Smooth Runner Surface For Working Fluid Frictional Contact (e.g., Unbladed Runner, Etc.) Patents (Class 415/90)
  • Patent number: 8992162
    Abstract: A multi-inlet vacuum pump has a first pump device (10) and a second pump device (12). The first pump device (10) includes a first rotor element (18) having a plurality of first rotor discs (20, 21) arranged consecutively in the delivery direction (36). The second rotor disc includes a second rotor element (26) having a plurality of second rotor discs (28) arranged consecutively in the delivery direction (36). A first fluid flow (34) is suctioned through a main inlet (32) by the first pump device (10) and delivered in the direction of the second pump device (12). A second fluid flow (40) is suctioned through an intermediate inlet (38) by the second pump device and delivered in the direction of a pump outlet. The diameter of the last rotor disc (21) of the first pump (10) substantially corresponds to the diameter of the first rotor (28) of the second pump device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Henry, Heinz Englaender, Christian Beyer
  • Publication number: 20150078883
    Abstract: A bladeless pump for fluids, including gases or gases having particulate matter therein, which may be driven by a motor. The bladeless pump consists of an assembly of rotors or discs stacked one against the other. Each rotor or disc has a runner portion on an outer area spaced away from the center of the disc or rotor and a central portion which has two or more spokes. The spokes have inter-spoke openings. The spokes are typically thicker than the rest of the discs. When many discs are placed together and spun on an axle driven by a motor, then air may be drawn in adjacent the rotor assembly where the inter-disc openings are located, and compressed as they enter the inter-disc area. A volute that is spiral shape is provided adjacent the outer rim of the disc assembly which receives the pressurized air and releases it from a motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Ralf W. Blackstone
  • Patent number: 8961104
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump includes a drag pump unit constituted with a rotational cylinder portion disposed at a rotor and a fixed cylinder (24) disposed via a gap on an outer circumferential side of the rotational cylinder portion. The fixed cylinder (24) includes: a cylinder upper portion (240a) locked to a base (1); and a cylinder lower portion (240b) connected to a discharge downstream side of the cylinder upper portion (240a) via a groove (243) formed so that a break occurs when the rotational cylinder portion (32) breaks and a broken rotational cylinder portion (32) collides with the fixed cylinder (24) subjecting the fixed cylinder (24) to a rotational torque working in a direction matching the direction in which the rotational cylinder portion (32) rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masahito Kogame
  • Patent number: 8961106
    Abstract: A connector device for coupling a turbomolecular pump to an apparatus to be pumped. The connector device can suppress transmission of vibrations of relatively low frequencies. The pump has a rotor, a casing accommodating the rotor therein, and an intake port and an outlet port formed in the casing. The pump operates to suck gas from the intake port and to expel the gas from the outlet port by rotating the rotor within the casing at high speed. The connecting device has a connecting exhaust tube for connecting the intake port of the turbomolecular pump with the outlet port of the apparatus (such as a vacuum vessel) to be pumped. An annular weight is disposed around the outer periphery of the connecting exhaust tube. A viscoelastic member is interposed between the connecting exhaust tube and the weight to form a vibration absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Hamochi
  • Publication number: 20150050124
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for pumping a fluid at low flows, comprising a body (1) including a channel (2) having a circular cross section for transportation of a fluid, and a cylindrical cavity (3) arranged in connection with the channel and with its longitudinal axis being non coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the channel, and a pump including a rotatable cylinder (6) extending into the cavity, coaxial with the cavity, with the periphery of the cylinder protruding into the channel, thereby driving the fluid in the channel by shear forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Gardhagen, Eva-Lena Gardhagen
  • Publication number: 20150037137
    Abstract: An improved vacuum pump mechanism is described in which an intersecting solid or perforated element is arranged to intersect a channel member. Relative movement of the intersecting solid or perforated element and channel member causes gas molecules to be urged from inlet to an outlet of the pump. Gas molecules are constrained within the channel member and interaction of the gas molecules with the flat and smooth surfaces of the intersecting solid or perforated member influence momentum of the gas molecules so that they are directed towards the outlet. In one embodiment, the channel member is formed as a helix and the intersecting solid or perforated elements are disk-shaped. An alternative embodiment is provided having the channel member configured as a spiral and the perforated elements as cylindrical skirts. The pump provides significant improvements in pump capacity, reduced power consumption and size of pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Nigel Paul Schofield, Ian David Stones, Stephen Dowdeswell
  • Patent number: 8939949
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stacked multi-disk pump for the pumping of ocular fluid and/or tissue during ophthalmic surgery. The stacked multi-disk pump includes an inlet port, a stacked multi-disk assembly, a fluid chamber, a central hub, a motor, and an outlet port. The motor and the hub induce the multi-disk assembly to rotate. As the multi-disk assembly rotates, the fluid is propelled into the inlet port, progresses axially, circumferentially, and radially through the stacked multi-disk assembly, and flows out the outlet port. The pump may be incorporated, for example, into the handpiece of an ophthalmic surgical instrument or a surgical console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: John M. Bourne
  • Publication number: 20150021915
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (a) a bladeless rotatable element with a smooth outer surface, said rotatable element connected to a drive mechanism; and (b) a dynamo powered by said drive mechanism so as to output an electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: RE10 LTD.
    Inventors: Carmi Raz, Tzahi Shneider
  • Patent number: 8926266
    Abstract: A multi-inlet vacuum pump includes a first pump device (10) including a first rotor element (18) with a plurality of first rotor disks (20) serially arranged in the conveying direction (36), and a second pump device (12) including a further rotor element (26) with a plurality of second rotor disks (28) serially arranged in the conveying direction (36). A diameter of the second rotor disks (28) is at least partially larger than a diameter of the first rotor disks (20). A main inlet (32) sucks in a first fluid stream (34) with the first pump device (10). The first fluid stream (34) is conveyed in the direction of the further pump device (12). An intermediate inlet (38) sucks in a second fluid stream (40) with the second pump device (12). The second fluid stream (40) is conveyed in the direction of a pump outlet. A process of merging the two fluid streams (34,40) will occur within the second pump device (12), preferably between two adjacent second rotor disks (28) of the second pump device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Beyer, Markus Henry, Heinz Englaender
  • Patent number: 8926261
    Abstract: A turbine assembly is provided assembly having rotor defines a plurality of recesses disposed about an axis of rotation (Ar). Each of the recesses having a wide end and a narrow end. The recesses are disposed in the alternating orientations such that the wide ends and the narrow ends of the adjacent recesses are proximate to one another to minimize wake turbulence, thereby optimizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: 4sphere LLC
    Inventor: David Michael Patrick
  • Publication number: 20140321976
    Abstract: A novel molecular adhesion turbine includes improved disc array, flywheel, housing and nozzle structural designs each adapted to exhibit molecularly repulsive and/or molecularly adhesive properties depending upon the particular working fluid used with the turbine. Backflow turbulence and drag forces are reduced, and turbine operating efficiencies are improved as a result. The invention includes an insulating enclosure, which provides added noise cancellation and heat capture benefits. The new molecular adhesion turbine is modular and thus capable of sealable applications, including connecting the turbine to a bladed steam turbine of the type typically used in power plants for heretofore unrealized downstream energy efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Gary R. Kerns, Bret M. Lee
  • Patent number: 8863530
    Abstract: A device comprising a combustion toroid for receiving combustion-induced centrifugal forces therein to continuously combust fluids located therein and an outlet for exhaust from said combustion toroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Power Generation Technologies Development Fund L.P.
    Inventor: Ernst Bergen
  • Publication number: 20140308112
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a mechanical seal assembly, comprising at least one mechanical seal (2) with a rotating seal ring (21) and a stationary seal ring (22), the rotating seal ring (21) and the stationary seal ring (22) defining a sealing gap (23) between them, and a Tesla pump (6) co-rotating with the rotating seal ring (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: EAGLEBURGMANN GERMANY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Ledig, Thomas Boehm, Rudolf Kollinger
  • Patent number: 8858168
    Abstract: A method for assembling a ventilation system is provided. The method includes providing a ventilation hood that includes a cover portion and a discharge portion extending from the cover portion. The cover portion includes a first aperture, an opposite second aperture, and a cavity therein, wherein an interior of the discharge portion is in flow communication with the cover portion cavity. The method also includes coupling a rotatable member at least partially within the ventilation hood, such that the rotatable member extends at least partially through at least one of the first and second apertures, and such that rotation of the rotatable member induces a windage-driven flow of fluid between a portion of the rotatable member and at least one of the first and second apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Lynn Loud, Carlos Andres Rodriguez, Timothy Andrew Melsert
  • Patent number: 8858188
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum pump or vacuum apparatus having a vacuum pump for the evacuation of one or a plurality of volumes, the vacuum pump having a plurality of pressure stages and at least two suction inlets. According to the invention, an outer suction inlet for a first pressure stage spatially encompasses an inner suction inlet for a second pressure stage such that the inner suction inlet seals only against pressure within the outer suction inlet, not against external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Makarov
  • Patent number: 8821109
    Abstract: A device for detecting the axial position of a rotary shaft of a rotary machine comprises a target of ferromagnetic material placed at the end of the rotary shaft, an induction coil associated with a stationary magnetic circuit and placed facing the target while leaving an airgap, and a power supply circuit. The power supply circuit comprises an AC voltage source connected between a first end of the induction coil and a zone situated at a reference voltage, at least one capacitor connected between the ends of the induction coil, and a detector device interposed between a second end of the induction coil and the zone situated at the reference voltage, in order to deliver on a line information about the magnitude of the current flowing between the second end and the zone situated at the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SKF Magnetic Mechatronics
    Inventor: Ulrich Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8801359
    Abstract: Smooth, preferably variable-sweep fluid collection device surfaces disposed into opposition with wind, river, surf, ocean or tidal currents generate enhanced velocity fluid flows at length driven into onboard work-extracting disc turbines at advantageous angles of attack. Keyed to shafts turning freely through optionally extendable volutes, disc turbines comprising a dense population of smooth, axially fixed or adjustably spaced discs conducting preferably laminar flow between adjacent elements develop significant torque through boundary layer adhesion and viscous shear-stress between fluid layers. Exhaust of disc turbine throughput into divergent channels drafting into external currents of initially higher than ambient velocity and lower pressure may reduce turbine discharge backpressure, rapidly clear system throughput, and allow normally disadvantageous drag to be utilized to develop greater work generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Gordon David Sherrer
  • Patent number: 8790071
    Abstract: In a turbomolecular pump, in connection with a dimensionless number X that is the ratio of an inter-vane distance S to a chord length C for moving vane blades of rotor impeller (4B) and stationary vane blades of stator impeller (2B), with dimensionless numbers at the outer circumferential portion and the inner circumferential portion of a first vane stage being termed Xo(R) and Xi(R) and dimensionless numbers at the outer circumferential portion and the inner circumferential portion of a second vane stage being termed Xo(S) and Xi(S), and with respect to vane stages that are adjacent along the direction of the rotational shaft, at least one vane stage is provided that satisfies a first relational equation “Xo(R)>Xo(S)” and a second relational equation “Xi(R)<Xi(S)”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Kouta Oishi
  • Patent number: 8784035
    Abstract: A bladeless pump for fluids, such as gases that may contain particulate matter, drivable by a motor, consisting of an assembly of rotors or discs stacked against each other. Each rotor/disc has a runner portion on an outer area separated from its center, and a central portion having two or more spokes, divided by openings. The spokes are typically thicker than the rest of the discs. When many discs are placed together and spun on a motor-driven axle, air may be drawn in adjacent the rotor assembly, to the inter-disc openings, and compressed as it enters the area A spiral-shape volute is provided adjacent the outer ?M of the disc assembly, receiving pressurized air and releasing it from a motor housing. Applicant's bladeless pump may include a base for receiving the rotor housing and the motor, which may include a housing to substantially enclose the motor and its housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Ralf W. Blackstone
  • Patent number: 8716658
    Abstract: The invention provides a mass spectrometer system (10) comprising a mass spectrometer (12) comprising a plurality of mass spectrometer stages (16, 18, 20, 44) in fluid communication from a low vacuum stage (16) to a higher vacuum stage (44). A split flow multi-stage pump (14) evacuates the mass spectrometer stages. The pump comprises a pump envelope (28) in which a plurality of pumping stages (20, 32, 34) are supported for rotation about an axis X generally parallel to the direction of flow in the mass spectrometer stages for pumping fluid from a main pump inlet (36) to a main pump outlet (38). At least part of a higher vacuum stage (44) is located within the pump envelope at the main pump inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Ian David Stones
  • Publication number: 20140102115
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a turbo-engine, particularly internal combustion engine, comprising a housing and therein a bladeless turbine section (30; 42; 67) of the stacked disc- or Tesla-type construction, wherein the turbine section (30; 42; 67) has a plurality of closely spaced discs (32; 49; 61) arranged for common rotation about a rotation axis in the housing, said turbine section (30; 42; 67) is adapted for passing with tangential flow components a working fluid stream from a radially inner region to a radially outer region of said turbine section (30; 42; 67) while adopting energy from said working fluid stream for rotating the discs (30; 49; 61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: AELLA SA
    Inventor: Slobodan Tepic
  • Patent number: 8678749
    Abstract: A centrifugal reverse flow disk turbine for power generation, comprising; a) a turbine shaft; b) a disk rotor disposed on said turbine shaft; c) a housing, having said turbine shaft and said disk rotor, bearings, seal devices, and at least one jet nozzle means; d) a plurality of radially engraved channel for transporting working fluid from entering ports, placed axially near said turbine shaft; e) a plurality of said channels having two curvatures; first curvature has a small radius, and concaved pertinent to rotational direction of said rotor, starting from the entering port to middle of its flow path, and the second curvature has a large radius, convexed pertinent to rotational direction of said rotor, positioned near the peripheral of said rotor; a plurality of a bucket attached at every flow channel, directing against nozzle disposed on said housing, thereby deriving impinging counter supersonic flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Takeo S. Saitoh
  • Patent number: 8668436
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump has multiple stages of alternately arranged rotors and stators. Each of the rotors has blades radially extending from a rotating body. Each of the stators has blades radially extending toward the rotating shaft of the rotating body. The blades provided on at least either of a rotor and a stator are formed in a twisted shape having a blade angle set by an expression in which the radial distance from the rotating shaft is a variable. The expression of the blade angle is composed of a first expression which provides the optimum angle of each blade on the outer side of a predetermined radius of the blade and also composed of a second expression which provides the blade angle suppressing, on the inner side of the predetermined radius, reverse flow of gas molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Kouta Oishi
  • Publication number: 20140023481
    Abstract: A device for recovering energy from a flow of fluid including a support, a flexible membrane, an attachment system for attaching at least a first area of the membrane connecting this first area of the membrane to the support; force transmission means connected to a second area of the membrane remote from the first membrane area, this second area of the membrane being movable with respect to the support. The device includes separation limiting means, adapted to limit the separation of the first area of the membrane from at least a first point of the attachment system and to limit the separation the second area of the membrane from a second point of the attachment system, these separation limiting means being such that the first and second areas are spaced apart from each other by a minimum distance (Dmin) smaller than the shortest length (Lmin) separating these first and second areas measured along a face of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Jean Baptiste Drevet
  • Patent number: 8623212
    Abstract: A system and method are provided in at least one embodiment to filter water through a vortex leading into a disk-pack turbine having an expansion chamber and outlets into a discharge chamber that leads to at least one discharge port. In a further embodiment, the system includes an intake module, a vortex module, a disk-pack module, and a motor for driving the disk-pack turbine. The intake module brings water into the system and routes the water to the vortex module that speeds up the water into a vortex that flows into the disk-pack turbine that discharges into a discharge chamber that leads to at least one discharge port. The disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks that are spaced apart forming chambers between the disks that provide at least one passageway between the expansion chamber and the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: QWTIP LLC
    Inventors: Whitaker Ben Irvin, Sr., Luis Octavio Perez Hirschfeld
  • Publication number: 20130280037
    Abstract: An energy conversion device includes a vehicle. The vehicle includes a wheel. The wheel includes a chamber. The chamber is configured to contain a fluid. The fluid is configured to produce centrifugal energy. The wheel is configured to rotate and produce energy from the centrifugal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald Alan Shires
  • Patent number: 8538593
    Abstract: A method is provided for merging different load forecasts for power grid centers. Area load forecasts are accepted from load forecast engines. A relational database saves load forecast engine data. A comprehensive operating plan integrates individual load forecasts into a composite load forecast to present a comprehensive, synchronized and harmonized load forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Grid Inc.
    Inventors: David Sun, Kwok Cheung, Kenneth Chung, Tory McKeag
  • Patent number: 8529218
    Abstract: A vacuum pump for the evacuation of one or a plurality of volumes is described. The vacuum pump has a plurality of pressure stages and at least two suction inlets. An outer suction inlet for a first pressure stage spatially encompasses an inner suction inlet for a second pressure stage such that the inner suction inlet seals only against pressure within the outer suction inlet, not against external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander A. Makarov
  • Patent number: 8523539
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a multi-disk centrifugal pump suitable for pumping fluids, including biocompatible fluids, such as blood. The design of the pump components is optimized to reduce or eliminate the probability of clotting and hemolysis when pumping blood, and to be energy efficient and resistant to physical shock for portable applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Brijesh Gill, Charles S. Cox, Jr., Kevin R. Aroom
  • Publication number: 20130213039
    Abstract: The bladeless turbine includes a case, three or more turbine discs disposed within the case. Each turbine disc has a center opening, and two or more of the turbine discs have a set of exhaust ports positioned annularly around the center opening. A drive shaft passes through the center openings of the turbine discs and is attached to the three or more turbine discs, wherein the drive shaft is positioned within the case along the centerline, free to rotate within the case, and extends through the case for connection to a generator. The one or more fluid/vapor inlets are attached to the main housing such that a fluid/vapor is directed at a specified angle onto the three or more turbine discs. The fluid/vapor outlet is aligned with the centerline. A set of exhaust holes proximate to and connected to the fluid/vapor outlet that are positioned annularly around the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Logic Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory Bohl, Frank Germano, Martin Dorantes
  • Patent number: 8500391
    Abstract: A supersonic gas compressor with bleed gas collectors, and a method of starting the compressor. The compressor includes aerodynamic duct(s) situated for rotary movement in a casing. The aerodynamic duct(s) generate a plurality of oblique shock waves for efficiently compressing a gas at supersonic conditions. A convergent inlet is provided adjacent to a bleed gas collector, and during startup of the compressor, bypass gas is removed from the convergent inlet via the bleed gas collector, to enable supersonic shock stabilization. Once the oblique shocks are stabilized at a selected inlet relative Mach number and pressure ratio, the bleed of bypass gas from the convergent inlet via the bypass gas collectors is effectively eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn P. Lawlor
  • Patent number: 8459931
    Abstract: A turbo-molecular pump, includes a blade pumping section having a plurality of rotor blades and a plurality of stator blades which are alternately arranged in plural stages along an axial direction of the pump, and a thread groove pumping section having a cylindrical-shaped screw stator, and a rotor cylinder adapted to be rotated inside the screw stator. The rotor cylinder has a lower edge surface located on an upstream side relative to a downstream edge of the screw stator with respect to the axial direction. The turbo-molecular pump of the present invention can minimize flying-out of broken pieces of the rotor cylinder from a discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Takuto Onishi
  • Patent number: 8425179
    Abstract: A power turbine employs a plurality of turbine blades which allows the turbine to regulate pressure and ventilate for a greater ability to generate power without back pressure of the power source. It also relieves much of the stress on the uni-body construction. The vent ports (30) work at various times to transfer pressure naturally from one compartment to another, greatly increasing the balance of pressure throughout the process within the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel O. Hesting
  • Patent number: 8403652
    Abstract: A molecular pump has a cylindrical casing, a stator portion formed in the casing, a shaft disposed in the stator portion, a bearing pivotally supporting the shaft with respect to the stator portion, a rotor that is attached to the shaft and rotates integrally with the shaft, a motor for rotationally driving the shaft, a shock absorbing member, and a flange portion provided at an end portion of the casing. The flange portion has a bolt hole through which extends a bolt for fixing the casing and a fixed member to each other and an insertion hole which is provided adjacent to the bolt hole and in which the shock absorbing member is inserted so that at least one end side of the shock absorbing member extending along an axial direction of the bolt is spaced apart from the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yasushi Maejima, Yoshinobu Ohtachi, Rumiko Wada, Yoshihiro Enomoto, Chris Bailey, Dawn Stephenson, Kate Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130068314
    Abstract: Provided are various devices and processes that harness the inherent kinetic energy of a flowing pressurized fluid to drive a compressor to compress a fluid without any need for electrical or chemical energy. The flowing fluid flows over a boundary layer disk turbine, or Tesla turbine, which is mechanically coupled to a compressor that compresses a fluid. The flowing fluid may be a natural gas from a hydrocarbon recovery operation. The compressed fluid may be a vapor gas from a hydrocarbon production, processing, or storage facility. Harnessing the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid increases economic efficiency of the process, while also avoiding unwanted emissions adverse to the environment and public health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: LEED FABRICATION SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Casey L. BEELER
  • Patent number: 8398362
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump includes a plurality of alternatively axially arranged one behind another, rotor and stator discs (8,9) provided with blades (10), with the blades (10) located in vicinity of the high vacuum side having a blade angle (?) that is steeper than blade angle (?) of the blades (10) located in vicinity of the vacuum side, and with the blade angle (?) of the blades (10) located in the vicinity of the vacuum side (3) amounting to less than 8°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Conrad, Peter Fahrenbach
  • Patent number: 8393854
    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 an externally threaded rotor (109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Ian David Stones, David John Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8365699
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes in one aspect a source of a pressurized working medium and an expander. The expander has a housing and a piston, movably mounted within and with respect to the housing, to perform one of rotation and reciprocation, each complete rotation or reciprocation defining at least a part of a cycle of the engine. The expander also includes a septum, mounted within the housing and movable with respect to the housing and the piston so as to define in conjunction therewith, over first and second angular ranges of the cycle, a working chamber that is isolated from an intake port and an exhaust port. Combustion occurs at least over the first angular range of the cycle to provide heat to the working medium and so as to increase its pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: LiquidPiston, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Shkolnik, Nikolay Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 8366380
    Abstract: A turbo-molecular pump has a housing with intake and exhaust ports. A rotary body is enclosed in the housing and has rotor blades of a series of stages formed so that the outside diameter of at least one stage on the exhaust port side is smaller than that on the intake port side. Stator blades are arranged between the rotor blades and spacer rings are arranged between the stator blades to hold the stator blades at predetermined intervals. The spacer rings are formed so that the smallest inside diameter of at least one stage of the spacer rings on the exhaust port side is smaller than the largest outside diameter of the rotor blades. The housing comprises a casing whose inside diameter is constant or whose inside diameter is smaller at the intake port side than at the exhaust port side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi, Tsutomu Takaada
  • Patent number: 8356970
    Abstract: An exhaust pump that prevents particles from entering a processing chamber of a substrate processing apparatus. The exhaust pump connected to the processing chamber has rotary blades and an air intake portion disposed on the processing chamber side of the rotary blades. A shielding unit is disposed inside the air intake portion and shields the rotary blades when the air intake portion is viewed from the processing chamber side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Eiichi Sugawara, Tsuyoshi Moriya
  • Patent number: 8356971
    Abstract: In a disc turbine for operation from steam, including superheated steam, a stack of horizontally oriented discs is fitted centrally with a hub having a closed upper end from which a driveshaft extends upwardly, supported by a bearing system. The hub is configured with identical vanes arrayed uniformly about the central axis and specially shaped to accomplish a set of desired flow path objectives. The vanes are generally tapered such that their cross-sectional shape evolves from predominantly solid material in area at the top of the hub to predominantly open area at the bottom of the hub, where the flow paths proceed downwardly into a tubular exhaust passageway. The entry to the exhaust passageway may take the form of effectively a hollow portion of the shaft in the exhaust region, which may be supported from the enclosure by a bearing set. The central opening in each disk, and thus in the stack, and in the periphery of the hub are both configured with a complementary mating interface pattern: e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: John W. Detch
  • Patent number: 8317460
    Abstract: A boundary layer wind turbine having one or more flaps coupled to the underneath of a turbine disk is provided. The turbine uses an assembly of closely stacked disks that are rotated by the wind blowing across the face of the disks to rotate a turbine shaft that is attached to an electrical generator to generate electricity. The wind moves the turbines as it flows across the surface of the closely spaced disks. The disks include one or more flaps attached to the bottom side of the disks. The wind blows against the flap, which in turn exerts a force on the disk, causing the turbine to rotate. The flaps may be located near the outer circumference of the disks. The one or more flaps on the disks retract automatically as the rotational velocity of the turbine increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Randy D. Retherford
  • Patent number: 8308425
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adhesion rotary disc pump comprising a housing embedding therein at least one adhesion-propelling disc mounted on a rotatable shaft that is drivable by a drive, wherein fluids engaging with said at least one adhesion-propelling disc are transportable from at least one inlet to at least one outlet. In embodiments, the pump employs a scraping unit operative to scrape off fluid adherent on both sides of each of the at least one rotatable adhesion-propelling disc and that the scraped-off fluid is being channeled directly or indirectly to the at least one outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
    Inventor: Noa Schmid
  • Patent number: 8308427
    Abstract: A vacuum pump according to the invention includes a cylindrical pump casing for accommodating a rotor, a ring fitting part provided at an inlet area of the pump casing, a C-shaped ring of character C configuration devoid of portion of a ring member, fitted to the ring fitting part, and a protective net for stopping foreign matter, fitted to the inlet area by means of the C-shaped ring. As both ends of the C-shaped ring are formed so that the ends of the C-shaped ring are arranged overlapping each other in a circumferential direction in a state where the C-shaped ring is fitted to the pump casing, the deformation of the protective net for prevention of foreign matters is suppressed when air rushes into a pump casing, and therefore the dropping off of the protective net can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20120240340
    Abstract: An airbed system is provided. The airbed system includes: an air mattress having at least one air mattress chamber; a boundary-layer pump connected to the at least one air mattress, configured to fill the at least one air mattress with gas; and a control unit, configured to receive user input corresponding to increasing or decreasing the pressure in the at least one air mattress chamber and to control the boundary-layer pump based on the received user input. The boundary-layer pump includes: a pressure recovery chamber housing including a pressure recovery chamber, a pump inlet, and a pump outlet; a plurality of disks within the pressure recovery chamber; and a motor attached to the plurality of disks, configured to rotate the plurality of disks so as to expel gas passing through the pump inlet radially outwards along the disks and out through the pump outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Rapid Air LLC
    Inventors: David Delory Driscoll, JR., John Joseph Riley
  • Patent number: 8246300
    Abstract: The distance h between a base end face 12ta (12tb) of a stator-blade-wheel outer ring part 12a and the corresponding rotor-blade end face 4aa (4ab), is set at a value larger than the maximum deformation of the running rotor blade wheel 4a during the pump operation. The larger distance h keeps perfectly stator-rotor separation, while the outer ring part 12a of a stator blade wheel 12 goes, in assembling, into the rotor area on account of large shift of any half of stator blade wheels owing to the wide cutting width. It makes also easy stator blade wheel assembling of the pump, as it is allowable to arrange half stator blade wheels with some eccentricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yongwei Shi, Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8221052
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbo-molecular pump, which comprises a rotor including a first cylindrical body formed with a part of a plurality of rotating blades arranged in multistage, a second cylindrical body integrally connected to an outer peripheral region of a downstream end of the first cylindrical body and formed with the remaining rotating blades, and a stress-releasing protrusion extending from the downstream end of the first cylindrical body along a direction of a rotation axis of the rotor. The turbo-molecular pump of the present invention can reduce a stress in the downstream end of the first cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20120161447
    Abstract: A wind power hybrid rotor of a wind power plant for converting wind energy into drive energy is provided. For a utilization of the wind energy in a manner as efficient as possible, a wind power hybrid rotor is provided with a cross-flow rotor, a guide device and a Magnus rotor. The cross-flow rotor is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis and has a plurality of axially extending rotor blades. The guide device has a housing segment partially enclosing the cross-flow rotor in the circumferential direction in such a manner that the cross-flow rotor can be driven by inflowing wind. The Magnus rotor axis is arranged within the cross-flow rotor, and the Magnus rotor axis extends in the direction of the rotational axis. The Magnus rotor has a closed lateral surface and is rotatably driven about the Magnus rotor axis by a drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jost SEIFERT
  • Patent number: 8206081
    Abstract: A vacuum pump (100) comprises a pumping mechanism having an annular pumping chamber (112, 114, 116) extending about a longitudinal axis (107) and through which fluid is pumped by the pumping mechanism. A plenum (126) located remote from the pumping mechanism has an inlet (128) for receiving fluid to be pumped by the pumping mechanism and a plurality of outlets (132) arranged about the longitudinal axis (107) for supplying fluid to the annular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Ian David Stones
  • Publication number: 20120141254
    Abstract: To provide a vacuum pump in which possibilities of decreased exhaust performance and gas leakage at the time of breakage of a rotor are lessened, in the case where a rotating part closes the inside opening portion of an exhaust outlet portion to decrease the height dimension of the vacuum pump, and further a connector lead wire is installed, easily. An inside opening edge portion of a gas discharge passage for combining the downstream space of the rotor with the exhaust outlet portion is caused to take a shape such that the opening edge portion has no blind portion when a gas exhaust passage forming member is viewed from at least either of an upper side or an oblique upper side, or from at least either of an lower side or an oblique lower side. Furthermore, the inner corner portion of this opening edge portion is formed into a rounded shape to reduce stress concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: EDWARDS JAPAN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ohtachi, Yasushi Maejima, Tsutomu Takaada, Tooru Miwata