| UNICO, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20120091931 | INDUCTION MOTOR TORQUE CONTROL IN A PUMPING SYSTEM - A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20110232283 | CRANKED ROD PUMP APPARATUS AND METHOD - An improved apparatus and method are provided, for pumping fluids, such as water and/or hydrocarbons, from a subterranean formation or reservoir, through use of a cranked rod pumping (CRP) apparatus for imparting reciprocating substantially vertical motion to a rod of a sucker-rod pump having a pump stroke. The CRP apparatus includes a motor driven cranked mechanical actuator arrangement. The cranked mechanical actuator arrangement includes a substantially vertically moveable member attached to the rod of the sucker-rod pump for imparting and controlling vertical motion of the rod of the sucker-rod pump. The actuator arrangement may include pneumatic counterbalancing. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110106452 | Determination and Control of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, and Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using a Control System for a Centrifugal Pump Disposed Within the Wellbore - A method and apparatus for determining a fluid level and/or output flow during operation of a centrifugal pump, are provided, which may be used for production of gas and/or oil from a well, and include a vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives, from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters, an estimated value of fluid level and other pumping system parameters. Controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input, near an optimum level, or within a safe operating range and/or output flow from the pump. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20100269560 | PNEUMATIC BIASING OF A LINEAR ACTUATOR AND IMPLEMENTATIONS THEREOF - An improved method and apparatus are provided for constructing and operating a linear actuator, and equipment incorporating a linear actuator, by operatively connecting a pressure biasing pneumatic arrangement between the driving member and the driven member of a mechanical linear actuator for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along an axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion. The pneumatic biasing arrangement is also configured, connected and operated to reduce the force which must be exerted by the driving and driven members in extending and retracting the linear actuator. The pneumatic biasing arrangement may further be configured for preferentially aiding extension or retraction of the actuator. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100231146 | INDUCTION MOTOR TORQUE CONTROL IN A PUMPING SYSTEM - A system and method are provided for controlling the speed of a motor driving a load that is electrically connected to a generator driven by an engine, through use of a first control feedback loop configured to control the rotor flux of the motor by controlling the field excitation of the generator, and a second control feedback loop configured to control the speed of the motor by controlling the throttle position of the engine. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100150737 | Determination and Control of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, and Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using a Control System for a Centrifugal Pump Disposed within the Wellbore - A method and apparatus for determining a fluid level and/or output flow during operation of a centrifugal pump, are provided, which may be used for production of gas and/or oil from a well, and include a vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives, from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters, an estimated value of fluid level and other pumping system parameters. Controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input, near an optimum level, or within a safe operating range and/or output flow from the pump. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20090274551 | Air Distribution Blower Housing with Adjustable Restriction - An air distribution blower housing has an adjustable restriction in the interior of the blower housing. The adjustable restriction has the configuration of a rectangular plate. One edge of the plate is connected by a pivoting connection to an interior wall of the blower housing in the air flow path from the blower housing. The plate can be pivoted about the pivot connection through a plurality of adjusted angular positions of the plate in the air flow path. In each adjusted position of the plate, the length of the plate extends from the pivot connection in the air flow direction. A sliding connection is provided between the plate and at least one side wall of the blower housing. The sliding connection selectively holds the plate in its adjusted angular position and also provides a visual indication on the exterior of the blower housing of the adjusted angular position of the plate inside the blower housing. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090097994 | Cranked Rod Pump Apparatus And Method - An improved apparatus and method are provided, for pumping fluids, such as water and/or hydrocarbons, from a subterranean formation or reservoir, through use of a cranked rod pumping (CRP) apparatus for imparting reciprocating substantially vertical motion to a rod of a sucker-rod pump having a pump stroke. The CRP apparatus includes a motor driven cranked mechanical actuator arrangement. The cranked mechanical actuator arrangement includes a substantially vertically moveable member attached to the rod of the sucker-rod pump for imparting and controlling vertical motion of the rod of the sucker-rod pump. The actuator arrangement may include pneumatic counterbalancing. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20080202125 | Packaged Small-Duct, High-Velocity Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Apparatus - A packaged small-duct, high-velocity air conditioning and heat pump apparatus has a compact construction that facilitates its incorporation into a building structure and its connection with a small-duct, high-velocity air distribution system. The compact construction of the apparatus is achieved by a novel arrangement of a refrigerant fluid compressor, a condenser coil, an evaporator coil, expansion valves, a reversing valve, a hot water coil, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, and control systems for the condenser and evaporator in a single enclosure that can be easily mounted in a wall of a structure to provide heating and air conditioning to the interior of the structure. | 08-28-2008 |