Patents by Inventor Steven David Ford

Steven David Ford 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: 9248456
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a separation barrel with an upper end, a lower end, a central axis, and a cylindrical wall defining a separation chamber. A spin plate extends substantially across the separation chamber adjacent to the lower end thereof. A post including a central passage extends from the spin plate along the central axis of the separation barrel. The post includes at least one opening for fluid to flow from the central passage of the post to the separation chamber. An inlet in fluid communication with the separation chamber allows solids-laden fluid to flow into the separation chamber. An outlet in fluid communication with the separation chamber allows substantially-clean fluid to flow out of the separation chamber and out of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventors: Steven David Ford, Jeremy Benjamin Isch, Timothy Alan Raiskup
  • Patent number: 9079126
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator of the present invention comprises an upper inlet chamber and separation barrel connected thereto. The upper inlet chamber comprises an inlet through which a solids-laden fluid is introduced. An upper portion of the separation barrel extends into the upper inlet chamber below the inlet, such that the interior wall of the upper inlet chamber and the upper portion of the separation volume define a space, called the vestibular chamber. The vestibular chamber is defined at its upper end by a horizontally disposed plate larger in diameter than the separation barrel, but smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the upper inlet chamber. The upper portion of the separation barrel comprises a plurality of generally axially-oriented slots which may penetrate through the wall of the separation barrel tangentially, so as to generally induce a tangential flow pattern to fluid entering the separation barrel from the vestibular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventor: Steven David Ford
  • Patent number: 9022231
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a separation barrel having a central axis, an upper end, a lower end, a bottom, and an interior wall that is an axially-extending cylindrical surface of rotation. An inlet may be provided extending through the interior wall, through which a solid/liquid mixture is injected into the upper end in a spinning motion to separate solids from the liquids by centrifugal force. A spin structure may be provided in axial adjacency to the lower end of the separation barrel. A filter may extend from the spin structure, the filter being centrally aligned within the separation barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventor: Steven David Ford
  • Publication number: 20140221186
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a separation barrel with an upper end, a lower end, a central axis, and a cylindrical wall defining a separation chamber. A spin plate extends substantially across the separation chamber adjacent to the lower end thereof. A post including a central passage extends from the spin plate along the central axis of the separation barrel. The post includes at least one opening for fluid to flow from the central passage of the post to the separation chamber. An inlet in fluid communication with the separation chamber allows solids-laden fluid to flow into the separation chamber. An outlet in fluid communication with the separation chamber allows substantially-clean fluid to flow out of the separation chamber and out of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventors: Steven David Ford, Jeremy Benjamin Isch, Timothy Alan Raiskup
  • Publication number: 20140151290
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator of the present invention comprises an upper inlet chamber and separation barrel connected thereto. The upper inlet chamber comprises an inlet through which a solids-laden fluid is introduced. An upper portion of the separation barrel extends into the upper inlet chamber below the inlet, such that the interior wall of the upper inlet chamber and the upper portion of the separation volume define a space, called the vestibular chamber. The vestibular chamber is defined at its upper end by a horizontally disposed plate larger in diameter than the separation barrel, but smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the upper inlet chamber. The upper portion of the separation barrel comprises a plurality of generally axially-oriented slots which may penetrate through the wall of the separation barrel tangentially, so as to generally induce a tangential flow pattern to fluid entering the separation barrel from the vestibular chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventor: Steven David Ford