Patents Examined by Nicole Wentlandt
  • Patent number: 9498662
    Abstract: An injection system for polymer gel emulsion is powered to cause polymer gel emulsion to be injected into high energy water entering a scooping intake, such as that on a firefighting aircraft. To energize the polymer gel emulsion, an accumulator is interposed between a polymer gel emulsion injection line and the water scooping intake. High energy water is routed to one side of the accumulator where this high energy water acts on the accumulator to move a movable element within the accumulator which pressurizes and expels polymer gel emulsion into the polymer gel emulsion injection line for injection of the polymer gel emulsion through a junction and into a mixed supply line of water and polymer gel emulsion downstream of a junction. The mixed polymer gel emulsion and water are routed to a tank for storage until ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Leonard E. Doten
  • Patent number: 9499145
    Abstract: A pressurizable gas reservoir can include a first end member and a second end member that is disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first end member. A flexible reservoir member can extend between opposing first and second ends. The first end secured to the first end member and the second end secured to the second end member. The flexible reservoir member at least partially defines a reservoir chamber between the first and second end members that is capable of storing a quantity of pressurized gas for an extended duration of time. The first and second end members can be maintained in substantially-fixed axial position relative to one another. A suspension system including such a pressurized gas reservoir and a method of assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Pradipta N. Moulik, Stephen C. Street, Graham R. Brookes, Joshua R. Leonard, Jeffrey T. Capek, Jason B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9494016
    Abstract: The invention relates to a collecting tank for multi-phase mixtures from a hydrocarbon source, having at least one inlet (20) for introducing multi-phase mixtures into the collecting tank (10), and having a plurality of outlet connectors (30), which can be connected to pumps (3) via which multi-phase mixtures are pumped, the outlet connectors (30) being assigned inwardly directed internals (40) which project upwards beyond the collecting-tank base (11) and have a first, upper opening (42) and a second, lower opening (41), wherein the flow cross section of the lower opening (41) is smaller than that of the upper opening (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ITT Bornemann GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Jaeschke, Gerhard Rohlfing, Jens-Uwe Brandt, Marco Bredemeier geb Drewniok, Mark Reichwage
  • Patent number: 9494325
    Abstract: A fuel tank structure comprising a fuel tank; a canister that adsorbs evaporated fuel within the fuel tank, and that releases vapor after adsorption of evaporated fuel; a full tank regulating valve within the fuel tank that becomes a closed state due to a float floating in fuel when a fuel liquid surface reaches a full tank liquid level that is set in advance; a communication pipe that communicates the fuel tank and the canister via the full tank regulating valve, a cross-sectional area varying valve that, when tank internal pressure that is applied from inside of the fuel tank increases, reduces a cross-sectional area of a flow path of vapor that flows toward the float; and a suppressing member that is positioned between the cross-sectional area varying valve and the float, and that suppresses airflow from the cross-sectional area varying valve from directly abutting the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KYOSAN DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Shimokawa, Nobuharu Mutou, Yasuo Akimoto
  • Patent number: 9494114
    Abstract: A water discharge device may include a water collection chamber including a water drainage valve. At least one water sensor may be arranged in a region of the water collection chamber for determining a water level in the water collection chamber and for controlling the water drainage valve. A device may be configured to maintain the water sensor in contact with the water by keeping a water level artificially high in the region of the water collection chamber at the water sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Braunheim, Kerstin Flaggl, Markus Fontano, Werner Schadler
  • Patent number: 9471066
    Abstract: A mass flow controller comprises: a pressure-based flow meter, a thermal-based flow meter, a control valve, and a system controller. The pressure-based flow meter and thermal-based flow meter each measure flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller. The control valve controls the flow rate in response to a control signal generated as a function of the flow rate as measured by thermal-based flow meter when the measured flow rate is relatively low, and as a function of the flow rate as measured by the pressure-based flow meter when the flow rate is relatively high. A comparison of the flow measurements of the two flow meters can be used to (a) sense pressure disturbances at low flow rates, and (b) sense when the thermal-based flow meter is out of calibration so that a zero offset signal can be applied to the thermal-based flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junhua Ding, Michael L'Bassi
  • Patent number: 9453612
    Abstract: There is provided a safety valve to release excess pressure from a portable gas container for the prevention of an explosion, wherein, when the internal pressure of a portable butane gas container increases over certain level, the safety valve instantaneously operates to release the excess pressure gas from the container at once through an excess pressure gas outlet, thereby sufficiently lowering the pressure inside the container to prevent the container from exploding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DAE RYUK CAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bong June Park
  • Patent number: 9447568
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a lockable toilet fill valve and methods according to the present invention. In one embodiment, a toilet fill valve includes a float/arm assembly. The toilet fill valve is closed when the float/arm assembly is disposed in a first position. The toilet fill valve being open when the float/arm assembly is disposed in a second position. A valve lock is associated with the float/arm assembly. The valve lock includes an unlock position and a lock position, wherein the valve lock fixes the float/arm assembly in the first position when the valve lock is in the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Schuster, Larry L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9442495
    Abstract: A method supplies a gas, stored in multiple vessels, to a drive assembly of a motor vehicle. Each vessel is assigned a valve for opening and closing the vessel and a gas sensor, in the form of a temperature sensor, for determining a temperature as a state variable of the gas in the vessel. The vessels are connected to the drive assembly via a common line. Along the common line, there is arranged at least one gas sensor, which is common to all of the vessels, for determining at least one state variable of the gas. For the supply to the drive assembly, in each case only one of the valves is opened and all of the other valves are closed. The open valve is closed when at least one determined state variable deviates from a setpoint value by a tolerance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Rene Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 9435490
    Abstract: A microfluidic valve operable to semi-permanently close a channel of a microfluidic device defined between a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) film and a substrate operates employs a surface contact bond between the TPE and a wall of the channel. Thermomechanical release of the valve, tristate functionality, and repeated semi-permanent closure and release are demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Galas, Emmanuel Roy, Teodor Veres
  • Patent number: 9435489
    Abstract: A system for discharging hydrogen from two or more hydrogen storage vessels (1A, 1B, 1C) containing solid hydrogen storage material. The system includes at least one hydrogen supply line for connecting the hydrogen storage vessels to a hydrogen demand (3), an energy delivery system (6A, 6B, 6C) to provide heat to the hydrogen storage material in each hydrogen storage vessel to desorb hydrogen from the solid hydrogen storage material, and one or more supply connection conduits (4A, 4B, 4C) for connecting the supply line or lines to the hydrogen storage vessels (1A, 1B, 1C). Each supply connection conduit has a backflow prevention device (5A, 5B, 5C) to prevent hydrogen in the supply line from flowing back into the hydrogen storage vessels (1A, 1B, 1C). Also disclosed is a system for delivering a supply of hydrogen to a hydrogen supply line including a control system (7) to determine the timing of activation of an energy delivery system based (6A, 6B, 6C) on the hydrogen demand in the hydrogen supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hydrexia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jordan Christopher Pierce, Matthew Campbell Greaves, Stephanie Maya Moroz, Andrew Charles Duguid, Alexander Warner Knight
  • Patent number: 9416695
    Abstract: A non-return valve for an oil return in the crankcase ventilation system of a combustion engine includes a valve housing, a valve body which is mounted in the valve housing so as to be displaceable as a whole between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body in the non-operating state of the combustion engine is maintained in the open position without preload and the valve body is configured to automatically move to the closed position in case of an overpressure at the crankcase side with respect to the oil separator chamber. The non-return valve is provided and configured to be inserted into a mounting of a cylinder head cover of the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BRUSS SEALING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Manfred Brand, Doerte Petigk, Thomas Schrader
  • Patent number: 9400061
    Abstract: Fluid valve apparatus having enclosed seals are disclosed. An example fluid valve includes a movable flow control member positioned between an inlet and an outlet of a fluid flow passageway of the fluid valve. A retainer is removably coupled to the flow control member such that the retainer and the flow control member define a sealing cavity when the retainer is coupled to the flow control member. A seal is positioned within the sealing cavity to define a sealing surface of the flow control member. The seal has an inner core composed of a first material, where the core is substantially encased with a sheath composed of a second material different than the first material. The retainer clamps the seal to the flow control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: David John Koester
  • Patent number: 9395013
    Abstract: An electromagnetic proportional 2-way flow control valve (1) has a valve housing (2) in which a control piston (3) is guided to be displaced axially. The control piston (3) actuates at least one fluid-conducting connection (4) between a fluid inlet (5) and an outflow opening (6). An armature (8) can be actuated by a proportional magnet and acts on the control piston (3). A pressure detecting piston (9) serves as the actuator part on the control piston (3). The fluid inlet (5) is connected in a fluid-conducting manner by a pressure detecting channel (11) to a pressure detecting chamber (12) such that the fluid pressure prevailing in the pressure detecting chamber (12) loads the pressure detecting piston (9) and the control piston (3) with a force (F) in the direction of relief of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: HYDAC FLUIDTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Christopher Ward, Peter Malone
  • Patent number: 9351429
    Abstract: A fluid level control system includes: a first immersion cooling tank having a first volume of immersion cooling liquid and an inlet/outlet pipe extending from a base wall of the tank by which immersion cooling liquid can flow into and out of the first immersion cooling tank; at least one second volume of cooling liquid held within a liquid containing unit having a corresponding inlet/outlet pipe; and a pipe distribution system that physically connects the second volume of immersion cooling liquid to the first volume of immersion cooling liquid via respective inlet/outlet pipes and which enables fluid equilibrium to be maintained between the first volume of liquid and the second volume of liquid via gravitational equilibrium and/or passive level control such that a first volume level of the first volume of immersion cooling liquid remains substantially equal to a second volume level of the second volume of immersion cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DELL Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Austin Michael Shelnutt, James D. Curlee, Edmond I. Bailey, Richard Steven Mills
  • Patent number: 9346536
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a flow of a fluid. The fluid is received at an input port of a structure. The fluid is sent through a chamber in communication with the input port. The fluid is caused to flow from the chamber and out of an output port in a direction that changes with a frequency based on an application of pressure pulses in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Surya Raghu
  • Patent number: 9297194
    Abstract: A solenoid distribution valve has a housing, a valve chamber integrated in the housing and a first valve seat bore for connection to a first line, a second valve seat bore as a connection to a second line and a clear opening to a third line, an electromagnet, and a valve lifter that can be moved by the electromagnet. A valve lifter within the valve chamber includes a first sealing surface facing the first valve seat bore and a second sealing surface facing the second valve seat bore that are optionally closable. The valve lifter extends out of the valve chamber through the second valve seat bore to the electromagnet. When the second valve seat bore is closed, the valve lifter is drawn, via a differential pressure ratio, by the pressure in the second line, into the second valve seat bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Bienek, Thomas Wildförster
  • Patent number: 9283562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid channel device capable of easily opening the liquid channel from the closed mode, including a base plate in which a liquid channel, through which a liquid containing at least one of a sample and a reagent, flows, and a metering chamber for holding the liquid, are formed to at least one side thereof, the metering chamber has a liquid transport section for transporting the liquid inside the chamber downstream, and this liquid transport section is operated by means of external pressing on a cover plate in the area opposite the metering chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Takahashi, Masaaki Sakurai, Jiro Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 9283561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid channel device capable of easily opening the liquid channel from the closed mode, including a base plate in which a liquid channel, through which a liquid containing at least one of a sample and a reagent, flows, and a metering chamber for holding the liquid, are formed to at least one side thereof, the metering chamber has a liquid transport section for transporting the liquid inside the chamber downstream, and this liquid transport section is operated by means of external pressing on a cover plate in the area opposite the metering chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Takahashi, Masaaki Sakurai, Jiro Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 9284723
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout and a sprayhead movable between a docked position, in which the sprayhead is in contact with the spout, and an undocked position, in which the sprayhead is spaced apart from the spout. The faucet also includes a hose that includes a tubular portion having an inlet end and an outlet end and configured to provide fluid through the spout to the sprayhead and a magnetically responsive end portion coupled to the outlet end and configured to be freely and rotatably received within a portion of the sprayhead. A magnet is located in the spout such that when the sprayhead is in the docked position, the magnet magnetically attracts the magnetically responsive end portion of the hose so as to retain the sprayhead against the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: John C. Esche, Perry D. Erickson, Roger W. Murphy, William R. Bares