Fluid Progresses By Zigzag Flow Patents (Class 137/573)
  • Publication number: 20140041741
    Abstract: Modules for controlling a flow of water and methods of assembly of modules to establish indirect flow of water through a modular system. Modular systems for controlling a flow of water having beams extending across the modules to direct the flow of water in an indirect manner or a serpentine or semi-serpentine manner. Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for treatment and filtration of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kurt A. Burkhart, SR., Ronald E. Burkhart, SR.
  • Patent number: 8590564
    Abstract: Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for controlling a flow of water and methods of assembly of modular storage and controlled outflow systems having indirect flow of water through the system. Modular systems for controlling a flow of water having beams extending across the modules to direct the flow of water in an indirect manner or a serpentine or semi-serpentine manner. Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for treatment and filtration of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Retain-It, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt A. Burkhart, Sr., Ronald E. Burkhart, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8397750
    Abstract: An oil suction device for an automatic transmission includes: an oil pan that receives oil supplied to various portions of the automatic transmission and returned to the oil pan and reserves the received oil therein; an oil strainer located over the oil pan; a suction port drawing in the oil reserved in the oil pan; and an elastic wall provided selectively between a portion of the oil pan that receives a relatively small amount of the oil returned to the oil pan and the suction port, the elastic wall extending from a bottom surface of the oil pan and reaching a lower surface of the oil strainer to interrupt a flow of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Fujita, Kazuyuki Watanabe, Kazuaki Nakamura, Takeshi Ishiwada
  • Patent number: 8360100
    Abstract: Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for controlling a flow of water and methods of assembly of modular storage and controlled outflow systems having indirect flow of water through the system. Modular systems for controlling a flow of water having beams extending across the modules to direct the flow of water in an indirect manner or a serpentine or semi-serpentine manner. Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for treatment and filtration of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Retain-It, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt A. Burkhart, Sr., Ronald E. Burkhart, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7779862
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly for retaining a fluid includes a body having a base and external side walls defining a cavity. A baffle has a top surface spanning the cavity and includes a peripheral wall substantially conforming to the external side walls and extending to the base. A lid is connected to the body. The cavity is divided into a first, second and third compartment by a cooperation between the top surface of the baffle, a plurality of walls of the baffle, the base of the body and the external side walls of the body. The first and second compartments are in fluid communication with each other through the third compartment. An inlet port and an outlet port for allowing fluid to enter and exit the cavity are fluidly connected to the body and are fluidly connected to each other by the first compartment to direct a flow of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Rod M. Sanderson, Jason T. Rutkiewicz, Steven J. Schultz, Roy W. Heath, Martin P. Sheridan, Albert Cheuk-Yin Wong
  • Patent number: 7004196
    Abstract: A flexible, disposable container used in fluid processing apparatus including flow control means to promote mixing of fluid within the flexible container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Stedim, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry F. Schubmehl, Patrick Lansky
  • Patent number: 6978802
    Abstract: In the fuel tank, a tank wall providing a tank chamber is formed by blow molding. A tank partition is disposed in the tank chamber. The tank partition is positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank wall, and is clamped between the opposite inner surfaces of the tank wall. A functional component is attached to the tank partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hagano, Kenichiro Kaneko, Masayuki Nakagawa, Hiroshi Nishi
  • Patent number: 6948511
    Abstract: A fuel tank comprises a shell made by assembling together at least two tank portions each made by molding a thermoplastic material and, when assembled together, defining the inside surface of the tank. The tank has a fuel pump fixed to its inside surface before the tank portions are assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Taurel, Eric Firtion
  • Patent number: 6817376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel hydration tank and method for hydrating gels for use in oil well treatment operations according to which a mixture of water and gel is introduced into the interior of the tank and flows through the tank before being discharged from the tank, whereby specific devices are used to deflect and/or re-direct fluid flow so as to increase the distance traveled for a given fluid volume element, which consequently increases the plug flow efficiency of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Morgan, Johnny W. Johnson, Rickey L. Morgan, James A. McGough, Michael R. Spaulding
  • Patent number: 6681801
    Abstract: A pump station including a structure that includes at least one inlet chamber and at least one discharge chamber arranged on a different level. A separating wall is arranged within the structure between the two chambers, and at least one pump delivers a liquid from the inlet chamber through the separating wall into the discharge chamber. The discharge chamber includes a discharge opening having an upper edge which is below the liquid level that is present in a discharge downstream of the discharge chamber. The pump is provided with an upwardly extending liquid conveying device which ends in an open outlet that opens into the discharge chamber above the upper edge of the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hoehn, Hans-Dieter Knoepfel, Gerhard Meyer, Wolfgang Roesler, Hartmut Rosenberger
  • Patent number: 6408874
    Abstract: Arranged in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle are guide elements and guide plates which deflect a flow of the fuel toward a wall of the fuel tank at a flat angle. Splashing noises of the fuel are thereby markedly reduced. The guide plates form a channel with a calming region, in which the flow of the fuel is throttled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Dieter Keller
  • Patent number: 5894857
    Abstract: A fuel delivery device for a fuel tank comprising a float chamber for sucking fuel in a normal state, a sub chamber for sucking a small quantity of fuel remaining within a tank and a communication chamber for communicating the float chamber and the sub chamber to each other in lower portions thereof En the fuel delivery device for a fuel tank, a sub float chamber is provided above the sub chamber, the sub float chamber has a gas discharge port communicating with-the fuel tank in an upper portion, a vent hole communicating with the sub chamber in a lower portion and a sub float valve within, and the sub float valve ascends and descends in accordance with a quantity of an excess fuel returned to the sub float chamber from the engine so as to open and close the vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: OM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takaki, Shinya Shimada, Kunihito Kawai
  • Patent number: 5293899
    Abstract: A fuel tank includes an inlet port communicating with a fuel decelerating section of the tank in which the inflowing fuel is decelerated. The decelerated fuel is delivered to a fuel intake compartment of the tank which contains a filter. The filtered fuel is then delivered to a fuel storage area of the tank which includes a hose leading to an outlet port. A buoyant member is mounted on the inlet end of the hose to enable that inlet end to rise to or near the surface of fuel in the tank. Sediment drains are provided in the bottom of the tank for removing sediment from the fuel intake compartment and the fuel storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Oh-Kyoung Kwon
  • Patent number: 5228473
    Abstract: An internal valve and metered positive displacement pump for a pressure fluid tank. The tank defines a fluid compartment, and first and second vessels are positioned within the protective envelope of the tank. A bellows pump assembly disposed in the first vessel includes a bellows and a piston cylinder arrangement positioned within and attached to the bellows. Pressurized fluid is pumped into and out of the first vessel to actuate the piston cylinder arrangement. With this actuating movement fluid is pumped from the compartment through a valve in the second vessel and into the second vessel for removal therefrom. The valve is normally closed against the working pressure of the fluid in the compartment by a spring bellows relief assembly in the second vessel. The force of the fluid pump by the piston cylinder arrangement opens the valve, and a check valve prevents fluid from flowing back from the valve into the first vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Montana Sulphur & Chemical Co.
    Inventor: Donald L. Zink
  • Patent number: 5111844
    Abstract: An automotive fuel system including a reservoir having upper and lower chambers on opposite sides of a partition in the reservoir, a high pressure fuel pump having an inlet connected to the lower chamber, a low pressure fuel overage return pipe returning overage fuel directly to the lower chamber, and a low pressure pump transferring fuel from the tank directly to the upper chamber. A drain in the partition conducts gravity induced fuel flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a rate equal to the difference between the rate at which the high pressure pump withdraws fuel from the lower chamber and the rate at which overage is returned to the lower chamber through the overage return pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dan H. Emmert, John E. Creager, Timothy F. Coha
  • Patent number: 4833329
    Abstract: A system for eluting a daughter radioisotope from a parent radioisotope and containerizing the resultant eluate in an evacuated container having a rubber stopper, providing for delivery of eluant from a reservoir through a tube to a generator containing the parent radioisotope, for venting of the reservoir to atmosphere via a tube, and for delivery of eluate from the generator via a tube to a tubular needle pierced through the stopper, with a cam-controlled hinged pinch plate for pinching the tubes closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall H. Quint, Richard F. Swenson, David M. Wong
  • Patent number: 4791959
    Abstract: A release agent management system that assures oil delivery to a metering roll in a fuser apparatus regardless of machine tilt includes at least two race portions that direct oil to a sump depending on whether the machine is tilted more or less than an angle 0 to thereby compensate for machine tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Schwarz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4756327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for head control of irrigation waters in above-ground gated pipe located on a gradient. The method includes the steps of: measuring the elevation drop over the length of said pipe; providing an in-line container at predetermined elevation drops along said pipe, said container having an inlet for receiving water from the upstream portion of said pipe and an outlet for discharging water to the downstream portion of said pipe; dividing each of said containers with a height adjustable partisan located between said intake and said outtake; and adjusting the height of each of said height adjustable partisan to provide the desired flow from the openings in the pipe upstream of said partisan being adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Inventor: Robert D. Krause
  • Patent number: 4685409
    Abstract: In order to facilitate temporary storing of oil in an underwater receptacle, for instance the pontoon of a semi-submersible vessel, the receptacle is subdivided by bulkheads into a series of tanks. A first tank is connected to a production unit by way of a conduit, or by way of a branch pipe to a delivery conduit. The tank located remotely with respect to the conduit communicates with the surrounding sea by an opening. The bulkheads are provided with upper and lower openings, respectively, and a screened passage extends between these openings. When oil is supplied to the first tank static or pump pressure will expel water through opening, and oil will fill the tanks in due order in the direction away from the first tank. When oil is withdrawn, water from the surrounding sea will flow in through opening and further on through the tanks towards the first tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Gotaverken Arendal AB
    Inventor: Hadar Liden
  • Patent number: 4651780
    Abstract: A pressurized liquid conduit is broken or interrupted to provide an upstream inlet into a downstream outlet from a visual monitoring device. The device, which includes a collection chamber surrounding the conduit outlet and a transparent tube extending upwardly therefrom surrounding the upstream inlet is sealed in air tight relation around the liquid line on either side of the interruption. An air lock or bubble, greater in volume than the volume of the transparent tube, is contained in the chamber/tube assembly to maintain a constant pressure on the liquid collected in the chamber causing a controlled flow of liquid through the downstream side of the line. A baffle in the collection chamber disperses air bubbles, which might tend to form in the collected liquid, prior to the time the air bubbles reach the outlet in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Guido A. diVincenzo
  • Patent number: 4587992
    Abstract: A reservoir for hydraulic fluids and hydrocarbon fluids having an outer tank, an inner tank contained therein, an inlet conduit for the delivery of fluids to the outer tank with a minimum of turbulence, an outlet for withdrawal of fluids from the inner tank, and a vent for venting air into and out of the outer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Inventor: Donald E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4576197
    Abstract: The invention involves positioning the working end of a vertical pump below the surface elevation of the fluid, enclosing a space around the pump with a structure extending below the surface and having a submerged opening to the main reservoir, and drawing a vacuum in the enclosed space in order to raise the surface elevation in the enclosed chamber in order to maintain a minimum working depth for the vertical pump that will prevent air entrainment by vortexing during periods of low fluid levels outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Midwest Energy Services Company
    Inventor: Eugene K. Kempers
  • Patent number: 4474210
    Abstract: A simplified, energy efficient, low cost liquid flow controlling weir apparatus is provided for "in tank" flow equalization and surge control. The apparatus is especially adapted for use in waste water treatment plants at tank outlets, and includes first and second, opposed, spaced apart upright weirs; the inboard first weir adjacent tank water is of lesser height than that of the outboard weir, and the latter is provided with one or more apertures therethrough at a level below the upper margin of the first weir. When water within the tank rises past and overflows the inboard weir plate, liquid flow is controlled by the outboard weir plate openings, water is rapidly backed up in the tank as storage, and tank discharge is maintained at a relatively uniform rate until the tank storage capacity is reached. The outboard weir plate prevents tank overflow, and is advantageously set at a height for overflow at 125-135 percent of design flow through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Schmid
  • Patent number: 4214609
    Abstract: Apparatus for dividing a gravity flow liquid stream into a plurality of separate streams of predetermined proportions comprising (a) a substantially vertical inner liquid inlet tube having a closed end, such end being that toward which the liquid is flowing, and this inner tube containing one or more substantially parallel vertically elongated openings beginning at the closed end of the tube, such openings being of such size as to cause a partial backup of liquid traveling toward the end of the tube; (b) a substantially vertical covering tube having a closed end and containing a plurality of substantially parallel vertically elongated openings, but offset from the vertically elongated opening or openings of the inner tube, and wherein the space between the inner surface of the covering tube and the outer surface of the inner tube, and the size of the vertical opening of the covering tube are such that a partial backup of liquid occurs between the inner tube and the covering tube; and (c) outlet means for coll
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Wiesboeck
  • Patent number: 4210176
    Abstract: A hydraulic liquid reservoir includes a tank that has a plurality of walls and a baffle structure which divides the inside of the tank into three compartments. An inlet is connected to one lower compartment while an outlet is connected to the second lower compartment and a third upper compartment is interconnected with both the first and second lower compartments at a location below the liquid level in the tank. The baffle structure is designed such that there are high points in each the first and second compartments which are in communication with the inside of the tank above the liquid level in the third compartment to vent any air from the first and second compartments into the top of the tank within the third compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Joseph L. Emming