Patents Examined by Martin P. Schwadron
  • Patent number: 5562273
    Abstract: A pluggable coupling for pressure lines having a female coupling connector and a male coupling connector. The female coupling connector has two axially aligned connecting bores with different diameters and an annular groove formed between a wall surrounding the larger bore and a nipple surrounding the smaller bore. The male connector can be inserted into the larger bore of the female coupling connector. In the process, the male coupling connector is pushed over the nipple. A sealing element is positioned within a circular male coupling groove of the male coupling connector and sealingly encloses a smooth exterior surface of the nipple. The male coupling connector can be connected and disconnected from the female coupling connector with a relatively small amount of force as compared to the force required to connect and disconnect conventional couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Han Oetiker AG Maschinen- & Apparatefabrik
    Inventor: Albrecht Wuethrich
  • Patent number: 5544853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper device adapted for controlling the flow of cooled air in freezing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners. The damper device according to one preferred embodiment includes a damper casing having a damper opening of a predetermined size, an opening/closing member slidable in the damper casing for opening/closing the damper opening, a guide mechanism provided at both sides of the opening/closing member, an electromagnet fixed at an end of the opening/closing member having coils therearound, a permanent magnet fixed to one side of the damper casing, and a plurality of elastic members along the inner wall of the damper casing for elastically supporting the opening/closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Golstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong M. Choi
  • Patent number: 5540413
    Abstract: Described is a set of improvements and added features to the commercial article a nozzle to connect a pressurized fuel carrying hose to a standardized aircraft fueling adapter. The adapter has a spring loaded poppet located centrally in its entrance opening; when that poppet is pushed inward by a poppet on the nozzle fuel can flow into the aircraft tank through an annular opening around both. The nozzle's job is to be easily secured to the adapter in a leaktight manner, then to push the poppets toward the interior of the adapter, and finally to retract, all without any possibility of a fuel leak by mis-assembly or maloperation, in minimum time and often in darkness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Albert W. Brown
  • Patent number: 5505223
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for enabling stock washing liquor to be prepared from washing-agent powder taken directly from the powder container containing it, without producing any dust, and to store the liquor thus prepared for supply to at least one industrial wet vacuum cleaner. The apparatus includes a tub-shaped bottom section and a top section which is hermetically mounted on the bottom section. A suction line leads into the container, the end remote from the container being inserted into the powder in the powder container. A fresh-water line also terminates in the container. The water is directed onto the stream of powder passing through the suction line. A stock-liquor feed line is operatively linked to a pump to permit liquor to be pumped from an inlet near the floor of the container and out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Friedel Rings, Peter Holz
  • Patent number: 5503364
    Abstract: A solenoid valve provided with a relief passage by means of which a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side communicate with each other for use, for example, in combination with a fuel injection pump, comprises a valve element capable of being advanced into and retracted from the relief passage, a first compression spring for biasing the valve element in the retracting direction, an armature attached to the rear end of the valve element, an electromagnet for attracting the armature to disconnect the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side from each other by advancing the valve element into the relief passage against the resilience of the first compression coil spring, and a second compression coil spring for holding the armature in a predetermined position close to the electromagnet against the biasing force of the first compression coil spring when the electromagnet is demagnetized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Soken Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeiku Enomoto, Toshihiko Igashira, Yasuyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 5503365
    Abstract: A directly controlled hydraulic pressure valve includes a valve housing and an outer valve sleeve which is placed in a port of the valve housing. The port is closed by a cover. A cylindrical inflow component is arranged in the interior of the valve sleeve. The inflow component has a first portion whose diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the valve sleeve and a second portion having a greater diameter, wherein the outer valve sleeve rests with its end face against the second portion. The pressure valve further includes a cup-shaped tubular piston which is longitudinally movably arranged in an annular space between the valve sleeve and the inflow component, wherein the bottom of the tubular piston is located remote from the second portion. An annular groove is formed in the first portion of the inflow component. Axially extending inflow ducts are provided in the end face of the second portion of the inflow component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Denison Hydraulik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Backe, Christoph Latour, Bernd Killing
  • Patent number: 5503366
    Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated valve having an adjustable abutment is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve housing and at least one annularly-shaped solenoid coil, which is arranged in the valve housing and which, on its interior peripheral side, surrounds a magnet armature. The armature is capable of axially reciprocal motion with respect to the solenoid coil. The magnet armature is elastically braced in the area of its front end by a spring element that in turn transmits force against an abutment that forms a component of the valve housing. At its other end, the armature is provided with a sealing member that can be forcibly engaged against a valve seat, as needed. The abutment is adjustable relative to the valve housing along the axis of reciprocal axial motion of the magnet armature to enable adjustments to the prestressing of the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Sebastian Zabeck, Andreas Sausner
  • Patent number: 5501425
    Abstract: A valve for fail-safe return to its normally closed condition relies upon solenoid-driven elongation of a magnetostrictive core element, for opening displacement of a valve member, and also relies upon a continuously available, stiffly compliant preload of the valve member into its position of lock-up at valve closure. The currently preferred material of the core is Terfenol-D, which offers a strong elongation response to inductively coupled excitation. The elongation response is sufficient to serve the purposes of driving a poppet-valve member from closed to open position, with a relatively short time constant, as well as to permit a closed condition of the valve wherein the driving end of the core is effectively disconnected from the poppet-valve member, so that the prestressed stiff compliance can alone be operative on the poppet-valve member for fail-safe closure of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Marotta Scientific Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Reinicke, Derek T. Schappell
  • Patent number: 5501246
    Abstract: A device for separating gas entrained in a flow of liquid. The device comprises a main housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. A separation chamber is disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet, the gas entrained in the flow of liquid being separated from the flow of liquid when the flow of liquid passes from the inlet to the outlet within the separation chamber. A vent passage extends from the separation chamber. A main valve within the housing controls the flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet. A detector including a dual orifice arrangement disposed in the vent passage detects the presence of a gas in the vent passage. A pilot valve is coupled to the detector and to the main valve for controlling the main valve as a function of the presence of gas in the vent passage. A first control passage is disposed within the housing for coupling the pilot valve to the dual orifice arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Gilbarco Limited
    Inventors: David R. Burns, Victor C. Turner
  • Patent number: 5499676
    Abstract: A panel heat exchanger is disclosed. The panel heat exchanger has a plurality of parallel tubes in a spaced apart side-by-side relationship, the tubes being located between two plastic sheets that envelope and conform to the shape of the tubes so as to maintain said tubes in the side-by-side relationship. The sheets being bonded together between said tubes. One end of each of the plurality of tubes is in fluid flow communication with an inlet manifold and the other end of each of the plurality of tubes is in fluid flow communication with an outlet manifold. Each panel is wave-like in shape with peaks and troughs extending across the width of the panel. One face of each panel has at least one nodule located in each of said troughs, each nodule having a size such that it will contact the immediately adjacent panel in a multi-panelled heat exchanger without significantly increasing the overall thickness of the multi-panelled heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Anthony J. Cesaroni
    Inventor: Anthony J. Cesaroni
  • Patent number: 5497975
    Abstract: A solenoid valve for use in controlling the flow of pneumatic fluid under pressure between a pair of flow ports defined by a housing. The flow of fluid is controlled by a spool disposed within a bore and is movable between first and second positions. When in one of the first and second positions, the spool blocks communication between the ports and when in the other of those positions it allows communication between the flow ports. The spool is reciprocated by a motor means which includes a core of magnetic material connected to the spool so that when the motor is energized, the spool is placed in one of its first and second positions and when the motor is de-energized, a spring moves the spool to the other of its positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: HR Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Muchlis Achmad
  • Patent number: 5494074
    Abstract: A quick connection coupling valve assembly having a poppet member in both a male coupling member and female coupling member, a fluid passageway defined therethrough is opened by engaging the poppet members of the male and female coupling members with each other, the fluid passageway is closed by releasing a spring member to disengage the poppet members from each other. A plurality of longitudinal stops are disposed on an inside wall of the male and female coupling members. The stops limit movement of the poppet members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Ramacier, Jr., David W. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5494073
    Abstract: A fluid connector is provided with a socket, a plug and a locking mechanism for locking the plug inserted in the socket. The socket has an axial passage and a first valve mechanism, for opening and closing the axial passage. The first valve mechanism includes a valve stem having one end fixed to the socket and the other end formed with a valve seat, a sleeve-like slide member movable in the axial passage with respect to the socket in a sealing state, a first packing provided on the slide member, for opening and closing the passage in cooperation with the valve seat, and urging means for urging the slide member toward the valve seat and causing it to abut against the first packing. The plug has an end portion capable of being inserted in the socket and a plug main body formed with an axial holes. A second valve mechanism for opening and closing the axial hole is provided in the plug main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunichi Saito
  • Patent number: 5494256
    Abstract: A high pressure ball valve is disclosed having dual, independent seat to ball seals, the dual seal arrangement including a primary seal and a secondary seal, each operating independently, in proper sequence, each acting in the same direction, and each being pressure actuated, with provision for relieving excess fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: John Beson
  • Patent number: 5490659
    Abstract: A diaphragm for flush valves has a plurality of concentric reinforcing rings spaced closer together at the smaller diameters of the diaphragm than at the larger diameters. The reinforcing rings have a geometrically progressive spacing from the inside to the outside of the diaphragm so as to provide maximum hoop stress reduction with a minimum amount of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: John F. Whiteside
  • Patent number: 5488972
    Abstract: This invention relates to an environmental coupling that reduces spillage to less than 1 mL. The coupling includes a first convex ball valve and a second concave ball valve. One ball valve includes flat surfaces on the ball and a retainer with "flats" that correspond to the "flats" on the ball valve. This feature keeps the ball valve on centerline and allows valve actuation without damage to either ball valve. The coupling also provides other numerous safeguards against spillage. For instance, the coupling has handles with concave and convex edges to prohibit the wrong sequencing of opening and closing the ball valves, interlocking means to prevent the uncoupling of the annular bodies of the ball valves when the first ball valve is in the open position, and a handle button release and secondary handle lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. McCracken, David G. Zander
  • Patent number: 5487529
    Abstract: An improved flow-through washing and scrubbing brush handle for interconnection at one end to a source of pressurized water such as a garden hose and connectable at the other end to a flow-through type scrub brush or the like. The device includes structure for varying water flow therethrough for delivery into the scrub brush and further includes a telescoping structure which releasably secures a selected overall length between its sliding inner and outer tubes. Unique sealing arrangements also prevent water leakage anywhere along the device, including from between inner and outer tubes. A loosely fitting locking collar has a recess formed in it so that it includes a pair of circumferentially spaced apart opposed ends and a pair of stop members that are circumferentially spaced apart from one another by a greater distance than the spacing between the opposed ends. A longitudinally extending protrusion formed on an .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: Duane H. Newville
  • Patent number: 5487407
    Abstract: A valve assembly having a first condition for blocking system fluid flow when system fluid pressure differential across the valve assembly is in a given range above a predetermined pressure differential and a second condition for permitting system fluid flow in one direction when system fluid pressure differential across the valve assembly is greater than the predetermined pressure. The valve comprises a valve housing, a valving member within the housing, a solenoid assembly, first and second springs for exerting force on the valving member and a solenoid energizing circuit. The valve housing defines a fluid flow inlet, a fluid flow outlet and supports a valve seat between the inlet and outlet. The valving member comprises a valving element positioned for engagement with the valve seat and a stem element fixed to and projecting from the valving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Garlan L. Eaker
  • Patent number: 5487527
    Abstract: An actuator for fluid control valves with a reversible power module having a stationary inner member and a coaxially aligned movable outer member coupled to the valve flow control element and slidably movable on the inner member. A chamber is formed between respective ends of the members. Pneumatic pressure applied to the chamber drives the movable member to actuate the valve in a first direction. A spring returns the movable member in the second direction. A second chamber is defined within the inner member and pneumatic pressure applied to the second chamber drives the movable member with or without the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip W. Eggleston
  • Patent number: 5485984
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve is provided with a removable metallic elastic seating ring (7) having a first passage (10) and at least one second passage (11) extending through it. The first passage communicates with an inlet passage (8) of the valve while the second passage communicates with the outflow passage (9). A first surface (7a) of the seating ring is provided with a valve seat (12) against which the diaphragm (6) may be pressed to block fluid flow through the valve. A second surface (7b) of the seating ring has two annular and axially extending projections (15, 16). The first projection (15) contacts a bottom surface (2a) of valve chamber (2) in a region surrounding the opening where the inflow passage joins the valve chamber. The second projection (16) contacts the bottom surface of the valve chamber around the periphery of the valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Masako Kiyohara
    Inventors: Shigeru Itoi, Michio Yamaji, Tetsuya Kojima