Patents Examined by Aaron Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 9631753
    Abstract: A hydraulic hose fitting comprises a hydraulic hose engaging portion and a hydraulic port engaging portion. The hydraulic hose engaging portion includes a body having an axial bore extending therethrough and a stem press-fit into the axial bore. The hydraulic port engaging portion is coupled to the hydraulic hose engaging portion. The hydraulic port engaging portion may be a swivel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Wood, Richard Redfern
  • Patent number: 9631543
    Abstract: In an exhaust pipe spherical joint X, a spherical annular seal member 36 is fitted and fixed to a pipe end portion 42, the spherical annular seal member 36 is seated by abutting against a flange 43, a flared portion 47 formed of an Fe—Cr base stainless steel and containing 17.00 to 19.00% by mass of Cr is secured to a downstream-side exhaust pipe 44, and an inner surface 48 of a concave spherical surface portion 45 is brought into slidable contact with a composite surface 40 in which a surface 38 constituted by a reinforcing member 5 and a surface 39 constituted by a solid lubricant are present in mixed form in an outer surface 37 of an outer layer 35 of the spherical annular seal member 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouhei Kurose, Eiji Satou, Yoshifumi Asano, Ryota Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 9625070
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a flexible pipe (101) to a further flexible pipe (102) in an end-to-end configuration. The apparatus includes an elongate tubular element (30) comprising a first and second end (33, 34) and an outer surface comprising a raised central region (35). At least one vent passage (55) extends at least partially across the raised central region (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Hegler, Andrew James Heaton
  • Patent number: 9617800
    Abstract: The invention provides a connector assembly for interconnecting tubular elements. The connector assembly comprises at least one pin member, at least one box member, and for each box member a respective coating layer. Each pin member has a threaded outer surface and each box member has a threaded inner surface allowing the pin member and the box member to be screwed together. Herein the respective coating layer is positioned between the threaded surfaces of the pin member and the box member. Each coating layer is of a softer material than said threaded surfaces. The connector assembly further comprises means for removing excess coating material during make up of the pin member and the box member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Djurre Hans Zijsling, Egbert Jan Van Riet, Mark Michael Shuster
  • Patent number: 9611966
    Abstract: A joint structure for connecting lengths of pipe uses a plurality of teeth to engage the surface of at least one end of the adjacent lengths of pipe to connect the ends. A deformable member applies forces to the plurality of teeth to engage the surfaces. In an aspect, the plurality of teeth are releasable. In another aspect, the plurality of teeth are permanently engaged into the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Prabhat Industries
    Inventors: Ryan C. Boelter, Claus H. H. Boelter, Yogesh H. Dhruv, Gregory D. Cady, Warren R. Etches
  • Patent number: 9611964
    Abstract: A connector includes a male member mounted on a connector housing, and a lock member which can engage and disengage between the connector housing and the male member. The connector housing includes a lock-member guide wall guiding the lock member; an engagement projection engaging with one portion of the lock member, and restricting the lock member from descending; a sliding surface where a tip portion slides accompanied by a movement of the lock member; and a through-hole through which one portion of the lock member held by the lock-member guide wall passes, and which is formed to engage with an engagement portion formed on an outer periphery of the male member mounted on the connector housing. In the lock member, the movement is restricted by the engagement projection, and after an engagement with the engagement projection is released, the lock member descends to prevent an unprepared release and ensure safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Mikio Nezu
  • Patent number: 9611961
    Abstract: A fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled-up to its final assembled condition by torque rather than by turns. In one embodiment, at least one fitting component includes a structure that facilitates pull-up by torque. The structure may take a wide variety of different forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Bennett, Tobin Berry, Mark A. Clason, John D. Karkosiak, Thomas A. Lippucci, Andrew P. Marshall, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, Edward A. Stroberg, Peter C. Williams
  • Patent number: 9611962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tongue-and-groove coupling between panels of self-supporting air-conditioning ducts and the like, of the type that is provided in order to establish an optimum fit of the canted edge corresponding to the panels that are coupled in a tongue-and-groove manner, and also, to avoid the air coming into contact with the core of the duct therein. To this end, the panels consist of a core of insulating material complemented by an outer layer and inner layer based on aluminum or some other coating, the juxtaposing canted edge or edge between the panels having an oblique cut in relation to the horizontality or longitudinal intermediate line in the joint between the two panels; the aluminum layer or coating, which determines the inner face of the duct, extending beyond the edge of the panel, and being fixed to the oblique surface that defines the coupling profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Cristaleria, S.L.
    Inventors: Noé Juarranz Moratilla, Alfonso Diez Monforte, Claire Plateaux, Gregorio Lopez Belbeze
  • Patent number: 9611957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe coupling including a tubular casing, having a longitudinal gap between a first free end and a second free end; a tensioning system including a first pivoting member; a second pivoting member having a projection located at a distal end of the second pivoting member; a bridge plate located inside the casing for spanning the longitudinal gap between the first free end and the second free end of the tubular casing; at least one fastener; and means for restraining radially the projection of the second pivoting member relative to the first pivoting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taylor Kerr (Couplings) Limited
    Inventors: Ian Richard Webb, Neil John Thornton Taylor
  • Patent number: 9605786
    Abstract: A fluid swivel that includes a stationary annular structure defining upper and lower annular seal recesses, and a rotatable outer housing operatively connected to the stationary annular structure, the outer housing defining an annular passage that has upper and lower surfaces. Upper and lower seals are positioned between the stationary annular structure and the rotatable outer housing and disposed in the upper and lower seal recesses. An inner housing bore is disposed in the stationary annular structure and arranged to provide fluid of pressure P to the annular passage, the fluid exerting a first force (Fv1) longitudinally inwardly on the outer surface of the outer housing, and a second force (Fv2) longitudinally outwardly on the upper and lower surfaces of the annular passage, the second force (Fv2) having a greater magnitude than the first force (Fv1) so the outer housing deflects outwardly, pushing the upper and lower seals into the upper and lower seal recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SOFEC, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Terry Boatman, Stephane Roy
  • Patent number: 9605782
    Abstract: A retainer for connecting a pair of sanitary fittings each having a first end and a second end, the second ends each having a flanged portion, includes a first member having a through center aperture, the first member adapted to receive at least a portion of each of the flanged portions and a second member having a through center aperture and engageable over the first member, the second member adapted to provide a compressive force to sealingly connect the flanged portions when the first and second members are in an assembled configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Albert A. Werth
  • Patent number: 9597943
    Abstract: A duct for a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system of a vehicle includes a first end and a second end spaced a distance from the first end. An orifice extends between the first end and the second end. A semi-circular surface is disposed at the second end. The semi-circular surface extends about a radius having the same length as the distance between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Eric R. Yerke, Robert Steven Sawyer
  • Patent number: 9599263
    Abstract: A movable coupling for a pipeline, which can be applied in aviation and aerospace. The coupling includes a dip pipe, a counter piece and a displaceable component. The counter piece has a passage, into which the dip pipe is inserted. The counter piece has a holder extending from the passage. The component includes a clearance that the dip pipe extends through. A portion of the displaceable component is received in the holder so the displaceable component can be displaced relative to the counter piece in a direction not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dip pipe. When the dip pipe moves relative to the counter piece, the displaceable component is tight against the dip pipe and also against the counter piece. A tank arrangement includes a tank with a pipeline connected to the tank and including a movable coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Lutzer
  • Patent number: 9599266
    Abstract: A connector, particularly for connecting pipes, includes a base body, a sealing element and a member for fixing a pipe inserted into the connector, wherein the base body has an insertion opening on one side for the insertion of a pipe and the sealing element is arranged in an essentially cylindrically symmetrical recess set embedded in the base body and wherein the essentially cylindrically symmetrical recess at least partly has a smaller depth in the region between the position of the inset sealing element and the side of the recess facing the insertion opening of the base body than in the region of the position of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Viega GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schreckenberg, Oliver Cyliax
  • Patent number: 9599260
    Abstract: A pipe coupling has an outer shell with a flexible inner liner therein. The liner is secured to the shell by a clamping arrangement, which uses inner rings at the ends of the shell and an inner ring intermediate of the ends. The inner rings are hydraulically expanded out to the shell to form a seal between the shell and the liner at the ends and to retain the liner to the shell at the intermediate ring. In use, compressed fluid is provided to cavities between the liner and the shell to force the liner to seal against a pipe joint. The intermediate inner ring prevents the intermediate portion of the liner from expanding into the pipe joint. A protective handle is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Larry D. Howell
  • Patent number: 9579495
    Abstract: A head portion (150) is provided at one end of an outer circumferential wall (101) capable of elastic compression deformation. The outer circumferential wall includes multiple compression units (110, 120) that undergo deformation due to compression force in a central axis (100a) direction. Letting N be an integer of 2 or more, the compression units each have at least either N thick portions (113) or N thin portions (123) formed at equiangular intervals with respect to the central axis such that the thickness periodically changes in the circumferential direction. The phase with respect to the central axis of the periodic change in thickness is shifted between two compression units that are neighboring in the central axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: JMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Tachizaki
  • Patent number: 9574688
    Abstract: First and second conduits are joined in a manner to control electrical resistance of a conduit circuit. A cylindrical section of an adapter is placed onto an end of the first conduit. A part of the cylindrical section is crimped onto the first conduit while a spacing block made of a polymer material having a previously chosen conductivity is positioned around the end of the first conduit and clipped onto the cylindrical section. The crimping locks the spacing block to the adapter and deforms an assembly comprising the clipping pieces of the spacing block and the adapter, so as to immobilize the clipping pieces relative to each other in a direction parallel to an axis of the cylindrical section of the adapter, and such that an exterior surface of the first conduit engages interior surfaces of the spacing block and the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DESIGNED METAL CONNECTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Benoit Artaud, Stephane Heraud, Daniel Lecroc
  • Patent number: 9574689
    Abstract: The present device provides a composite rotary union assembly which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art rotary union assemblies. The composite rotary union assembly of the present invention provides for supplying water or gas to a rotatable reel assembly, it also provides metal inserts for high wear areas of the rotary union assembly, including the threads, for longer useful life of the assembly while providing a resin structure for supporting and placing the metal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Suncast Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Phillips, Michael R. Vogler
  • Patent number: 9568129
    Abstract: A sensor assembly (5) for a fluid meter (100) is provided. The sensor assembly (5) comprises a sensor assembly body (6) and one or more circumferential grooves (303) formed in the sensor assembly body (6). Two or more retaining components (105, 106) are removably coupled together around at least one of the one or more circumferential grooves (303) with a portion of the two or more retaining components engaging the circumferential groove. A flange (104) is also provided that surrounds at least a portion of the sensor assembly body (6) and is retained around the sensor assembly body (6) by the first and second retaining components (105, 106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton Ray Griffin
  • Patent number: 9568128
    Abstract: A piping connection device includes a female block member fixed integrally with a male block member, and a first pipe is inserted into the female block member. The piping connection device further includes a drain passage through which a part of an outer peripheral surface of the first pipe communicates with an outer surface of the female block member. The drain passage is disposed in a portion higher in heat capacity than the other portions in the female block member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Okada, Terukazu Higuchi, Shinichi Naganuma, Yoshinori Yanagimachi