Patents Examined by Robert G. Nilson
  • Patent number: 5483987
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for actuating equipment from a distance through a flow variation of a fluid in a pipe. The device and method of this invention are suited for incorporation into a drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Benoit Amaudric du Chaffaut, Jean Boulet
  • Patent number: 5483992
    Abstract: The annular valve (10) comprises a valve seat (11) attached in the housing (1) of the compressor, an absorber (14) attached thereto at a distance and an annular sealing component (12), which can move between the valve seat and the absorber. Helical springs (2), which move the sealing component in the closing direction towards the valve seat, are distributed over its periphery between the absorber and the sealing component. Each helical spring (2) is fastened with one end in the absorber (14). In the region of the other end of each helical spring (2), the sealing component (12) is provided with guide means (6) for the respective spring end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Sulzer-Burckhardt AG
    Inventor: Markus Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5482077
    Abstract: A piston check valve for use in a system which conveys abrasive materials includes a gland nut which connects the valve to the piping system, a valve body mounted on the gland nut, a valve seat mounted on the valve body, and a piston mounted within the valve body. The piston can translate within the through bore of the valve seat and has a shaft and a head which contacts the first end of the valve seat when the valve is closed. A coil spring is located within the through bore of the valve seat and biases the valve closed. A first O-ring is mounted on the first end of the valve seat and is sufficiently wide to prevent sufficient quantities of chips from becoming lodged within the surface of the inner O-ring to form a hard bridge across the resilient O-ring, allowing erosion of the valve sealing surfaces. The first end of the valve seat has an O-ring groove which receives the O-ring. A second O-ring can be mounted on the first end of the valve seat at the outer periphery of the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark Serafin
  • Patent number: 5482074
    Abstract: A safety cut-off device, comprises a valve for controlling fluid flow. The valve has a body with a passageway therethrough and inlet and outlet communicating with the passageway. The valve includes a closure member disposed within the passageway, the closure member having an open position for permitting fluid flow through the body and a closed position for shutting off the fluid flow. A stop has an operative position engaging the closure member in the open position and an inoperative position when the closure member is in the closed position. The stop is biased in the operative position. A vibration sensitive member is secured to the valve body, the vibration sensitive member being adapted to move the stop to the inoperative position in response to vibrations in the environment, whereby the closure member is permitted to move to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: David J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5482073
    Abstract: A method of providing a continuous supply of gas to the gas utilities of a residential or commercial building while the gas meter is disconnected from the gas service lines. The method employs a bypass valve comprising a tubular fitting to be connected in line with the gas service line conducting gas from the gas meter to such building. An auxiliary source of gas may be coupled with an auxiliary port formed on the outer wall of the fitting, such that activation of the auxiliary source acts to drive a poppet through the bypass valve to seal off the gas meter from the gas service lines. Thus the gas meter may be disconnected from such gas service lines, as the auxiliary source will provide continuous gas supply to the utilities of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: R. W. Lyall & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold R. Winnie, Ronald D. Bridgewater, Robert K. Kitterman
  • Patent number: 5479978
    Abstract: A combination pressure-vacuum relief valve assembly is provided for mounting in a port of a container. A two-part, generally hollow valve housing defines a valve chamber and includes a housing body part adapted for mounting in the port and which has an inlet communicating with the container. A housing cap part is secured to the body part and defines an outlet therebetween. A pressure valve seat is formed on the housing body part surrounding the inlet. A two-part, generally hollow pressure valve is movably mounted within the valve chamber and includes a valve body part for engaging the pressure valve seat. The valve body part includes a first vacuum relief passage communicating with the container through the inlet. A valve cap part is secured to the valve body part and includes a second vacuum relief passage communicating with atmosphere through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Trans Tech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Elias R. Zenkich
  • Patent number: 5479957
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a plug flow of high viscosity material in a pipeline is disclosed. The system includes first and second pipes through which the plug flow of high viscosity material is pumped. The first pipe has a flange which is positioned adjacent a flange of the second pipe. A plurality of bolts, attached to the flange of the first pipe and to the flange of the second pipe, connect the first pipe to the second pipe. A lubrication spool is positionable in a first location between the flange of the first pipe and the flange of the second pipe for lubricating the plug flow of high viscosity material. The lubrication spool is removable from the first position without completely disconnecting the first and second pipes. The lubrication spool includes a first spool section which is located immediately adjacent the flange of the first pipe while in the first position and a second spool section immediately adjacent the first spool section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Schwing America, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Crow, Thomas M. Anderson, Scott Kelly, Terry Atherton, Larry Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5477880
    Abstract: A "V" shaped check stop is provided formed of spring steel or the like having a substantially greater depth than thickness to minimize frontal area in the direction of flow and further to provide for added resistance strength in the direction of flow and ease of installation in a circumferential groove on assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: The ARO Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Carter, Kerry G. Vonalt
  • Patent number: 5476243
    Abstract: A valve having a magnetic armature, which is moved longitudinally in a valve dome; a valve tappet of this armature carries a closing member of a seat valve, which is open when in the rest position. The seat valve is disposed in a valve chamber, from which two pressure fluid conduits lead to face ends of the magnetic armature, which is sealed on its circumference side. When the seat valve is partially open, a pressure is produced in a partial valve chamber by means of a shaping of the valve seat as a hollow cone and of the closing member as a flattened end ball. In the control chamber remote from the closing member, this pressure leads to a movement of the magnetic armature against the tension of a restoring spring, which results in a reduction of the through flow cross section of the seat valve. The valve is particularly useful in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Oehler, Guenther Hohl, Norbert Mittelwollen, Hans-Juergen Herderich, Stephan Jonas
  • Patent number: 5476246
    Abstract: A rotating actuator comprising, eddying causes noise production that is to be avoided flat boundary faces formed at a throttle opening, and a flat boundary face that is formed at an outlet opening. Streamlined transitions with one convex and one concave region each are provided in the inlet connection piece from a frustoconical constriction to the boundary faces, and a streamlined transition with one convex and one concave region to a frustoconical widening of the outlet connection piece is provided in the outlet connection piece. The rotating actuator is used in particular to regulate the idling rpm of internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Wendel, Johannes Meiwes, Micheal Giesbert, Franz Willenecker, Huu-Duc Dang
  • Patent number: 5476119
    Abstract: A servo valve comprises a valve body, an elongated chamber defined by the body and two oppositely facing annular pistons independently movable longitudinally within the body. Each piston has an inner annular first valve seat and an outer annular first obturating surface. A reciprocable valve stem is surrounded by the pistons. Two oppositely facing spaced annular second obturating surfaces are carried by the valve stem a fixed distance apart, with the pistons located between the two second obturating surfaces and reciprocable on the valve stem. Each of the second obturating surfaces is arranged to cooperate with one of the inner annular first valve seats to control fluid flow along the valve stem from a fluid inlet intermediate the pistons. Two annular second valve seats are fixed in the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Bettcher Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond J. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 5476118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-stagnant piping system and it is an object of this invention to provide a piping system such that the fluid inside the upstream side piping of a valve portion and inside the valve will not become stagnant in a super pure water line and chemical solution, etc., regardless of whether the valve is in a closed or opened state.A diaphragm valve 3 having a by-pass means 3b installed on the upstream side of the valve portion 3a is mounted in the sub-line 2 branched from the main line 1 in the piping system, and a pressure reducing unit 4 having a pressure reducing portion by a throttling portion 4a, and a by-pass 4b communicating with the throttling portion 4a is installed on the downstream side of the branch point with the sub-line 2 in the main line 1, and moreover, both by-pass means 3b and 4b communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Asahi Yukizai Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 5474105
    Abstract: A pneumatic fluid flow limiting device which is pressure compensated and resets automatically when the pneumatic fluid driven device is shut off. Pressure compensation is accomplished by a vented differential diameter chamber and reset is accomplished by a bypass orifice in a spool valve which further may be variable in flow to accommodate different flow requirements for tool operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Aro Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Able, Raymond D. Carter
  • Patent number: 5474099
    Abstract: A non-stick treated valve including a pair of cooperating elastomeric surfaces positioned to engage each other to control fluid flow through the valve. A non-stick coating is applied to the cooperating surfaces to facilitate separation of the surfaces from each other during opening of the valve. The non-stick coating is in the form of an oily substance such as a fluid lubricant for forming a fluid film coating on the cooperating surfaces. In addition, the coating material is formed of a material which is dissimilar from the material forming the cooperating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Vernay Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Boehmer, James R. Kunce, David O. Werbil
  • Patent number: 5474106
    Abstract: A solenoid valve for hydraulic brake units with slip control is described which has a magnetic armature (2) surrounded by a valve dome (14), the magnetic armature (2) positioned by energization of a magnet coil (16), so that a valve needle (1) which is carried by the magnetic armature (2) is moved onto a valve seat (3). A hydraulic actuating force is generated by an arrangement causing the valve needle (1) to open even through the solenoid valve is energized causing the valve to act as a pressure relief or limiter valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Peter Volz, Andre F. L. Goossens
  • Patent number: 5472014
    Abstract: Liquid flow through a conduit in a branch of a hydronic system provided with a balancing valve and, in series therewith, a metering valve to obtain a desired rate of flow in the branch is regulated by positioning immediately adjacent an accelerated-flow zone in the metering valve in the conduit a pitot having an upstream side directed upstream against a direction of flow through the conduit and a downstream side directed downstream in the flow direction. The metering valve is settable in a plurality of predetermined positions each corresponding to a respective flow cross section through the conduit. A differential pressure meter is connected to both sides of the pitot, the one of the predetermined valve positions is selected that gives a near full-range reading on the meter, and the metering valve is set in this selected one position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Bengt A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 5472010
    Abstract: A fluid diverter controls water flow through a faucet assembly which includes a spout and a handspray. The diverter includes a housing and a shaft mounted therein for reciprocal movement, with a piston and a cup valve mounted on opposite ends of the shaft. When water is supplied to the faucet assembly and the handspray is turned off, water pressure builds up within a first compartment of the diverter between the piston and the cup valve such that the cup valve is moved off its seat to establish water flow through a first outlet passageway to the spout. When the handspray is operated, water from the interior of the diverter flows through a second outlet passageway leading to the handspray, and also into a second compartment on the opposite side of the piston. A differential pressure is achieved between the two compartments by providing a notch of a selected size in an annular rim portion of the housing at the second outlet passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Teodoro J. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5472013
    Abstract: A valve assembly including a valve housing adapted to be fixed in the bore of a member supplying fuel under pressure, the valve housing including a bore which extends along an axis, which is adapted to communicate with the bore of the member and which has an end portion defining a valve seat, a valve member moveable in the axial bore in the valve housing between a closed position in which the valve member is engaged with the valve seat and an open position in which the valve member is spaced from the valve seat, the valve member including an inner end, a retainer rigidly fixed to the inner end of the valve member, and a spring bearing against the valve housing and against the retainer so as to bias the valve member into the closed position when the fuel pressure in the valve assembly is below a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher R. Irgens
  • Patent number: 5472009
    Abstract: A fluid regulator has two valve bodies (24, 25) placed opposite and cooperating with two openings (22, 23) for controlling the fluid flow from an inlet chamber to two outlet chambers. A spindle (34) interconnects the valve bodies (24, 25) at a predetermined mutual distance forming a spindle assembly. Each valve body and each opening form a passage (30, 31), the sum of the areas of the two passages being constant, but adjustable by a handle (9). The spindle assembly is freely moveable in the axial direction under the influence of the pressures across the openings acting upon the valve bodies so that the pressure drop times the area of each opening is equal for the two openings, and the fluid flow from the inlet chamber is divided into two fluid flows to the outlet chambers. The fluid regulator is intended to be used in an agricultural sprayer for distribution of a fluid composition to soil to be treated. The agricultural sprayer comprises a tank (2), a pump (6), the fluid regulator, and a plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Sven Linderoth
  • Patent number: 5469883
    Abstract: A flow modulation device is provided for restricting fluid flow exhausted from a first, actuator-sided conduit toward a second, reservoir-sided conduit to an acceptable rate in the event of sudden pressure drop within the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung H. Lee