Patents by Inventor Wayne Schmidt
Wayne Schmidt 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: 11391309Abstract: Material flow amplifiers comprise at least one helix vane within a vortex chamber of an amplifier body and at least a portion of an outer edge portion of the at least one helix vane is attached to an interior surface of the amplifier body. A centralizer tube is centrally located within the amplifier body and has at least a portion of an inner edge portion of the at least one helix vane is attached to an exterior surface thereof. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing laminar flow to provide for increased flow rate in addition to reducing inner pipeline wear and energy consumption.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11378110Abstract: Disclosed fluid flow modifying devices are useful with flexible fluid flow conduits. Such devices are adapted for mitigating adverse flow considerations arising from one or more bends in flexible fluid flow conduits. These adverse flow considerations are generally characterized as enhanced laminar flow and associated increased backpressure arising from reduced flow velocity caused by the one or more bends. Beneficially, disclosed fluid flow modifying devices cause flow of flowable material (e.g., a liquid) within a flow passage of a fluid flow conduit to have a rotational flow profile. Such a rotational flow profile advantageously reduces frictional losses associated with laminar flow and with directional change of fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11319974Abstract: Disclosed material flow amplifiers have opposing amplifier bodies each with a profile that jointly defines an amplifier body (i.e., “clamshell configuration”). The amplifier body has a flow expander section and a vortex inducer section. A vortex chamber insert is within at least an interior space of the vortex inducer section. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing laminar flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11293464Abstract: Fluid flow enhancing devices disclosed herein are adapted to enhance flow of fluid through subsurface watershed conduits, for example, culverts, drainpipe and the like. Such fluid flow enhancing devices advantageously enhance watershed runoff functionality in subsurface watershed conduits by altering watershed flow from a parabolic flow pattern to a rotational flow pattern while still accommodating fish passage requirements. This change in flow pattern beneficially provides turbulence that disrupts and flushes debris out of the subsurface watershed conduits. This disruption and flushing establishes a passive cleaning functionality within the subsurface watershed conduits that serves to clean the subsurface watershed conduits after suitable upstream water delivery event (e.g., heavy rain, controlled water release, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20220090613Abstract: Disclosed cyclonic flow-inducing pumps overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions that arise from flow of certain types of materials through a material flow conduit. Such cyclonic flow-inducing pumps provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile such as, for example, increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated adverse considerations such as slugging.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20220082116Abstract: Material flow modifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion, head losses, particulate drop-out, and the like) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow modifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a rotational flow profile. Advantageously, the rotational flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow to overcome the aforementioned adverse flow conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11247758Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices adapted to enhance propulsion (i.e., propulsion enhancing devices) of watercraft such as, for example, personal watercraft and the like. To this end, a propulsion enhancing device in accordance with the disclosures made herein may be attached to or integral with (e.g., formed unitarily with a housing thereof) a propulsion unit of a watercraft. The propulsion unit generates a stream of water that provides for propulsion of the watercraft. A propulsion enhancing device in accordance with the disclosures made herein includes internal structures that enhance velocity and/or volumetric attributes of a stream of water generated by the propulsion unit by transforming non rotational flow at the inlet of the propulsion enhancing device to rotational flow at the outlet of the propulsion enhancing device.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11221028Abstract: Disclosed cyclonic flow-inducing pumps overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions that arise from flow of certain types of materials through a material flow conduit. Such cyclonic flow-inducing pumps provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile such as, for example, increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated adverse considerations such as slugging.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20210396252Abstract: Rotary in-line pumps as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions that arise from flow of certain types of materials through a material flow conduit. Such rotary in-line pumps provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile such as, for example, increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20210364018Abstract: Fluid flow enhancing devices disclosed herein are adapted to enhance flow of fluid through subsurface watershed conduits, for example, culverts, drainpipe and the like. Such fluid flow enhancing devices advantageously enhance watershed runoff functionality in subsurface watershed conduits by altering watershed flow from a parabolic flow pattern to a rotational flow pattern while still accommodating fish passage requirements. This change in flow pattern beneficially provides turbulence that disrupts and flushes debris out of the subsurface watershed conduits. This disruption and flushing establishes a passive cleaning functionality within the subsurface watershed conduits that serves to clean the subsurface watershed conduits after suitable upstream water delivery event (e.g., heavy rain, controlled water release, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 11002301Abstract: Material flow modifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion, head losses, particulate drop-out, and the like) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow modifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a rotational flow profile. Advantageously, the rotational flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow to overcome the aforementioned adverse flow conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20210055681Abstract: An example consumable print device component may comprise a surface and a human-indiscernible hardware-based identifier arranged on the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Wayne SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 10895274Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 10890200Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20200370572Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20200370573Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 10844887Abstract: Fluid flow enhancing devices disclosed herein are adapted to enhance flow of fluid through subsurface watershed conduits, for example, culverts, drainpipe and the like. Such fluid flow enhancing devices advantageously enhance watershed runoff functionality in subsurface watershed conduits by altering watershed flow from a parabolic flow pattern to a rotational flow pattern while still accommodating fish passage requirements. This change in flow pattern beneficially provides turbulence that disrupts and flushes debris out of the subsurface watershed conduits. This disruption and flushing establishes a passive cleaning functionality within the subsurface watershed conduits that serves to clean the subsurface watershed conduits after suitable upstream water delivery event (e.g., heavy rain, controlled water release, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20200263712Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Patent number: 10683881Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh
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Publication number: 20200173468Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Vortex Pipe Systems LLCInventors: Paul Wayne Schmidt, Avijit Ghosh