With Signal, Indicator Or Transparent Inspection Means Patents (Class 418/2)
  • Patent number: 11873814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary slide assembly and to a method for monitoring the wear of one or more slides in a rotary slide assembly, comprising a rotary slide rotor and one or more slide receiving areas for the slide(s) in the rotary slide rotor. The wear state of the one or more slides is detected during the operation or during a standstill of the rotary slide assembly. For this purpose, the slide(s) or one or more corresponding slide receiving areas in interaction with the one or more slides are used to generate or request an electric or electronic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Gebr. Becker GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Beierlein, Sven Hilfert
  • Patent number: 11635075
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the performance, response, and durability of an electro-hydraulic active suspension system. The noise caused by hydraulic flow ripple is reduced and system response is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: John Giarratana, William G. Near, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Tyson David Sawyer, Johannes Schneider, Clive Tucker, Richard Anthony Zuckerman, Zackary Martin Anderson, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian
  • Patent number: 10539137
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing defining a working chamber. The housing further includes a bore and an endplate disposed toward a discharge end. The compressor further includes a rotor having helical threads, the rotor being configured to be housed in the bore, a rotor clearance, a controllable bearing supporting the rotor, and a controller configured to control the controllable bearing such that the controllable bearing moves the rotor in a manner to reduce and/or enlarge the rotor clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jay H. Johnson, Steven Lotspaih
  • Patent number: 10514037
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid feeding type screw compressor that can reduce size and weight and improve vibration insulation and sound insulation. A liquid feeding type screw compressor includes as components: a compressor main body; a motor driving the compressor main body; and a gas-liquid separator separating a liquid from a compressed air discharged from the compressor main body. The motor is arranged above the compressor main body. The gas-liquid separator is arranged below the compressor main body. A compressor main body casing constituting an inner cylindrical space forming a compression operation chamber together with the screw rotor and constituting the contour of the compressor main body and a casing constituting the contour of another component consist of an integrally molded single member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Sadakata, Hitoshi Nishimura, Toshikazu Harashima, Kentaro Yamamoto, Takeshi Tsuchiya, Kotaro Chiba
  • Patent number: 10018045
    Abstract: A pneumatic motor has a housing, an axle, and multiple blades. The axle is rotatably mounted in the housing and has multiple blade recesses. The blades are mounted respectively and moveably in the blade recesses. Each blade has an inner side edge. The inner side edge is mounted in a corresponding one of the blade recesses. The inner side edge of each one of at least half of the multiple blades has a straight segment and a rectangular tab. Each one of the blade recesses which holds the blade having the straight segment and the rectangular tab has a bottom having a straight segment and a tab hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBOSS AIR TOOL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsin-He Chang
  • Patent number: 9022756
    Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a buffer portion (113b) having an increased diameter at an intermediate part of a discharge port (113). A refrigerant discharged from compression chambers (p) is introduced into the buffer portion (113b), and temporarily stays thereat. Then, the refrigerant is discharged to a discharge plenum (150), thereby reducing a pulsating pressure. Accordingly, noise occurring when the refrigerant discharged from the compression chambers (p) collides with the discharge plenum (150) is reduced, thereby greatly reducing noise of the scroll compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hae-Jin Oh, Ki-Won Park
  • Publication number: 20140322055
    Abstract: A scroll pump has a tip seal between an axial end of the scroll blade of one of stationary and orbiting plate scrolls of the pump and the plate of the other of the stationary plate and orbiting plate scrolls. The scroll pump may have a ballast gas supply system and use the operation of the ballast gas supply system to assess the condition of the tip seal. Alternatively, the scroll pump may have two pressure sensors that sense pressure at two locations spaced along a compression mechanism of the pump to assess the condition of the tip seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: John CALHOUN
  • Publication number: 20140119966
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for protecting a rotary positive displacement pump. The techniques include apparatus featuring a signal processor configured to receive signaling containing information about power, torque, speed, viscosity and specific gravity related to the operation of a pump; and determine whether to enter an enhanced pump protection mode for the rotary positive displacement pump based at least partly on a relationship between an actual corrected tune ratio and a tuned ratio set point (Tune Ratio SP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventor: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
  • Patent number: 8641395
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling the balance piston pressure in a screw compressor. The system can use the slide valve of the compressor as a valve to control the flow of fluid from a fluid source to the balance piston. When the slide valve prevents direct flow between the fluid source and the balance piston, an alternate path is used to provide fluid at a reduced pressure to the balance piston. The reduced pressure fluid is obtained by passing the fluid from the fluid source through an orifice to lower the fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Paul Nemit, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130259724
    Abstract: A rotary piston machine is disclosed. In one aspect, the machine includes a shaft and a shaft encoder including a first structure, based on which the rotational speed and/or the rotational position of the shaft can be determined by scanning the first structure with a sensor. The shaft encoder has a rotationally asymmetrical mass distribution in order to produce an imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Steinbauer, Andreas Krobath
  • Publication number: 20130108494
    Abstract: A gear pump includes a driven gear and an idler gear each mounted for rotation in a housing. The driven gear and the idler gear include respective gear teeth in a meshing relationship and forming an inlet space and an outlet space in the housing and adjacent to the meshing gear teeth. The inlet space is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet space is in fluid communication with the outlet port. A flow indicating element is located in the housing and is mounted for rotation independent of the driven gear and the idler gear. The flow indicating element is configured to be rotated by the viscous fluid to indicate when the fluid is moving from the inlet port and inlet space to the outlet space and outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Leslie J. Varga
  • Publication number: 20120258000
    Abstract: A system for monitoring wear of pump casing liners is disclosed. The system may include a wear sensor disposed in proximity to the pump casing liner so that the sensor wears at substantially the same rate as the lining. The wear sensor may include a plurality of circuit loops having different lengths. As the pump casing liner and the sensor wear during use, the plurality of circuit loops are sequentially breached. A control system monitors the signals from the plurality of circuit loops to develop liner wear information. This information is employed to signal a user when one or more predetermined wear thresholds are exceeded. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: IMO INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth Patton
  • Patent number: 8161800
    Abstract: A method for simulating a compressor valve leak is described. The method includes inducing a flow of gas past a compressor valve that is coupled to a bypass block, wherein the bypass block defines a first passageway and a second passageway therein, and wherein the bypass block is also coupled to a bypass valve that is in flow communication with the second passageway. The method also includes measuring a first temperature and a second temperature. The first temperature is the temperature of the gas flowing through the first passageway of the bypass block and the second temperature is the temperature of gas flowing within the second passageway. The method also includes adjusting the bypass valve to divert a portion of the gas flowing through the second passageway to create temperature conditions substantially similar to conditions that are created due to a compressor valve leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Summers, Brian Howard, Roger Hala, John Grant, David R. Van Wagenen
  • Patent number: 7866964
    Abstract: A hermetic scroll compressor includes a hermetic shell through which the pressure within the shell is monitored. In one embodiment, a housing is resistance welded into an aperture extending through the shell. An oil filled pressure sensor or a dry type pressure sensor is associated with the housing. The oil filled pressure sensor extends through an aperture in the shell. The dry type pressure sensor is located on the housing outside of the shell. In another embodiment, the shell forms the diaphragm portion of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nagaraj Jayanth
  • Publication number: 20100322806
    Abstract: An arrangement including a gear pump (1), comprising a pump housing (10), two meshing gear wheels (11, 12) contained in the pump housing (10) and two shafts (2, 3) which are operatively connected to the gear wheels (11, 12) and extend through the pump housing (10), is disclosed wherein the two shafts (2, 3) are each operatively connected to respective drive units (7, 8). The arrangement includes a coupling unit (22) for compensation of eccentricities between the drive unit (7, 8) and the respective shaft (2, 3) is arranged between each gear wheel (11, 12) and drive unit (7, 8) and that a rotary encoder/sensor unit (24, 25) is arranged between the center of the gear wheel and the center of the respective drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Markus AREGGER
  • Publication number: 20100322805
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gear pump comprising two meshing gear wheels (11, 12), wherein the two gear wheels (11, 12) are driven via respective shafts (2, 3) each by a drive unit (7, 8). A current position of the one gear wheel (11, 12) is determined with respect to the current position of the other gear wheel (12, 11), and the current position of the one gear wheel (11, 12) is continuously adjusted with respect to the current position of the other gear wheel (12, 11) according to specified predefined operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Markus AREGGER
  • Patent number: 7845920
    Abstract: An oil pump in which pulsation vibration due to the dynamic pressure on the discharge port side can be attenuated. In an oil pump for transporting fluid from a suction port to a discharge port by the rotation of a rotor mounted in a pump casing, a resonator configured from an introduction path and a chamber is formed with respect to a discharge flow channel that communicates with the discharge port in the flow direction of the discharge flow channel. A channel in a direction different to the flow direction of the discharge flow channel is communicatingly formed in the vicinity of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kondo, Kazuhiko Iso, Yojiro Koiwa, Yasunori Ono, Atsushi Yanagisawa, Atsushi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20100162797
    Abstract: A method for simulating a compressor valve leak is described. The method includes inducing a flow of gas past a compressor valve that is coupled to a bypass block, wherein the bypass block defines a first passageway and a second passageway therein, and wherein the bypass block is also coupled to a bypass valve that is in flow communication with the second passageway. The method also includes measuring a first temperature and a second temperature. The first temperature is the temperature of the gas flowing through the first passageway of the bypass block and the second temperature is the temperature of gas flowing within the second passageway. The method also includes adjusting the bypass valve to divert a portion of the gas flowing through the second passageway to create temperature conditions substantially similar to conditions that are created due to a compressor valve leak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Summers, Brian Howard, Roger Hala, John Grant, David R. Van Wagenen
  • Patent number: 7704061
    Abstract: An oil pump includes pump chambers each having a volume varied by engine drive and for pressurizing oil inhaled through an inlet port and discharge it through an outlet port, and a branch passage connected between upstream and downstream sides of the outlet port at branch and confluent points, wherein the branch passage in the vicinity of the confluent point is shifted in pulse-pressure phase with respect to the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ohnishi, Yasushi Watanabe, Shoji Morita
  • Patent number: 7674099
    Abstract: An oil lubricated compressor which includes a bypass oil line connecting respective oil paths upstream and downstream of the motor. The bypass oil path permits oil to be detoured around the motor in a tube that is external to the compressor shell and flows back into the shell near the scroll inlet. The oil bypass line returns “excess” oil directly to sump 28, rather than having it flow from sump 27 to sump 28 through an air-gap, thereby reducing both the drag on the motor and the input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignees: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., SHI-APD CRyogenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Dunn
  • Patent number: 7654804
    Abstract: A fluid displacement apparatus includes a housing for receiving a refrigerant, a driving shaft rotatably received in the housing, a magnetic clutch attached to the driving shaft for rotation transmitting purposes, a fixed scroll disposed in the housing, an orbiting scroll rotatably received and engaged in the housing and interfitting with the fixed scroll for compressing the refrigerant and for generating a pressurized refrigerant, the housing includes a compartment communicating with the inner chamber of the housing with a passage for receiving a pressure sensing device which may sense the pressure of the pressurized refrigerant for detecting whether the refrigerant in the housing is over pressure or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Henry C. Chu
  • Publication number: 20090220366
    Abstract: The angular displacement of an inclined cam about the compressor slide valve shaft rotates an annular surface having a helically inclined face aligned with and spaced apart from a sensor head of a magnetic sensor mounted to the compressor. The rotation provides a linear variation in the size of the gap between the sensor head and the inclined ramp which directly corresponds to the compressor slide valve position between its fully closed and fully open positions. Linear variation in the size of the gap produces a correspondingly linear output signal from the magnetic sensor which provides the input for an analog input card in an associated programmable logic controller to determine the slide value position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: William Turner
  • Patent number: 7547203
    Abstract: In order to improve a screw compressor for compressing refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit, comprising a compressor housing, in which a screw rotor receiving means and an inlet channel as well as an outlet channel for the refrigerant to be compressed are provided, at least one screw rotor arranged in the screw rotor receiving means, a drive for the at least one screw rotor and a lubricant supply which conveys lubricant from a lubricant reservoir acted upon by pressure via a line system at least to the at least one screw rotor during operation, in such a manner that the operation and the monitoring of the screw compressor are reliable it is suggested that a valve be provided in the line system of the lubricant supply, this valve being controllable by way of a difference in pressure between the pressure in the outlet channel and a reference pressure influenced by a pressure in the refrigerant circuit and opening when the screw rotor is compressing refrigerant as well as closing when the screw rotor is not comp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Bitzer Kuehlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Dieterich
  • Patent number: 7326917
    Abstract: A wear determination device for determining vibration in a turbine engine component to reduce wear in a turbine engine. The wear determination device may be capable of measuring vibrations in a turbine engine component. The vibration measurement may be used to determine vibrations in a turbine engine to identify wear locations and sources of wear. The wear determination device may be configured such that multiple locations in a turbine engine may be monitored on a single turbine engine by moving the wear determination device from location to location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Evangelos V. Diatzikis, Michael Twerdochlib, Mehrzad Tartibi
  • Patent number: 7322806
    Abstract: A thermostat for sensing an unduly high temperature in a sealed compressor, which is a scroll compressor in the disclosed embodiment, extends through the housing of the sealed compressor into the body of a non-orbiting scroll. Since the thermostat extends through the housing, the wires need not be sealed as they extend from the housing. Still, the thermostat is positioned close to the compression chambers and at a location that will quickly heat when undesirable conditions exist within the sealed compressor. In this manner, the present invention is able to rapidly respond to an undesirable situation to allow a system control to have an indication of the undesired condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Zili Sun, Thomas R. Barito
  • Patent number: 7281912
    Abstract: A compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating part of the lubricating oil contained in the compressed refrigerant, path arrangement for connecting a separation chamber of the separator and a delivery port of the compressed refrigerant, the path arrangement having a plurality of linear holes with opening ends that open in the outer surface of the housing wall, and screw plugs closing the opening ends except for the one serving as the delivery port, and a safety device built in at least one of the screw plugs, the safety device having a pressure relief valve and/or a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 7232295
    Abstract: A screw-type vacuum pump (1) is tempered such that characteristics of the pump are not substantially altered when the pump is subjected to thermal stress. In order to achieve said aim, cooling is adjusted according to an operating state of the screw-type vacuum pump (1), preferably to maintain a substantially constant pump gap (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Kriehn, Klaus Rofall, Manfred Behling
  • Patent number: 7216526
    Abstract: The amount of wear on the vanes of a sliding vane rotary pump is determined by inserting a wear inspection dip stick into a wear inspection port providing in a housing of the sliding vane rotary pump. The wear dipstick includes one or more mark providing an indication of the amount of wear on the vanes, and a marking member which provides an indication of current vane length and allows a maintenance person to easily determine when a pump replacement is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Rapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Lotzer, Richard W. Plenkers, Mark A. Gaulke
  • Patent number: 7083393
    Abstract: A sight glass block for inspecting oil flow through a scavenge line for an oil separation system in a compressor comprises a combination of a sight glass for inspecting the oil flow, a strainer for cleaning the oil flow and an orifice for metering the oil flow in a single integrated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Sullair Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Myers, Douglas J. Wood, Mark A. Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 6957952
    Abstract: A fiber optic system for detecting a stroke of a pump, the fiber optic system including a first fiber optic line configured for directing light onto a portion of the pump that moves during the stroke of the pump. The system further includes a second fiber optic line configured for receiving light that has been transmitted from the first fiber optic line and reflected by the portion of the pump, wherein receipt of the light by the second fiber optic line occurs at a specified point during the stroke of the pump. The moving portion of the pump may be the diaphragm, the reciprocating portion, or any other part of the pump that cycles at regular intervals as the pump operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Trebor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky B. Steck, Michael Dunn, Troy Orr, Matthew Stillings, David Kingsbury
  • Patent number: 6913451
    Abstract: A vacuum vane pump for generating a vacuum condition for aircraft instruments includes a rotor having a peripheral surface eccentrically mounted in a housing having a confrontingly opposed inner surface so that the opposed surfaces define a crescent-shaped chamber. The rotor has a plurality of radial slots, each of which receives a vane which is slidably displaced radially outwardly along the slot as the rotor is rotatively driven so that the outer tips of the vanes are pressed in frictional abutment with the inner surface of the housing. Each slot has a radially inward facing shoulder and each vane has a corresponding radially outward facing shoulder for mutual contact engagement when the tip becomes worn to a predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions & Support Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick, Marlon Brown
  • Patent number: 6877966
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for determining vane wear in rotary sliding vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes, while the pump is in operation. The invention includes a structure that allows a predetermined amount of leakage from a pumping chamber after a predetermined amount of vane length is worn away. The leakage produces a decrease in pump efficiency that is indicated by an indicating device. The indicating device serves to warn that an amount of vane wear has occurred that indicates pump inspection is warranted. The invention also includes a view port formed in the pump housing to allow inspection of the vanes without having to disassemble the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6769886
    Abstract: A rotary vane pump, including a housing within which is rotatably mounted a rotor having a plurality of slots therein with a vane positioned for sliding movement within each of the slots. An access port is formed in the housing communicating with the rotor at a reference position in relation to the slots. The access port is sized to permit alignment of any one of the slots with the access port by rotating the rotor, maintaining the vane within the aligned one slot and at a datum within the slot, and permitting entry into the access port of an aligned slot of a stylus having a predetermined length in relation to the datum for determining the length of the vane. A determination of whether wear to the vane has met or exceeded a predetermined amount can be determined by reference to a portion of the stylus exterior to the access port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20040136852
    Abstract: A vacuum vane pump for generating a vacuum condition for aircraft instruments includes a rotor having a peripheral surface eccentrically mounted in a housing having a confrontingly opposed inner surface so that the opposed surfaces define a crescent-shaped chamber. The rotor has a plurality of radial slots, each of which receives a vane which is slidably displaced radially outwardly along the slot as the rotor is rotatively driven so that the outer tips of the vanes are pressed in frictional abutment with the inner surface of the housing. Each slot has a radially inward facing shoulder and each vane has a corresponding radially outward facing shoulder for mutual contact engagement when the tip becomes worn to a predetermined degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey S.M. Hedrick, Marlon Brown
  • Patent number: 6752604
    Abstract: Tracer material, encapsulated within a cavity of the vanes of a sliding vane pump, which is released into the discharge conduit when the vanes reach their predetermined wear limit, acting as a wear indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald Donald Althouse
  • Patent number: 6695593
    Abstract: A pump for ultra-pure fluids comprises a flexible diaphragm separating a fluid chamber from an air chamber. The diaphragm creates an airtight seal between the fluid chamber and the air chamber. Any leak from the fluid chamber into the air chamber is detected by a fiber optic system comprising an element and two optical fibers that are disposed such that light is detected by the second optical fiber only when the element is not in contact with liquid. A second fiber optic system can also be used to determine the stroke of an oscillating member by disposing the fiber optic lines at an angle calculated to reflect light off of the oscillating member when the member arrives at a predetermined location. The fiber optics are adapted to be resistant to corrosion, non-igniting, and non-contaminating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Trebor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky B. Steck, Michael Dunn, Troy Orr, Matthew Stillings, David Kingsbury
  • Publication number: 20030228237
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker
  • Patent number: 6657217
    Abstract: A probe is used to detect axial movement of a rotating part such as a shaft. The probe includes a probe tube portion that protrudes into an annular groove on the rotating part. When the rotating part moves axially, one or the other side surfaces of the groove contacts the probe tube. This contact leads to a changed state of the probe, that is sensed by a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Adams, Dean K. Norbeck, Paul W. Snell, Alexander J. Soussa
  • Publication number: 20030202895
    Abstract: Tracer material, encapsulated within a cavity of the vanes of a sliding vane pump, which is released into the discharge conduit when the vanes reach predetermined wear limit, acting as a wear indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Gerald Donald Althouse
  • Publication number: 20030124010
    Abstract: A rotary vane pump, including a housing within which is rotatably mounted a rotor having a plurality of slots therein with a vane positioned for sliding movement within each of the slots. An access port is formed in the housing communicating with the rotor at a reference position in relation to the slots. The access port is sized to permit alignment of any one of the slots with the access port by rotating the rotor, maintaining the vane within the aligned one slot and at a datum within the slot, and permitting entry into the access port of an aligned slot of a stylus having a predetermined length in relation to the datum for determining the length of the vane. A determination of whether wear to the vane has met or exceeded a predetermined amount can be determined by reference to a portion of the stylus exterior to the access port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6565337
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining vane wear in rotary vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes. A view port is formed in an end of the pump housing. The view port is dimensioned such that a width of the port represents a predetermined amount of vane length loss. The view port is positioned in relation to the slots such that an end of the vane not in engagement with the wall of the pump will appear in the port only after a predetermined amount of vane loss occurs, and relative to the slots and the vanes to allow a determination of vane length for each vane when the vane is in engagement with the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20030012671
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining vane wear in rotary vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes. A view port is formed in an end of the pump housing. The view port is dimensioned such that a width of the port represents a predetermined amount of vane length loss. The view port is positioned in relation to the slots such that an end of the vane not in engagement with the wall of the pump will appear in the port only after a predetermined amount of vane loss occurs, and relative to the slots and the vanes to allow a determination of vane length for each vane when the vane is in engagement with the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6450789
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining vane wear in rotary vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes. A view port is formed in an end of the pump housing. The view port is dimensioned such that a width of the port represents a predetermined amount of vane length loss. The view port is positioned in relation to the slots such that an end of the vane not in engagement with the wall of the pump will appear in the port only after a predetermined amount of vane loss occurs, and relative to the slots and the vanes to allow a determination of vane length for each vane when the vane is in engagement with the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20020110467
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for determining vane wear in rotary sliding vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes, while the pump is in operation. The invention includes a structure that allows a predetermined amount of leakage from a pumping chamber after a predetermined amount of vane length is worn away. The leakage produces a decrease in pump efficiency that is indicated by an indicating device. The indicating device serves to warn that an amount of vane wear has occurred that indicates pump inspection is warranted. The invention also includes a view port formed in the pump housing to allow inspection of the vanes without having to disassemble the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20020098099
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining vane wear in rotary vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes. A view port is formed in an end of the pump housing. The view port is dimensioned such that a width of the port represents a predetermined amount of vane length loss. The view port is positioned in relation to the slots such that an end of the vane not in engagement with the wall of the pump will appear in the port only after a predetermined amount of vane loss occurs, and relative to the slots and the vanes to allow a determination of vane length for each vane when the vane is in engagement with the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy H. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6402486
    Abstract: A pump for ultra-pure fluids comprises a flexible diaphragm separating a fluid chamber from an air chamber. The diaphragm creates an airtight seal between the fluid chamber and the air chamber when a self-centering and trapezoidal shaped wedge compressively forces the diaphragm into a trapezoidal shaped perimeter cavity surrounding the chambers. Any leak from the fluid chamber into the air chamber is detected by a fiber optic system comprising two optical fibers that are disposed at an angle that is calculated to enable light to pass between the fibers only in the presence of a liquid having a predetermined index of refraction. The fiber optic system can also be used to determine the stroke of the pump by disposing the fiber optic lines at an angle calculated to reflect light off of the oscillating diaphragm when the diaphragm arrives at a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Trebor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky B. Steck, Michael R. Dunn, Troy Orr, Matthew J. Stillings, David Kingsbury
  • Patent number: 6375434
    Abstract: An integrated pump and meter having a spindle axially extending in the direction of the flow of fluid for pumping and metering the flow of fluid. A volume of fluid pumped is calculated as a function of spindle rotation. In one particular of embodiment, a pair of pressure sensors are located at the inlet and outlet of the pump/meter, respectively for computing a gap loss volume due to fluid passing between the pump/meter spindle and the cylinder wall. The gap loss volume and calculated flow volume are combined to calculate a total volume of fluid to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tokheim Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Taivalkoski, Harald Görres, Hans Ulrich Bloss
  • Patent number: 6371742
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cooling device wherein the chamber (2) represents cooling channels arranged in the thickness of the pump cylinder walls. The steam flux (7) generated by the heat to be evacuated reaches the upper end of the condenser (1) and comes out in the form of water in the return branch (6) into the chamber (2). An air flow (5) driven by the fan (3) activates condensation. The sensor (17) acts as a control and safety element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Ateliers Busch S.A.
    Inventor: René Gigon
  • Patent number: 6358027
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable rotor and/or stator, so that the interference fit and/or clearance can be adjusted. The rotor and/or stator are tapered to provide a difference in fit between the rotor and stator by longitudinal adjustment of their relative position. In one embodiment, the adjustment may occur while the PCP in mounted downhole in a wellbore. In another embodiment, the adjustment may occur automatically depending on sensor input of operating conditions of the PCP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: William Lane
  • Patent number: 6315535
    Abstract: A discharge side housing 3 has a third cooling water chamber 19 communicating with a first cooling water chamber 7 of a main housing 1 through a cooling water passage 26. The third cooling water chamber 19 is connected to a cooling water outlet pipe 27 which is connected to an inlet port 28a of a three-way valve 28. The three-way valve 28 has a switching port 28b which can communicate with a pipe line 29 connected to the first cooling water chamber 7. The three-way valve 28 has an outlet 28c connected to a pipe line 30 which communicates with a second cooling water chamber 22 of a suction side housing 2. The second cooling water chamber 22 is connected to a cooling water discharge line 31 provided with a flow control valve 32 allowing a back pressure for a cooling water flowing thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Taiko Kikai Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Hoshi, Masashi Yoshimura