Patents by Inventor Nathan D. Nicholas

Nathan D. Nicholas 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: 11898557
    Abstract: Scroll devices with cooling fluid supplied through a crankshaft are provided. The device may comprise an orbiting scroll operably connected to a fixed scroll and a crankshaft operably connected to the orbiting scroll. A first seal may be positioned about an outer surface of the crankshaft to form a seal with the outer surface. A second seal may be positioned about an outer surface of the crankshaft to form a seal with the outer surface. A first channel and a second channel extend through the crankshaft and are in fluid communication with the orbiting scroll and a fluid source and a fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Air Squared, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, John P. D. Wilson, Bryce R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11885328
    Abstract: A scroll device has a fixed scroll, and orbiting scroll, and at least an integrated cooling loop configured to receive coolant to cool the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll. A flexible conduit is provided that curves radially around an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll to transfer coolant along integrated cooling loop. The integrated cooling loop separates coolant used to cool the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll from the involutes of the scroll device providing clean operation of the scroll device. The integrated cooling loop may be defined by the flexible conduit, one or more cooling chambers, and/or one or more cooling passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Air Squared, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, Joshua R. Mesward, John P. D. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20230358229
    Abstract: A flexible coupling device for a spinning or co-rotating scroll device and associated systems and methods are provided. The coupling device may be configured to couple a first scroll and a second scroll of a co-rotating scroll device. Further, a first scroll shaft of the first scroll and a second scroll shaft of the second scroll are maintained in parallel misalignment by the coupling device. The coupling device may comprise a coupling ring and a plurality of connecting members extending from the coupling ring. Each connecting member includes a flexure arm configured to elastically move or flex between a first flexed position and a second flexed position which contributes to maintaining the parallel misalignment between the first scroll shaft and the second scroll shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventor: Nathan D. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20230050093
    Abstract: A dual-drive co-rotating scroll device includes a housing; a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a first cylindrical extension and a first plurality of bearings, and having a first axis of rotation; and a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a second cylindrical extension and a second plurality of bearings, and having a second axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation. At least one of the first cylindrical extension and the second cylindrical extension may comprise a plurality of permanent magnets and operate as a rotor of a first motor. An Oldham ring may be positioned between the first scroll and the second scroll and configured to maintain a relative angular position between the first scroll and the second scroll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: John P.D. Wilson, Nathan D. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20230020439
    Abstract: A scroll device has a fixed scroll, and orbiting scroll, and at least an integrated cooling loop configured to receive coolant to cool the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll. A flexible conduit is provided that curves radially around an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll to transfer coolant along integrated cooling loop. The integrated cooling loop separates coolant used to cool the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll from the involutes of the scroll device providing clean operation of the scroll device. The integrated cooling loop may be defined by the flexible conduit, one or more cooling chambers, and/or one or more cooling passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, Joshua R. Mesward, John P.D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11530703
    Abstract: A scroll device includes a fixed scroll with an idler shaft bearing, an orbiting scroll with another idler shaft bearing; and an eccentric idler shaft having first and second arms extending in opposite directions and ending at first and second ends, the first and second arms supported by the fixed scroll idler shaft bearing and the orbiting scroll idler shaft bearing, respectively. The eccentric idler shaft has a hollow core extending from the first end to the second end, with at least one channel extending through the first arm and enabling fluid communication between the hollow core and the at least one first bearing, and at least one second channel extending through the second arm and enabling fluid communication between the hollow core and the least one second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Air Squared, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, Bryce R. Shaffer, John P. D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11454241
    Abstract: A scroll device has a fixed scroll, and orbiting scroll, and at least one cooling chamber configured to receive coolant to cool the fixed scroll or the orbiting scroll. A flexible conduit that curves around an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll may transfer coolant into or out of the at least one cooling chamber. The scroll device may have a motor with a motor jacket configured to receive coolant for cooling the motor. One or more involutes of the scroll device may comprise a wall coated or plated with a solid abrasion-resistant lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Air Squared, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce R. Shaffer, Nathan D. Nicholas, Justin D. Mattice, John P. D. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220268281
    Abstract: A gear-driven spinning scroll device is provided. The scroll device comprises a housing defining a working fluid volume and a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume. The working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated from one another. The device also comprises a first scroll rotatably supported by one of a set of second drive gears and a second scroll rotatably supported by another one of the set of second drive gears. The set of second drive gears are disposed in the lubrication volume. The device also comprises a motor and a drive shaft connected to the motor. The drive shaft is supported by a set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume and is configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventor: Nathan D. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20220170462
    Abstract: Scroll devices with cooling fluid supplied through a crankshaft are provided. The device may comprise an orbiting scroll operably connected to a fixed scroll and a crankshaft operably connected to the orbiting scroll. A first seal may be positioned about an outer surface of the crankshaft to form a seal with the outer surface. A second seal may be positioned about an outer surface of the crankshaft to form a seal with the outer surface. A first channel and a second channel extend through the crankshaft and are in fluid communication with the orbiting scroll and a fluid source and a fluid reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, John P.D. Wilson, Bryce R. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200025204
    Abstract: A scroll device includes a fixed scroll with an idler shaft bearing, an orbiting scroll with another idler shaft bearing; and an eccentric idler shaft having first and second arms extending in opposite directions and ending at first and second ends, the first and second arms supported by the fixed scroll idler shaft bearing and the orbiting scroll idler shaft bearing, respectively. The eccentric idler shaft has a hollow core extending from the first end to the second end, with at least one channel extending through the first arm and enabling fluid communication between the hollow core and the at least one first bearing, and at least one second channel extending through the second arm and enabling fluid communication between the hollow core and the least one second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nicholas, Bryce R. Shaffer, John P.D. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20200025199
    Abstract: A dual-drive co-rotating scroll device includes a housing; a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a first cylindrical extension and a first plurality of bearings, and having a first axis of rotation; and a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a second cylindrical extension and a second plurality of bearings, and having a second axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation. At least one of the first cylindrical extension and the second cylindrical extension may comprise a plurality of permanent magnets and operate as a rotor of a first motor. An Oldham ring may be positioned between the first scroll and the second scroll and configured to maintain a relative angular position between the first scroll and the second scroll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: John P.D. Wilson, Nathan D. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20190338779
    Abstract: A scroll device has a fixed scroll, and orbiting scroll, and at least one cooling chamber configured to receive coolant to cool the fixed scroll or the orbiting scroll. A flexible conduit that curves around an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll may transfer coolant into or out of the at least one cooling chamber. The scroll device may have a motor with a motor jacket configured to receive coolant for cooling the motor. One or more involutes of the scroll device may comprise a wall coated or plated with a solid abrasion-resistant lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Bryce R. Shaffer, Nathan D. Nicholas, Justin D. Mattice