Patents Examined by Alan Cohan
  • Patent number: 5255715
    Abstract: An improved open-center improved valving sub-assembly of the type used for power steering systems for motor vehicles is disclosed. In particular, the improved open-center improved valving sub-assembly has a valve spool member with first and second sets of input slots and first and second sets of return slots, and a valve sleeve member with output slots and diversionary slots wherein only the output slots are coupled to a power cylinder member of a host power steering system. The output slots are linked fluidically to the first sets of input and return slots by input and return flow control orifices each comprising overlapping tangentially disposed areas therebetween. The diversionary slots are linked fluidically to the second sets of input and return slots by input and return flow selective control orifices each comprising overlapping tangentially disposed areas therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Techco Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5247959
    Abstract: A multi-function valve has a floating disc (24) with concentric annular ribs (25,27) on one face for cooperation with respective first and second seatings, and an annular rib (26) on its other face for cooperation with a third seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Meggitt (UK) Limited
    Inventor: James K. Fretwell
  • Patent number: 5218987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for protecting a water distribution system from water surge damage which otherwise might result if one of its valves is suddenly opened or closed. The outlet of the shut-off valve and the inlet of the hydrant valve of one outlet of the system are excavated, and a specially designed tap including an airtight reservoir is inserted between and connected to them. When the tap is installed, the reservoir is preferably oriented to extend perpendicularly upward, so it normally will be at least partially filled with air in use. Preferably, no further joints separate the shut-off valve and the hydrant valve. Finally, the shut-off valve, the hydrant valve, and the tap are preferably buried to a depth beneath the frost line, if the hydrant is exposed to a climate where the ground is subject to freezing. A water distribution system having the previously described elements at each outlet is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Howard W. Heil
  • Patent number: 5218983
    Abstract: A dispersal valve and canister with the dispersal valve resiliently supporting a loaded canister in the dispersal valve. The canister includes a visual indicator to permit a user to determine when the canister needs to be replaced with the canister having an air pocket for retaining at least a portion of the dispersant above the liquid with the canister including sides to funnel the unused dispersant into the trough to displace the dispersant in the liquid that is dispersed into the liquid so that the rate of dispersant of dispensing material into the liquid remains substantially constant during a substantial portion of the time the dispersal valve dispenses material into the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Joseph A. King
  • Patent number: 5218985
    Abstract: The separation of wet steam into its liquid and vapor phases, prior to encountering a pipe junction, is facilitated. The liquid phase is then recombined by aspiration to effectively behave as a single phase vapor of homogeneous density at the point where the flow stream is divided by the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Berger, James R. Stoy, Mark T. Rubel, James L. G. Schrodt
  • Patent number: 5218986
    Abstract: Water pumping apparatus is described for use with wells in which on-off cycling in pump operation is minimized by providing an air compressor and compressed air holding tank feeding an pressure regulating valve connected to discharge into a water holding tank, thereby enabling constant pneumatic pressure to be maintained in the water tank without regard to water level in the tank so that each cycling of the water pump will completely fill the water tank from nominally empty condition to nominally full condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Duane C. Farwell
  • Patent number: 5217037
    Abstract: A homogenizer comprises a homogenizing valve mounted to a pump block. The homogenizing valve includes a valve seat and a valve member positioned adjacent to the valve seat forming a gap through which fluid is expressed during homogenization. The homogenizer also comprises magnetostrictive actuator assembly which maintains a process pressure by controlling the size of the gap. The actuator assembly includes a magnetostrictive member which is coupled to the valve member and a generator for applying a magnetic field to the magnetostrictive member. The presence of the magnetic field produces magnetostriction of the magnetostrictive member which causes actuation of the valve member, thereby adjusting the size of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: APV Gaulin, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Bristol
  • Patent number: 5217035
    Abstract: A washroom control system automatically controls water valves and soap valves by infrared sensing of a user's hands, testing a battery to determine whether enough energy is stored to reliably close a valve, and generating an alarm if the battery needs replacing. Initial sensing of a user's hands requires rapid nearby hand motion to avoid spurious detection, while continued user presence requires lower infrared sensor output signals. The system includes DIP switches set to control various delay times, whether valve open cycles are fixed or variable in accordance with continued user presence, whether a water valve is controlled in response to one or several infrared sensors, whether water valve operation is independent of or responsive to prior soap valve operation, and whether the water valves are for wash fountains or urinals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: International Sanitary Ware Mfg. CY, S.A.
    Inventor: Karel C. Van Marcke
  • Patent number: 5217199
    Abstract: Connecting valve and hydraulic oil safety and power system in which the connecting valve is used.This connecting valve (1) has at least one sealing location (5) which is actuated by means of a piston/cylinder arrangement. A piston (3) is subjected to a pressure fluid and moved against the force of a spring (7).A connecting valve (1) is created which can be inspected for freedom of movement without influencing operation. The hydraulic oil safety and power system should be particularly operationally reliable by means of the connecting valve (1) in accordance with the invention. This is achieved by at least two pipes (17, 18) entering the drive volume (2) offset in the axial direction, of which pipes only one first pipe (17) is initially effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventor: Heinz Frey
  • Patent number: 5217201
    Abstract: An apparatus receiving a valve stem through a central support tube includes a housing extending upwardly relative to a rear distal end of the support tube. The valve stem includes a truncated conical handle mounted at an outer distal end of the valve stem, with a plurality of spring legs mounted adjacent a forward distal end of an exterior surface of the support tube projecting into the handle to frictionally engage an interior surface of the handle retarding rotation thereof preventing children and the like from inadvertent and unauthorized rotation of a hot water handle of a hot water valve minimizing injury. Displacement of the spring fingers relative to the handle is effected by lifting of a lift handle mounted to an upper distal end of the control housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Donnie E. Self
  • Patent number: 5215111
    Abstract: A pneumatic servo comprises a motor having a shaft for rotation in response to an electrical signal. A cam is connected to the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam has an outer profiled periphery and opposite sides. A pneumatic nozzle having an opening for directing a flow of gas toward one side of the cam near the periphery, obscures the flow by different amounts as the cam rotates to create a back pressure in the nozzle comprising a pneumatic signal. A curved projection engages an opposite side of the cam, the projection being aligned with the nozzle opening and reducing oscillation excursions of the servo at gas pressures in the nozzle of above 12 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Elsag International B.V.
    Inventors: George R. Hall, II, Raymond J. Dippert, Thomas E. Stevenson, James M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5215121
    Abstract: A tube separator comprises an inlet and an outlet to define a flow direction from the inlet to the outlet, shut-off means arranged between the inlet and the outlet for connecting the inlet with the outlet in a first position thereof and for disconnecting the inlet from the outlet in a second position thereof, control means for operating the shut-off means and a non-return valve at the outlet for blocking or allowing fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. The shut-off means comprises a shut-off member being arranged in the shut-off means for rotation around an axis perpendicular to the flow direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position thereof, and a bore is provided in the shut-off member for connecting the inlet with the outlet in the first rotational position and for disconnecting the inlet from the outlet in the second rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Prufer
    Inventor: Peter Michl
  • Patent number: 5213133
    Abstract: A pressure responsive pilot control valve has a spool which is movable by a metal diaphragm sensing the pressure in a flowline. The spool includes two poppet seal rings mounted thereon, the poppet seal rings having concentric axes and which are used for opening and closing fluid ports. The fluid ports are opened and closed for the purpose of sending a signal to a latching relay valve to bleed off a shut in valve actuator which will terminate flow in the flowline. The poppet seal rings of the pilot move responsive to a high or a low pressure condition. A low pressure spring is provided for measuring a low pressure condition and a high pressure spring is provided for measuring a high pressure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Barber Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: James R. Ellett
  • Patent number: 5211200
    Abstract: An automatic bleed valve bleeds gas from a liquid reservoir. It comprises a housing having a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet with the passage including a bore in which a piston is slidably received. The piston includes a capillary providing fluid communication between the inlet and a chamber formed in the passage adjacent the outlet. The piston is biased into an upstream position in which gas entering the inlet passes through the capillary to the chamber and thence to the outlet. However, the passage of liquid through the capillary so increases the pressure drop across the piston as to move the piston to a downstream position in which the piston closes the outlet to prevent communication between the chamber and the outlet, thus closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald F. Cassidy
  • Patent number: 5211201
    Abstract: An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus (5) is disposed in an intravenous fluid line (3). A return line (8) is attached to a point in the line (3) below the air-detection apparatus (5). The other end of the return line (8) is attached to a chamber (1, 2, 12) where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber (12), a metering chamber (2) or the intravenous supply (1). When air is detected, a valve (11) or valves (7, 9) are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump (4) is turned on, the fluid is pumped through the return line (8) to the separation chamber (1, 2, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Valentine Faust
  • Patent number: 5209254
    Abstract: A water and sewerage system for a construction, has at least one water consumer, at least one water supply pipe adapted to supply water from a water source to the water consumer, at least one water drainage pipe adapted to drain water from said consumer to a sewage reservoir and the like, a water level sensor cooperating with the water drainage pipe so as to sense when water reaches a predetermined level in the water drainage pipe, and at least one water supply interrupting element cooperating with the water supply pipe and connected with the water level sensor so that when water in the water drainage pipe reaches the predetermined level the sensor sends a signal to the water supply interrupting element and the water supply interrupting element interrupts water supply in the water supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Slomo Ancselovics
  • Patent number: 5209255
    Abstract: An accumulator loading valve is provided which is adapted for elevated pressures, which requires but little space, and which has a pump connection (1), a reservoir connection (20), a priority valve (7) between the consumer connection and the accumulator connection, and a pilot valve (4) being controlled by the accumulator pressure. The improvement is that the operating piston of the two-position pilot valve (4) is prestressed by a spring (28) having a constant spring rate and that the cross section of the valve inlet (19) is smaller than the cross section of the valve discharge (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventor: Gottfried Dehio
  • Patent number: 5207737
    Abstract: An electro-pneumatic pressure transducer is provided with a valve body assembly having a supply chamber, an exhaust chamber and an intake assembly to provide a source of fluid to the transducer. The transducer also has an output assembly directing the fluid to a pneumatic actuator. The valve body further includes a supply valve assembly and an exhaust valve assembly having bender elements adjustably mounted to the valve body with respect to nozzles. A manifold structure is included for fluidly connecting the supply valve, the exhaust valve and the output assemblies. A pressure sensor is used to measure the pressure in the valve body and is responsive to increases or decreases of the pneumatic pressure in the valve body. A monitor is used to monitor the power source and to generate a failure mode signal when the power source fails to supply a predetermined level of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Landis & Gyr Powers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Hanley, Guy P. Caliendo
  • Patent number: 5207246
    Abstract: A valve for fluids exhibits a valve casing (1) with a sealed valve element (2) movable into various switching positions, as well as connections (3) through (6) for operating lines, pressure lines, vent lines, and the like. The valve is furnished with sealing rings (7) forming a valve seat (19) in the individual switching position in each case together with the peripheral faces of the valve casing (1). The valve is of a simplest construction for a large number of switching positions and for different numbers of switching positions with short switching times and with a smallest possible number of parts. At least one sealing ring (7) is coordinated to the rotary-driven valve element (2). The sealing ring (7) is in each case disposed in a plane (9), running at an angle relative to the rotation axis (8). A disk (11) or an axial body are disposed in the same plane (9) defined by the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ernst-August Meyer
  • Patent number: 5207240
    Abstract: A self aligning nozzle for a flapper valve through which fluid at a controlled pressure is supplied to a servo system. The nozzle which is retained in a semi-spherical member and is adapted to be rotated about its axial center to maintain a face of an orifice in a perpendicular relationship with a face on a lever that moves about a pivot in response to an operational pressure differential in the servo system in a shut off position to prevent leakage into the servo system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Burrell