Patents by Inventor Robert A. Valbracht

Robert A. Valbracht 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: 11604444
    Abstract: A Modular Fan Array of a 2×2 array of small fan modules provides many advantages over the replacement of duty of a solitary large fan, including some of the following advantages: —the combined flowrate capacity of the Fan Array can be sized equal to or in excess of the 100% flowrate capacity of the large fan, however a turndown limit of 50% will result in the Fan Array only having a turndown limit of 12.5%. There is a redundancy fan modules. With one going OFFLINE the other three can provide some measure of ventilation, while with the large fan going OFFLINE, ventilation is disable completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: James L.E. Meats, Jeffery F. Kallenberger, Robert A. Valbracht
  • Patent number: 10989206
    Abstract: A fan control system has a fan duct, a fan mounted in the duct, an electronic commutator (EC) motor for driving the fan, and a control system hub for controlling the EC motor. A pressure differential sensing system is mounted in association with duct and feeding a pressure differential signal to the control system hub. An input device mounted on the control system hub for scaling an output signal from a low percent extreme to a high percent extreme and sends that output signal to the EC motor. Wherein the control system hub speeds, slows or switches OFF the EC motor according to the pressure differential signal except that the input device sets a speed limit ceiling on the EC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Loren Cook Company
    Inventors: Jeffery F. Kallenberger, James L. E. Meats, William S. Hohulin, Robert A. Valbracht, Rickey W. Jennings
  • Patent number: 8052386
    Abstract: A mixed flow fan wheel has a convex hub, an axially-spaced away concave annular shroud, and a plurality of angularly distributed blades extending between and interconnecting the hub and shroud, all which cooperatively define a plurality of inter-blade flow channels. Each has a pressure surface and spaced suction surface extending not only between spaced inlet and discharge edges but also, crosswise thereto, spaced hub-side and shroud-side edges. Each discharge edge is convex relative a center of geometry of the blade therefor. Each inter-blade flow channel originates in a generally rectangular shape between flanking inlet edges and terminates in another generally rectangular shape between flanking discharge edges, with a procession of gradations of generally rectangular shapes forming a progressive transition therebetween. Moreover, each inter-blade flow channel twists or corkscrews from inlet thereof to the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Loren Cook Company
    Inventors: Erich R. Fitzpatrick, Rickey W. Jennings, Robert A. Valbracht