Patents by Inventor Robert Ritter

Robert Ritter 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: 4467999
    Abstract: A multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment diaphragm valve/hollow gas-conducting tube combination is provided to control the flow of gas, which combination is particularly useful in an adsorber. The combination includes a capped hollow core connected at only one area to the hollow, gas-conducting tube, the capped, hollow core being provided with one or more perforations through the wall thereof and with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart annular protrusions, one on each longitudinal side of the perforations. A molded cylindrical tubular elastomeric diaphragm is secured concentrically to the hollow core at the annular protrusions. The diaphragm has walls adjacent the secured ends thereof which are thicker internally than the walls at the region of the perforations, so as to maintain the outer cylindrical tubular shape of the diaphragm. The thicker internal walls each are provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart abutments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Robert A. Ritter
  • Patent number: 4321069
    Abstract: A multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment adsorber is provided herein. Two sets of adsorption chambers are provided, each comprising one primary vessel and one secondary vessel, and optionally also a tertiary or further vessel, and each containing a suitable adsorbent, e.g., 5 A molecular sieve adsorbent for air separation, the vessels being connected in a cascading connection through an interstage loop line. Specially designed collector means is provided within each vessel. The individual volumetric size of the subsequent stage vessel or vessels must be smaller than the volumetric size of the first stage vessel. While one adsorber set is engaged in the production of, e.g., oxygen-enriched air, the other is experiencing regeneration through removal of the various adsorbed gases and vapors, including, e.g., nitrogen. The cascading of the adsorbers significantly decreases the time required for regeneration by increasing the tolerance for residual adsorbate on the major portion of the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Robert A. Ritter
  • Patent number: 4300593
    Abstract: A back pressure regulator and non-return valve is provided herein. It includes a hollow plug having an open inlet end and a closed end having a central aperture therethrough. A closure cap is hermetically slidably disposed within the hollow plug. A plurality of outlet perforations are provided from the hollow plug, the apertures being disposed along helical paths along the outer periphery thereof. Finally, a tubular resilient diaphragm sleeve of non-uniform wall thickness envelopes the apertured portion of the hollow plug, the resilient sleeve being secured to the hollow plug at its base only adjacent the open inlet end thereof. Control of the outflow through an annular outflow path between the hollow plug and the tubular resilient diaphragm to require greater gaseous pressure is provided by changing the number of the outlet apertures in the effective outlet length of the hollow plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Inventor: Robert A. Ritter