Patents Examined by Macade Brown
  • Patent number: 8627847
    Abstract: An insertable backflow preventer is presented. The backflow preventer is provided with a cylindrical housing. The housing has a flow transition zone, a proximal orifice/ball seat, a ball with a specific weight that equals or is close to the specific weight of the surrounding fluid, and a distal retaining screen. The housing can have a flange provided on the outside of the housing at one end to facilitate securing the valve in a pipe. The valve is self-cleaning, can be placed in any orientation in a pipe and has low hydraulic head-loss. The valve's unique cost-effective design provides for easy and relative quick installation, eliminates the need to reconfigure existing plumbing, and can be performance tested remotely. Properly installed, it can dramatically improve the security of, for example, potable water sources in a building or other context, and inasmuch as when installed it is not visible, it is tamper proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: SIVAN Valves, LLC
    Inventor: Albert Montague
  • Patent number: 8627852
    Abstract: A valve (20) and flow control element (22) are provided for use with a dunnage bag (24). The valve (20) includes a valve housing (40) that carries an actuator (36) and the flow control element (22). The housing (40) defines a flow passage (44), and a seal surface (48) around the flow passage. The flow control element (22) includes a peripheral attachment portion (60), a resilient, intermediate portion (62) extending generally laterally inwardly from the peripheral attachment portion and defining at least one flow aperture (64); and an imperforate central portion (68) extending generally laterally inwardly from the intermediate portion and including a seal (70) for sealing against the housing seal surface with the flow control element in a normally closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason D. Hatton
  • Patent number: 8622090
    Abstract: A blocking plumbing fitting; said fitting comprising a flexible cup element adapted for insertion into a pipe element; said fitting further comprising a one way valve element depending from said flexible cup element, wherein said one way valve element permits liquid to pass through said pipe element; said one way valve element preventing passage of odors, soapsuds, vermin, noise and other undesirable elements issuing from said pipe element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Larkin & Shoshani Solutions Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony William Larkin, Ronnie Shoushani
  • Patent number: 8622089
    Abstract: The present invention provides a check valve 10 through which a fluid can satisfactorily open and pass when the fluid flows forward, and a bag 1a including the check valve and having a function of satisfactorily discharging a fluid. This check valve includes a one-side airtight base sheet 31, an inlet 11, a valve sheet 61, an auxiliary sheet 51, and the other-side airtight base sheet 21. The portion between the other-side airtight base sheet 21 and the valve sheet 61 serves as a valve flow channel 13, and a fluid flowing forward passes through the valve flow channel 13 from the inlet 11 and flows out from the outlet 12. The valve sheet 61 is fixed at its upstream end by the fixation portion 14, is freely movable at its downstream end. On the fixation portion 14 and the one-side airtight base sheet 31 of the inlet 11, the introduction recesses 15 are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Mikio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8622082
    Abstract: A device and method are described for extending the life of check valves. An improved check valve having a double poppet and tapered guides is more robust, and a check valve protection device between the check valve and the environment into which fluid is injected protects the valve from a contaminating or corrosive environment. The check valve and check valve protection device are small and light weight to prevent vibration-induced failures. The check valve protection device preferably has an interior volume that fills quickly by relatively few cycles of the lubricant pump to reduce delay of lubricant to the injection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Coltec Industrial Products LLC
    Inventor: Curtis Roys
  • Patent number: 8616240
    Abstract: An inkjet printer has a backflow prevention valve disposed to bottom of subtanks to of the diaphragm pump unit mounted on a carriage, and causes ink passing through the backflow prevention valve to flow to the inkjet head side. A support orifice that supports an umbrella-shaped valve plug, a port formed at a position circumferentially eccentric to the center of the support orifice, and a fluid conduction channel extending from an edge of the port circumferentially around the support orifice are disposed to the valve plug seating surface of the backflow prevention valve. A discharge orifice that discharges ink to the inkjet head side is disposed in the outside wall of the valve plug seating surface, and the discharge orifice and port are formed on the same side of the center of the support orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Taga
  • Patent number: 8607819
    Abstract: A water saving device and method of using same. The water saving device includes a sleeve and an elastomer fixed in the sleeve. The elastomer has at least a permanently-open hole, a throttling hole and a protrusion for arranging the permanently-open hole and the throttling hole. The permanently-open hole is a hole which still maintains open status after being distorted by pressure. The throttling hole is a hole which will be closed approximately after distortion by pressure. The water saving device not only has the function of decreasing the flow, but also can adjust the flow of the shower and faucet to make the flow steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Xiamen Solex High-Tech Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tianyu Chen, Renzhong Li, Robert Zhou
  • Patent number: 8602061
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a first passage portion having a seal portion formed at the rim of the opening of an outlet port of a first passage, a second passage portion having a second passage inflected from the first passage, and a valve plate. The valve plate has a valve body for opening and closing the outlet port, and a mounted portion formed at the outside peripheral end of the valve body and adapted for mounting to the mounting portion, and is adapted to open and close with mounted portion as the fulcrum point. The valve body includes a seat portion adapted to seat onto the seal portion, and an extension portion integrally formed with the seat portion and protruding towards the outflow side of the second passage from the seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8602062
    Abstract: Compact reeds maximize flexural length by efficiently utilizing available space surrounding the port. Maximum length arms are disposed at the perimeter of the housing inlet port. Stresses at the ends of the arms are mitigated by utilizing compound radius transitions. The transitions are constructed by two or more arcs of different radii, which produce lower stresses at such junctures than if single radius transitions were used. The arms are disposed close to the reed sealing surface edge to orient the flow streamlines to be aligned with the arm width, thereby minimizing frontal drag area. The reduced frontal area reduces drag forces and related stresses on the arms, and reduces the overall flow related pressure drop across the reed. Replacing a single hole port, a port comprised of multiple passages of varying size control the velocity exiting the passages. The velocity gradient across the port provides further capability to orient the said streamlines to reduce said drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Asher Eiermann
  • Patent number: 8596291
    Abstract: A venting lifting plug is provided for an unfuzed munition having a fuze cavity with internal threads, the venting lifting plug is formed of a threaded ring having both internal and external threads together with a lifting plug having a lifting ring, a neck and a round portion having external threads, external threads on the threaded ring being in threaded engagement with internal threads on the fuze cavity of the munition, internal threads on the threaded ring being in threaded engagement with external threads on the lifting plug, and a threaded joint formed between the lifting plug and threaded ring is soldered together with one or more eutectic materials having a melting point lower than a predetermined critical temperature of cook-off gases from the munition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Stojan Kotefski, Ductri Nguyen, Dominick DeMella, Paul Manz, William Morelli, Philip J Magnotti, Lidija Kotevska
  • Patent number: 8596290
    Abstract: A pressure discharge valve for storage tanks on land or trucks including a valve body having a through hole therein adapted to mate and communicate with a through hole in a wall of the storage tank, a first vent means comprised of a eutectic composition which automatically provides a partial release of storage tank liquid at a first predetermined temperature lower than critical combustion and/or explosive temperatures of liquid in the storage tank, to provide a visual signal and warning to firefighters of these hazardous conditions, and a second vent means comprised of a eutectic composition to automatically vent liquid in the storage tank through the hole in the valve body when the liquids therein reach a predetermined critical temperature. In addition, the pressure discharge valve preferably comprises a eutectic solder material disposed between the valve body and the second vent means, which changes phase (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Stojan Kotefski, Eugene R Reda
  • Patent number: 8578969
    Abstract: A non-return structure of water valve includes a valve body, two limiting elements, and two non-return elements. The valve body forms two inlets and two annular protrusions around the two inlets respectively. Each annular protrusion encloses a receiving room receiving one of the limiting elements. The limiting element defines a widened hole and a reduced hole, and a stepped portion is formed therebetween. The non-return element includes a blocking portion disposed in the widened hole and having an external diameter larger than the one of the reduced hole, and the blocking portion is resilient. Thereby, returning water is unable to separate the circumference of the blocking portion from the stepped portion to form gaps. Thus, the non-return structure of water valve is able to prevent water from flowing back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Tsai-Chen Yang
  • Patent number: 8573249
    Abstract: A relief valve for an oil pump, may include a housing defining a relief space, a plunger slidably disposed in the relief space and dividing the relief space into a housing chamber and a plunger chamber, an elastic member elastically supporting the plunger and being compressed by oil pressure of the main gallery, wherein the oil pressure of the main gallery may be relatively lower than an oil pressure under a warm-up state of the engine, a locator disposed under the plunger and supporting the elastic member, a plug coupled to a lower portion of the housing under the relief space and supporting the locator such that a modulus of elasticity in the elastic member may be changed by a change in seat position of the elastic member, and a negative pressure supplier selectively generating negative vacuum pressure in the locator such that a height of the locator changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Doogie Min, Seokjun Yoon, Jongho Kim
  • Patent number: 8555925
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure relief valve for a packaging container (3), comprising a base body (4) with a central through opening (9), a sealing surface (14) and a peripheral region (18), wherein the peripheral region (18) may be sealingly connected to an inner side (3a) of the packaging container (3) and the sealing surface (14) has an inwardly tapering form and a membrane (6), making contact with the sealing surface (14) to permit a seal wherein a fluid (5) is arranged between the sealing surface (14) and the membrane (6). The membrane (6) is flexible and a recess (30) is made in the base body (4) into which the central through opening (9) opens out, wherein in the opening region of the central through opening (9), an annular bead (12) projecting in the direction of the membrane (6) is arranged, projecting into the recess (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Stadel, Herbert Stotkiewitz, Juergen Haak
  • Patent number: 8555913
    Abstract: A fluid fitting is described for use in facilities that have a plurality of surfaces, a source of fluid pressure, and at least one fluid handling conduit extending from the source of fluid pressure to one of the surfaces. The fluid fitting comprises a mounting component to enable the fluid fitting to be attached to a surface of the facility, a conduit adapter connectable to the fluid handling conduit, a port having a flow path to the conduit adapter to enable a fluid connection between the conduit adapter and the port, and a fluid management device located in the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Amvex Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Stinson
  • Patent number: 8539976
    Abstract: A back pressure valve for providing a double barrier to flow for use with a tubing hanger within a well bore, wherein the back pressure valve can have a first body piece threadably engaged and sealed with a second body piece. A first piston can engage a first surface for sealing bottom pressure to provide a first barrier to flow. A second piston can engage a second surface for redundantly sealing bottom pressure to provide a second barrier to flow. The back pressure valve can have one-way and two-way back pressure valve assemblies. The two-way back pressure valve assembly can include a bidirectional piston having a double sealing face for engaging sealing surfaces and sealing bottom pressure from the well bore while allowing testing without stopping a flow of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Doyle Wayne Rodgers, Jr., James Otis Miller
  • Patent number: 8534324
    Abstract: A system is provided for reducing noise produced by a falling liquid column in a discharge line connected to a sump pump through a flapper valve, when the flapper valve is moved from an open position to a closed position. The system includes a closed-end tube in fluid communication with the flapper valve and the discharge line to receive a portion of the residual head of liquid in the discharge line upon closing of the flapper valve when the pump is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Alan M. Schulman
  • Patent number: 8528503
    Abstract: A dual fluid heat exchange system is presented that provides a stable output temperature for a heated fluid while minimizing the output temperature of a cooled fluid. The heated and cooled fluids are brought into thermal contact with each other within a tank. The output temperature of the warmed fluid is maintained at a stable temperature by a re-circulation loop that connects directly to the mid portion of the tank such that the re-circulated fluid flow primarily warms only a re-circulation section of the tank. The other, lower flow rate, section of the tank may be positioned so that it has a cooler temperature and thus serves to increase the efficiency of the heat exchange by extracting extra heat energy out of the cooled fluid before it leaves the tank. Alternatively, the low flow rate section of the tank may be warmer than the re-circulated section, and thus allow the re-circulated section to be cooler than the output temperature of the warmed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Steam Technology
    Inventors: Walter T. Deacon, Timothy James Parbs
  • Patent number: 8522814
    Abstract: A water control valve assembly includes a valve manifold having a mixing chamber for mixing water from a supply of hot water and a supply of cold water. The valve manifold has a water control element controlling the flow of water from the mixing chamber to a discharge port of the valve manifold. A thermostatically controlled bypass valve is in fluid communication with the valve manifold, wherein the bypass valve is configured to bypass water from the supply of hot water to the supply of cold water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Grundfos Pumps Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Kempf, Ken Lum
  • Patent number: 8517051
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a body portion including a first end, a second end and an axially extending passageway. A metering valve is included that is axially moveable under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position to a flow restricting position. In the flow restricting position, the metering valve can restrict the flow of fluid through the axially extending passageway. The metering valve includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion has a flattened top spherical shape. A biasing device is provided that normally biases the metering valve in the rest position, and for provides resistance to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nexus Valve Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Fazekas, Robert Knerr, William Prati