Flow Facilitating Patents (Class 138/39)
  • Patent number: 6216644
    Abstract: In heat generators and burners, it is frequently necessary to realize discontinuous cross-sectional expansions of a flow duct. When the flow (U) passes over the step (10) formed in the wall (8) of the flow duct, coherent lateral separation vortices form which are propagated almost undamped downstream of the step and frequently represent the cause of thermo-acoustic vibrations of high amplitude. In accordance with the invention, vortex-generating elements (20) with a lateral pitch dimension (t) are arranged on a line transverse to the main flow (U) a distance (s) upstream of the step (10). Given an expedient selection of the pitch dimension (t), the lateral coherence of the separation vortex is enduringly destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstrom Power (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Adnan Eroglu, Franz Joos, Bettina Paikert, Cristian Oliver Paschereit, Jakob J. Keller
  • Patent number: 6206047
    Abstract: A flow duct for the passage of a two-phase flow which has a liquid and a gaseous phase is described, comprising an inner wall completely enclosing the two-phase flow radially to the direction of flow. The invention is distinguished by the fact that raised contours are provided on the inner wall of the flow duct, and these raised contours are attached to the inner wall essentially perpendicularly to the direction of flow and are at a distance from one another in the direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Jakob Keller
  • Patent number: 6192939
    Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus and method for driving a microflow is disclosed. The microflow driving apparatus of this invention comprises an external pneumatic driving device that generates an array of airflows; an air gallery to accept airflows of said pneumatic driving device and to generate a suction force and an exclusion force; and a fluid channel connected with said air gallery to allow a fluid to flow inside it. In the air gallery, a trapezoid block is provided to generate an air circle from at least one of said airflows. An open gap is provided in the fluid channel at the connection of the air gallery and the fluid channel. When different combinations of airflows are introduced into the air gallery, a suction force or an exclusion force is generated to drive the reaction fluid inside the fluid channel to proceed, retreat or pause. A method using the apparatus for driving a microflow is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Nan-Kuang Yao, Yue-Min Wan, Chi-chen Chen, Lung-Yu Hung, Shin-Hwan Wang, Si-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 6186179
    Abstract: A flow conditioning plate for interposition in a flow line has a pattern of apertures which introduces a flow irregularity characteristic of a commonly encountered irregular flow in a plant, such as the disturbance introduced by one or more junctions or fittings in the upstream flow path. The apertures may introduce a specific flow distribution, asymmetry of flow profile or swirl component, and these may be tuned to simulate a plant condition that occurs downstream of one or more bends, elbows or T junctions. The disturbance persists, or evolves in a known way for a well defined distance along the flow path to simulate field flow conditions, and a flow meter is tested or calibrated in the disturbed segment, preferably at a defined position, under known flow to produce a calibration table. The meter may then be later installed to measure the irregular flow in an unconditioned flow line at a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Panametrics, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Hill
  • Patent number: 6170528
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved assembly of orifice chambers for reducing pressure of large gas flows effective to reduce noise of the gas flows and wear on orifice chambers by progressive pressure drops in the gas flows through successive orifice plates which are releasably secured, preferably by fillet welding, in each of the orifice chambers, removal of one or more orifice plates in an orifice chamber providing manway access to the next succeeding orifice chamber for inspection, repairs, and replacement of the orifice plates thereby reducing the manway opening or access to only one orifice chamber and eliminating separate access manways or manholes for each of the orifice chamber necessary for maintenance of the orifice chambers. Preferably, an internal shell providing an annular space with the body to which the orifice plates are connected is connected to the body by an annular ring and brace by fillet welding in compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tapco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Marius Robert Junier
  • Patent number: 6161594
    Abstract: A pipe bend for a siphon installation formed by two straight pipe parts and a curved pipe part connecting these parts, which pipe bend is provided with a guide extending from the curved connecting part in one of the pipe parts for guiding a liquid flow in that pipe part. The flow guide can include a rib protruding from a side wall of the pipe part and extending at an angle to the center line thereof. A siphon installation provided with such a pipe bend, in addition to a liquid discharge system in which such a siphon installation is arranged, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Wisa B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelis Wilhelmus Maria Bente
  • Patent number: 6158412
    Abstract: The device is utilized to create swirling, turbulent flow to the air entering an internal combustion engine, and to the exhaust gases therefrom prior to the gases entering an air pollution system. The device utilizes multiple curved and radially angled vanes to force the air into a predetermined turbulent, swirling pattern. For carbureted engines, the device is positioned between the air filter and the inlet to the carburetor and on fuel injection engines, the device is positioned at the inlet port of the intake manifold. 100% of the air which will enter the engine will have been forced into a swirling and turbulent flow by the device for maximum combustion efficiency. Within the exhaust system, the device is positioned within the exhaust tube(s) just upstream of the catalytic converter to force the gases into a swirling and turbulent flow, thereby permitting a more efficient utilization of the catalytic converter process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Jay S. Kim
  • Patent number: 6145544
    Abstract: The flow conditioner for a gas transport pipe comprises at least one perforated plate disposed essentially perpendicularly to the axis XX' of the pipe and comprising a central hole and sets of additional holes that are regularly distributed over at least three concentric rings centered on the axis of the pipe so as to define a perforated plate that is axially symmetrical. Within any one ring all of the circular holes are of the same diameter d.sub.1, d.sub.2, d.sub.3. On going away from the central hole and on passing from any one ring to an adjacent concentric ring, the diameter of the holes changes alternately in a reduction direction and in an increase direction. Each ring has a number of holes that is equal to or greater than six. The perforated plate is advantageously associated with a porous plate situated upstream from the perforated plate and parallel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Gaz de France
    Inventors: Dominique Dutertre, Vincent De Laharpe
  • Patent number: 6119730
    Abstract: A laminar flow element for use in thermal mass flow sensors and flow controllers is designed to provide a high degree of precision. The precision laminar flow element includes a laminar flow element having a generally pointed entry end for maintaining a pure laminar flow path around the laminar flow element. The generally pointed entry end serves to direct an incoming gas flow stream equally about an outer surface of the laminar flow element. In this way, the laminar flow path is uniform so as to maintain a desired flow accuracy. The laminar flow element provides a plurality of standoff pins protruding from the outer surface of the laminar flow element to maintain a substantially equal radial clearance around the outer surface. By maintaining a substantially equal radial clearance from one laminar flow element to another, the laminar flow element is highly interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: McMillan Company
    Inventor: Robert D. McMillan
  • Patent number: 6119728
    Abstract: An assembly for reduction of pulsations and vibrations in a hose including a hose having an interior surface and a throttle being sized for insertion in the hose adjacent to the interior surface. The throttle includes a fluid passageway. The throttle further includes a first end adjacent to the fluid passageway. The first end includes a regulation device for regulating the flow of fluid through the fluid passageway to reduce pulsations and vibrations in the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Seidel-Peschmann, Udo Popp
  • Patent number: 6116284
    Abstract: A guide structure is provided for guiding the flow of particulate matter from a source to a distribution manifold. The guide structure includes a generally tubular elbow defining a flow path for the particulate matter. First and second veins are positioned within the elbow so as to lie in the flow path in the particulate matter. A flow tube is positioned between the output of the elbow and the distribution manifold. A forcing cone is positioned within the flow tube adjacent the output thereof to reduce the inner diameter of the flow tube and to increase the velocity of the flow of particulate matter therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Murray, Bradley J. Meyer, Dustin T. Burchill
  • Patent number: 6112768
    Abstract: An in-line agitating device for fluids includes an elongate internally-threaded cylindrical tube, open at each end, with a flow-disturber such as a round ball positioned inside the tube so as to substantially but not completely block off the bore of the tube. When a fluid is introduced into one end of the tube, its velocity increases as it is forced through the restricted space between the ball and the inner surface of the tube and then rapidly decelerates, causing turbulence which results in vigorous agitation of the fluid. This agitation is intensified by swirling action imparted to the fluid by the internal threading of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: Leslie B. Rath, Harvey E. Deering
  • Patent number: 6070616
    Abstract: A process for mounting lugs or projections on a thin metal sheet, by forming the lugs and/or projections out of the thin metal sheet by way of massive forming. Such a thin metal sheet in the form of a thin sheet metal strip is used preferably for forming rectangular tubes for an exhaust gas heat transfer device which, for guiding the exhaust gas, is provided with a bundle of these rectangular tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Claus Beck, Jurgen Hagele
  • Patent number: 6056014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drainage collective pipe joint where wastewater flowing in a collective housing of multiple floors is subjected to swirl flow and is allowed to flow down. The drainage collective pipe joint comprises an upper vertical pipe connection port to connect an upper vertical pipe, a main body part having a taper pipe part formed in downward taper shape at lower side and installed at lower side of the upper vertical pipe connection port, a lower vertical pipe connection port installed at lower side of the main body part and capable of connecting a lower vertical pipe, at least one horizontal branch pipe connection port installed at the main body part and connected a horizontal branch pipe, and a plurality of drainage flow control guides projected from an inner circumferential wall at lower side of the horizontal branch pipe connection port of the main body part and capable of controlling the drainage flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Noriatsu Kojima
    Inventors: Noriatsu Kojima, Yozo Kako, Toshihiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6041822
    Abstract: Tribo-electrification of conveyed particles in a pipeline of a pneumatic conveying system is reduced by electrically isolating at least one portion of the inner surface of the pipeline, preferably the concave interior surface of at least one elbow. The isolated portion acquires an electric charge of opposite polarity to that of the conveyed particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Benoit Port, Cedric Briens, Ion Inculet
  • Patent number: 6036853
    Abstract: A common filter assembly is formed from a filter membrane which is supported by a filter core element. The core element according to the invention is substantially planer in the as-molded condition but is adapted to be articulated into a cylindrical configuration. The core element comprises a framework adapted to control the flow of fluid therethrough to enhance the performance of the filter membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrel F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6014987
    Abstract: The invention is an anti-vortex assembly for mounting at the entrance to the outlet port of a propellant tank. In detail, the anti-vortex assembly includes a hollow cylindrical frame assembly having a longitudinal axis, open top and bottom ends, and top and bottom circular shaped support members connected together by equally spaced vertical support members. A baffle assembly is mounted within the frame assembly and which includes a plurality of perforated baffle plates having first and second ends. The first ends of the baffle plates are joined together at the longitudinal axis of the frame assembly and the second ends are joined to the vertical support members of the frame assembly. A first cylindrical shaped filter assembly is mounted about the frame assembly and a second flat disc shaped filter assembly is mounted over the top opening thereof. Fasteners are used to secure the frame member and the first filter assembly to the tank about the periphery of the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Carl List, Jennifer Erin Kinzy
  • Patent number: 5992465
    Abstract: An insert for placement within a generally tubular fluid conduit having an inner conduit wall. The insert functions to provide quasi-laminar flow to a fluid, and is constructed as a generally ring shaped flow-through structure having an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall has a shape complimentary to the inner conduit wall such that the structure can be held by friction fit at an interface of the outer wall and conduit wall. The inner wall of the structure has projecting inwardly therefrom a plurality of uniformly spaced generally sinusoidal shaped vanes each terminating at an apex disposed between about 0.4 and 0.8 the radius dimension of the structure, and extending longitudinally preferably helically at an angle between about 17 degrees and 19 degrees in relation to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Robert C. Jansen
  • Patent number: 5979507
    Abstract: A gas flow pass has a gas flow direction deflecting member arranged in the gas flow pass for deflecting a gas flow direction outward with respect to a center of the gas flow pass, and a foreign substance trapping member arranged at a downstream position of the gas flow direction deflecting member and arranged on a part of or all of an inner surface of the gas flow pass. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the gas flow pass which can prevent a damage of the foreign substances in the gas flow and have a long term reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kojima, Toshio Yamada
  • Patent number: 5937908
    Abstract: A straightening apparatus is constituted by a diffuser connected to an inflow pipe having a rectangular section to form an enlarged channel, and eight straightening vanes arranged inside the diffuser. The diffuser has a rectangular sectional surface, and is formed to increase its sectional area from a channel inlet to an outlet. Each straightening vane is arranged to set its surface along the flow direction. Instead of completely partitioning the channel by one straightening vane, the straightening vanes are respectively arranged on the upstream and downstream sides in the flow direction at intervals to form an opening portion at the middle portion of the channel without any partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Inoshiri, Shozo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5937907
    Abstract: A manifold having a plurality of outlets each equally spaced from the inlet in the radial direction is provided. The equal spacing of the outlets from the inlet provides substantially equal flow across each outlet. Preferably, the manifold has a main body, an inlet coaxial with the main body and a plurality of outlets carried by the main body equally spaced from the inlet. A stop valve can be provided adjacent each outlet to allow each outlet to be independently closed while maintaining a substantially equal flow through the open outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 5927339
    Abstract: An air turning vane and rail assembly for promoting laminar air flow in angled duct work transition sections includes longitudinally spaced apart air turning vanes transversely disposed between a pair of flat rails. Each turning vane is a hollow double-plate airfoil having a convex front airfoil plate, and a concave rear airfoil plate joined at their edges. Each rail has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, upstanding tabs each having an upper trapezoidally-shaped portion and a lower rectangularly-shaped pedestal portion. Each tab has a pair of laterally opposed, outwardly and downwardly angled edge walls, each joined at its lower end to a vertically disposed pedestal edge wall. The width of the pedestal is greater than the maximum lateral spacing between the front and rear airfoil plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: ECO Products, Inc. A California Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Jerome Ellis, Donald Harvey Siiter
  • Patent number: 5918636
    Abstract: A fuel economizer device including a conduit through which fuel flows, a Faraday housing around part of the conduit and end caps at each end of the housing for mounting the housing to the conduit. Magnets of Neodymium material are mounted in the housing along the conduit. The conduit is flattened at respective magnet receiving locations and the magnets themselves are of a flattened construction to engage as much as possible of the flattened face of the magnets with the conduit, thereby concentrating the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventors: Herbert Mitchell, Thomas Gunn
  • Patent number: 5916134
    Abstract: A catalytic converter consists of an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, and a catalytic reactor located between the inlet and the outlet for reacting with the exhaust gas discharged by the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, so as to reduce air pollution. The exhaust gas inlet is provided with a vortex generator for causing the incoming exhaust gas to flow in a helical path into the inlet and than the catalytic reactor in which the exhaust gas reacts uniformly and thoroughly with all cross-sectional areas of the catalytic reactor of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jyh-Chyang Yang, Shyh-Shyan Lin
  • Patent number: 5909782
    Abstract: An elongate member for positioning transverse to a fluid flow includes a curved outer surface. A first elongate flow transition inducing structure is positioned on and extends along a substantial length of the outer surface of the elongate member transverse to the fluid flow between about 50.degree. and 80.degree. away from the fluid flow for reducing fluid flow resistance on the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventors: Frederic L. Pluff, Paula N. Pluff
  • Patent number: 5884666
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe extension having movable fan blades mounted on a center axle which blades and part of the axle extend into an opened vehicle exhaust pipe. The other end of the same axle is fixed connected to a rotatable end decorative visual spinner within a hollow housing. To provide for individuality the visual spinner can take on a variety of different sizes and shapes. The spinner rotates in unison with the propelled fan blades which blades are driven by the vehicle's exhaust gases. Appropriate easily detachable mounts are used to fix the housing and its axle and the fan blade members to the vehicle's exhaust pipe to provide for an attractive add-on accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Nikia Deshawn Johnson
  • Patent number: 5833389
    Abstract: Turbulence is controlled in boundary layer or wall-bounded fluid flow fields having a turbulent wall region which under natural conditions, has an average system of roll pairs or streaks adjacent the surface, and extending in the direction of flow, by locally introducing into the turbulent wall region, by passive means, a disturbance that enhances or inhibits the roll pairs thereby locally increasing or decreasing the turbulence in the flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Orlev Scientific Computing Ltd.
    Inventors: Lawrence Sirovich, Eugene Levich, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Sture Karlsson
  • Patent number: 5819808
    Abstract: A method for reducing stress at a junction of high pressure fluid flow passages in a body involves passage intersected by a secondary passage. The depression is formed to generally surround an outlet of the secondary passage but be spaced therefrom In one embodiment, the depression is circular, i.e. ring-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Perkins Limited
    Inventor: Paul John Smith
  • Patent number: 5790619
    Abstract: A drain system for a shutdown cooling system of a pressurized water reactor type of a nuclear power plant (10) has an increased flow rate in the drain pipe (28) and drain pump (33). The hot leg (18) connected drain pipe has a vaned vortex breaker (30) mounted therein between its connection with the hot leg (18) lower region and the drain pump (33). This minimizes vortex-created cavitation in the drain pump thereby permitting the increased flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Peck
  • Patent number: 5758967
    Abstract: A stationary material mixing apparatus in the shape of a cylindrical conduit being open at both ends. The conduit houses a plurality of mixing elements which are characterized as having no edges perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and which are sized and positioned within the conduit such that at any plane passing perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, at least 75% of the circumference of the conduit is free of any mixing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Komax Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Tony King
  • Patent number: 5752548
    Abstract: A coupling for vertical connection in sewage plumbing used in tall and high-rise buildings, is disclosed. The coupling is equipped in its inside walls with a pair of vortical blades for descending sewage streams from the upper floors into the coupling to impinge on their top blade surface to flow sideways into a spiral flow down the coupling. The more intense vortex streams developed, the faster the streams fall along the plumbing. For a vortex generates a vertical column of upwardly moving ventilative air in the center of the sewage streams, smoothing the descent of the drainage. Moreover, the top and bottom blades are mounted at different levels of height inside the coupling, and circumferentially displaced to each other so as to form a V-shape as seen in the horizonal projection view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Benkan Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Matsumoto, Shinobu Katoh, Keisuke Sugawara, Masao Kanazawa, Yutaka Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5687768
    Abstract: An arrangement of air foils in a duct bend for channeling an air flow through the duct in a manner which enhances the accuracy of pressure measurements taken at one or more points in the channels formed in the duct between the air foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Ted V. Mull, Jr., Melvin J. Albrecht, Jeffrey A. LaRose, Mitchell W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 5680884
    Abstract: A high-performance rectifying device promotes the diffusion of energy, temperature and concentration in a fluid stream with a small pressure loss. The device is a lattice type rectifying device provided within a fluid flow passageway for equalizing the flow velocity distribution of the same fluid. Lattice elements each consist of two triangular plates disposed so as to form two opposed surfaces of a pyramid having its apex on the downstream side of the fluid flow and two other triangular plates forming two opposed surfaces of another pyramid having its apex jointed with the first-mentioned apex and having its bottom surface positioned on the downstream side of the fluid flow. The latter two opposed surfaces have their orientations deviated by 90 degrees from the two opposed surfaces on the upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Nishijima, Masaaki Taniguchi, Atsushi Morii, Osamu Naito
  • Patent number: 5657582
    Abstract: A rain gutter downspout noise attenuation apparatus is provided formed by a section of downspout made of sheet metal, or other suitable material, lined with artificial grass and a fastening screw or clip. The sheet metal, shaped in the form of a 160 degree angle, is designed as such that it easily fits into the base of the downspout, with the curve segment situating in the curve of the elbow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Mark L. Chitwood
  • Patent number: 5655570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a condensate drain device suitable for use in high pressure systems where liquid condensate is removed. The device, through use of a wicking disk, allows removal of the condensate from the system without significant reduction in pressure or interruption of the system. There are no moving parts in the device thereby allowing continuous operation of the condensate drain without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Permea, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kenneth Rurik Page
  • Patent number: 5634365
    Abstract: The process relates to the aptitude for detectability of defects using eddy-currents on metal tubes cold laminated using a pilger mill and relates more particularly to the possibility of reducing the background noise and increasing the ratio between a standard signal and this background noise.The process consists of carrying out, after reduction in section by at least 30% in a cold pilger mill, a hollow drawing pass with a reduction in the external diameter of approximately 0.1% to 5%. The signal/background noise ratio can in this way be multiplied by a factor of between 2 and 3.7, in the case of a series of tubes made of INCO 690 alloy, as shown in the single figure.The invention also relates to tubes produced using this process.Application in production of steam generating tubes for nuclear power stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Valinox Nucleaire
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Buret, Denis Vuillaume
  • Patent number: 5590688
    Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the noise caused by throttling a gas flow in a flow channel (1), where after the throttling part (2) there is a wider part (3). The wider part (3) following the throttling part (2) of the flow channel (1) has at least one deviation of the cross-section (D) formed by a wall protrusion (5) in a short part (1) of the channel. The cross-section of the channel wall protrusion (5) taken length-wise of the channel tapers towards the central part of the channel. In a trans- or supersonic flow the protrusion causes a straight shock wave, a so-called Mach disk, in the flow, and this disk is made to occur and to remain within a wide pressure drop ratio range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Neles-Jamesbury Oy
    Inventors: Harri Pitkanen, Markku Simula
  • Patent number: 5567079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the hydraulic branching of an open stream having at least one straight main stream of a specific momentum and having one or more branch streams. Deflection from the main stream is brought about using the Coanda Effect. The hydraulically working channel, i.e., the main stream channel has an upstream corner in common with the branch stream channel which corner is rounded in the form of an arc of a circle between the upstream channel and the branch channel and which converges toward the corner and extends opposite that wall of the upstream channel leading toward the corner and forms with the corner an outflow gap, such that the momentum of the main stream flow which emerges, creates the Coanda Effect, thereby deflecting the controlled flow of water into the branch channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Anton Felder
  • Patent number: 5531484
    Abstract: An elbow is provided with guide vanes disposed as to make the shapes of the sub-channels defined thereby similar to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Michihiko Kawano
  • Patent number: 5529084
    Abstract: An improved laminar flow elbow system and method wherein the elbow system comprises a straight pre-pipe section to define the flow path of a fluid; the pipe section included directly prior to the inlet of a curved pipe section and having and comprising a plurality of vanes to impart a rotation to the fluid before passing through a curved pipe section to provide a generally flat velocity profile at the exit of the curved pipe section and to minimize turbulence of the fluid as it passes through the curved pipe section, and a substantially straight post-pipe section to define a flow path exit pipe section included directly at the exit of the curved pipe section, and containing a plurality of vanes to impart a backward rotation movement to the fluid flow from the exit of the curved pipe section, to substantially terminate rotation of the fluid upon exiting from the straight pipe section without substantial deterioration of the flatness of the fluid velocity profile and without generating substantial amounts of tu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mutsakis, Chang-Li Hsieh, Dag O. Calafell, II
  • Patent number: 5529092
    Abstract: An air turning vane and rail assembly for use in heating, ventilating and air conditioning ducts is provided. The rail is formed with tabs that are partially punched from the sheet metal rail and bent to a position perpendicular to the rail. The tabs are further bent to generally approximate the arcuate shape of the vanes to be received by the rail. The tabs extend the full width of the vanes that are positioned on them. Either single walled or double walled turning vanes are positioned on the tabs and the tabs and the vanes are crimped together to retain the vanes on the tabs. Because the tabs extend the full width of the vanes, the vanes are automatically positioned so that they are parallel to each other and so that their vertical center lines are aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Ductmate Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce C. Arnoldt
  • Patent number: 5482783
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming air turning assemblies is disclosed along with a novel vane supporting rail structure for use therewith. The apparatus holds a pair of rails in spaced parallel relation at a clinching station at which the edges of a vane may be engaged in opposed slotted protuberances in the rails. The spacing of the rails may be increased at the station against a yieldable biasing force, the station including a deforming mechanism for deflecting the vane edges to lock the vanes to the rails. The rails include cam surfaces leading to the vane receiving slots and blocking walls at the trailing ends of the slots to facilitate introducing the vane edges into the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Duro Dyne Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Lyons, Joseph Magrane
  • Patent number: 5462088
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust diffuser for a gas turbine, the diffuser being designed to be inserted downstream from a last expansion stage constituted by an outlet duct of circular cross-section containing a central bulb. The diffuser includes a flared transition duct having an inlet end of circular cross-section identical to the cross-section of the outlet duct of the last stage, an outlet end of square cross-section, and four fixed fins disposed inside the ducts close to respective corners of the square cross-section for directing the exhaust gases toward the corners of the square cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Dite: European Gas Turbines SA
    Inventors: Jacques Poux, Liberto Gandia, Frederic Rouget
  • Patent number: 5431009
    Abstract: A duct for joining a higher velocity application to a lower velocity application such as a heat recovery vapor generator inlet duct apparatus for installation intermediate the exhaust of an associated gas turbine and an associated heat recovery vapor generation apparatus which includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing has the inlet and the outlet axially offset with respect to each other; and apparatus for directing fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the apparatus for directing fluid flow including at least one array of mutually parallel flat plates in stair step relationship extending substantially across the path of gases entering the inlet. In some forms of the invention the apparatus also includes a second array of mutually parallel flat plates in stair step relationship extending substantially across the path of gases exiting through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Wesley P. Bauver, II
  • Patent number: 5411438
    Abstract: At an outlet of a heating, ventilating or air conditioning system air passes from the ducting through a plenum chamber, a damper provided with a set of blades which are movable between open and closed positions and a diffuser which directs the air in a desired direction. The plenum chamber is provided with internal vanes which act to guide a flow of air through the chamber between its inlet and outlet. The damper defines a plurality of predetermined blade positions between the open and closed positions and a resilient finger and teeth for retaining the blades in a selected one of said predetermined positions. The damper has a frame comprising a plurality of discrete frame elements interconnected at each corner joint of the frame by a friction fit pin passing through interdigitated projections on the frame elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Hunter Technical Developments Limited
    Inventors: David White, Colin Sawyer, Pater Bartingale
  • Patent number: 5405106
    Abstract: A device for changing the direction of airflow inside a duct includes a curved panel portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge includes a spanwise extending rounded element which eliminates turbulent separation resulting from the change in airflow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Seetharam H. Chintamani, Richard S. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 5392815
    Abstract: A flow conditioner for providing a relatively ideal flow profile when used in a fluid conduit upstream from an orifice meter comprises a bundle of parallel tubes including a central tube having the largest diameter in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 times the conduit internal diameter. The central tube is surrounded by circular arrays of tubes each having a diameter smaller than the central tube so that the flow conditioner produces an orifice discharge coefficient that does not vary from a coefficient created by non swirling, fully developed ideal flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
    Inventor: John W. Stuart
  • Patent number: 5339868
    Abstract: A bent pipe to which external force, such as an internal pressure and a bending moment, is applied singly or in combination, characterized in that the relationship among the outside diameter D.sub.0 of the bent part, the radius of curvature R of the bent part, the outside diameter D.sub.0 of the straight part, the wall thickness T.sub.0 of the straight part, the central cross section angle .phi. of the bent part and the wall thickness t of the pipe, is in the range defined by the following equations (1) and (2): ##EQU1## whereby the bent pipe has a sectional form of high strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Naoi, Yasusuke Inoue, Tetsuo Nagasaka, Yoichi Matsubara, Masaaki Takagishi, Seiichi Akizawa
  • Patent number: 5327940
    Abstract: Downstream extending convolutions (52) disposed on the inside corner (72) of an angled conduit (50) eliminate or reduce the two-dimensional boundary layer separation region (44) thereby eliminating or reducing the pressure losses associated with the separation region (44). The convolutions (52) may be formed into either the angled conduit wall or in an insert (200) which is positioned on the inside corner surface of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Walter M. Presz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5323661
    Abstract: A means and method of design and installation of a pre-rotator ahead of an elbow are disclosed in order to eliminate or reduce elbow-induced turbulence in pipe flows. Experimental verification was conducted, and noise and pressure loss for flow around the elbow can be substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Dah Y. Cheng