Patents Examined by Meredith H Schoenfeld
  • Patent number: 6386233
    Abstract: A cartridge used for valve batteries that serve for mixing cold water and warm water, said cartridge having two discs arranged one above the other, namely, a lower inlet disc and an upper regulating disc wherein said discs together form a sealing plane. A driving arm insuring the planar movement of the regulating disc is allowed to be rotated around a fastening pin placed in a lever holder. The driving arm is in driving connection with a ceramic moving element which, in turn, is in driving connection with said regulating disc, and the surfaces of said ceramic moving element, preferably a first ceramic moving surface and a second ceramic moving surface. The surfaces of said ceramic moving element are guided by means of guiding surfaces, preferably a first guiding surface and a second guiding surface, both formed in the lever holder, in a manner that the angle between the direction of movement of the ceramic moving element and the rotation axis of the driving arm differs from 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Kerox-Multipolar II. KFT.
    Inventor: Tamas Magocsi
  • Patent number: 6382244
    Abstract: A circular check valve with a central aperture is disclosed. The preferred use as a standing head valve for reducing hydrostatic pressure in a wellbore being produced by a reciprocating pump is discussed. In this application the circular check valve allows the a sucker rod, or equivalent source of pumping energy, to pass. The device is attached to the pump barrel in communication with pump chambers and the production tubing. The check valve device isolates the pump internals and the formation from the hydrostatic head of the produced fluid. The device eliminates pump-off and thus fluid pounding resulting in more efficient pumping and less maintenance. Other uses for the circular check are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Roy R. Vann
  • Patent number: 6378556
    Abstract: A description is given of a multiway valve, comprising a chamber, limited by two plane-parallel surfaces, into which chamber at least three feed or discharge ducts open out, the state of being open or closed of the ducts being affected by the positioning of a member comprising a permanent magnet, which member is moveable in two dimensions, accommodated inside the chamber, and which member can be made to interact in a sealing manner with one or more duct openings, and magnet actuating assemblies which are disposed stationarily around the chamber and comprise electromagnets with a soft iron core, which assemblies are designed to generate a magnetic field which attracts or repels the member for moving the member inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignees: Fondse Valves B.V.
    Inventor: Jan Hendrik Fondse
  • Patent number: 6371149
    Abstract: A fluid pressure device including a housing (13) defining a high pressure port (31) and a low pressure port (33). The housing defines a shuttle bore (35) and disposed therein is a shuttle valve assembly (51) including a shuttle spool (63). The shuttle spool (63) defines a fluid passage (87) disposed to provide fluid communication from the low pressure chamber (57) to the shuttle outlet port (85) as the shuttle spool moves from its neutral position (FIG. 2) to the end of its centered range of positions (FIG. 3). The low pressure fluid from the chamber (57) is communicated through the fluid passage (87) and acts on a shuttle poppet member (75), aiding the shuttle spool (63) and its shoulder (67) and unseating (opening) the poppet member (75), thus reducing the fluid pressure in the high pressure chamber (55) required to begin opening the shuttle valve assembly (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Gust, Marvin L. Bernstrom
  • Patent number: 6367500
    Abstract: A safety valve for a compressed gas tank in which the plug is made of meltable material and intended to melt at a pre-determined temperature in order to release the compressed gas from the tank. The safety valve is essentially characterized in that the meltable plug is subjected to the action of a differential action sliding piston intended for reducing at least some of the effect of the gas pressure on the meltable plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company, S.A.
    Inventors: Léon Kerger, Jean-Claude Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6363965
    Abstract: A manifold assembly for use with a heating and cooling system having a body, at least one connecting tube positioned adjacent the body and a fluid regulating device positioned in each connecting tube. The body defines a first passageway for flow of a fluid, such as refrigerant, in a first direction and a second direction. Each of the connecting tubes defines a second passageway for flow of the refrigerant in the first and second directions. The first and second passageways are in communication with one another. The regulating device regulates flow of the refrigerant through the first and second passageways in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignees: Eaton Aeroquip Inc., International Comfort Products
    Inventors: Johnny C. Carmack, Norman Gregory Beaty
  • Patent number: 6357479
    Abstract: A rotary disc valve with a stationary valve plate provided with a vacuum connection, a rotary slide member mounted so as to be movable between first and second valve positions, wherein the slide member has a breakthrough connecting the vacuum connection to a suction opening in the first valve position, wherein the suction opening is connected to an aerating opening in the second valve position, and wherein both valve positions define a suctioning angle. The valve further includes a device for adjusting the size of the suctioning angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventors: Peter Wagner, Christoph Sägesser
  • Patent number: 6357469
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a tire that is sealed to a rim. The tire is inflated with air to a desired pressure level via a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve stem with an elongated body having a central bore extending longitudinally through the body. A pressure sensor is mounted within the bore to measure the air pressure within the tire. A ball and plunger valve member is engagable and disengagable with a valve seat formed within the bore. A central tire inflation system uses the pressure sensor to monitor the tire pressure for each wheel on the vehicle. When the pressure sensor measures an air pressure in the tire that is below a desired level the central tire inflation system inflates the tire with air until the desired pressure is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dale K. Bell
  • Patent number: 6349922
    Abstract: A valve for regulating a gas flow has a valve seat and a valve body, movable against the valve seat. The valve achieves high accuracy, a wide dynamic range and high operating reliability by causing the valve body substantially only to move axially against the valve seat and by using a stepper motor to actuate the valve body's axial movement against the valve seat with a non-linearly threaded engagement between the stepper motor and valve body so that the valve body performs continuous, non-linear, axial movement against the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Elema AB
    Inventor: Göran Rydin
  • Patent number: 6347642
    Abstract: An air pump adapter assembly is hereby provided which includes an air pump adapter used in conjunction with an air pump adapter slide. In an exemplary embodiment, the air pump adapter includes a base and an elongated tube which further includes a series of ramps. The air pump adapter slide fits over the elongated tube of the air pump and contains a plurality of ramps in the inner diameter which allow the the slide to move cooperatively along the series of ramps on the air pump adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Schulte
  • Patent number: 6343618
    Abstract: A swing check valve for controlling fluid flow, including a valve housing having a port for fluid flow therethrough with a removable cover for accessing an interior of the valve housing. A valve assembly is positioned within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow through the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a valve seat in fluid communication with the port and a clapper mounted in the valve housing on a pivotally-mounted rocker arm and moveable between an open position responsive to fluid flow in a flow direction and a closed position sealed against the valve seat responsive to fluid flow in an opposite, backflow direction. A spring is captured in the valve housing by the removable cover without attachment to either the cover or valve housing, and normally urges the clapper into the closed position sealed against the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Conbraco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Britt, Danny S. Meyer, Timothy D. Price, Robert V. Funderburk
  • Patent number: 6325356
    Abstract: A light weight gate valve and method for a aircraft vacuum toilet system. The valve resists jamming due to scale buildup, thereby reducing maintenance costs associated with repair or cleaning. The gate valve is intended for mounting between two portions of a sewer pipe connected between a waste receiving bowl and a waste reservoir. More particularly, the gate valve includes a housing having an internal valve chamber with an inlet opening opposing an outlet opening. A slice-of-pie shaped rotary gate is mounted within the chamber of the housing for rotation about a predetermined axis to selectively allow fluid communication between the inlet and outlet of the housing for flushing of the toilet. The gate has opposing side surfaces, each of which opposes an associated sidewall of the chamber enclosing the gate. The distance between each the side surface of the gate and its associated sidewall of the chamber is from 0.050 inch to 0.120 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Mag Aerospace Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike M. Rozenblatt
  • Patent number: 6314984
    Abstract: Improved valve for cushions, of the type including a nipple threadable on a tubular body, the nipple showing a diaphragm or choking disc of an existing seat or toric joint on the end of the tube, the disc being joined to the nipple by a series of brackets separated from each other by windows, characterized because the nipple has an entering stepped surrounding up to the upper part where a rotary skirt is lodged with a truncated cone or cylindrical shape, supported by an inner rib in the part of the skirt and is lodged in an existing crack at the bottom of the stepped existing at the nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Casa Artiach S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Lucea Barriendos, Miguel Angel Hidalgo Arribas
  • Patent number: 6308731
    Abstract: A vent valve includes a main valve having a valve chamber provided therein with an inside annular valve seat and an outside annular valve seat, a valve body normally seated on the seats under its own weight and opened by atmospheric pressure in response to negative pressure, a water collecting groove formed outward of the outside annular valve seat, a connecting cylindrical part provided at a position deviating from an axis of the valve chamber for communicating with the valve chamber, and a communicating flow path formed along the axial direction of the valve chamber for allowing communication between the water collecting groove and an interior of the connecting cylindrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: ITZ Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6302145
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an air mattress having a common actuator on a manifold between opposed supply and exhaust valves moving the valves along actuating axes. The system includes a plurality of actuator/valve combinations for different portions of the air mattress. A pulsating valve is provided which includes a housing having therein supply and exhaust valves each directly controlled by supply and exhaust solenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig D. Ellis, Kenith W. Chambers, Scott McCormick, Steven D. DeRidder, W. Layne Carruth, Stephen R. Schulte
  • Patent number: 6302138
    Abstract: The present invention is related to air pressure valve stems and gauges. More particularly, this invention relates particularly to tire stem valves possessing a built-in calibrated air pressure regulator and an optional integrated air pressure indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sumnett Corporation
    Inventor: Dirk Lee Sumrall
  • Patent number: 6298877
    Abstract: A distributing valve device for a heat accumulation type combustion system comprising a stationary valve mounted on an underside of a housing having six or more passages defined by partition walls provided therein at predetermined intervals, and having heat accumulators arranged in the passages, the stationary valve having six or more openings formed therein at an equal interval in circumferential direction of the stationary valve which communicate with the respective passages, and a rotary valve disposed in opposed relation on the stationary valve and having an exhaust gas supply opening, a treated gas discharge opening, and a purge gas supply opening formed therein sequentially in this order and at predetermined intervals in a direction of rotation of the rotary valve, wherein a seal member is arranged on a surface of the stationary valve in opposed relation to the rotary valve such that the seal member surrounds the each opening of the stationary valve, and a closed portion defined between the adjacent ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chugai Ro Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Inuki, Hideo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6298878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ball cock for a railway vehicle which comprises a main body possessing a primary-side opening and a secondary-side opening which face one another and an air exhaust aperture which is formed between these openings. Such ball cock further includes a ball-shaped valve body which is rotatably provided inside such main body and in which there is formed a communication aperture which connects the primary side opening and the secondary-side opening and a side aperture which, consequent to its rotation, connects the air exhaust aperture and either the primary-side or secondary-side opening. There is formed in the main body's air exhaust aperture a pipe connection to which is be connected a restrictor. In another embodiment a extension pipe is connected to such pipe connection in such air exhaust aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Yoshio Asano, Osamu Akamatsu, Mitsumasa Morita, Yoshio Suetaka
  • Patent number: 6296010
    Abstract: This invention is an automatic shut-off valve and gauge for tires during inflation. Configured as a double stem valve joined either on the outside or inside the rim of the tire. One stem serves as an air valve for inflating tires with a metal or plastic line attached to it extending into the second stem, which is a valve that regulates the air pressure in the tire. Air supplied during inflation of the tire causes a linkage to move and open a vent to the atmosphere which was otherwise closed. A spring loaded valve is designed to open when the air pressure in the tire exceeds the correct operating pressure and to allow excess air to escape to the atmosphere. A retracting and extending indicia is provided on the top of a spring loaded valve to indicate when the tire is properly inflated to a preset pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Gerard Michael DeLauer
  • Patent number: 6296018
    Abstract: A fluid power assist rack and pinion steering gear assembly (10) includes a torsion bar (70) having a support portion (80) rotatable within an internal bore (60) of an input shaft (50). A circumferential groove (82) is located on the support portion (80) of the torsion bar (70). A compliant ring (90) in the groove (82) engages a cylindrical inner surface (56) in the input shaft (50) to enable rotation of the support portion (80) of the torsion bar (70) within the internal bore (60) of the input shaft while limiting relative radial movement between the support portion of the torsion bar and the input shaft. A hitch pin (100) has a first portion (106) disposed in a hitch pin opening (110) in the pinion (18) and a second portion (112) disposed in a hitch pin opening (116) in a valve sleeve (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jack L. Place