidly close the discharge port. In other arrangements, the discharge check valve assembly may be mounted in a separator plate as a separate valve plug. This embodiment is similar to an earlier embodiment in the basic operation of the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Gene Michael Fields, Joe T. Hill, John R. Williams, Tracy L. Milliff, Michael R. Young
  • Patent number: 6203299
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with structure that allows a reduction or modulation in mass flow capacity. Structure is provided for controlling the back pressure force tending to bias one scroll into other. This structure defines two distinct back pressure chambers. Pressure fluid is not supplied to at least one of the back pressure chambers during modulated operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: John R. Williams, Gene Michael Fields, Joe T. Hill, Tracy Milliff, Terry L. Lyons
  • Patent number: 6077057
    Abstract: A number of scroll compressor designs protect the back chamber seals upon reverse rotation. In the prior art, scroll compressors are sometimes miswired and inadvertent reverse rotation results. In some applications, this has caused the seals to be crushed. The present invention ensures that upon reverse rotation, the pressure within the back chamber is maintained at suction pressure rather than the very low pressure which may be found in the compression chambers. The seals are protected. In one embodiment, a relief is formed at a seal groove to ensure suction pressure does communicate into the back chamber. In other embodiments, a valve controls the pressure in the back chamber. Upon normal operation, the valve allows pressure from the back pressure tap to communicate into the back chamber. During reverse rotation, the valve allows suction pressure to communicate to the back chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Jason J. Hugenroth, Gene Michael Fields, John R. Williams, Thomas R. Barito
  • Patent number: 6018764
    Abstract: Web pages and other Internet information resources are retrieved from a one-way broadcast signal such as a broadcast television signal. A user selects from a range of available information, including hypertext markup language (HTML) pages, which is carried in the broadcast stream by invoking a command which is defined according to a uniform resource locator (URL) format. Table mapping data is carried in the broadcast signal and provides a broadcast address corresponding to the URL of the user request signal for use in identifying a location in the broadcast signal from which the desired information can be retrieved. The broadcast address may provide information regarding a frequency, packet identifier, satellite, transponder, cryptographic scheme, modulation scheme, data rate, error correction scheme, page number or other relevant criteria associated with the broadcast signal which must be known to retrieve the requested information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Field, Mark K. Eyer
  • Patent number: 5982445
    Abstract: Textual and graphical displays are provided on a television screen using a hypertext markup language (HTML). On-screen display devices allow a user to invoke hyperlinks to different pages of HTML-coded data in addition to functions calls for controlling television and non-television appliance functions. A method provides HTML-coded display data which is processed to provide a signal suitable for reproduction on a television. The display data may provide information on a featured movie or other presentation of an associated video programming service signal such as a network television broadcast. Function calls allow the control of various television functions and programming options, such as the purchase of pay-per-view programming, or television display options such as aspect ratio, channel, brightness, picture-in-picture, or split-screen. Non-television appliances which may be controlled with function calls include audio equipment which is associated with the programming service (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Eyer, Michael Field
  • Patent number: 5927084
    Abstract: An air conditioning system comprises first (8) and second (13) heat exchangers having first and second counterflow passages, a twin bed gas purification unit comprising (i) first (22) and second (23) parallel filter beds, (ii) valve means for directing air from an inlet to flow through the first filter bed and for directing purified air from the first bed so that a greater proportion flows to an outlet while a smaller proportion flows in counter direction as purge gas through the second bed and then to a purge outlet, (iii) a plurality of heater units (30) at spaced apart locations along each of the filter beds for heating a gas as it flows through the heater bed, and (iv) means for controlling the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventor: Robert Michael Fielding
  • Patent number: 5791887
    Abstract: A scroll compressor (10) is disclosed which includes a fixed scroll element (12) and an orbiting scroll element (14). Each of the scroll elements has a planar surface (18, 24) extending from the wrap on the element to the peripheral edge of the element. A relief area (56) is formed in each of the scroll elements through the planar surface to move the effective pivot point of the intermediate pressure force counteracting the tangential gas force radially inwardly toward the centerline of the scroll elements. A reduction in friction forces is the result, as well as a decrease in the time necessary to work in the scroll elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: John Robert Williams, Joe Todd Hill, Gene Michael Fields
  • Patent number: 5394551
    Abstract: In a data processing system a number of processing nodes share resources. Access to the shared resources is controlled by semaphores, each node having a local copy of all the semaphores. Nodes may acquire ownership of semaphores. When a node requires a semaphore operation on a particular semaphore, a semaphore message is broadcast to all the nodes instructing them to perform the semaphore operation on their local copies of the semaphore. If the semaphore is unowned, the node must suspend the semaphore operation until the message returns, so as to ensure correct chronology for the semaphore operation. If, however, the semaphore owned by this node, the node can perform the semaphore operation without waiting for the message to return. This speeds up the semaphore mechanism. If the semaphore is owned by another node, that other node relinquishes ownership so that the semaphore operation can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: International Computers Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Holt, Michael Fields, Mark N. Fullerton, Andrew J. Knowles