Patents Examined by George L. Walton
  • Patent number: 6715507
    Abstract: A vaporizer comprises disks each including an aperture at a central portion thereof. A hollow pipe having apertures for permitting radial outflow of a liquid extends through the aperture of each of the discs so as to form a stack of the discs. A resilient member applies a biasing force to the discs, and structure applies a force, via fluid control, against the biasing force to thereby remove the biasing force from the discs. Liquid in the hollow pipe is adapted to be delivered from the apertures to spaces between the discs and vaporized in the spaces between the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: MKS Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mayumi Arai, Yoshiyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6712090
    Abstract: A fluid tank valve assembly of the type employed for water tanks for toilets has a tank refill valve located atop a fluid inlet supply tube. The refill valve has a lever that is raised and lowered to open and close the valve. An inverted, cup-shaped hood is positioned atop the valve and a float is located about the skirt of the hood and secured thereto by the force of friction. The float can be moved longitudinally along the skirt of the hood in order to vary the water level at which the hood bears down upon the lever arm or is lifted from the lever arm, thereby varying the water level at which the valve is actuated. The valve itself is equipped with a metering pin that is configured to reduce the likelihood of clogging in the longitudinal passage of the core of the valve diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony Brandelli
  • Patent number: 6712087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary valve assembly for a pressure swing adsorption system. The rotary valve assembly includes a first valve member and a second valve member relatively rotatable about a common center of rotation to provide valving action for selectively transferring fluids therethrough. The second valve member has a first fluid section with at least one aperture adapted for transferring a first fluid of a first pressure and composition therethrough and a second fluid section with at least one aperture adapted for transferring a second fluid of a second pressure and composition therethrough. The first valve member has a first fluid section with at least one passage for transferring the first fluid in the valve assembly and a second fluid section with at least one passage for transferring the second fluid in the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: SeQual Technologies, Inc., Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Theodore B. Hill, Charles C. Hill, Adam C. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6708717
    Abstract: A flushing system for air conditioning drainage pipes including a pipe assembly, a valve for selectively blocking the pass of the upstream drain line and a connection for a pressurized fluid supply. Each of the pipe assembly ends has a slidable tubular member cooperatively larger in diameter than said pipe assembly and drain line to snugly receive the ends of the pipe assembly. The tubular members are slid partially over the drain line ends and the ends of the pipe assembly. An alternate embodiment uses cooperating threads on the ends of the pipe assembly and one of the ends of the slidable tubular members. To flush the system with a fluid (liquid or gas), a user closes the valve assembly by rotating the ball valve member and applies the pressurized fluid to flush the system. Also, O-rings are used to enhance the sealing engagement in yet another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Coogle Technology, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gregory Coogle
  • Patent number: 6698444
    Abstract: In order to free a seized valve, an inspection port is formed in a wall of the valve body and the areas where the valve is seized are determined. One or more injection ports are formed in the valve body adjacent to the seized portions of the valve, pressurized fluid (preferably an insoluble lubricant having a very high cone penetration) is injected through the or each injection port and the injection ports are then closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Robert Peter Enston
  • Patent number: 6698449
    Abstract: A replaceable valve seat ring for a valve assembly has an annular ring body and an open flow passage extending through the ring body. A seating surface is provided on the ring body adjacent one end of the flow passage. A tool accepting region of the flow passage is formed concentric with and at least partially along the flow passage. The tool accepting region is adapted to receive a standard tool head therein for installing and removing the valve seat ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Randy J. Hall, Ronald C. Burr, Mark D. Stiehl, Carl D. Miller
  • Patent number: 6695004
    Abstract: A magnetic automatic stop valve formed in a container of a medical fluid administration system has one magnetic element located in a float and another magnetic element located proximate a valve seat. As the fluid level in the container decreases, the magnetic field established between the float and the valve seat eventually overcomes the buoyancy of the float in the fluid and attracts the float into the valve seat at which position the flow of fluid from the container is stopped. The float is formed of two identical halves each of which has one half of an internal post. When joined together to make the float, the internal post is fully formed and extends from one end of the float to the other. One magnetic element is slid over the post during manufacture and is free to slide from one end of the float to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Raybuck
  • Patent number: 6695000
    Abstract: A valve with an integral means for bleeding internal pressure prior to separation of a bonnet for the valve from its engagement with the valve body, provided by a bore through the valve body. This allows the internal pressure of the valve to equalize with atmospheric pressure prior to complete disassembly of the bonnet from the valve body. The bore through the valve body also serves as a leak detector, by providing a path for fluids passing through the valve to leak to the exterior of the valve body in the event of a failure of the seal between the bonnet and the valve body, which can readily be detected by passersby upon inspection of the exposed end of the bore at the exterior of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Randy Jerold Hall, Ronald Charles Burr, Mark Douglas Stiehl
  • Patent number: 6695596
    Abstract: In a suction valve apparatus of a reciprocating compressor including a piston having a gas passage at which gas flows inside its body portion, a valve seat formed at an end of a piston body to open the gas passage and a step face formed so as to have a thickness inward from the valve seat and have a plurality of gas through holes and a mounting through hole, and a valve cone having a detachable coupling portion formed extendely from a cone portion corresponded to the valve seat of the piston and inserted into the mounting through hole of the step face of the piston so as to be movable, a re-expansion loss can be reduced by minimizing a dead volume of a suction gas valve, an efficiency of a reciprocating compressor can improve by reducing a heat transmission loss by sucking refrigerant gas through the plurality of gas through holes of the step face from the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won-Sik Oh, Jung-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 6691731
    Abstract: A corporation stop cleaner device includes a T-shaped body having an inlet end, an outlet end, a flushing inlet connection and a flushing outlet connection. The T-shaped body is attached to the fluid inlet of a corporation stop. A removable brush is mounted on one end of a rigid rod and is forced through the T-shaped body and into the corporation stop. The brush abuts the inner surfaces of the corporation stop to remove debris or the like from the inner surfaces of the corporation stop. Flushing water flows through the T-shaped body to remove debris removed from the corporation stop. An optional pipe cleaning tool includes the T-shaped body attached to a service water line with an expandable brush mounted on one end of a flexible cable wherein the brush expands through the pipe cleaning tool inside of the water pipe to remove debris from the line that is stopping flow of water therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jamie L. Thompson, L. Wayne Dixon
  • Patent number: 6691733
    Abstract: A tapping connector for a pipeline, vessel or the like wherein the connector has a membrane disposed therein. The membrane may be curved or arcuate and may be configured to offer a partially cylindrical profile that resembles the wall of a pipe. The tapping connector may be used to provide future connection points for branch lines to the pipeline, vessel or other containment structure. The membrane so configured may be removed by conventional pipe tapping equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Bruce E. Morris
  • Patent number: 6691728
    Abstract: A method of routing a new pipe duct into an existing pressurized gas pipeline includes the step of introducing a translating member into the pressurized gas pipeline via an entry port in a first fitting attached to the pressurized gas pipeline. The translating member, such as a duct rod, is advanced within the pressurized gas pipeline by a driving mechanism, until it reaches second fitting. The translating member is attached to a pipe inner duct. The duct rod and pipe inner duct are then pulled back through the pressurized gas pipeline by the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sempra Fiber Links
    Inventors: Scott A. Beals, Ronald D. Hammer, Robert E. Evans, Kevin Leeds
  • Patent number: 6691732
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrant locking device to be used in conjunction with a fire hydrant having locking nuts which includes, a base arm having a first base arm portion and a second base arm portion. A top arm extends upwardly from the base arm and includes a top arm cap for covering at least one of the locking nuts. The first base arm portion is detachably secured to the second base arm portion, wherein the base arm and the top arm are secured to the fire hydrant when the first base arm portion is secured to the second base arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mueller International
    Inventors: Leo W. Fleury, Jr., Mikail German, Ken Clark
  • Patent number: 6691734
    Abstract: A method, system and tools for introducing a fiber optic conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline includes the step of introducing a translating member into the pressurized gas pipeline via an entry port in a first fitting attached to the pressurized gas pipeline. Tools are deployed within a first pressure lock housing attached to the first fitting by using a first manipulator located in the first air lock housing. The translating member, such as a duct rod, is advanced within the pressurized gas pipeline by a driving mechanism until a second drilling fitting is reached. The translating member is attached to a fiber optic conduit or cable. The duct rod and fiber optic conduit are then pulled back through the pressurized gas pipeline. Extractor tools extending through seals in the pressure lock housing engage with and withdraw the duct rod. Alternatively, first and second duct rods may be pushed towards each other from the first and second fittings. End elements on the duct rods engage each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sempra Fiber Links
    Inventors: Scott A. Beals, Ronald D. Hammer, Robert E. Evans, Kevin Leeds
  • Patent number: 6691726
    Abstract: A novel method for bending tubes suitable for use in high-purity fluid handling systems includes selecting a tube made from a material having a grain-size number of at least 5, and forming a bend in the tube with a bend radius of greater than 1.5 times the diameter of the tube. Tubes bent according to the present invention are incorporated into high-purity systems as supply lines, product lines, and vacuum forelines, without the need for post-bend heat treatment or polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Therma Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolae M. Erdei, Todd A. Mays
  • Patent number: 6688329
    Abstract: A water feeder controller for a boiler monitors a low water cutoff sensor in a boiler and uses a feed timer to feed water to the boiler for a predetermined feed period of time. The feed timer brings the water level in the boiler well above the low water cutoff sensor. The feed timer supplies water to the boiler only if the low water cutoff sensor continues to indicate a low water level for a delay period of time measured by a delay timer. A resettable display indicates the quantity of water supplied by the water feeder to the boiler based on a feed counter incremented during water feeding. A manual feed button allows water to be manually fed to the boiler. The quantity of water manually supplied to the boiler is also shown on the display. The feed timer and delay timer are preferably implemented in software in a microcontroller in the water feeder controller. A lockout loop in the software prevents overfeeding of water to the boiler in the event of a failure of the low water cutoff sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: C. Cowles & Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Murray, Richard A. Lyons
  • Patent number: 6688330
    Abstract: A valve (10) for a fluid tank, comprising a housing formed with one or more inlet (28) and outlet (20) ports, side walls and a seating wall (14) portion supporting a float-type valve member. The valve member is axially displaceable within the housing responsive to fluid level within the tank, between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, and has a top and a bottom end and a bearing portion facing the seating wall portion of the housing. Either one or both of the seating wall portion of the housing and the bearing portion of the valve member, are fitted with one or more dampening members (46) for diminishing impacting noise of the valve member encountering the housing upon displacement into the lowermost position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Raval Agriculture Cooperative Societies Ltd.
    Inventors: Moshe Ehrman, Ehud Orenstein, Zohar Moalem, Yoav Livne, Valdimir Olshanetsky
  • Patent number: 6688326
    Abstract: A locking fire hydrant includes a fire hydrant body having an outlet port, a valve access hole, and an outer surface with a recess defined therein. The recess is configured to receive a locking cap for closing off the outlet port and the valve access hole. A locking cap for closing off the outlet port and the valve access hole is mounted on the fire hydrant body such that the locking cap is received in the recess defined in the outer surface of the fire hydrant body. The recess shields an interface between the locking cap and the fire hydrant body from access by unauthorized tools. A fire hydrant body, a method for restricting unauthorized access to a fire hydrant, and a method for locking an auxiliary cap to a fire hydrant also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: George Sigelakis
  • Patent number: 6684901
    Abstract: A solenoid valve has a valve body with an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween. A valve member is selectively engageable with the valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A biasing device is engageable with the valve member for holding the valve member against the valve seat. A solenoid assembly is mounted upon the valve member for moving the valve member away from the valve seat. A mounting arrangement is interposed between and connects the valve body and the solenoid assembly in a rotary, frictional engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Deltrol Controls
    Inventors: Brian T. Cahill, Kevin Reilly
  • Patent number: 6684902
    Abstract: An accumulator for collecting a volume of a liquid, which includes controls to permit the liquid to rise in a container to a preset upper level, at which level a drain valve is opened causing liquid to flow out of the accumulator. The accumulator utilizes two opened bottom pipes, which are connected through check valves to a controller. The controller is sensitive to the pressure at its inlet port. The pipes are interconnected so that when the liquid reaches an upper level, the pressure at the controller is sufficient to open the drain valve, and once the accumulator is almost empty, the drain valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: AcornVac, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Zinn, Enrique P. Loreto, Ron Hahn