Patents by Inventor Robert E. Cates
Robert E. Cates 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).
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Patent number: 6101821Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an ice-on-coil (IOC) thermal storage coil system and method utilizing "deep-tank" technology and dimensional relationship of coil height to coil width wherein the coil serpentine's height (vertical tube dimension) is greater than the width (the horizontal dimension), and wherein all manifold and header joints are above, or just below the water surface of the tank, easily visible and accessible for maintenance, assembly, leak-checking or repair. Another aspect of the present ice-on-coil (IOC) thermal storage coil system and method is that, in some embodiments, the ice-coil tubes are never horizontal anywhere in the full coil height, but instead vertical tubes or "near-horizontal" sloped tubes are utilized which slope in an upward direction to facilitate air removal during filling of the coil with the coolant mixture.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Evapco International, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 5390505Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling, air which apparatus includes an indirect evaporative cooler, an indirect contact chiller, a reheat coil component, an ice-thermal-storage component and an ice-manufacturing refrigeration chiller to provide alternative air-flow paths and alternative component combinations. Alternative fluid-flow paths are provided through electable combinations of the several components to effect the desired lowering of air temperature, relative humidity and air density in the cooled air.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Smith, William D. McCloskey, Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 5328600Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1993Date of Patent: July 12, 1994Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cates, William H. Smith, Edward N. Schinner, Katherine K. Flamm, Vladimir Kaplan
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Patent number: 5232636Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cates, William H. Smith, Edward N. Schinner, Katherine K. Flamm, Vladimir Kaplan
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Patent number: 5226681Abstract: The present invention provides an outlet connection for use in a lined basin. A structural steel basin, usually part of a cooling tower, includes a fiberglass reinforced polyester liner. Such liner is desired to provide corrosion resistance and watertightness to the steel basin. The outlet connection includes a piping section of cylindrical shape affixed to a backing plate. The piping section passes through an opening in the liner, with the backing section and another backing plate holding gaskets compressed against the liner. The piping section extends through an opening in a basin wall section, and a closure plate is affixed to the basin wall section. The closure plate also has an opening corresponding to the outer surface of the piping section, and is held to the piping section along the sides of said opening by welding or other similar means.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1991Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil CompanyInventors: William H. Smith, Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 5193352Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling, air which apparatus includes an indirect evaporative cooler, a direct-contact ice-water chiller, a reheat coil component, an ice-thermal-storage component and an ice-manufacturing refrigeration chiller to provide alternative air-flow paths and alternative component combinations. The method provides alternative fluid-flow paths through electable combinations of the several components to effect the desired lowering of air temperature, relative humidity and air density in the cooled air.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1991Date of Patent: March 16, 1993Assignee: AMSTED Industries, Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Smith, William D. McCloskey, Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 4951739Abstract: Tubular containers, preferably corrugated, containing plural thermal storage medium compositions having different fusion temperatures are arrayed in zones or layers within a vessel through which liquid is circulated to exchange heat with the containers.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1988Date of Patent: August 28, 1990Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cates, Vladimir Kaplan
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Patent number: 4683101Abstract: A closed circuit evaporative fluid cooler/evaporative condenser utilizing a cross flow water-air fluid flow relationship is provided. An evaporative liquid recirculating system includes a liquid distribution spray assembly mounted above a bundle of fill sheets. A closed circuit fluid cooling/condensing heat exchanger is supported below the bundle of fill sheets. Each heat exchanger comprises a plurality of parallel coil circuits or modules, wherein the inlet of each coil circuit is at a higher elevation adjacent the air outlet side of the heat exchanger, and the fluid outlet manifold of each coil circuit is at the lowest elevation adjacent the air inlet side of the heat exchanger. This arrangement assures the coolest liquid falling from the fill sheet assembly contacts the coil assembly containing the coolest fluid and that the coolest air entering the air inlet contacts the coil assembly portion containing the coolest fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1985Date of Patent: July 28, 1987Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 4530804Abstract: A forced draft crossflow evaporative heat exchange has a turbulent air-liquid interchange zone downstream from the air propulsion means and intermediate the air propulsion means and the heat exchange media. The media is inclined so the upper portion is closer to the air propulsion means than the lower portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1981Date of Patent: July 23, 1985Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cates, Richard H. Harrison, Jr., Thomas P. Carter
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Patent number: 4518544Abstract: A contact body or evaporative heat and mass exchanger packing composed of a plurality of side-by-side thin sheets interlocked with one another. The sheets are grooved with a serpentine-like, continuously-variable, cross section form to produce a plurality of liquid and gas channels between the sheets. The sheets have integrally-formed knobs and sockets specifically located to provide up-spaced alternate sheet support without utilizing adhesives of any type. The sheets are preferably composed of a thermoplastic material of any desired length, being continuously pressure-vacuum formed from long sheet rolls. The groove crests abut adjacent sheets apices at continuously-variable spacings of both greater and lesser dimension than the basic edge spacing of the serpentine grooves. The flat crests or apices of grooves are also infinitely variable in width dimension while maintaining a constant sidewall groove angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1983Date of Patent: May 21, 1985Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Edward N. Schinner, Richard H. Harrison, Jr., Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 4361426Abstract: This invention involves spaced, horizontally extending corrugations, spaced, vertically oriented film surface sheets. The surface of the fill is enhanced by molded-in angular grooves to define discrete water passageways and air turbulation ridges.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1981Date of Patent: November 30, 1982Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Robert E. Cates, Richard H. Harrison, Jr., Edward N. Schinner
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Patent number: 4181691Abstract: The invention relates to an improved U-shaped splash bar fill configuration for use in crossflow cooling towers.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1978Date of Patent: January 1, 1980Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cates, Edward N. Schinner
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Patent number: 4119140Abstract: A low cost, preformed, synthetic resin, indirect air cooled atmospheric heat exchanger especially adapted for use in water cooling towers is provided which exhibits enhanced water cooling properties notwithstanding fabrication thereof from relatively inexpensive, corrosion-free polyvinyl chloride or like materials heretofore thought to have insufficient heat conductivity for practical use in heat exchangers.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1976Date of Patent: October 10, 1978Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower CompanyInventor: Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 4112027Abstract: A high efficiency, induced draft, combination counterflow-crossflow fluid cooling apparatus and method is provided which gives unexpectedly enhanced cooling of hot fluid by causing the fluid to pass upwardly through a series of serpentine heat exchange conduits in primarily countercurrent, indirect sensible heat exchange relationship with external cooling water gravitating from an overlying evaporative water cooling section. Crossflowing air currents are pulled through the apparatus to evaporatively cool the water not only in the upper cooling section but also in the sensible heat exchange area as well.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1976Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: The Marley CompanyInventor: Robert E. Cates
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Patent number: 3995689Abstract: A low cost, preformed, synthetic resin, indirect air cooled atmospheric heat exchanger especially adapted for use in water cooling towers is provided which exhibits enhanced water cooling properties notwithstanding fabrication thereof from relatively inexpensive, corrosion-free polyvinyl chloride or like materials heretofore thought to have insufficient heat conductivity for practical use in heat exchangers.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1975Date of Patent: December 7, 1976Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower CompanyInventor: Robert E. Cates