Patents Examined by P. Macade Nichols
  • Patent number: 11460120
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for controlling a flow of fluid through a fluid line has a housing having a first end opposite a second end with a hollow interior extending therebetween and an elastically resilient plug disposed within the hollow interior of the housing. The plug has a body engagable with a seat within the housing and a tension member having a first end connected to the body and a second end connected to the housing. The tension member is pre-loaded in tension to urge the body of the plug against the seat to seal the hollow interior of the housing. The body is movable away from the seat when the plug is acted upon by a fluid pressure greater than a pre-load force of the tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Michael L. Hodak
  • Patent number: 11428337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a non-return valve, in particular for a refrigeration circuit or thermal circuit, which is insertable into a connection point (76) of a connection device (71), which comprises a supply opening (72) for supplying a medium and an outlet opening (74) for discharging the medium, comprising a multi-part housing (12, 14), which comprises a valve housing (14) and a main housing (12), which is interconnectable by means of connection elements (41, 42) via an interface (16), comprising a regulating space (24) formed between the main housing (12) and the valve housing (14), in which space a valve-closing member (25) is provided which abuts a valve seat (23) of the valve housing (14) in a closed position (54), and closes an opening (22) in the valve housing (14) and is movable into an operating position (55) counter to an actuating force of a return element (33) and releases the valve opening (22), wherein the valve housing (14) and the valve-closing member (25), which is arranged so as to be mov
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: OTTO EGELHOF GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Auweder, Eike Willers, Betina Jahnke, Bernhard Wagner
  • Patent number: 11428327
    Abstract: There is provided a check valve capable of effectively suppressing the generation of chattering. The check valve includes: a housing including an inlet channel, a valve chest, and an outlet channel; a seat member provided around the inlet channel, the seat member including a seat portion; a valve element pressed against the seat portion to close the inlet channel; a biasing member configured to push the valve element toward a valve seat; a guide portion provided at the housing and configured to guide the valve element when the valve element moves in an axial direction; and a damper chamber communicating with the valve chest through a space between the valve element and the guide portion, the damper chamber being configured to attenuate axial moving force of the valve element. The biasing member is arranged in the valve chest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kato, Noritaka Nakamura, Kodai Kato, Yukinobu Sakata, Hiromitsu Kiyose
  • Patent number: 11421793
    Abstract: A check valve includes an upper housing having an inlet of the check valve, a lower housing axially coupled to the upper housing and having an outlet of the check valve, a valve portion cooperatively formed by the upper and lower housings, a passageway extending between the inlet and outlet, a first filter included in the upper housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, a second filter included in the lower housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, each of the first filter and the second filter including a plurality of vertical structures disposed in the valve portion and extending axially and radially in the valve portion, and a valve member positioned in the valve portion to selectively permit fluid to flow through the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC
    Inventors: Raymond Feith, Siddarth K. Shevgoor, Eugene Mason, Mark Kaplan
  • Patent number: 11421794
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a check valve may include forming an upper housing as cylindrical body with (i) an internal surface including an upstream internal surface and a downstream internal surface having a projection and (ii) an external surface, forming a T-shaped filter member and mounting the T-shaped filter member in the internal surface of the upper housing. The method may further include forming a lower housing with a support portion at a central portion thereof, mounting a flexible valve member on the support portion, and coupling the upper housing with T-shaped filter member mounted therein onto the lower housing with flexible valve member mounted therein such that the T-shaped filter member is disposed upstream of the flexible valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond P. Feith, Eugene Mason
  • Patent number: 11415237
    Abstract: A drill string safety valve device (1) has a body (2) with a through-going flow bore (25) and connectors (3, 4) at respective ends (19, 18) for connection to tubulars, such as pipe joints. A valve member (7; 29) is movably arranged in said flow bore (25) and configured for being set in one of two states: a first state of the valve member allows fluid to flow in both directions though the flow bore, and a second state of the valve member allows fluid flow through the flow bore in only one direction. The valve member may be a rotatable ball valve (7) with a through-going flow bore (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Moonshine Solutions AS
    Inventors: Jan Georg Tveiterås, Helge Hope, Alf Breivik
  • Patent number: 11415092
    Abstract: To provide a fuel tank check valve making it easy to assemble a cap to a valve element housing. This fuel tank check valve has a body tube provided with a valve element housing, a valve element, a cap, and a spring, wherein the valve element housing has a base end side frame, a tip end side frame to which the cap is mounted, and a first coupling frame connecting the both frames, the tip end side frame is provided with a retraction portion having a shape in which a circumferential part is retracted from the tip end surface thereof to the base end side frame side, the cap is formed with a notch whose circumferential part is notched, and the cap is assembled to the valve element housing so that the notch is positioned in the retraction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Yusuke Ochiai
  • Patent number: 11415234
    Abstract: A valve may include a valve body forming a central passage extending from a first side of the valve body to a second side of the valve body. A valve pin may be located within the central passage, where the valve pin includes a sealing head that selectively contacts a valve seat of the valve body to control flow of a fluid through the central passage. A spring may have a first end that is fixed relative to the valve pin. A spring seat may be fixed relative to a second end of the spring, where the spring is fixed relative to a calibration plunger, and where the calibration plunger is secured to a threadless calibration wall of the valve body via an interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventor: Major H. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 11415236
    Abstract: A gas pressure regulating device is provided which comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, a pressure regulation cavity is disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing, a diaphragm assembly is disposed in the pressure regulation cavity, a gas inlet and a valve port for communicating the gas inlet with the pressure regulation cavity are disposed at one end of the lower housing. The gas pressure regulating device provided in the present invention has a simpler structure and fewer parts and is capable of effectively lowering the risks of dangerous accidents such as product leakage resulting from part failure, thus effectively ensuring stable pressure regulation performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventors: Feng Zhang, Yunnan Wei, Yanhua Wang, Hongbin Ren
  • Patent number: 11408443
    Abstract: A servovalve includes a supply port and a control port; a moveable valve spool arranged to regulate flow of fluid from the supply port to the control port in response to a control signal and a drive assembly configured to axially move the valve spool relative to the fluid transfer assembly in response to the control signal to regulate the fluid flow; wherein the drive assembly comprises a first fluid channel providing a flow path for fluid from the supply port to a first end of the spool and provided with a first flow control orifice. The assembly also includes a second fluid channel providing a rotating element provided with a cam profile located between the first flow control orifice and the second flow control orifice. The assembly also includes drive means arranged to rotate the rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zbigniew Jaśkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11401841
    Abstract: An annular groove has: a side peripheral surface that is shaped in a ring form and is formed such that the side peripheral surface inwardly extends from a bottom surface of the annular groove in a radial direction of a tubular member and is joined to an inner peripheral wall of the tubular member; and a specific shape surface that is formed along at least a part of the side peripheral surface between a bottom surface side end part and an inner peripheral wall side end part of the side peripheral surface such that a diameter of the specific shape surface is progressively reduced in an axial direction of the tubular member from one axial side, at which the bottom surface is placed, toward another axial side, at which the inner peripheral wall is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuro Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 11396951
    Abstract: A check valve has an inlet end, a transition part and an outlet end, with a pair of vertically orientated lips. The transition part is twisted about the axis extending from the inlet to the outlet. As fluid passes through the check valve, the twisted portion of the check valve will impart a swirling motion to the fluid as the fluids leaves the check valve via the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Proco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin C. Hayes, Michael W. Lassas, James M. Gannatal, Heli Tusharkumat Trivedi
  • Patent number: 11384856
    Abstract: A spherical pump valve. The valve includes a valve cage, a spring, a valve member, a valve seat, and a locking ring. The valve cage has a groove holding the spring and threads. The valve member has a stem and a trench holding the spring. The valve seat has a seating surface, threads that match the valve cage threads and upon threaded engagement secure the valve seat to the valve cage, and a channel. The locking ring is installed in the channel and secures the valve cage to the valve seat. The spring has a rate matched to the weight of the valve member and to the flow area of the valve seat. The stem guides the valve member as the stem travels through a center hole of the valve cage. Also disclosed is a pump including the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Triangle Pump Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Thomas Kelton, Cedric Wayne Hill, Jon Alan Edson
  • Patent number: 11371623
    Abstract: A closure mechanism and a method for plugging a flow control device of a well is provided. The closure mechanism includes a switch having a hollow interior and a U-shaped portion. The closure mechanism also includes a metal insert located within a portion of the hollow interior of the switch. The mechanism further includes a heating device positioned within the well. In the method, the heating device is activated in the well and melts at least a portion of the metal insert. The melted portion of the metal insert collects and re-solidifies within the U-shaped portion of the switch, thereby closing the switch and plugging the flow control device against flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brett Bouldin, Kenechukwu Ufondu, Robert Turner
  • Patent number: 11371721
    Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Computime Ltd.
    Inventors: Dick Kwai Chan, Hamza Yilmaz, Ben Ren Tan, Wai-Leung Ha
  • Patent number: 11371235
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and apparatus for detecting an impending sewer backup by detecting fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude inside a main body of a backwater valve. When at least a predetermined number of fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude are detected within a predetermined time period, an alarm can be triggered. Such undulations can be detected by monitoring a buoyant gate in a normally-open backwater valve to detecting instances of movement of the gate from a lowered position in which fluid flow from an inlet through the backwater valve is unobstructed by the gate toward but stopping short of a raised position in which the gate closes the inlet to obstruct fluid flow through the valve. For example, a sensor can be carried on the gate to detect movement of the gate. Alternatively, fluid levels inside the main body can be monitored directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Gibson, Larry Boyle, Raymond MacDonald, Joseph Macissac, Michael Szkudlarek
  • Patent number: 11365819
    Abstract: A valve assembly adapted for use in oil and gas operations. In one aspect, the valve assembly includes a valve body defining an internal region, an inlet passageway, and an outlet passageway, the inlet and outlet passageways extending into the internal region; a valve seat connected to the valve body and defining a fluid passageway; a clapper extending within the internal region and defining an annular groove; and a seal extending within the annular groove of the clapper and adapted to sealingly engage the valve seat. In an example embodiment, the clapper is actuable between an open configuration, in which fluid flow is permitted through the fluid passageway; and a closed configuration, in which the seal sealingly engages the valve seat to at least partially restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Inc.
    Inventors: Nadiya Fuller, Nuder Said, Brian C. Witkowski
  • Patent number: 11365730
    Abstract: A reciprocating gas compressor valve having a plurality of clusters of kidney shaped holes positioned along a common circular or annular locus in the main body and a sealing element with a top portion, a bottom portion and a tubular section. The tubular section is integrally connected to the top portion and bottom portion. In an open position, a flow pathway is provided through the clusters of kidney shaped holes and the tubular section and the bottom profile abuts a stop surface of the valve. In a closed position, the top profile abuts the seat for sealing gas flow within the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnil S. Khaire, Stephen A. Mish, Fred Matthew Schweinberg, Vasudev M. Balamohan, Sujith N. Rasquinha
  • Patent number: 11359359
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining integrity of a dry pipe sprinkler system. The apparatus includes an auxiliary drain, the auxiliary drain including an input pipe, a condensate collection area, and a drain pipe; an insulated housing with a door configured to provide a heat controlled environment for the auxiliary drain, and wherein the auxiliary drain is at least partially located within the housing, and the condensation collection area is located within the housing; a heater configured to heat the housing; and an auxiliary drain alarm configured to provide a warning when the auxiliary drain retains a predetermined amount of condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: AGF MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: George Joseph McHugh, IV
  • Patent number: 11353128
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for valve body apparatus for use with fluid valves. An example fluid valve apparatus includes a valve body including a housing positioned on an exterior surface of the valve body, a calibration set screw disposed in the housing via a recessed aperture, and a cover coupled to the housing to seal the calibration set screw from external access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Lamar Sharpe, John Scott Hutchinson, Matthew Douglas Forbes, Aneesh Chandran