Patents by Inventor Richard Howk

Richard Howk 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: 10670034
    Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends out from the hub. The impeller has an original diameter defined by respective tips of the plurality of blades. Each blade includes a central axis, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an original profile, and a plurality of trim profiles. The original profile has an outside portion and a trailing portion. The outside portion has an angle within a range of about 40° to about 90° from the central axis and the trailing portion having an angle within a range of about 10° to about 50° from the central axis. A first selected trim profile of the plurality of trim profiles extends along a first line parallel to the outside portion and a second line parallel to the trailing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SPX Flow, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Richard Kehn, Aaron Strand
  • Publication number: 20170343004
    Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends out from the hub. The impeller has an original diameter defined by respective tips of the plurality of blades. Each blade includes a central axis, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an original profile, and a plurality of trim profiles. The original profile has an outside portion and a trailing portion. The outside portion has an angle within a range of about 40° to about 90° from the central axis and the trailing portion having an angle within a range of about 10° to about 50° from the central axis. A first selected trim profile of the plurality of trim profiles extends along a first line parallel to the outside portion and a second line parallel to the trailing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Richard Kehn, Aaron Strand
  • Patent number: 9289733
    Abstract: A mixing system for mixing fluids or the like in a mixing vessel. The mixing system includes a fixed conduit connected to the top portion of the vessel extends into the vessel. The system also has a rotating shaft having disposed within the fixed conduit that rotates within the fixed conduit while the mixing system is in operation. An impeller is attached to the rotating shaft. The impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SPX FLOW, INC.
    Inventors: James Maxon, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20140211585
    Abstract: A mixing system for mixing fluids or the like in a mixing vessel. The mixing system includes a fixed conduit connected to the top portion of the vessel extends into the vessel. The system also has a rotating shaft having disposed within the fixed conduit that rotates within the fixed conduit while the mixing system is in operation. An impeller is attached to the rotating shaft. The impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Jim C. Maxon, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 7473025
    Abstract: An impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 7331704
    Abstract: A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a mixing vessel, draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within the draft tube. The method includes rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time so as to cause the liquid to flow in a first axial direction. The method also includes rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction so as to cause the liquid to flow in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Michael Giralico
  • Patent number: 7168848
    Abstract: An impeller apparatus for use with a magnetically coupled mixer includes in one embodiment an axial-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a driven magnet by a shaft. In another embodiment the impeller apparatus includes an up-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a magnetic element by a shaft, the magnetic element cooperates with a superconducting element for levitating the impeller apparatus away from the bottom of the tank and cooperates with a motive device to rotate the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20060180948
    Abstract: A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a mixing vessel, draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within the draft tube. The method includes rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time so as to cause the liquid to flow in a first axial direction. The method also includes rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction so as to cause the liquid to flow in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Michael Giralico
  • Patent number: 6997444
    Abstract: A radial disc impeller for use with a liquid or liquid suspension mixing assembly, having an axis of rotation. The radial disc has a hub and at least one disc extending radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc is connected to the hub at first axial location. The disc impeller includes a first blade connected to the disc. The first blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc impeller also includes a second blade connected to the disc. The second blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Weetman, Gary Hodenius, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 6896246
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved surface aeration impeller for use in a mixing assembly. The improved surface aeration impeller includes a hub and a first blade that is connected to the hub. The blade has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion. The impeller also has a second blade connected to the hub that has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Weetman, Gary Hodenius, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20050002275
    Abstract: An impeller apparatus for use with a magnetically coupled mixer includes in one embodiment an axial-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a driven magnet by a shaft. In another embodiment the impeller apparatus includes an up-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a magnetic element by a shaft, the magnetic element cooperates with a superconducting element for levitating the impeller apparatus away from the bottom of the tank and cooperates with a motive device to rotate the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20040217492
    Abstract: A radial disc impeller for use with a liquid or liquid suspension mixing assembly, having an axis of rotation. The radial disc has a hub and at least one disc extending radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc is connected to the hub at first axial location. The disc impeller includes a first blade connected to the disc. The first blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc impeller also includes a second blade connected to the disc. The second blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Weetman, Gary Hodenius, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 6796707
    Abstract: A two bladed dual direction impeller includes blades that each have an inner blade portion that forces material in a first direction and a second blade portion that forces material in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first and second blade portions are radially spaced from each other by a connector element. Either one or both of the blade portions may be twisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20040113290
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved surface aeration impeller for use in a mixing assembly. The improved surface aeration impeller includes a hub and a first blade that is connected to the hub. The blade has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion. The impeller also has a second blade connected to the hub that has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Weetman, Gary Hodenius, Richard Howk
  • Publication number: 20030161216
    Abstract: A two bladed dual direction impeller includes blades that each have an inner blade portion that forces material in a first direction and a second blade portion that forces material in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first and second blade portions are radially spaced from each other by a connector element. Either one or both of the blade portions may be twisted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 5005843
    Abstract: Chuck mechanisms quickly connect and enable quick disconnection of an impeller shaft of a mixer from the drive shaft of the motor unit. A spindle has a keyway which enables a key, either a detent key which is movable in the keyway or a key which is provided by pins extending from the shaft, to be aligned in locking position where the key transfers the thrust from the spindle to the shaft or an unlocked position where the shaft is rotated out of the locking position and may be removed from the spindle. The key is retained in locking position by an outer sleeve or collar having a slot which enables the key to move away from the shaft when the shaft is rotated to the unlocked position. When the collar is rotated to move the slot away from the key, the key is locked against outward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Markle, William Hutchings, Marlin Schutte, Richard Howk