Patents by Inventor Ralph M. Hoffmann

Ralph M. Hoffmann 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: 5046932
    Abstract: In an epitrochoidal rotary air compressor, a stationary portion includes a stationary single offset power shaft on which is mounted an epitrochoidal rotor in a rotary housing portion. The rotor includes a pinion gear which cooperates with a ring gear in the rotary housing portion to move the rotor within the rotor chamber in the rotary housing portion. A centrifugally driven lubrication system including lubrication channels extending internally of the stationary power shaft is provided for lubricated bearings and gears within the apparatus. An improved compression seal engaging the lateral faces of the rotor has a plurality of buttons biasing a split ring against the lateral faces of the rotor. An air pressure unloader valve is centrifugally operated to release the load from the compressor during startup. A rotary after-cooler in the rotary housing portion removes thermal energy from the compressed air prior to leaving the compressor and an inter-cooler may be provided in a two stage compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Compression Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4911043
    Abstract: A device and method for milling a trochoidal rotor having a predetermined trochoidal configuration. The trochoidal rotor is used in a trochoidal rotary device in which working chambers are defined between the rotor and a housing. The rotor device has inlet and outlet ports for passing a fluid or gas. The rotor is made by first planetating a rotor blank having a predetermined width and having an edge region about a predetermined axis. The cutting blade is provided which has a predetermined geometry and which is located at a predetermined fixed distance from the axis. The cutting blade is engaged with at least a portion of the edge region of the rotor blank. The cutting blade traverses the edge region of the rotor blank to cut the edge region into a predetermined trochoidal configuration. When the cutting blade is a helical flute, the engagement of the cutting blade with a portion of the edge region results in cutting at a predetermined location within the portion of the edge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Compression Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4895222
    Abstract: A constant level oiler is provided which is ventilated in such a manner so as to eliminate the need for a large surge chamber. Such an oiler has an advantage in that the problems associated with the fluid surge resulting when the lubricated machine is shut down are eliminated. Furthermore, since a large surge chamber is unnecessary in the present device, the attendant costs associated therewith are also eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Foxport, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4884661
    Abstract: A top cover for oilers having an aperture centrally located about a disc-shaped body through which a lubricating fluid may be dispensed into the reservoir of the oiler is provided. Such a cover has an advantage in that a larger filling aperture is thus attained thereby providing for more efficient filling of the oiler reservoir and is further attained at no cost as a by-product of other necessary machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4827983
    Abstract: A swivel mount for the outlet conduit of a pressure vessel is disclosed that can be rotated to a desired position to provide access to a component attached to the mount without interrupting the flow of material from the pressure vessel to the mount and the component. The mount includes a hollow stem that is surrounded by and is in rotational sealing engagement with a sleeve. A sealed chamber is formed between the sleeve and the stem that receives material from the outlet conduit of the pressure vessel through a laterl aperture in the stem. The sleeve itself has at least one outlet conduit that is joined to the chamber and can direct material from the chamber to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Compression Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4728270
    Abstract: A rotary device and method for replacing apex seals is provided. The rotary device comprises a housing having a peripheral wall surface and two inner side walls that define a chamber. A rotor is located within the chamber and rotates therein. The peripheral wall surface of the housing includes a plurality of slots having disposed therein an insert, a wave spring, and an apex seal. The apex seal extends radially outward from the slot and is spring biased by the wave spring that is sandwiched between the insert and apex seal. The side walls of the housing include spring biased button seals. The button seals are urged against a portion of the apex seal. A side wall of the housing includes a rotatable nut for relieving the spring pressure on the button seal and an aperture covered by a removable cap for accessing the insert member so that it can be removed. A method of replacing the apex seals is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Trochoid Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4551083
    Abstract: A timing gear assembly for a trochoidal rotary device comprises a dual set of like timing gear systems provided on opposite lateral sides of the rotor to prevent rotor wobble. The pair of timing gear systems are in balance and equally loaded in support of the rotor at all times during rotor movement; and the opposed timing gear systems are circumferentially offset relative to one another, either by virtue of relative circumferential displacement of the pinion gears or ring gears or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Trochoid Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4382755
    Abstract: An improved rotary device having means facilitating an increased power shaft diameter. This means includes a pair of gear elements which are not related to the eccentricity of the device or to each other in the conventional manner known in the prior art. To compensate for these discrepancies in such relationships, additional gear rotational means is needed to control the rotation and revolution of the altered gear structure to compensate for the failure to maintain the heretofore required relationships with the eccentricity and with each other. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a plurality of movement control discs to accomplish this gear compensating motion, while a second embodiment utilizes a plurality of compensating gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Trochoid Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4297090
    Abstract: A rotary expansion power unit, such as a steam engine, which has a planetating rotor in a housing having an epitrochoidal cavity. In known engines, hot expansion fluid is directed through a hollow interior in the rotor and surrounds the rotor journal bearing. This leads to excessive expansion of the rotor and requires an excessive flow of cooling oil to the bearing. The invention isolates the expansion fluid from the interior of the rotor by having a valve disc fastened to the rotor crankshaft with a first seal means between the valve disc and housing end wall and a second seal means between the valve disc and rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Trochoid Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph M. Hoffmann