Patents Examined by Kevin Lee
  • Under bed residential fire pump and water storage tank unit
    Patent number: 9968812
    Abstract: An under bed fluid storage and pumping assembly for fire prevention and protection, which may be utilized in disaster relief housing that includes a first sprinkler system, is disclosed herein. In an example, the under bed fluid storage and pumping assembly includes a tank comprising a housing cavity and the fluid pumping assembly disposed within the housing cavity. In some examples, the housing cavity is formed on a top surface of a riser that extends above a platform to support a bed. In other examples, the housing cavity is formed below an opening on the platform. The housing cavity may include an embedded pump, a suction tube with an isolation valve, a discharge manifold with an isolation valve, a system pressure gauge, a system test control valve (which may be plumped back to tank through tubing and/or fittings), a pressure activated on/off switch, or the like, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Gary Ike
  • Shut-off valve repair system
    Patent number: 9970570
    Abstract: A shut-off valve repair system includes a shut-off valve. The shut-off valve is fluidly coupled between a fluid supply and a plumbing fixture. Thus, the shut-off valve selectively restricts and allows a flow of a fluid to the plumbing fixture. A valve unit is selectively fluidly coupled to the shut-off valve when the shut-off valve fails. Thus, the valve unit selectively inhibits and allows the fluid to flow to the plumbing fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Jack Moncada
  • Water inlet valve featuring stain resistance, easy cleaning, and quick disassembly
    Patent number: 9964225
    Abstract: A water inlet valve providing stain resistance, easy cleaning, and quick disassembly includes an inlet passage having an insert opening disposed at an upper end of the water inlet valve; an inlet divider; a filter component connected to the inlet divider to form a filtering dividing mechanism, and a water stop valve in communication with the water inlet valve that that controls the water inlet valve to stop water flow. The filter component and the inlet divider are disposed between the inlet passage an outlet of the inlet valve, water flowing through the inlet passage is filtered and is divided into two waterways by the inlet divider including a main waterway that flows to the outlet for inletting and a sub-waterway that flows to the water stop valve, and the filtering dividing mechanism is inserted into the inlet passage through the insert opening and is disassembled from the insert opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAS (XIAMEN) PLUMBING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanjun Zhang, Shenglong Pan
  • Dual inline starter air valve
    Patent number: 9957899
    Abstract: A starter air valve comprising: a housing comprising an inlet at a first end, an outlet at a second end opposite the first end, and a center portion between first and second end, the outlet being fluidly connected to the inlet through a fluid passage; a first piston located within the housing between the first end and center portion, the first piston comprising: a first cupped portion configured to form a first chamber with the housing proximate the first end; and a second piston located within the housing between the second end and center portion, the second piston comprises: a third cupped portion configured to form a third chamber with the housing proximate the second end; wherein the first piston is configured to regulate airflow through the fluid passage by adjusting at least one of a first pressure within the first chamber and a third pressure within the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Greenberg, Myles R. Kelly, Robert Goodman
  • Valve body of a dosing device
    Patent number: 9955843
    Abstract: The object of this invention is a valve body of a cleaning appliance, specifically a dosing device, whose valve body can open and close the inlet and outlet pipes of the dosing chamber of the dosing device, to release a correct amount of detergent for soaking a cleaning cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TTS Cleaning s.r.l.
    Inventor: Renato Zorzo
  • Shape memory alloy actuated valve assembly
    Patent number: 9958081
    Abstract: A Shape Metal Alloy actuated valve assembly is provided with a support structure having electromechanical connection points arranged on its surface. Actuation of a SMA element, arranged to provide a connection between the support structure contact and the contact on the plunger, will cause the plunger to either move from an open position a closed position or vice versa. The support structure is provided with multiple contact or connection points for engaging an SMA element so that the valve assembly can be configured to provide a normally closed (NC), a normally open (NO), proportional or a latch valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FLUID AUTOMATION SYSTEMS S.A.
    Inventor: Nicolas Deperraz
  • Juicer cover
    Patent number: 9949589
    Abstract: A conical shaped juicer cover with two openings is placed over a juicer machine. The first opening is inserted around the juice machine's feeding chute, and the elastic nature of the first opening ensures a snug fit, while also covering any openings in the vicinity of the feeding chute. The second opening extends over the remainder of the juicer machine covering at least a portion of the juicer machine's base and at least the top portion of containers for collecting juice and pulp that are positioned under the juicer machine's pulp ejection spout and juicing spout. The juicer cover is composed of fabric capable of blocking and/or absorbing liquid, and preferably composed of stretch fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Christina Ann Nelson
  • Field device for controlling a process fluid flow
    Patent number: 9952604
    Abstract: A field device that includes a primary valve, a main actuator, a bypass line, a secondary valve, and a position controller. The primary valve can be configured to adjust a process fluid flow. The main actuator can be configured to control the primary valve. The main actuator includes a working chamber to be subjected with a process fluid and a return device configured to bias the valve member. The bypass line can be configured to fluidly connect an inlet and an outlet of the primary valve to feed the process fluid to the working chamber. The position controller configured to control a pneumatic actuator to control the secondary valve to change a process fluid pressure in the working chamber. The controlling of the pneumatic actuator can include generating a pneumatic control signal based on a position of the primary valve and supplying the pneumatic control signal to the pneumatic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSON AKTLENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Joerg Kiesbauer
  • Fluid flow control system and device
    Patent number: 9946271
    Abstract: A device and system for regulating the flow of a fluid, comprising: a fluid flow controller; wherein the fluid flow controller comprises: a fluid flow control component and an electronic controller; wherein the fluid flow control component is configured to allow at least two different flow rates of a fluid to pass through the fluid flow controller; and wherein the electronic controller controls the fluid flow controller component, such that the fluid flow controller component operatively switches between the at least two different flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan Tuineag, Steven William Walton
  • Efficient storage of sequentially transmitted packets in a network device
    Patent number: 9942175
    Abstract: A sequence of packets is stored in a memory of the network device such that a current packet in the sequence of packets is stored at a predetermined distance following a preceding packet in the sequence. Lengths of corresponding ones of the packets stored in the memory are indicated in the memory. The packets are sequentially read from the memory based on the indicated lengths of corresponding ones of the packets stored in the memory. An operation is performed on the ones of the packets read from the memory. Subsequent to performing the operation, least some of the packets are written back to the memory. Ones of the packets are written to the memory beginning at a memory location following a respective preceding packet in the sequence by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Marvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
    Inventor: Tal Mizrahi
  • Apparatus to couple with and decouple from a male coupler
    Patent number: 9933098
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for providing an easy-flow flushing system to flushing out an engine and an out-drive. The easy-flow flushing system may include a cap with a tubular member, a capping member, and a sleeve. The tubular member may include a first outer surface, an inner surface, a coil circumscribing the tubular member to urge a sleeve to a closed configuration, an opening along the first outer surface, and a ball bearing seated in the opening. The capping member may be coupled to the tubular member and the capping member can include a capping member end and a sealing ring disposed along a second outer surface. The sleeve may be coupled to the tubular member. The sleeve may include an inner surface, where the sleeve is formed and shaped to slide along a portion of the first outer surface of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Bert J. Achez
  • User partitioning in a communication system
    Patent number: 9936268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for routing an incoming service request to one of a plurality of pod units are described. A communication system can be provided that includes a plurality of pods each having a first pod serving a first subset of user accounts associated with a hosted PBX system. The first pod can include a first pod unit in a first data center and a second pod unit in a second data center. A global user directory (GUD) can be used to store a plurality of user keys that are mapped to the plurality of pods. A router can be provided to identify a user key from an incoming service request, query the GUD to identify the first pod as being associated with the user key, and route the incoming service request to one of the first and second pod units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Vendrow, Vladimir Shmunis, Vadim Zhuk, Dmitriy Alexandrovich Solovey
  • Valve housing with a spindle guide and method for production thereof
    Patent number: 9933101
    Abstract: A valve and a method for making the valve, the valve including a valve housing with a central part and with two connection ends, wherein internally of the central part there is arranged a valve body in a valve seat and connected to a valve spindle that is arranged in a spindle guide stub on the valve housing. The method includes a tubular workpiece being provided with a cutout, a plate-shaped workpiece being provided that is plastically deformed to form a collar on it whereby a spindle guide stub is formed with a collar along its lower edge and a cutout in its upper surface. The spindle guide stub is laser welded on the tubular workpiece providing an internal welding seam running along the edge of the inner opening in the collar of the spindle guide stub, along the cutout and at the outer side of the tubular workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BROEN A/S
    Inventors: Mads Lindegaard Lildholdt, Lars Andersen, Lars Linaa Jørgensen, Peder Madsen
  • Plastic body meter resetter
    Patent number: 9927277
    Abstract: A water meter resetter incorporates as a principal component a plastic body having six fittings lying in a common plane. A primary inlet and primary outlet are coaxially aligned on first and second opposed walls. A secondary outlet and secondary inlet are coaxially aligned on the opposed walls. In use, a first horn is rotatably attached to the secondary outlet, and a second horn is rotatable attached to the secondary inlet. A water meter is attached between the horns. Because the horns are rotatable about a common axis at each of their ends, the meter can be offset from the supply pipes at continuously variable heights. In an embodiment, the secondary inlet and outlet are internal, and the horns are held in a fluid-tight slip joint formed by internal O-rings. The height of the meter may optionally be locked by the use of an angle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: John C. Kupferle Foundry Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Lorentz, Bruce A. Manning
  • Touchless tap handle for beverage dispensing
    Patent number: 9926181
    Abstract: A touchless tap handle for beverage dispensing is provided that incorporates a spring and ball check valve within a spigot housing. The spigot housing as a male threaded end for connection to a beverage dispensing line. Between the beverage connection and the check valve is a flow control valve having a detachable control mechanism. A system operator can use the control mechanism to calibrate fluid flow. The control mechanism is further fastened or keyed to allow for removal after modifying system flow parameters. A tap handle extension is further provided that can be threadingly affixed to the spigot housing. The tap handle extension specifically does not control operational parameters, which are intended to be initiated through touchscreen or pushbutton control of a pour control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SESTRA SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Lev Volftsun, Alex Kushnir
  • Tap with integral ball valve
    Patent number: 9915376
    Abstract: A valved tap is disclosed comprising a tap body having a through bore from a threaded input end to an output end thereof. A ball valve is positioned in the tap body so as to interrupt the flow of fluid in the through bore. The output end of the tap body comprises a flanged portion connectable to a manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Peter B. Hutton
  • Gas supply apparatus and air or nitrogen supply apparatus of nuclear plant
    Patent number: 9916908
    Abstract: A gas supply apparatus of the present invention includes a gas discharge line of a first electromagnetic valve having s a switching valve placed therein, and a second electromagnetic valve placed between the switching valve and a gas supply source. The switching valve switches between a gas discharge from the first electromagnetic valve and a gas supply to the first electromagnetic valve. At the time of a normal operation, the second electromagnetic valve opens a gas discharge line side and closes a switching valve side, and when the power source is lost, the second electromagnetic valve opens the switching valve side and closes the gas discharge line side. In this way, even when the power source is lost, an operating valve can not only be operated remotely but also be operated safely by a remote operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kubota, Kenji Onodera, Yoshihisa Kiyotoki
  • Systems, methods, and devices for congestion control on a mobile network
    Patent number: 9913305
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) is configured to send one or more service requests to a third party server via a mobile communications network, such as an evolved packet core (EPC). The UE is configured to determine that there is an error or delay in receiving a response to the one or more service requests from the third party server, and to send a wake-up request to a network element in the mobile communications network requesting notification when the third party server is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ana Lucia A. Pinheiro, Candy Yiu, Marta Martinez Tarradell
  • Self-purging fuel nozzle system for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9909500
    Abstract: A self-purge system includes an additively manufactured purge valve assembly in communication with a fuel passage to selectively purge the fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Ott, Stanley J Funk, Roger O Coffey, Shawn Stempinski, Lyutsia Dautova, Dennis M Moura
  • Valve having electro-mechanical actuator and a control device with a delay circuit
    Patent number: 9909679
    Abstract: A valve device having a valve housing, through which passes a fluid channel, in which are formed a valve seat and a valve member which is accommodated such that it can be moved relative to the valve seat, having an electromechanical actuator for moving the valve member between at least two functional positions in order to influence a free cross-section of the fluid channel, and having a control device, which is designed for activating the actuator depending on a control signal and includes a delay circuit which, in the case of the valve being switched off, is designed for a time-delayed movement of the valve member into a switch-off position. The delay circuit includes an electrical energy store which, in the case of the valve being switched off, is designed for energy-independent movement of the valve member into the switch-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FESTO EG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfram Turnaus, Philippus Hartmann, Ralf Forcht