Patents Examined by Macade Brown
  • Patent number: 7938139
    Abstract: A reset relief valve with a body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and an interior wall partially defining an enclosed chamber, a piston disposed in the body and moveable between a first position at which the piston is disposed in fluid flow-blocking relationship between the inlet port and the outlet port of the body and a second position at which the piston is removed from that position, a piston having a head with opposed end surfaces one of which defines a portion of the enclosed chamber and at least one fluid flow passageway extending through the head and providing fluid communication between the enclosed chamber in the body, and a second chamber above a moveable disc in the piston and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid in the chambers. A preferred embodiment includes data acquisition software for monitoring data and storing pressure and other data to control the operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: RR Value, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard S. Lazzara
  • Patent number: 7926501
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering power fluid from a device under water and for pumping recovered power fluid to a surface of the water, the systems and methods, in certain aspects, including: flowing fluid from a subsurface apparatus to a subsurface recovery system, the fluid initially provided to the subsurface apparatus to power the subsurface apparatus; and the subsurface recovery system including pump apparatus for selectively pumping recovered fluid to a fluid container above a surface of the water. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventors: Frank Benjamin Springett, Eric Trevor Ensley
  • Patent number: 7921874
    Abstract: A non-implantable valve assembly and a method for controlling flow rates in a medical device are provided. The valve assembly includes a valve member being dimensioned for reception at least partially within a lumen of the medical device. The valve member includes a flow regulator for controlling flow rates in a first direction having a first rate and a second direction having a second rate. The second rate is greater than the first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kurt J. Tekulve, Ram H. Paul, Jr., Julie E. Urbanski
  • Patent number: 7913715
    Abstract: A relief valve includes a body, a damping chamber in the body, a poppet in the body, wherein the poppet includes an end in the damping chamber, and a check valve in the damping chamber. The damping chamber is located adjacent an inlet side of the relief valve, and the check valve includes a sealing member to prevent fluid flow into the damping chamber at the inlet side. The sealing member is unseated during opening of the poppet to permit fluid to flow into the damping chamber at the inlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ausco, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis J. Martin
  • Patent number: 7905243
    Abstract: A mechanism to check fluid flow from a tube or spigot when it is disconnected from a downstream conduit is provided. The mechanism includes a duckbill check valve that has its bills pointed in the upstream direction. To keep the bills apart for the fluid flow to continue, the downstream conduit has to be inserted against the underside of the bills. Once the downstream conduit separates from the valve, the valve closes itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Minard, Mark E. Bush
  • Patent number: 7886764
    Abstract: A metallic separating plate 6 is arranged between the sealing rings 5 and the synchronizing plate 7 to prevent mutual wear of the sealing rings 5 and the synchronizing plate 7 in an annular valve having sealing rings 5 as sealing elements and a synchronizing plate 7 to synchronize and dampen the ring opening movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hoerbiger Kompressortechnik Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Spiegl, Markus Testori, Peter Steinrück
  • Patent number: 7886765
    Abstract: An application for a living-hinge air vent valve connectable to a sewer conduit includes a base and a cover sealed to the base forming a cavity between the cover and the base. A fluid inlet shaft depends from a roof of the base and is connected to external air passages passing through a side of the base and through vents in a side of the cover. A living-hinge flapper is situated above the fluid inlet shaft and within the cavity. The living-hinge flapper allows air to flow from the fluid inlet shaft into the cavity and prevents sewerage gasses from flowing from the cavity out through the fluid inlet shaft. One or more connecting shafts in the base fluidly connect the cavity with a sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Wayne D. Chalich
  • Patent number: 7886763
    Abstract: A faucet incorporating vandal resistant features is provided to limit the possibility of tampering by limiting access to the valve cartridges of the faucet. The faucet includes a valve cartridge and a handle bat operatively attached to the valve cartridge. A hub covering the valve cartridge is freely rotatable about the valve cartridge, and a mechanical fastener attaching the handle bat to the valve cartridge includes a specially-configured driver pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew S. Smith, Allen L. Talley
  • Patent number: 7886762
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a tub and shower valve in a desired position during construction of a bathroom prior to the tub and shower being ready to be trimmed out. The apparatus includes a base in the form of a planar plate having an opening for receiving a portion of the valve and an aperture for receiving a fastener; and a flange for handling the apparatus attached to the base. The method includes roughing in a tub and shower valve, securing the valve in place with a special fitting, removing the special fitting, and installing the trim package to finish the tub and shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: CWC Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Carter
  • Patent number: 7870867
    Abstract: A curb box lock that includes a body portion and a plurality of slidably extendable claws within the body portion. The claws being extendable from the body portion to selectively engage side walls of a curb box. The lock also includes an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the claws and the body portion. The adjustment mechanism selectively extends the claws such that the claws can be maintained in engagement with the side walls at all times when the lock is deployed within a curb box to prevent removal of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Inner-Tite Corp.
    Inventor: Anthony John Agbay
  • Patent number: 7841359
    Abstract: A check valve assembly with an extended operational life. The check valve assembly includes a poppet with conically shaped arms and planar seating surfaces. The planar seating surfaces conform to seating surfaces in the valve assembly. The poppet moves back and forth between two operative positions. In each operative position, a planar seating surface on the poppet sealingly conforms to another planar sealing surface in the check valve assembly. The use of planar seating surfaces extends the operational life of the check valve assembly. The aerodynamic shape of the conically shaped arms facilitates fluid flow over the poppet and, when fluid flows over the poppet, generates forces that function to minimize movement of the poppet and to maintain the poppet in a desired orientation when the poppet moves from one operative position to another operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Larry R. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7832422
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve element; a valve seat; a coil spring; and a spring bearing portion. The coil spring, provided between the valve element and the spring bearing portion, presses the valve element toward the valve seat. An effective upper winding end of the coil spring and an effective lower winding end of the coil spring are offset from each other by 180 degrees in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kyosan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Endoh, Akihiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7828011
    Abstract: A pneumatic safety valve prevents dangerously rapid outflow of pressurized air in the event that an air hose ruptures or a pneumatic tool is accidentally decoupled from the hose downstream of the valve. The valve has an internal air conduit in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports. The air conduit cooperates with a pivotal flap that selectively closes to prevent a sudden discharge of air in the event of a hose rupture or an accidental decoupling of the pneumatic tool from the hose. By containing the highly pressurized air and preventing the air from rapid discharge, the valve prevents the air hose from flailing or whipping violently, thus eliminating the physical dangers to operators and other personnel in the vicinity of the rupture. This simple and inexpensive valve ensures safe containment of hose ruptures or of accidental disconnections of the pneumatic tool from the high-pressure hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Wilfred Huet
  • Patent number: 7828006
    Abstract: A safety flow guide protection device comprises a body having a flow guide device through which high pressure air flows; the flow guide device coated with a protecting layer; a safety releasing section formed at a surface of the flow guide device, the flow guide device being a hollow structure; a rear side of the flow guide device being formed as a combining opening; an air grid unit being received in the flow guide device at a side opposite to the combining opening; the air grid unit having a brake air valve for controlling high pressure air. When the flow guide device is communicated, the brake air valve is not compressed by the high pressure air so that the air grid unit is opened for allowing the flowing of the high pressure air; and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Yi-Jhih Bai
  • Patent number: 7789104
    Abstract: An automatically activated backflow prevention device for water closets or toilets is provided having a substantially cylindrical support member terminating in one end in a cam shaped end for mating with a hinged flapper valve having a parabolic shaped or upwardly curving upper surface and correspondingly shaped sealing member disposed therebetween for mating with the cam shaped end of the substantially cylindrical support member. An elastomeric hinge member is provided for connecting the closure member or flapper valve to the substantially cylindrical support member so that when closed the flapper valve or closure member conforms to the confronting cam shaped end of the cylindrical support member with the sealing member disposed therebetween. A backflow water pressure responsive assist member is optionally provided on the lower surface of the closure member to assist in the closure of the closure member in response to backflow water pressure from waste pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Kelly, Stephanie C. Kelly, William Harley Frankenfield
  • Patent number: 7789100
    Abstract: A connection apparatus. The apparatus comprises a wing mandrel having a first check valve disposed within an inner bore of the wing mandrel, a thread mandrel abutting the wing mandrel, with the thread mandrel having outer threads and a second check valve disposed within an inner bore of the thread mandrel. The apparatus further comprises a latch dog carrier disposed about the wing mandrel and the thread mandrel, with the latch dog carrier having a plurality of dogs, wherein the dogs having an inner portion with threads and an outer portion with outer ribs. The apparatus further contains a shell partially disposed about the latch dog carrier, with the shell having inner ribs, and wherein the inner ribs of the shell engage the outer ribs of the dogs. The apparatus further comprises a hydraulic port configured to deliver hydraulic fluid to the latch dog carrier so that the shell moves relative to the latch dog carrier in order to disconnect. A method of releasing a union is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Venturi Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Gazewood
  • Patent number: 7784489
    Abstract: A check valve of the flapper type structured for use in a self-primer pump is structured for attachment to the pump casing in a manner that facilitates servicing of the check valve, and includes securement means that are positioned external to the casing and a flapper that is located through an opening of the casing in a manner that enables the servicing of the valve without dropping the flapper or the hardware into the interior of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: EnviroTech Pumpsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Paulin, James G. Shaw, James C. Harmon, James Northrup
  • Patent number: 7779857
    Abstract: A hot water system includes a hot water source; a hot water delivery line connected between the hot water source and at least one plumbing fixture along with a cold water delivery line connection between said plumbing fixture, a cold water source and said hot water source; a pump, interconnected between the hot and cold water delivery lines, enables circulation of water from the hot water delivery line through the cold water delivery line and into the hot water source, thus eliminating the need for a separate recirculation line. A thermostatic valve is disposed in a serial arrangement with the pump between the hot and cold water lines for blocking flow of water from the hot water line into the cold water line when the pump is not operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: ACT, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry K. Acker
  • Patent number: 7770601
    Abstract: A magnetic dust cap for a pneumatic tire comprising an external valve stem having a threaded top portion having a width, a length, a top end and a bottom end and a rubberized bottom portion having a width and a top end. The magnetic dust cap comprises a body for capping the external valve stem and magnetic means disposed within the body to removably adhere to a washer. The washer is adapted for threaded engagement over the threaded top portion of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Scott K. Perry
  • Patent number: 7766029
    Abstract: A re-closable valve (1, 100, 700, 800) for use in sterile fluid transfer has a body (5) with open entry and exit sides (2, 3) and a passageway (4) for fluid therebetween. The entry side is connectable to an opening of a separate vessel and the exit side is connectable to downstream processing. The entry side includes a first rupturable seal (5b, 500) blocking the opening of the entry side. A piston (9) is connected to an actuator (7) via a cam mechanism (8, 85, 10) which moves the piston (9) axially in the passageway (4) and to the first seal (5b, 500). On movement of the piston (9) during a first actuation, the first seal (5b, 500) is torn free from the entry side to open the valve for fluid transfer. A sharp rim (15) surrounds the opening of the entry side and a curved surface area (193) encircles the piston exterior proximal the entry side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: GL Tool & Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Liepold, Dietrich Bizer