US5951262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for providing motive force and for pumping applications
Assignee: Centriflow LLC
•
Filing: 1997-04-18
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Granted: 1999-09-14
•
Expires: 2017-04-18
Abstract
Abstract Provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in one preferred embodiment, is a mechanism (10). The mechanism functions in general for providing motive force, and is specially adapted for pumping applications. In particular, the mechanism includes an impeller/pumping section integral with a drive system (16). The mechanism includes a housing (14), and a tube (18) rotatably mounted within the housing. Specifically, the tube mounts in the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the tube's longitudinal axis. A power or drive system (16) connected to the tube, and/or forming part of the tube, causes the tube to rotate relative to the housing. The drive system preferably includes a plurality of magnets (42) mounted within the housing, located around the tube, for creating magnetic forces for causing the tube to rotate. One or more impellers (20) mount to the tube. The impellers are adapted to cause fluid flow through the tube when the tube rotates. Tube rotation via the drive system, thus causes fluid flow through the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael G. Hartman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:14
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D1/00; F04D1/06; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/04; F04D13/06; F04D13/0646; F04D13/08; F04D13/10; F04D13/12; F04D3/00; F04D3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) a plurality of magnets mounted within the housing, located around the tube, for creating magnetic forces for causing the tube to rotate relative to the housing and (d) at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, wherein the tube includes an inner and an outer circumference, and has at least one impeller mounted around both the inner and outer circumferences of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) a plurality of magnets mounted within the housing, located around the tube, for creating magnetic forces for causing the tube to rotate relative to the housing and (d) at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, wherein the tube includes an inner and an outer circumference, and has at least one impeller mounted around both the inner and outer circumferences of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing has opposite ends, with one end defining an inlet for receiving a fluid into the housing and into the tube, and the other end defining an outlet for receiving fluid from the tube, and discharging fluid out of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an exterior wall, and the tube includes opposite ends, with at least one end of the tube extending through the exterior wall of the housing, for connection of the end of the tube to another device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pumping mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a shaft supporting the tube, wherein the shaft includes an end, with the housing rotatably supporting the shaft for permitting rotation of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pumping mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least some of the magnets are mounted to the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pumping mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least some of the magnets are electromagnets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) power means for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing, the power means being connected to the tube; and (d) at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, wherein the tube includes both an inner and outer surface, and has at least one impeller mounted to the inner surface of the tube, and at least one impeller mounted to the outer surface of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) power means for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing, the power means being connected to the tube; and (d) at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, wherein the tube includes both an inner and outer surface, and has at least one impeller mounted to the inner surface of the tube, and at least one impeller mounted to the outer surface of the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the power means includes a plurality of magnets mounted within the housing for creating magnetic forces for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pumping mechanism of claim 8, wherein at least some of the magnets are mounted to the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pumping mechanism of claim 8, wherein at least some of the magnets are permanent magnets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the housing has opposite ends, with one end defining an inlet for receiving a fluid into the housing and into the tube, and the other end defining an outlet for receiving fluid from the tube, and expelling fluid out of the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the housing includes an exterior wall, and the tube includes opposite ends, with at least one end of the tube extending through the exterior wall of the housing, for connection of the end of the tube to another device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a shaft supporting the tube, wherein the shaft includes an end, and the housing includes an exterior wall, with the housing rotatably supporting the shaft for permitting rotation of the tube, and with the end of the shaft extending through the exterior wall of the housing for connection to another device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing having an exterior wall; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube, with at least one end of the tube extending through the exterior wall of the housing for connection to another device; and (c) a drive system mounted within said housing and connected to the tube for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing having an exterior wall; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube, with at least one end of the tube extending through the exterior wall of the housing for connection to another device; and (c) a drive system mounted within said housing and connected to the tube for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the drive system includes a plurality of magnets mounted within the housing, located around the tube, for creating magnetic forces for causing rotation of the tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mechanism of claim 15, wherein at least some of the magnets are mounted to the tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 14, further comprising at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mechanism of claim 17, wherein the tube includes both an inner and outer surface, and has at least one impeller mounted to the inner surface of the tube, and at least one impeller mounted to the outer surface of the tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing having an exterior wall; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) a drive system connected to an outer surface of the tube for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing; and (d) shaft means connected to the tube, and extending through the exterior wall of the housing, for connection to another device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mechanism for providing motive force, the mechanism comprising: (a) a housing having an exterior wall; (b) a tube having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the tube being rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the tube relative to the housing, substantially about the longitudinal axis of the tube; (c) a drive system connected to an outer surface of the tube for causing rotation of the tube relative to the housing; and (d) shaft means connected to the tube, and extending through the exterior wall of the housing, for connection to another device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 19, wherein the tube includes opposite ends, and the shaft means includes one end of the tube extending through the exterior wall of the housing for connection to another device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The mechanism of claim 19, wherein the shaft means includes a shaft supporting the tube, with the housing rotatably supporting the shaft for permitting rotation of the tube, and the shaft includes at least one end extending through the exterior wall of the housing for connection to another device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mechanism of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of magnets mounted within the housing, located around the tube, wherein the magnets create magnetic forces for causing the tube to rotate relative to the housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mechanism of claim 22, wherein at least some of the magnets are mounted to the tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 19, further comprising at least one impeller mounted to the tube, the impeller being adapted to cause fluid to flow through the tube when the tube is rotated relative to the housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 24, wherein the tube includes both an inner and outer surface, and has at least one impeller mounted the inner surface of the tube, and at least one impeller mounted to the outer surface of the tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-03-15 | 2003-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-13 | 2007-03-15 | 2007-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-13 | 2011-03-15 | 2011-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |