Patents by Inventor Robert V. Houten

Robert V. Houten 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).

  • Housing with recirculation control for use with banded axial-flow fans
    Patent number: 5489186
    Abstract: Stationary flow control vanes positioned to encounter and redirect recirculating airflow provide a surprising combination of efficiency, low noise, and manufacturability for shrouded, banded, axial fans that are positioned in a housing. Such fan and housing combinations reduce swirl in recirculating airflow, so that the airflow entering the fan (which includes the recirculating airflow) is more ordered and fan performance is improved. The invention is particularly suited for fans that draw airflow through an upstream heat exchanger. It can also be applied to fans that blow air through a downstream heat exchanger. The invention is also suited for ducted fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Airflow Research and Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Martin G. Yapp, Robert V. Houten, Robert I. Hickey