Patents by Inventor Steven D. Centers

Steven D. Centers 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).

  • Publication number: 20040112679
    Abstract: A system and method for regulating lubricant flow in a variable speed compressor includes a compressor having an inlet for gas to be compressed, at least one lubricant injection line, and an outlet through which compressed gas and lubricant exit, a flow control interface comprising at least one valve for regulating the flow of lubricant through the lubricant injection line, and a control logic in communication with the compressor such that the operating speed of the compressor is communicated to the control logic and the control logic is in communication with the flow control interface such that the control logic sends a signal to the flow control interface to open or close the at least one valve depending on the predetermined optimum lubricant flow rate for the compressor based on its operational speed. This allows the flow of lubricant through the compressor to be varied in response to the operating needs of the compressor at different speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Patent number: 6533552
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell
  • Patent number: 6529590
    Abstract: Systems and methods, including modem communications software, for controlling and/or monitoring one or more machines having an control board, such as, for example, compressors, from a remote location is disclosed. The systems and methods provide for each machine being controlled and/or monitored by an operator from the remote location. The machines are controlled and/or monitored using the modem communications software, presently preferably, resident on a personal computer (PC) at the remote location. The methods and systems, including the modem communications software, provide communications between the PC and the machine(s) through transmissions over a communications link established through a modem from a remote PC to a modem connected to the control board of a machine to provide instructions to or receive information from the machine control board and for the remote diagnosis of operating problems, such as, for example, compressor system operating problems, among other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Coltec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Publication number: 20020182082
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell
  • Patent number: 6478546
    Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed. not only the interstage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Patent number: 6471486
    Abstract: An electronic control system is disclosed to control and to prevent damage to a standalone or a network of oil free, two stage compressor packages. The electronic control system uses pressure and temperature sensors to detect actual shutdown conditions or predict shutdown conditions based on the operating state of the compressor package and the current temperatures or pressures of the air at strategic locations in the compressor package. It has been determined through experimentation that, if the pressure at the inlet of the stage two compressor is less than the discharge pressure of the stage two compressor by more than an allowable value, then a high temperature condition will occur in the stage two compressor and cause the compressor to seize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul G. Moffat
  • Patent number: 6450771
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell
  • Publication number: 20020051708
    Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed, not only the interstage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Patent number: 6371731
    Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed. not only the interstage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Publication number: 20010036408
    Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed, not only the interstage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Patent number: 6283716
    Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed, not only the interstage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Centers
  • Patent number: 6244824
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell
  • Patent number: 6102665
    Abstract: An electronic control system is disclosed to control and to prevent damage to a standalone or a network of oil free, two stage compressor packages. The electronic control system uses pressure and temperature sensors to detect actual shutdown conditions or predict shutdown conditions based on the operating state of the compressor package and the current temperatures or pressures of the air at strategic locations in the compressor package. It has been determined through experimentation that, if the pressure at the inlet of the stage two compressor is less than the discharge pressure of the stage two compressor by more than an allowable value, then a high temperature condition will occur in the stage two compressor and cause the compressor to seize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul G. Moffat
  • Patent number: 6077051
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell
  • Patent number: 5713724
    Abstract: An electronic control system dynamically varies the output capacity of a compressor by controlling plural valves associated with the compressor to provide pressurized air to a distribution system at an appropriate rate. The control system operates in any of three modes for standalone operation, including continuous run, auto/dual pressure band, and target pressure modes. In the first two modes, pressure bands are dynamically calculated based on load and unload values entered by an operator. These electronic control systems can also be connected in a peer-to-peer network to coordinate control of up to 16 compressors feeding the same distribution system, so as to maintain a desired target pressure in the system. A modem connected to the system supports remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control. Specialized startup, operating, and shutdown diagnostic algorithms prevent damage to the compressor and avert unsafe operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Centers, Paul Burrell