Patents by Inventor Ralph Garcia, Jr.

Ralph Garcia, Jr. 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: 7421757
    Abstract: A method for cleaning tubes and heat exchangers provides an oscillating pump/valve mechanism to provide a periodic waveform of shocks to fouled tubes. Preferably, a pair of pneumatic control valves operates an actuator to oscillate a valve within a valve block, and isolation of a fluid within a manifold in the block creates a pumping action from the valve, to create an intense fluid shock wave to clean interior surfaces tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: AIMM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Garcia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7306001
    Abstract: A method for cleaning tubes and heat exchangers provides a cavitation enhancement unit between a source of pressurized fluid an a lance. The pressurized fluid flows through jets, which impart a high speed rotation to a set of propellers, preferably square in profile canted at a 15° angle. Generation of cavitation develops a cleaning vibration in the fluid discharged from the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: AIMM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Garcia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5423917
    Abstract: A method for cleaning tubes and heat exchangers as set forth. The method and apparatus involve an elongate lance which is mounted to move in an X and Y pattern to align with a set of tubes. Each tube is cleaned by positioning the lance at the end of each tube to be cleaned. A plug is placed in the tube to be cleaned to form a standing column for water. By means of a valve control system, the standing column of water is cycled from low to high pressure by switching the flow of water. In this switched mode, water is delivered under pressure into the column. The lance tip functions in conjunction with an orifice upstream of the lance tip to form a shock wave of energy radiating along the standing column of water from the orifice into the tube to be cleaned. The addition of water to the tube ultimately moves the plug along the length of the tube. It is one theory of operation of the present disclosure that the column of water exposed to shock waves is used in cleaning, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph Garcia, Jr.