Extending Along Runner Axis (i.e., Axial Flow) Patents (Class 415/72)
  • Patent number: 11965281
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a door, and a steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a heat pump unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to circulate and condition air in the treatment chamber. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply tank that is installed in the tank installation space, that is connected to the steam unit, and that is configured to supply water to the steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage tank that is separably installed in the tank installation space, that is configured to store condensed water generated in at least one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply level sensor. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghoo Park, Youngjin Doh, Hyoungsup Park
  • Patent number: 11965282
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a door, and a steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a heat pump unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to circulate and condition air in the treatment chamber. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply tank that is installed in the tank installation space, that is connected to the steam unit, and that is configured to supply water to the steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage tank that is separably installed in the tank installation space, that is configured to store condensed water generated in at least one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply level sensor. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghoo Park, Youngjin Doh, Hyoungsup Park
  • Patent number: 11952998
    Abstract: A crankshaft, an inverter compressor and a refrigeration device are provided. The crankshaft has a main shaft, a crank, and a crank shaft at an end of the main shaft through the crank. The main shaft has an oil suction inner chamber, and an oil distribution channel penetrating the crank shaft. An outer wall surface of the main shaft has a first spiral oil groove and a second spiral oil groove. One end of each of the first spiral oil groove and a second spiral oil groove is in communication with the oil suction inner chamber. Another end of the first spiral oil groove and another end of the second spiral oil groove are formed as a first hole channel and a second hole channel in communication with the oil distribution channel, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ANHUI MEIZHI COMPRESSOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiahua Hong, Xuebao Shen, Hongjun Cao
  • Patent number: 11931706
    Abstract: Apparatus that mixes non-homogenous fluid. A threaded shaft within a housing circulates fluid within a container to effect mixing. In one embodiment, when placed in a container of fluid, the housing the fluid is recirculated through opposing ends of the housing. In an embodiment of a related method for mixing, a pump housing containing a screw journaled for rotation receives fluid within a container and conveys the fluid therethrough to circulate a fluid portion in the container along an exterior surface of the housing for mixing with another fluid portion to improve fluid homogeneity. After mixing, the portion of the fluid which first circulates through the housing may recirculate through the housing with said another portion of the fluid. The fluid may be continuously mixed and recirculated through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Letts Create, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Letts
  • Patent number: 11649909
    Abstract: The present invention is a differential pressure loss valve comprising a valve housing that incorporates: a sleeve that incorporates a continuous cylindrical helical thread formed in the inner surface thereof; and a cylindrical channel carrier incorporating a cylindrical helical thread formed in the outer surface thereof. When the channel carrier is positioned within the sleeve a portion of the sleeve cylindrical helical thread integrates with the channel carrier cylindrical helical thread, and a composite channel is formed there-between. The geometric configuration of the composite channel is consistent throughout such composite channel, although the geometric configuration may differ in individual embodiments of the present invention. Fluid can flow within the valve between an inlet port incorporated in the sleeve and an outlet port incorporated in the valve housing and through the composite channel, or any portion thereof between the inlet port and outlet port, if any.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: John Faiczak
  • Patent number: 11629718
    Abstract: Pump assemblies may include a pumping unit. The pumping unit may include at least one impeller having an impeller housing with an impeller housing intake end, an impeller housing outlet end and an impeller housing interior extending from the impeller housing intake end to the impeller housing outlet end. An impeller assembly may be disposed in the impeller housing interior of the impeller housing. The impeller assembly may include an impeller hub. At least one impeller screw blade may extend from the impeller hub. An impeller shaft may drivingly engage the impeller hub for rotation of the impeller assembly in the impeller housing interior. The impeller shaft may be configured for driving connection to the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Rick D. Spargo
  • Patent number: 11609059
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are suppressors for use with firearms or the like, and methods of making and using such firearm suppressors. Some aspects relate to a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending helically around a cylindrical body portion, at least a section of the helical portion being canted such that it extends radially outward from the cylindrical body portion at an oblique angle relative to a plane normal to the central longitudinal axis. In some cases, the helical portion is canted distally. In another respect, a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending radially outward from and helically around a cylindrical body portion having a bore to define a crest and a root, and at least one channel extends from an inner opening along the bore to an outer opening along the root of the helical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Stealth Project, LLC
    Inventor: Michael B. Slack
  • Patent number: 11577441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screw extruder (29) having a housing (30) comprising an intake housing (4), a degassing housing (5), and at least one housing bore (21, 22) running in the interior of the degassing housing (5) and implementing at least one internal wall segment (25; 26; 27; 28) of the degassing housing (5) and serving for receiving at least one auger shaft (7), and wherein the at least one wall segment (25; 26; 27; 28) of the at least one housing bore (21, 22) comprises at least one partition wall (13, 33) protruding into the at least one housing bore (21, 22) in the region of the degassing housing (5), and wherein at least one filter element (8) is disposed in the interior of the degassing housing (5) and at least partially encompasses the at least one auger shaft (7) and bears on the partition wall (13) in regions for implementing at least two spatial pressure regions (11, 12) sealed off from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Extricom Extrusion GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Erdmann, Thomas Bauer
  • Patent number: 11465324
    Abstract: The invention discloses a building drainage riser, its forming mold and forming method. The riser comprises a riser body and at least one spiral blade. The spiral blade is in a spiral direction on the inner wall of the riser body, and the spiral blade is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the riser body through its bottom side; the inner side of the radial section of the spiral blade presents the first normal distribution curve and the first normal distribution The abscissa axis of the curve is located on a chord of the inner wall of the riser body, and the distance from the chord to the center of the riser body is greater than half of the inner diameter of the riser body and less than the inner diameter of the riser body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: YUZHOU JIETONG PLASTIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xin Xu
  • Patent number: 11420810
    Abstract: A refillable solution dispensing device includes a housing having an upper section and a lower section. An actuator exposed through the exterior of the upper section. The actuator is movably connected to an air chamber and a solution chamber. The solution chamber is in fluid communication with the solution reservoir and a discharge nozzle. The air chamber is fluidly connected to the discharge nozzle. The actuator is coupled to a mixing shaft that protrudes into the lower section. The lower section comprises an interior volume that functions as a solution reservoir. A solution cartridge and water are inserted into the solution reservoir. A solution mixer is rotatably coupled to the mixing shaft combining the solution within the solution cartridge, the solution cartridge, and the water into one solution. Upon an activation of the actuator, the solution and the air will mix and exit the discharge nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Wise
  • Patent number: 11412642
    Abstract: A two-start helical heat exchanger comprises a helical baffle extending along a length of the heat exchanger and having first and second surfaces, wherein: the first surface of the baffle is arranged to provide a first helical fluid flow path for a first fluid; and the second surface of the baffle is arranged to provide a second helical fluid flow path for a second fluid, wherein the second fluid flow path is arranged in counter-flow with the first fluid flow path and a casing within which the baffle is mounted. The baffle is arranged such that first and second fluid flow paths are in thermal contact with each other through the baffle, and in thermal contact with the casing. The heat exchanger may be incorporated into a power converter, for example to cool the power converter. The heat exchanger may be used on an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Chandana J. Gajanayake, Vivek Muthu, Pradip Chatterjee, Amit K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 11167931
    Abstract: A screw conveyor is provided for lifting a sludge from a collection point. The conveyor includes a lower bearing assembly having a post with a thrust bearing attached to the top, which can be inserted in a socket in the shaft component of the screw. The base of the post is attached to a plate, and the plate can be bolted to the intake end of the tube component of the conveyor. The inner bearing assembly and the intake end of the shaft of the screw are contained within the interior of the tube, such that a seal between the shaft and the plate, which serves as an end cap of the tube, is not required. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the relative positions of the post and socket can be reversed, with the socket attached to the plate to the intake end of the tube, and the post attached to the shaft component of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zima Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Williams
  • Patent number: 10598181
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, with a conical screw integrated compression system, that utilizes at least one conical screw as an intermediary fluid transport device to facilitate the multi-staging of non-axial compressors, such as centrifugal and diagonal compressors, as well as or alternatively to combine non-axial compressors to axial compressors and to the fan. The conical screw in the compression system applies axial flow translation and funnels, as necessary, the exit flow of the impeller, fan or compressor into the next impeller or compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Rayne Sung
  • Patent number: 10557471
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump is provided. In one arrangement, a stator stack and rotor stack have corresponding conical or frustum shapes that allow for adjusting the clearance between the stator vanes and rotor vanes of the pump to provide adjustable compression ratios and/or to adjust clearances. In another arrangement, the actuator or drive mechanism of the pump is formed from coils attached to the upper stage of rotor vanes which are controlled to interact with a plurality of stationary magnets attached to the housing of the pump to rotate the stator stack. In another arrangement, a control system of the pump utilizes the coils of the rotor drive to dynamically balance the pump during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: L Dean Stansbury
  • Patent number: 10533778
    Abstract: A turbo economizer adapted to be used in a chiller system includes a nozzle, a turbine, and an economizer impeller. The nozzle introduces refrigerant into the turbo economizer. The turbine is disposed downstream of the nozzle, and the turbine is attached to a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis. A flow of the refrigerant introduced through the nozzle drives the turbine to rotate the shaft. The economizer impeller is attached to the shaft so as to be rotated in accordance with rotation of the shaft. In the turbo economizer, the nozzle reduces a pressure of the refrigerant such that a pressure of the refrigerant entering the turbo economizer is lower than a predetermined pressure, at least some of the refrigerant passes through the nozzle is introduced into the economizer impeller, and the economizer impeller increases a pressure of the refrigerant introduced thereinto to the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Morgan
  • Patent number: 10260479
    Abstract: A central shaft is oriented in a position that is normal to the surface of the ground and normal to a direction of fluid flow. The central shaft has a plurality of blades emanating from the central shaft, wherein each one of the plurality of blades has an outside edge and an inside edge, the inside edge being attached directly to an outside surface of the central shaft. The outside edge of the blade extends upward curving around the central shaft and the inside edge of the blade extends upward curving around the central shaft. The turn rate of the inside edge of the blades about the central shaft is less than the turn rate of the outside edge of the blades about the central shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventors: Chris Bills, Donald E. Moriarty
  • Patent number: 10253778
    Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a screw groove exhaust section including a rotor cylindrical section and a stator; a base; an inner stator forming an inner gas discharge path between an inner peripheral surface of the rotor cylindrical section and the inner stator; an outer stator forming an outer gas discharge path between an outer peripheral surface of the rotor cylindrical section and the outer stator, and being thermally coupled to the inner stator; a communication opening formed on the rotor, and allowing the outer gas discharge path and the inner gas discharge path to communicate with each other on an upstream side; an exhaust opening discharging the joined gas of the gas passing through the outer gas discharge path and the gas passing through the inner gas discharge path from the screw groove exhaust section toward the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 10167847
    Abstract: The Vertical Axle or Axis Helically Swept Blade Wind Turbine, is by definition a vertical wind turbine using a blade or blades shaped as an uninterrupted spiral, with one side of the blade flat, the other side serving as an airfoil to create desired overall torque, all around its full swept turn, or integer number of full swept turns, using this the same cross section all along its stretch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Per Gunnar Mellin
  • Patent number: 10099761
    Abstract: A water turbine propeller includes an optional turbine casing having forward and rearward openings, a rotational cylindrical unit, a plurality of rotating foil blades rigidly secured to the inner periphery of the rotational shaft on a common shaft, and an engine or motor which rotates the rotational shaft within the turbine casing. The operation of the engine causes the rotation of the rotational shaft and the helical blades direct water into the forward opening of the turbine casing and out the rearward openings of the turbine casing, thereby creating a focused torque (or vortex) effect on the water flow for a propulsive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Richard Hayman
  • Patent number: 10030627
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods, apparatus, and manufacture for an Archimedes Screw using a strake design as a blade to increase the volume of water raised or lowered by about 10%. The invention, in part, alters the shape of the blades within the screw from a helicoid shape to a strake shape. A helicoid blade in an Archimedes Screw has been used since antiquity and has not changed since then, limiting the efficiency and manufacturing process. The strake shape allows a greater quantity of water to be contained within the screw and is a developable surface that enables easier fabrication than the helicoid shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Rorres
  • Patent number: 10001133
    Abstract: A low-cavitation impeller for a centrifugal pump is provided. The impeller provides a smooth flow path from the inducer section through to the outlet section. Continuous main blades run from a leading edge at the inlet eye to a trailing edge at the impeller outlet, and continuous secondary blades run from a leading edge in the transition region to a trailing edge at the impeller outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SUNDYNE, LLC
    Inventors: Corey Mathew Doll, Harold House Mays
  • Patent number: 9963299
    Abstract: A single flight screw, a single flight high pressure screw pump and the use of the pump in a compactor for compacting and dewatering debris commonly found in waste water. The bore, screw diameter and the flight spacing are constant and the compression force is mostly axial. The work is done at the very end of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth Blanchard, Terry Duperon
  • Patent number: 9346522
    Abstract: A frame of a water jet propulsion unit arranged to be installed and sealed into an installation opening of a boat. The water-jet propulsion unit includes an impeller and the boat has a counter-sealing surface to which the frame is attached. The frame includes a flow channel to guide water to the impeller. The flow channel has a top with a maintenance opening. The maintenance opening is positioned to permit servicing the impeller. A first sealing surface forms a first closed loop to attach the water-jet propulsion unit tightly to the counter-sealing surface of the boat. A second sealing surface forms a second closed loop arranged to attach the water-jet propulsion unit to the boat. The first and second closed loops permit the maintenance opening of the frame to be alternatively locatable respectively outside or inside the stern of the boat in dependence on alternative configurations of the installation opening of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ALAMARIN-JET OY
    Inventors: Tuomas Ruosteinen, Hannu Rantala
  • Patent number: 9180560
    Abstract: A method selects from a plurality of predetermined blade geometries, a blade geometry for a blade wheel for a turbomachine, with for the predetermined blade geometries at least one characteristic value identifying an aerodynamic property of the blade geometry and at least one characteristic value identifying a structural mechanism of the blade geometry being filed in a memory. An evaluation unit ascertains for each blade geometry a total value, which is calculated from the assigned characteristic values. The evaluation unit selects at least that blade geometry whose total value has an extreme value of all computed total values of the blade geometries. At least one characteristic value identifying producibility of the respective blade geometry is filed in the memory additionally to the blade geometries. The evaluation unit also incorporates while ascertaining the total value of the respective blade geometry the characteristic value identifying producibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Martin Bruschewski, Christoph Hubig, Carsten Loof
  • Patent number: 9039348
    Abstract: An open core continuous helical fin marine drive system for use with surface and subsurface marine vessels has a cylindrical fluid container nested within a nacelle enclosure having an intake port and an exhaust port tailpipe. The cylindrical fluid container is driven by a fluid container drive motor through a gear assembly including a pinion gear connected to the fluid container drive motor and an underwater ring gear connected to the cylindrical fluid container. A plurality of continuous helical fins connected along the inner wall of the cylindrical fluid container is positioned about a hollow center core and creates a horizontal centripetal fluid vortex thread along the hollow center core as the cylindrical fluid container rotates. An inflatable marine bladder is positioned aft of the cylindrical fluid container and can be engaged to an inflated configuration in order to compress the exiting water flow through the exhaust port tailpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: James Philip Beyor
  • Publication number: 20150044026
    Abstract: An inducer for vertical flow, cryogenic liquid centrifugal pumps comprising a stationary outer housing portion having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet located at a lower end and the outlet located at an upper end, the housing further having an inner wall portion with one or more spiral vanes projecting outwardly from the inner wall portion, the one or more spiral vanes defining one or more gap regions on the inner wall portion that spiral in a first direction, and an inner rotating impeller mounted on a rotating center shaft, the impeller having at least one curved blade which defines a curved, helicoid plane surface in which the slope of the plane increases as the distance from the center axis increases, the impeller rotating in a second direction which is in counter rotation to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Ebara International Coporation
    Inventor: Everett Russell Kilkenny
  • Patent number: 8905706
    Abstract: The invention discloses at least one blade extending away from a beginning point and longitudinally along a central axis and approximating the shape of a spiral about said central axis. The blade comprises a beginning point disposed a first lateral distance away from the central axis and a terminating point disposed a second lateral distance away from the central axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Bills, Donald Moriarty
  • Patent number: 8690541
    Abstract: A water powered turbine (1) comprises a main support frame-work (2) which rotatably carries a rotor (3) comprising a main shaft (5) to which three blades (7) are attached by carrier discs (8) and (9). The carrier discs (8, 9) are rigidly secured to the main shaft (5), and the blades (7) are pivotally connected to the discs (8) and (9) by pivot shafts (16) and (17). Each blade (7) is of constant hydro-foil cross-section along its entire length and defines a first upper spiral (12) and a second lower spiral (13). The first spiral (12) extends from a first end (10) which is coupled to the main shaft (5) by the carrier disc (8), and the second spiral (13) of each blade (7) extends from a second end (11) of the blade (7) which is coupled to the main shaft (5) by the carrier disc (9). The first and second spirals (12) and (13) are of opposite hand and extend from the respective first and second ends (10, 11) to meet midway between the respective first and second ends (10, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Bri Toinne Teoranta
    Inventor: Bernard McGuire
  • Patent number: 8622689
    Abstract: A rotor drive mechanism and pump apparatus according to the present invention may cause an external screw type rotor of a uniaxial eccentric screw pump to rotate and carry out a revolution movement. The rotor drive mechanism further comprises a shaft sealing structure configured such that a gap between an outer peripheral portion of an end portion of the revolution shaft is located on the external screw type rotor side and an inner peripheral portion of the casing in the pump apparatus is sealed. The rotor drive mechanism provides for a reduced amount of heat and vibrations to be generated when the rotor is rotated at high speed and further allows for lowering of contact pressure between an outer surface of the rotor and an inner surface of a stator inner hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Heishin Sobi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Akamatsu, Mikio Yamashita, Nobuhisa Suhara
  • Patent number: 8546969
    Abstract: The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a containment tube, peripheral rings, shaft, or porous central tube, with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. The ribbon can be peripherally mounted to the containment tube and optionally to a central porous tube. In this form the containment tube rotates and can form part of a rotor for a generator apparatus. The optional central porous tube can also be used as a bearing surface or, if attached to the inside edge of the ribbon, a power take-off shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hydrocoil Power Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Rosefsky
  • Patent number: 8511966
    Abstract: The pump rotor (1) comprises a first blade (3), wherein the first blade (3) comprises a first helical-gear blade part (3a) and, adjoining the latter, a first centrifugal-wheel blade part (3b), and said pump rotor (1) comprises a hub (2) with a rotational axis (D), wherein the centrifugal-wheel blade part (3b) is fixedly connected to the hub (2), wherein at least one second blade (4) is provided which comprises a second helical-gear blade part (4a) and, adjoining the latter, a second centrifugal-wheel blade part (4b), wherein the first and the second blades (3,4) have in each case one outer edge (3c,4c), wherein a connecting means (5) connects the first and second blades (3,4) to one another in the region of the outer edge (3c,4c), and wherein the second centrifugal-wheel blade part (4b) is arranged so as to run relative to the hub (2) in such a way that an opening (6) which runs continuously in the rotational direction (D1) is formed between said second centrifugal-wheel blade part (4b) and hub (2), since the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Frideco AG
    Inventor: Carl Stähle
  • Patent number: 8506236
    Abstract: An inducer with an exterior housing and/or interior hub that incorporates grooves or vanes that are helical in nature and in counter rotation with respect to the rotation of the blades of the inducer, which grooves or vanes capture fluid rotating with the inducer blades and use that rotation to guide the fluid up along paths formed by the grooves or vanes and into an impeller, pump or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventor: Sarah D. Alison-Youel
  • Publication number: 20130108412
    Abstract: A uniaxial eccentric screw pump enabling a stator to be easily separated into an outer cylinder and a lining member, and being capable of solving problems such as a positional shift and deformation of the lining member, and an occurrence of uneven wear and an unstable discharge amount associated with the positional shift and deformation. The stator includes a liner portion having a cylindrical shape and being integrally formed so as to have an inner peripheral surface of an internal thread type and an outer cylinder portion. The liner portion includes, at both end portions thereof, flange portions protruding radially outward, and an outer cylinder mounting portion is provided between the flange portions. The outer cylinder portion is mounted in a non-bonded state on the outer cylinder mounting portion, and both end portions of the outer cylinder portion abut on the flange portions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Takashi Hashima, Masaki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8397385
    Abstract: Method for configuring the constituent elements of hollow helical wheels or their cages, which is based on using geometrical figures whose centers serve as reference for constructing them and defining their areas. Values of angles, offsets of the centers, and pitches, make it possible to control all the constituent elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Pierre Carrouset
  • Patent number: 8393853
    Abstract: A turbine includes a plurality of blades that rotate in a single direction when exposed to fluid flow, wherein the plurality of blades are joined to the central shaft by a plurality of radial spokes disposed substantially perpendicular to the central shaft such that the rotating plurality of blades causes the shaft to rotate. The plurality of blades has a uniform airfoil-shaped cross section, where the airfoil cross section presents a non-zero angle of attack to the current. The plurality of blades wind in a spiral trajectory, rotating around the central shaft and having a variable radius along the length of the central shaft such that a distance measured from the plurality of blades to the center shaft is greater near the center of the turbine than at either end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher R. Sauer, Patrick McGinnis, Igor Yatskar, Millard S. Firebaugh
  • Patent number: 8350400
    Abstract: The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a containment tube, peripheral rings, shaft, or porous central tube, with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. The ribbon can be peripherally mounted to the containment tube and optionally to a central porous tube. In this form the containment tube rotates and can form part of a rotor for a generator apparatus. The optional central porous tube can also be used as a bearing surface or, if attached to the inside edge of the ribbon, a power take-off shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: HydroCoil Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Rosefsky
  • Patent number: 8282352
    Abstract: A helical multi-piece auger that is rotatable by a moving fluid for the generation of energy is provided. The helical multi-piece auger may include several interior pieces and two tapered end-pieces mounted on a central shaft. The pieces may include an outer spiral flange perpendicular, in both directions, to a portion of helical auger. Each tapered end-piece may be tapered with respect to both the outer diameter of a helical auger portion, and the width of an outer spiral flange. Each tapered end-piece may have an outer edge that effectively merges with the central shaft of the multi-piece auger over a radial arc of between 90 and 180 degrees. The helical multi-piece auger may include wing-shaped nose cones that are axially offset with respect to each other and house hydraulic components. The helical multi-piece auger may be rotatable by the moving fluid to facilitate generation of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8206113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for gradually converting marine wave energy into electricity. The energy reserve provided by wind power holds enough energy for the needs of the entire mankind. The invention provides an efficient means of putting this energy reserve to practical use. Mounted on a rotating power shaft is a pair of form parts, the convex and concave shape, especially the round-pointed open V-shape of which reverses its orientation by 180 degrees, i.e. turns from convex to concave, whenever the power shaft makes a rotation of 180 degrees. The circular motion of water occurring in a wave drives such a turbine effectively while the wave dies out. The pair of convex and concave form parts extends helically around the power shaft, whereby water currents in all directions, which come to contact with the pair of form parts, produce a rotative moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventors: Seppo Ryynänen, Mikko Ryynänen
  • Patent number: 8152464
    Abstract: A helical auger turbine and hydrokinetic device for use with electrical generators for producing electricity. A helical turbine blade may be mounted on a central shaft, and a flange extending perpendicularly to an edge of the turbine blade. The helical auger may be a multi-section auger having radial sections covering a radial arc of between 45 degrees and 180 degrees, and that are rotational molded with identical center sections. The auger may have tapered end sections. The radial and end sections may be interlockingly mounted onto the central shaft to enable the complete transfer of torque captured by the helical auger by a moving fluid media, such as a tidal water flow, to the central shaft. The adjacent surfaces of the radial and end sections may be flush with one another to reduce disruptions of the moving fluid flowing over the completed helical auger and rotating the assembled helical auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8152443
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump mounted in an external housing. The pump has a split housing containing an impeller with outwardly extending vanes that is mounted on a drive shaft. The drive shaft at one end is mounted to a sealed bearing within the external housing and at the other end to a drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fast Flow, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Pemberton
  • Patent number: 8105013
    Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a first pumping section 106, and, downstream therefrom, a second pumping section 108. The pump comprises a first pump inlet 120 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through both the first and second pumping sections towards a pump outlet, and a second pump inlet 122 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through only the second pumping section towards the outlet. The second pumping section 108 comprises at least one turbo-molecular pumping stage 109a, 109b and, downstream therefrom, an externally threaded rotor 109c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Ian David Stones
  • Publication number: 20110280706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a helico-axial pump (1) for pumping a multi-phase mixture (M), said helico-axial pump (1) including a rotor (2) rotatably journalled in a pump housing (6) about a longitudinal axis (A), wherein the rotor (2) includes a compression stage (K) with a helico-axial impeller (3) and a stator (4) for the compression of the multi-phase mixture (M). In accordance with the invention a hydrodynamic stabilization element (7, 71, 72, 73) having a stabilization surface (700) is provided in the pump housing (6) and designed such that a stabilization gap (8) is formed upstream of the stabilization medium, so that in the operating state a hydrodynamic stabilization layer (S) can be formed from a stabilization medium in the stabilization gap (S). The invention further relates to a rotor (2) for a helico-axial pump (1), a method for the hydrodynamic journaling of a rotor (2) of a helico-axial pump (1) as well as to a hybrid pump with a rotor (2) for a helico-axial pump 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Paul Meuter, Christopher David Radcliffe, Mônica Alves de Lima Ruguê, Thomas Welschinger
  • Publication number: 20110232177
    Abstract: The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel. In another embodiment particles carrying desired agricultural inputs with modified release characteristics are delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KAMTERTER II, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John Alvin Eastin, David Vu
  • Patent number: 8007253
    Abstract: A pump for moving a liquid including a rotor rotatable within a housing and slidable relative to the housing between a first axial rotor position during normal pump operation and a second axial rotor position during a pump inoperative condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 7976267
    Abstract: A helical turbine with a circular member attached to one end for redirecting axially flowing fluid into perpendicularly flowing fluid. A fluid diverter for redirecting substantially perpendicular flowing fluid into axially flowing fluid. A hollow circular member attached to an opposite end of the turbine allowing substantially axial flowing fluid into one end of turbine. A drive shaft of at least one generator is in continuous contact with the peripheral edge of the solid or hollow circular member producing faster rpm. A turbine assembly mounted on a rooftop utilizing accelerated wind. Fluid diverters increasing fluid flow into the helical turbine's receding blades. A fluid diverter preventing fluid from hitting turbine's oncoming blades. A tail section for maintaining optimal direction into oncoming fluid. Two counter rotating turbines where the attached circular member's edges are in continuous contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: James W. Burrell, IV
  • Patent number: 7963744
    Abstract: A rotor for a screw vacuum pump has a threaded body in which a central cavity is formed. A coolant is supplied to the cavity from a supply line provided in a shaft attached to the body. A coolant flow guide, which may be either separate from or at least partially integral with the shaft, is located within the cavity. The flow guide has an outer surface adjacent, preferably in contact with, the body to enable heat to the transferred from the rotor to the guide. The guide also has an inner surface defining a bore, and defines at least in part a plurality of axially extending slots radially spaced from and in fluid communication with the bore. In use, coolant flows into the cavity through the bore of the guide, and out from the cavity through the axially extending slots, extracting heat from the guide as it flows both into and out form the cavity. The discharged coolant is conveyed form the slots into a discharge line located within the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Michael Henry North
  • Patent number: 7938622
    Abstract: A helical auger turbine and hydrokinetic device for use with electrical generators for producing electricity. The auger turbine includes a generally helical turbine blade rotatably mounted on a central shaft, which may be tapered at each end, and a flange extending perpendicularly to an edge of the turbine blade. At least one turbine blade support connection is included for connecting the central shaft to a support structure. An electrical generator may be powered by the helical auger turbine, that can be used in a tidal water flow. The helical auger turbine can operate a high pressure pump connected to a hydraulic accumulator for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the high pressure pump. An electrical generator can be operated by hydraulic fluid delivered from the hydraulic accumulator at times of slow water flow. A plurality of helical auger turbines can be horizontally oriented under water, tethered to legs of an ocean platform such as an oil rig secured to the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110058930
    Abstract: A pump/motor includes a stator (10) having an interior profile surface and a rotor having an exterior profile surface. The stator tube is formed from the sheet metal spiral round to generate an interior profile, with an adjacent edge of the spiral wound sheet being secured together. Substantially uniform thickness elastomeric layer (20) form down interior surface of the stator tube. A rotor (30) is rotatable within the stator tube and the elastomeric layer of an operation of pump/motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Robbins & Myers Energy Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Iain R. Belcher
  • Patent number: 7887283
    Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus reactive to fluid flow comprises a turbine assembly (64) rotatably supported for generating energy and a fluid flow control assembly (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) to control fluid flow acting upon the turbine assembly (64). The turbine assembly (64) includes turbine blades (84) that extend from first ends (86) with chords (C) coincident to first end radials (R1) to second ends (88) disposed on second end radials (R2) with the chords (C) coincident to the turbine axis (B). The turbine blades (84) present faces (98) at varying angles of attack between the first end radials (R1) and the turbine axis (B) to always position or present a portion of the turbine blades (84) perpendicularly to fluid flow at various transverse angles to the turbine axis (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: James Michael Mongan
  • Publication number: 20110033279
    Abstract: To provide a rotor drive mechanism which realizes that a rotor rotating at high speed can be used by reducing the amount of heat and vibrations generated when the rotor is rotated at high speed and lowering a contact pressure between an outer surface of the rotor and an inner surface of a stator inner hole or preventing the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the stator inner hole from contacting each other. A rotor drive mechanism (53) is capable of causing an external screw type rotor (22) of an uniaxial eccentric screw pump (23) to rotate and carry out a revolution movement, the uniaxial eccentric screw pump (23) is configured such that the external screw type rotor (22) is attached to an inner hole (29a) of an internal screw type stator (29), and the external screw type rotor (22) is caused to rotate by a rotation speed control driving portion (26) and is caused to carry out a revolution movement by a revolution speed control driving portion (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Heishin Sobi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Akamatsu, Mikio Yamashita, Nobuhisa Suhara