By Controlling Motive Fluid Patents (Class 417/187)
  • Patent number: 12221296
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus and method capable of controlling a gripper to stably suck a substrate even when the substrate is deformed, the substrate processing apparatus including a floating stage for floating a substrate, lift pins liftably mounted in the floating stage, a substrate aligner for aligning the substrate floated from the floating stage, a gripper for vacuum-sucking the aligned substrate, and a controller capable of controlling a floating height of the substrate, wherein the controller reduces the floating height of the substrate when the gripper fails to vacuum-suck the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 12134528
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a pneumatic component includes a compressed air supply circuit for connecting to an inlet of the pneumatic component. The circuit includes a normally closed monostable valve having an inlet for connecting to a compressed air source and an outlet for connecting to the pneumatic component, and a bistable directional valve having both a first port for connecting to the compressed air source and also a second port connected to a first port of a normally passing monostable directional valve, the monostable directional valve having a second port connected to a pneumatic control port of the monostable valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: COVAL
    Inventors: Emmanuel Buffat, Michel Cecchin, Pierre Milhau
  • Patent number: 11712782
    Abstract: An abrasive head with clean gas infeed for cleaning/removing material surfaces and splitting/cutting materials by a liquid beam enriched with solid abrasive particles to extend the tool lifetime by eliminating damage to the liquid jet's aperture by the abrasive, avoid degrading the abrasive inside the tool and increase the cutting power and flow efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Jiri Mestanek, Zdenek Riha
  • Patent number: 11639758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air-valve unit for a vacuum system. The valve unit may include a control part, which detects a pressure of an external exhaust space to output an on/off signal, to actively control supply/blocking of air into/from an exhaust hole. Also, the valve unit is preferably constituted by a plurality of holes and electronic valves so that an opening/closing of an outlet of each of the holes is controlled by the control part, and thus, extension of a vacuum generation line or combination of generation/destruction lines may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: VTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho-Young Cho
  • Patent number: 11628540
    Abstract: An abrasive head with inserted jet for cleaning/removing material surfaces and splitting/cutting materials by a liquid beam enriched with solid abrasive particles to extend the tool lifetime by eliminating damage to the liquid jet's aperture by the abrasive, avoid degrading the abrasive inside the tool and increase the cutting power and flow efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Jiri Mestanek, Zdenek Riha
  • Patent number: 11572961
    Abstract: A module for a fluid circuit of a vehicle includes a unitary housing. The unitary housing of the module contains a fluid moving device, a fluid control device, and a power sharing connection. The power sharing device is configured to provide power to the fluid moving device and the fluid control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventor: David Crowther
  • Patent number: 11274680
    Abstract: An ejector device (1), e.g., for pumping a gas using a liquid motive fluid, has an injector portion (100), and a diffuser portion (50), the injector portion (100) being arranged for injecting a flow of motive fluid from a motive fluid inlet (10) into an inlet section (52) of the diffuser portion (50) thereby to draw a suction fluid from a suction fluid inlet (20) into the inlet section (52) of the diffuser portion (50). The injector portion (100) includes a flow-modifying arrangement with at least one rotational deflector element (104), e.g., three vanes (104V1, 104V2, 104V3) each at a desired twist angle, constructed and arranged to deflect motive fluid into a helical path as it moves over or through the rotational deflector element (104), and at least one baffle element (103), e.g., a baffle plate (103), downstream of the rotational deflector element (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Transvac Systems Limited
    Inventors: Gary Anthony Short, Jacob Thomas Roberts, Thomas Peter More
  • Patent number: 10470632
    Abstract: A method for operating a suction-type cleaner, in which, in a manner controlled in the filter dedusting position by an electromagnetically actuated switchover valve arrangement (19, 20, 21), at least one filter (9), through which the dirt-laden air flow passes, is dedusted in the opposite direction to said air flow, and the dirt-laden suction air from the dirt-collecting container (1) firstly passes through the at least one filter (9) which is adjoined, in the flow direction, by a suction chamber (12), which is adjoined downstream by an intermediate chamber (26) which is arranged on the suction side of the turbine (30), and a pressure chamber (34) is arranged downstream of the turbine (30), wherein, in order to reduce the actuating force of the switchover valve arrangement (19, 20, 21) in the dedusting position of the suction-type cleaner, the pressure between the pressure chamber (34) and the intermediate chamber (26) is equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NILFISK A/S
    Inventor: Anders Foenss
  • Patent number: 10330123
    Abstract: In an ejector, a substantially conical passage formation member is disposed in the interior of a body forming a space therein to define a nozzle passage functioning as a nozzle, a mixing passage in which an ejection refrigerant ejected from the nozzle passage and a suction refrigerant drawn from a suction passage are mixed together, and a diffuser passage that converts a kinetic energy of the refrigerant that has flowed out of the mixing passage into a pressure energy, between an inner peripheral surface of the body and the passage formation member. The passage formation member is configured so that a spread angle of a portion forming an outlet side of the nozzle passage is smaller than a spread angle of a portion forming an inlet side of the nozzle passage in a cross-section parallel to an axial direction of the passage formation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Nakashima, Etsuhisa Yamada, Haruyuki Nishijima, Yoshiaki Takano
  • Patent number: 10273978
    Abstract: An evacuator for supplying vacuum to a device in a boosted engine air system is disclosed. The evacuator defines a body comprising a converging motive section, a diverging discharge section, at least one suction port, and a Venturi gap located between an outlet end of the converging motive section and an inlet end of the diverging discharge section. A lineal distance is measured between the outlet end and the inlet end. The lineal distance is decreased in length if higher suction vacuum at a specific set of operating conditions is required and the lineal distances is increased in length if higher suction flow rate at the specific set of operating conditions is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dayco IP, Holdings LLC
    Inventors: David E. Fletcher, Brian M. Graichen, James H. Miller, Rex Bravo, Matthew C. Gilmer, Keith Hampton, Andrew D. Niedert, Denis Vashuk
  • Patent number: 9598990
    Abstract: An ejector includes: a decompression chamber in an outer pipe on an air entrance side; a throat in the outer pipe on an air exit side; a nozzle in the outer pipe on the air entrance side, the nozzle having a leading end portion placed in a decompression chamber to inject air; and a suction port in the decompression chamber to suck blow-by gas into the decompression chamber. The air injected from the nozzle generates negative pressure in the decompression chamber to suck in blow-by gas through the suction port, and the sucked gas is discharged together with air through a throat. The valve in the nozzle includes a valve seat, a valve element, and a spring to press the valve element in a direction to separate from the valve seat. The valve element is formed with a bottom-closed cavity opening toward an upstream side of an air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiro Doko, Jun Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9334128
    Abstract: A vacuum generator module having a substantially rectangular box housing electronic controls for controlling and monitoring the operation of pneumatic vacuum generators and their electrical connections with an electrical power supply and external control members, including an input connector and an output connector installed in one of the faces of the box. The first module is a master module that includes a microcontroller adapted to the communications protocol first of a fieldbus present in a vacuum handling machine incorporating the first module, and secondly of a bus that is dedicated to the other modules. Each of the other modules is a slave module including a microcontroller adapted to the communications protocol of the dedicated bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: COVAL
    Inventors: Pierre Milhau, Michel Cecchin
  • Patent number: 9062684
    Abstract: A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimize the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventor: Simon Harold Bruce
  • Publication number: 20150118071
    Abstract: A vacuum generator includes a main body, and a nozzle body received in the intake pipe. The main body includes an intake pipe, an outlet pipe, and a vacuum pipe received in the main body. The outlet pipe can be in communication with the intake pipe, and the vacuum pipe can extend away from the intersection of the intake pipe and the outlet pipe. The nozzle body is threadedly attached to the intake pipe and the position of the nozzle body in the intake pipe can be adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: XIAO-YI WU, WEI-GUI XU, XIAO-HONG ZENG
  • Publication number: 20150098842
    Abstract: An unconventional approach to propulsion provided by this invention incorporates 3 specific features making it possible to develop and maintain pressure at the intake nozzle upstream of the impeller to provide a second component to the overall propulsive effort thus converting the conventional jet drive into ramjet drive. At high speeds the second component becomes the prominent thrust, thus reducing the overall power demand to at high speeds to a third.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Harry Menian
  • Patent number: 8956126
    Abstract: A sump water evacuation system that operates automatically without reliance on electricity or floats and without any need for oversight or manual intervention, using domestic water supply as the sole motive force to evacuate sump water either into a washbasin or to the exterior of the building; the system is easily installed for use with Radon remediated sump pits. A pneumatic stagnation pressure automatically signals a rising water level in a sump pit and this signal is communicated to a housing wherein the low-pressure signal is mechanically amplified to activate a tilt valve mechanism, thereby converting the pneumatic signal to a hydraulic force which in turn opens a check valve, allowing a high-pressure domestic water supply to flow through to a commercially available Venturi siphon device, causing the sump water to be suctioned out and expelled into either a washbasin or to the exterior of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Harry Lewis Sernaker
  • Patent number: 8951022
    Abstract: A powder feed apparatus for a powder spraycoating equipment includes a dense phase powder pump fitted with at least one, or two feed chambers. Each of the feed chambers includes at one chamber end a powder intake valve and at the opposite chamber end a powder outlet valve and further includes at least one air exchange aperture to alternatingly apply compressed conveying air or a partial vacuum to the feed chamber. The apparatus further includes an integral structural block. The structural block includes the feed chambers and first control valves connected in fluid communication to at least one of feed chambers for the purpose of applying compressed conveying air and a partial vacuum to it. The first control valves are directly connected, in fluid communication via ducts constituted in the structural block, to at least one of the feed chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Gema Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Christian Marxer, Thomas Staub
  • Patent number: 8905723
    Abstract: A marine jet pump with an adjustable venturi. An annularly compressible ring is affixed coaxially to the aft end of the pump housing. A collar coaxial to the ring is moveable coaxial to the ring. In a constricted mode the collar is mechanically forced over the aft end of the ring thereby reducing the diameter of the ring. In a dilated mode the collar is mechanically withdrawn to a predetermined degree from over the aft end of the ring allowing the ring to revert to it naturally dilated state. The transition between dilated mode and constricted mode can occur under full power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Pedro P Blanco
  • Patent number: 8672643
    Abstract: One of the main objects in providing optimal mass exchange for fuel cells, especially mobile fuel cells, is anode gas supply to fuel cell stack based on stoichiometric characteristics depending on variable loads and anode gas recirculation. External loads may vary in wide range and arbitrary change, thus complicate the optimal mass exchange in fuel cell stack. A new original technology is disclosed for anode gas supply using a multi-stage ejector. This technology, an ejector design and control system allow increasing fuel cell efficiency with quick loads changing from minimal to maximal as well as at cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Helpful Alliance Company
    Inventors: Victor Gurin, Roman Gromov, Serguei Permiakov
  • Publication number: 20140064988
    Abstract: A fluid mover includes a hollow body with a straight-through passage of substantially constant cross-section with an inlet end an outlet end for the entry and discharge respectively of a working fluid. A nozzle substantially circumscribes and opens into the passage intermediate the inlet and outlet ends. An inlet communicates with the nozzle for the introduction of a transport fluid, and a mixing chamber is formed within the passage downstream of the nozzle. The nozzle internal geometry and the bore profile upstream of the nozzle exit optimise the energy transfer between the transport fluid and working fluid. Working fluids are atomised to form a dispersed vapour/droplet flow with locally supersonic conditions within a pseudo-vena contracta, resulting in the creation of a supersonic condensation shock wave within the downstream mixing chamber by the condensation of the transport fluid. Methods of moving and processing fluids using the fluid mover are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: PURSUIT DYNAMICS PLC
    Inventor: PURSUIT DYNAMICS PLC
  • Patent number: 8662861
    Abstract: An ejector device adapted to generate a negative pressure with compressed air, which via a compressed-air duct is fed to an ejector, the device including a valve member arranged in the compressed-air duct and controllable in order to, in the open position, allow flow of compressed air to the ejector, an air suction duct arranged between the ejector and a gripping member driven by negative pressure, and a vent valve fluidly arranged with the air suction duct and that, in an open position, places the gripping member in communication with the atmosphere. The valve member embraces: a primary valve arranged in the direction of flow of compressed air; a secondary valve arranged downstream of the primary valve; a flow section of compressed-air duct between the primary and secondary valve, the vent valve communicating with the flow section so that, in the open position of the primary valve, is continuously being subjected to a closing air pressure, independently of the open or closed position of the secondary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xerex AB
    Inventor: Peter Tell
  • Patent number: 8640644
    Abstract: A powder spraycoating method and powder spraycoating equipment. A dense phase powder pump is used. According to a predetermined conveying-air function in a control unit, different rates of compressed conveying air can be defined for different powder rates. In one predetermined total-air function in the control unit, the sum of total-air rate composed of the rate of compressed conveying air and of the rate of supplemental compressed air can be kept constant even if the rate of compressed conveying air changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Gema Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Christian Marxer, Hanspeter Vieli
  • Patent number: 8550790
    Abstract: A vacuum generator driven by compressed air and arranged to supply vacuum to a vacuum gripper element, wherein a chamber (6) is associated with the vacuum generator and arranged to be brought in flow connection (9) with the vacuum gripper element via a valve (15) which is actuated by overpressure accumulated in the chamber to open the connection (9) to the vacuum gripper element in order to discharge the overpressure to the vacuum gripper element in result of interruption of the compressed air flow (P). The vacuum generator is characterized in that the chamber (6) in addition includes a flow connection (11) with the ambient atmosphere, and in the additional flow connection (11) a one-way valve (10) which is arranged to open the connection (11) with the atmosphere in result of the air pressure in the chamber (6) falling below the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xerex AB
    Inventor: Peter Tell
  • Patent number: 8507138
    Abstract: An ejector for a fuel cell system of the present invention includes a nozzle having a nozzle hole for discharging hydrogen supplied via an inlet port of an ejector body, a diffuser for mixing hydrogen discharged from the nozzle hole and hydrogen off-gas discharged and returned via a circulation passage from a fuel cell, a needle displacing in the axial direction by a driving force of a solenoid, and a bearing member held in a hollow portion of the nozzle, and having a through hole that movably supports the needle in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Yamada, Kazunori Fukuma, Makoto Wada
  • Patent number: 8430640
    Abstract: A powder feed apparatus for a powder spraycoating equipment includes a dense phase powder pump fitted with at least two feed chambers, alternatingly discharging coating powder. Each feed chamber includes a powder intake valve to aspirate coating powder during a suction stage and one powder outlet valve to discharge coating powder during a discharge stage. Each feed chamber further includes control valves to operate the dense phase powder pump and a control unit controlling the dense phase powder pump by the control valves. A dependence mode of the total open time (ttotal) of the powder intake valves defines the dependence of the total open time (ttotal) on an adjustable nominal value (mp) adjusted by a powder adjusting element and relating to the rate of powder to be conveyed by the dense phase powder pump, and defining a response delay time (tdelay) and an apparatus constant (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Christian Marxer
  • Patent number: 8419378
    Abstract: A fluid mover (1) includes a hollow body (2) provided with a straight-through passage (3) of substantially constant cross section with an inlet end (4) an outlet end (5) for the entry and discharge respectively of a working fluid. A nozzle (16) substantially circumscribes and opens into the passage (3) intermediate the inlet (4) and outlet (5) ends. An inlet (10) communicates with the nozzle (16) for the introduction of a transport fluid and a mixing chamber (3A) is formed within the passage (3) downstream of the nozzle (16). The nozzle internal geometry and the bore profile immediately upstream of the nozzle exit are disposed and configured to optimise the energy transfer between the transport fluid and working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Pursuit Dynamics PLC
    Inventors: Marcus Brian Mayhall Fenton, Alexander Guy Wallis
  • Patent number: 8360739
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a negative pressure generating apparatus that includes an ejector that generates a negative pressure whose magnitude is larger than that of a negative pressure to be taken from an intake passage in an intake system for an internal combustion engine provided in a vehicle; and state change means for making the ejector function or stop functioning. The control apparatus includes prohibition control means for prohibiting the state change means from making the ejector function, according to a temperature of intake air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigemasa Hirooka
  • Patent number: 8267122
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Patent number: 8231358
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vacuum ejector pump. The pump is operated by compressed air which is supplied to or discharged from the pump at high speed, thus creating negative pressure in an outer surrounding space. The ejector pump includes a frame having an air inlet pipe, a disc, and an air outlet pipe which are sequentially arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The parts are coupled into a single structure via a spacer. A nozzle is mounted to pass through the center of the disc, and a flexible valve member is mounted to the spacer A nozzle body is accommodated in a cylindrical casing having a hole at a position corresponding to the valve member, and defines a chamber inside the spacer. A locking structure is provided on the casing and the nozzle body so as to prevent the casing, which accommodates the nozzle body, from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Pneumatic System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Young Cho
  • Patent number: 8043071
    Abstract: An ejector functioning as a vacuum generating mechanism is disposed in a main body constituting a vacuum generating unit, and an atmospheric air introducing valve is disposed between the ejector and a vacuum port. The atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve closed state at times when a negative pressure is generated by the ejector under a condition in which a workpiece is held by the negative pressure generated by the ejector, whereby communication between the vacuum port and the atmosphere is blocked. On the other hand, at times when the vacuum is broken, in which the negative pressure state of the vacuum port is released, the atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve open state, whereby the vacuum port communicates with the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masayuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 8029244
    Abstract: A by-pass fluid flow amplifier which contains a primary nozzle and a primary profile for discharging compressed air into a conduit of the air amplifier and entraining ambient air in the process. A secondary nozzle and a secondary profile for discharging compressed air into the conduit of the air amplifier towards the rear that assists the primary nozzle such as to allow consistent fluid wall attachment of the compressed air and the entrained air caused by the primary nozzle and the primary profile. The secondary nozzle increases the total flow of the amplifier and prohibits the total flow from traveling towards the center of the conduit where flow reversal and turbulence are likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventors: Elijah Dumas, Elisha Dumas, Howard Dumas
  • Publication number: 20110135505
    Abstract: A pump device for feeding fuel in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, having a suction jet pump and having a control valve for regulating the feed rate of the suction jet pump, A valve body can be moved counter to the flow direction of a fuel jet of the suction jet pump to throttle the feed rate. In this way, forces for opening the control valve are kept low. A float controls the valve body via a shaft which is guided through a mixing tube of the suction jet pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Klemens Kieninger, Zlatko Penzar, Michael Teichert
  • Publication number: 20100326089
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Kent Weber, Athanasios Kyriazopoulos, Peter C. Hightower, Bradley J. Burie
  • Publication number: 20100290925
    Abstract: A vacuum generator driven by compressed air and arranged to supply vacuum to a vacuum gripper element, wherein a chamber (6) is associated with the vacuum generator and arranged to be brought in flow connection (9) with the vacuum gripper element via a valve (15) which is actuated by overpressure accumulated in the chamber to open the connection (9) to the vacuum gripper element in order to discharge the overpressure to the vacuum gripper element in result of interruption of the compressed air flow (P). The vacuum generator is characterized in that the chamber (6) in addition includes a flow connection (11) with the ambient atmosphere, and in the additional flow connection (11) a one-way valve (10) which is arranged to open the connection (11) with the atmosphere in result of the air pressure in the chamber (6) falling below the atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: XEREX AB
    Inventor: Peter Tell
  • Publication number: 20100045057
    Abstract: An ejector device adapted to generate a negative pressure with compressed air, which via a compressed-air duct is fed to an ejector, the device including a valve member arranged in the compressed-air duct and controllable in order to, in the open position, allow flow of compressed air to the ejector, an air suction duct arranged between the ejector and a gripping member driven by negative pressure, and a vent valve fluidly arranged with the air suction duct and that, in an open position, places the gripping member in communication with the atmosphere. The valve member embraces: a primary valve arranged in the direction of flow of compressed air; a secondary valve arranged downstream of the primary valve; a flow section of compressed-air duct between the primary and secondary valve, the vent valve communicating with the flow section so that, in the open position of the primary valve, is continuously being subjected to a closing air pressure, independently of the open or closed position of the secondary valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: XEREX AB
    Inventor: Peter Tell
  • Publication number: 20100047081
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a negative pressure generating apparatus that includes an ejector that generates a negative pressure whose magnitude is larger than that of a negative pressure to be taken from an intake passage in an intake system for an internal combustion engine provided in a vehicle; and state change means for making the ejector function or stop functioning. The control apparatus includes prohibition control means for prohibiting the state change means from making the ejector function, according to a temperature of intake air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigemasa Hirooka
  • Patent number: 7637548
    Abstract: A switching valve is disposed between a pressure fluid supply source and an ejector in a vacuum suction apparatus. A supply port of the switching valve is connected to the pressure fluid supply source, and an outlet port of the switching valve is connected to the ejector. In addition, when suction pads attract a workpiece under suction and a negative pressure becomes constant, a valve body is displaced by a negative pressure supplied through a vacuum port to the switching valve, whereupon communication between the supply port and the outlet port is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Publication number: 20090252618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suction jet pump (8), consisting of a driving jet nozzle (10), a mixing tube (11), an intake opening (12), a working-fluid line (7) connected to the driving jet nozzle (10), and a valve (9) which is arranged with the working-fluid line (7) and whose housing (13) has an inlet (14) and an outlet (15). A throughflow opening (17) with a valve body (18) on both sides of the throughflow opening (17) is arranged in the housing (13) in such a way that the throughflow opening (17) can be closed on both the inlet side and the outlet side, and that at least one spring (25, 27, 28) is arranged inside the housing (13) in such a way that it holds the valve body (18) in a position closing the throughflow opening (17) on the outlet side until the system pressure is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Heiko Gensert
  • Publication number: 20080304978
    Abstract: A piston pump in which the piston carries a valve and a control mechanism to change a characteristic of the valve, preferably, its tendency to open. The valve may preferably comprise a disc which extends radially outwardly from the piston to resiliently engage the wall of piston chamber. The control mechanism preferably provides an access port communicating axially through the piston and axially out an opening of the piston chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the control mechanism comprises a bladder with a flexible side wall which can be moved from an inherent uncollapsed position to a different position and which bladder is inherently biased to return to its uncollapsed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Heiner Ophardt, Ali Mirbach
  • Publication number: 20080267789
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a negative pressure generating apparatus, includes an ejector that generates a negative pressure whose magnitude is larger than that of a negative pressure to be taken from an intake passage in an intake system for an internal combustion engine provided in a vehicle; a state change device that makes the ejector function or stop functioning; and a prohibition control device that prohibits the state change device from making the ejector function, when the vehicle is transiently decelerated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigemasa Hirooka
  • Patent number: 7438535
    Abstract: An ejector pump is provided which works to use dynamic energy of a jet of a main fluid emitted from a nozzle to suck a sub-fluid therein. When it is required to stop the ejector pump, the needle is moved to bring a sealing surface formed on a head thereof into abutment with a sealing surface formed around a main fluid flow path extending inside the ejector pump to close the main fluid flow path, thereby inhibiting the fluid pressure from acting on any downstream device. Upon the abutment, the needle is kept away from a nozzle, thereby avoiding undesirable wear or deformation of the needle and nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Morishima
  • Patent number: 7140389
    Abstract: A vacuum producing device (1) possessing a principal suction nozzle unit (2) with a shut off valve (27) on the upstream side thereof and an additional suction nozzle unit (3) connected in parallel to the principal suction nozzle unit (2). While the supply of pressure medium for the principal suction nozzle unit (2) is controlled in a manner dependent on the negative pressure produced by controlling the shut off valve (27), the additional suction nozzle unit (3) remains (3) constantly in operation. This means that a complete build up of vacuum may be ensured in conjunction with a complete switching off of the principal suction nozzle unit (2) together with a resulting air economizing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventors: Jürgen Schnatterer, Günter Gebauer
  • Patent number: 6955526
    Abstract: The vacuum generator is capable of quickly and securely holding and releasing a work piece and capable of reducing amount of consuming compressed air. In the vacuum generator, a first nozzle and a second nozzle jet compressed air toward a diffuser nozzle. The second nozzle has a diameter greater than that of the first nozzle. Switching means switches a state of the vacuum generator between a first state, in which a small amount of air sucked from the vacuum port, and a second state, in which a large amount of air is sucked from the vacuum port. The first nozzle, the second nozzle and the diffuser nozzle are serially arranged in that order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Nihon Pisco Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoyasu Yamazaki, Toshimasa Kitahara, Suminori Masuzawa, Masataka Funahashi
  • Patent number: 6904769
    Abstract: In an ejector-type depressurizer, a nozzle arrangement converts pressure energy of refrigerant supplied from a radiator into velocity energy to depressurize and expand the refrigerant, and a pressurizer arrangement mixes the refrigerant discharged from the nozzle arrangement with the refrigerant drawn from an evaporator and converts the velocity energy of the refrigerant discharged from the nozzle arrangement into pressure energy to increase the pressure of the mixed refrigerant discharged from the pressurizer arrangement. The pressurizer arrangement includes a refrigerant passage that conducts the refrigerant supplied from the nozzle arrangement and the refrigerant supplied from the evaporator, and the refrigerant passage includes a refrigerant passing zone, through which the refrigerant from the nozzle arrangement and the refrigerant from the evaporator mainly pass during operation of the ejector-type depressurizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Gota Ogata, Hirotsugu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6899198
    Abstract: A compressed air muffler comprises a rear attachment section, a compressed air muffler section adjoining it in the longitudinal direction with a compressed air muffler body of a porous compressed air muffler material and an outlet duct extending in the length direction as far as a front outlet opening, such outlet duct having in the muffler section, a form tapering toward the outlet opening. The muffler body has a bare outer peripheral face, its outer periphery face constituting an outlet face for the compressed air flowing through its wall athwart the longitudinal direction. The duct section extending through the attachment section, of the outlet duct merges steplessly with the duct section running in the muffler section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventors: Manfred Zindl, Yvonne Krehl, Markus Bretzler
  • Patent number: 6851936
    Abstract: A vacuum producing device having an ejector means with a jet nozzle and a receiving nozzle downstream from it. At the outlet end of the receiving nozzle there is a receiving space for the fluid flowing through the receiving nozzle and an exit flow duct extends from it. The exit flow duct is provided with choke means for resetting or variably setting the fluid volumetric flow, leaving by way of the exit flow duct, in order to be able to affect the pressure obtaining in the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventors: Jürgen Stingel, Volker Quendt
  • Publication number: 20040197196
    Abstract: A vacuum producing device having at least one ejector unit and a pressure monitoring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: FESTO AG & CO.
    Inventors: Udo Matheis, Yvonne Krehl
  • Patent number: 6786228
    Abstract: The invention is summarized as a method and apparatus for providing a memory function for an air economizing fluid pressure circuit. A latchable or detented valve is used to control an air circuit that defaults to permit the generation of vacuum pressure, but is also cable of ceasing the generation of vacuum pressure generation to air economize. The invention may also include blow off capability for the air circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: William V. Pabst
  • Patent number: 6779985
    Abstract: A vacuum generating device designed to generate negative pressure in an absorption means, such as an absorption pad, of a vacuum system, is disclosed. The vacuum generating device accomplishes the recent trend of compactness and smallness of such devices, effectively protects its ejector unit from damage, and does not have an increased production cost in comparison with conventional vacuum generating devices. The vacuum generating device includes a block body having an air inlet port, a vacuum port, and an air outlet port, an ejector unit functioning to generate negative pressure in response to an action of compressed air flowing thereto via the air inlet port, and a control valve mechanism functioning to open or close air supply paths branching from a main flow path to an air inlet chamber of the ejector unit and the vacuum port. The block body has a recess, formed by depressing a surface of the block body to a predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Korea Pneumatic System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Young Cho
  • Patent number: 6736603
    Abstract: An oil suction pump includes a push switch, a shaft vertically located below the push switch, and a float arm horizontally located below the shaft. A hooked lower end of the shaft is adapted to detachably engage with a hooked first end of the float arm and thereby holds the shaft in a fixed position when the push switch is depressed. A second end of the float arm is pivotally connected to a float that ascends when the oil sucked into a container connected to the oil suction pump reaches a predetermined level and thereby causes the first end to descend and disengage from the hooked lower end of the shaft, allowing the latter to move upward into an original position and automatically close an air inlet valve of the oil suction pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Tsung Chang