Patents Assigned to Wheaton Inc.
  • Patent number: 5865345
    Abstract: A container, for dispensing two substances simultaneously, that includes a neck portion having two orifices therein, a shoulder portion connected to the neck portion, and an elongated body portion connected to the shoulder portion, the body portion including two adjacent chambers sharing a common wall wherein each chamber is in fluid communication with an orifice in the neck portion, and wherein the two chambers are formed from different materials. The size and shape of the orifices can be varied to independently adjust the rate of dispensation of each of the two substances, or to compensate for variances in viscosity between the substances. The sizes of the two chambers can be varied independently from one another. Further, the two chambers can extend beyond the width of the common wall, to promote even and predictable deformation of the chambers when pressure is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lawson Mardon Wheaton Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Cistone, Douglas Lynch
  • Patent number: 5628344
    Abstract: A dry disconnect coupling connects the transfer hose from a fuel oil storage tank and the fill pipe of a tanker truck to form a continuous flow path between the storage tank and the tanker truck. The coupling includes an adapter, a coupler, and means for returning fuel residue to the flow path or to an external reservoir. The adapter is attached to the fill pipe of the tanker truck on one end and to the coupler on the other end. The free end of the coupler is attached to the transfer hose from the storage tank. The adapter and the coupler each define a flow passageway therethrough which is sealed by a poppet valve having an end face. The fuel returning means includes a reservoir for collecting fuel residue that accumulates on the end faces of the adapter and the coupler during transfer operations. In a preferred embodiment, the returning means includes a venturi vacuum for suctioning the fuel residue out of the reservoir and into the flow passageway defined by the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5609581
    Abstract: The combination comprising a container for a product having a puncturable diaphragm at one end thereof, an applicator of elongated parabolic shape including means for detachably mounting it on the container, an internal piercing element in the applicator aligned with the diaphragm and a plurality of discharge openings in the applicator, the applicator actuatable between an unarmed position wherein the piercing element is spaced from the diaphragm in an armed position where it punctures the diaphragm to permit discharge of the contents through the piercing element and the discharge openings in the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lawson Mardon Wheaton Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Fletcher, Merrel J. Locke
  • Patent number: 5549132
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle easily and readily convertible between two modes which meet the regulations and operational requirements of the United States and European countries, the nozzle including a body member having a fuel passageway therethrough, a main valve in the fuel passageway to control the flow of fuel through the passageway, the main valve being removably mounted in the fuel passageway and reversible when the nozzle is to be converted into a different mode, and a valve actuating mechanism for opening the main valve in one direction when the main valve is in one attitude and in the opposite direction when the valve is in its reversed attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Butterfield, George R. Cockram, Stewart M. Harmon, Roy Talbot
  • Patent number: 5531580
    Abstract: A non-hydraulic injection blow molding machine for making hollow plastic articles. The machine has a parison mold having top and bottom portions for injecting a parison onto each of a plurality of core rods, and a blow mold having top and bottom portions for blowing the parisons into hollow work pieces. The articles are removed from the core rods at an eject station. The core rods are mounted on a turret. The turret rotates to advance the core rods from the parison mold to the blow mold, and from the blow mold to the eject station. The machine has a rotating crank shaft. A translating mechanism translates the rotation of the crank shaft to a vertical reciprocating motion. A clamp beam is connected to the translating mechanism and is actuated by rotation of the crank shaft to move between raised and lowered positions which are separated by a fixed stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Wheaton Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Bonino, Philip Sieri, John F. Glowacki
  • Patent number: 5518024
    Abstract: An overfill prevention device for storage tanks includes an elongate tubular housing having a liquid flow passageway. A normally open main valve and a normally closed vapor retaining bleed valve are associated with the fluid passageway. Closure of the main valve interrupts the primary flow of liquid through the passageway and closure of the bleed valve prevents any further liquid from entering the tank and also prevents the escape of vapors from the tank. Operation of the main valve is controlled in significant part by a valve latch assembly which is carried by the housing and a relatch assembly which is carried by the main valve. The relatch assembly ensures operative engagement of the main valve with the valve latch assembly upon movement of the main valve from the intermediate position to the open position. Operation of the main valve and vapor retaining bleed valve is also controlled indirectly by a plurality of floats which are maintained in a float chamber extending adjacent the liquid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis B. Weeks, George R. Cockram
  • Patent number: 5484566
    Abstract: A partially PTFE laminated rubber closure for pharmaceutical vials which resists undesired removal prior to placement of an aluminium over-cap on the vial and closure. The rubber closure includes a flat circular head which protrudes over the end of the pharmaceutical vial. Secured to the underside of the head is a cylindrical sealing portion which is partially laminated with PTFE at its lower end. Above the end of the PTFE on the outside of the sealing portion is a protruding ring of rubber. This ring allows good high friction contact between the closure and the vial which prevents the closure from dislodging during transportation of the vial after application of the closure and prior to application of an aluminum overcap. A method for making the closure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Wheaton Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Gabbard
  • Patent number: 5470218
    Abstract: An improved injection blow molding apparatus. The apparatus includes an injection blow molding machine having work stations and molds. The apparatus includes a process controller for operating the blow molding machine according to a set of processing parameters. Each processing parameter has a respective desired operating range. The apparatus includes a touch screen for inputting signals to the processor for commanding the process controller to adjust the processing parameters. Display software and hardware coupled to the process controller and the touch screen cause the monitor to display respective icons representing each processing parameter. The value of each respective processing parameter is displayed adjacent to the icon. Graphing software generates signals which are transmitted to the monitor. The monitor displays a graph of the selected processing parameter value as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Wheaton Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hillman, Bruce E. Jacoby, Rui M. Barbosa
  • Patent number: 5469900
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle is disclosed and includes a main body portion containing a fuel passageway and a main valve controlling the flow of fuel through the fuel passageway. A lever extends from the body portion which is operable by the hand of a user holding the nozzle to open the main valve to allow fuel flow through the nozzle and a lever guard is attached to the body and extends around and under the lever. A hold-open clip is pivotally mounted to the lever guard. The lever includes notches which are positioned relative to the hold-open clip so that when the hold-open clip is rotated by the user into its operative position it may engage a notch in the lever and hold the lever in a position where the main valve is opened to allow fuel flow without requiring the user to continue to hold the lever. A removable lockout member is attached to the lever to prevent operation in the automatic hold-open mode by preventing engagement of the hold-open clip with a notch in the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: EMCO Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Bruce Weeks, John L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5450884
    Abstract: A multi-compartment spout for a fuel dispensing nozzle includes a cylindrical, longitudinally extending outer wall, and at least one interior, longitudinally extending dividing wall. The dividing wall defines a fuel passageway within the spout which communicates with a fuel passageway in the body of the nozzle for dispensing fuel into the fuel tank of a vehicle, and a vapor recovery passageway within the spout which communicates with a vapor recovery passageway in the body of the nozzle for returning fuel vapor to an underground tank and thereby preventing the vapor from escaping into the atmosphere. In a preferred embodiment, the spout includes another interior longitudinally extending dividing wall which defines a shut-off passageway within the spout which communicates with a venturi-vacuum chamber in the nozzle for automatically shutting off the flow of fuel through the nozzle when the vehicle fuel tank is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun J. Shih, David J. Parrish
  • Patent number: 5417259
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle with controlled vapor recovery including a fuel passageway, a main fuel valve in the fuel passageway, a vapor recovery passageway, a main vapor valve in the vapor recovery passageway, a manually operable trigger mechanism for controlling the main fuel valve to control the flow of fuel through the fuel passageway and for opening the main vapor valve, an auxiliary vapor valve in the vapor recovery passageway for controlling the rate of flow of vapor through the vapor recovery passageway when the main vapor valve is open, a fuel flow sensing permanent magnet in the fuel passageway and moveable responsive to the rate of fuel flow, and a follower magnet connected to the auxiliary vapor valve and magnetically coupled to the fuel flow sensing magnet for opening the auxiliary vapor valve an amount correlated to the rate of fuel flow to control the rate and thus the volume of vapor recovered in direct correlation to the rate and thus the volume of fuel dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter H. Schneider
  • Patent number: 5407175
    Abstract: A flow valve for mating with a fluid coupling of the type comprising a cylindrical body and a plurality of circumferentially spaced latches. The flow valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve housing and an annular flange adjacent one end of the valve housing. The flange is mounted to the valve housing such that the flange is rotatable to facilitate repositioning of the flange to distribute wear on the flange caused by the circumferentially spaced latches of the fluid coupling. In a preferred embodiment, the flange is symmetric and the flange and the valve housing each comprise a predetermined pattern of holes for receiving fasteners for mounting the flange to the valve housing. After a period of use, the fasteners can be removed and the flange repositioned, or reversed, to distribute wear to other locations on the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Roberts, Joseph M. Federowicz
  • Patent number: 5390712
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing and vapor recovery nozzle includes a body portion having a fuel passageway therethrough, a main valve in the fuel passageway for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough, a manually operable valve actuating lever for opening the main valve, a pivot member mounting the lever for pivotal movement, an elongate pivot mounting member carrying the pivot member and mounted for sliding longitudinal movement, a venturi responsive to fuel flow through the fuel passageway for creating a vacuum, a shut-off passageway from the venturi to the spout adapted to be closed when the fuel tank is filled, a locking device normally locking the pivot mounting member against longitudinal movement so that the pivot member is stationary and the lever is operable to open the main valve, a vacuum responsive device for rendering the locking device inoperable upon the shut-off passageway becoming blocked, a vapor recovery passageway in the body portion extending longitudinally therethrough, a vapor recovery passageway i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Parrish, Chih-Kun Shih, John L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5379811
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle includes a housing having a hollow main body portion and a handle portion with a hand-grip spaced from the main body portion, an elongate nozzle body mounted in the main body portion of the housing and having a fuel passageway extending longitudinally therethrough in a generally straight line devoid of any abrupt changes in direction, a main valve for controlling the flow of fuel through the nozzle, a manually operable valve actuator, a spout having three integrally formed passageways comprising a fuel passageway, a vapor recovery passageway and a shut-off, venturi-vacuum passageway, a vapor recovery passageway through the main body and handle portions of the housing, a venturi-vacuum device for shutting off the flow of fuel through the nozzle when the vehicle fuel tank is full, an attitude responsive device for deactivating the main valve when the nozzle is not in the proper attitude for insertion of the spout into the fill opening of the vehicle fuel tank and an attitude responsive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Dotson, Stewart Mac Harmon, Francis B. Weeks, Chih-Kun J. Shih, John L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5327949
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle is disclosed and includes a housing having a hollow main body portion and a handle portion with a hand-grip spaced from the main body portion, an elongate nozzle body mounted in the main body portion of the housing and having a fuel passageway extending longitudinally therethrough in a generally straight line devoid of any abrupt changes in direction, main valve means disposed in the fuel passageway for controlling the flow of fuel through the nozzle, manually operable valve actuating means, a spout for insertion into the fill opening of a vehicle fuel tank and having three integrally formed passageways therethrough comprising a fuel passageway, a vapor recovery passageway and a shut-off, venturi-vacuum passageway, a vapor recovery passageway through the main body and handle portions of the housing, a venturi-vacuum means for shutting off the flow of fuel through the nozzle when the vehicle fuel tank is full, attitude responsive means for preventing the opening of the main valve when
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Dotson, Stewart Mac Harmon, Francis B. Weeks, Chih-Kun J. Shih, John L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5078170
    Abstract: A coupler of the dry break type includes male coupling member having an axial bore and a valve for opening and closing the bore therein, and female coupling member having an axial bore with a valve for opening and closing the bore therein and latching members for locking the male coupling member and female coupling means in coupled relation when the valves are open and for unlocking the same when the valves are closed, the latching members comprising a plurality of latching members which lock the male coupling member in coupled relation with the female coupling member and a latching sleeve which engages the latching members when the valves are open to hold the same in latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Henry
  • Patent number: 5027870
    Abstract: A float chamber located in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship to the main liquid flow passageway contains superimposed floats that move along a substantially linear path of travel. The floats cooperate with other control components to effect closure of a main valve assembly when the liquid level adjacent the mechanism reaches a preselected first elevation, and to close a bleed valve assembly when the liquid level reaches a second, higher elevation. The main valve assembly includes a movable plate valve that is spring biased toward an open position and that is biased toward a closed position by the force of liquid adjacent thereto and upstream therefrom. A latch and associated catch prevent movement of the valve plate to its closed position until such time as the liquid level reaches the first elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 4919305
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing nozzle for refueling vehicles is disclosed. The nozzle provides a poppet valve for manually controlling the flow rate through the nozzle and an automatic flow control regulator for limiting the maximum flow rate through the nozzle to a predetermined maximum flow rate. The illustrated embodiment provides the automatic flow regulator in an existing passage within the nozzle body downstream from the poppet valve. Therefore, the regulator can be retrofitted into existing nozzles without separate fasteners or the like. The regulator includes a polymeric sleeve having lateral ports and a piston slidable in the sleeve providing an orifice around the operating rod of the poppet valve. A spring normally maintains the piston in its full open position. When flow rates approach the maximum desired predetermined flow rate, a pressure drop occurs through the orifice, producing a force overcoming the spring and causing the piston to move down and partially cover the ports in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander R. Podgers
  • Patent number: D350386
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Dotson, Stewart MacHarmon
  • Patent number: D359100
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Emco Wheaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Dotson, Stewart M. Harmon