Patents Examined by Sheri M. Novack
  • Patent number: 4690162
    Abstract: A low cost, mechanical method and apparatus for controlling the size of an internal orifice in a deformable tubing, particularly tubing of a viscoelastic material such as PVC used to administer intravenous fluids. A portion of the tubing is clamped to place a portion of the internal walls of the tubing into contact with one another at a plane of contact. The non-contacting portions of the tubing define at least one flow orifice. The contacting portions are then further compressed so that the wall thickness of the contacting tubes is reduced from its initial, unclamped thickness. The degree of this compression is such as to cause the adjacent tubing wall portions to curve away from the plane of contact, preferably with four point symmetry. This condition is also characterized by the stresses within the tube wall tending to expand or contract the orifice being generally in equilibrium within a brief period of time, typically less than five minutes, during which period the orifice usually expands slightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventors: James E. Lyddy, Randall W. Fincke
  • Patent number: 4684105
    Abstract: A ball valve having means for releasably holding the sealing surfaces of a seal carrier in contact with the valve body and ball. The holding means includes a durable locking strip which is inserted through an opening in the valve body into an annular channel between the valve body and the seal carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Carroll J. Haas, II
  • Patent number: 4684102
    Abstract: A pinch valve employing first and second linear solenoids in series so that the first solenoid closes a flexible tube when powered, and the second solenoid is positioned to be pushed by a spring, to in-turn push the driving member of the first solenoid in a loss-of-power condition, and is positioned to be moved away from the first solenoid when powered so that the first solenoid is free to selectively close or open the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond C. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 4682758
    Abstract: A means for adjusting the relative positioning of a valve closure element with respect to a valve seat is formed by a hub on the closure element having a valve stem receiving bore and at least two generally opposed threaded passages intersecting the bore. Threaded members are received in each bore to engage the valve stem from generally opposite sides thereof. Movement of the threaded members adjusts the relative positioning of the closure element with respect to the valve seat and valve stems while securing the closure element to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Keystone International, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Scobie, Michael L. Wagberg
  • Patent number: 4682755
    Abstract: A pinch valve includes a housing with a quarter-turn closure mechanism disposed within the housing for adjustment of a spool-sleeve. The mechanism consists of two cam members rotatably supported in the housing on the opposite sides of the sleeve and connected to a hub via drive links. The hub is disposed proximate an opening in the housing and is rotated manually by a handle, or automatically by an actuator. Each cam member includes a first portion which is rotatable across the sleeve and a shank portion which is eccentrically disposed on the first portion and traverses the sleeve profile. As the cam members are rotated the shank portions move transversely of the sleeve longitudinal axis, toward and away from one another for pinching the sleeve and thereby selectively throttling or stopping the flow through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Larad Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Bernstein, Alan E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4679768
    Abstract: A valve for connection in a pipeline or duct for the conveyance of a fluent medium includes a valve plate which is movable laterally relative to the duct between respective open and closed positions, with resilient sealing means provided on or in association with the valve plate. The sealing means is provided on an axially movable member to engage one face of the valve plate, while the opposed sealing means is carried by a fixed end member so that the valve plate is clamped between them. Either of the sealing means may be omitted. A ram actuates the valve plate by rotation of a shaft while simultaneously rotating a control ring forming part of the control mechanism which moves the member axially to clamp and release the valve plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Bercorit & Herweg Limited
    Inventor: Derrick Hardy
  • Patent number: 4678161
    Abstract: A ball valve in which the ball of the valve is positively prevented from blowing out of the valve body in both directions, even if the valve is connected in the wrong direction or the fluid pressure is applied to the valve in the opposite direction. The ball is arranged in a valve body to selectively open and close a fluid passage in the body, and annular seals abut against the ball from both sides of the fluid passage, the annular seals being pushed towards the ball by seal carriers. In one embodiment, one of the seal carriers has a flange on the periphery of one end thereof, and the flange is locked to a step from inside which is formed on inner surface of one end portion of the valve body. In a second embodiment, the ball additionally has two grooves with abutting walls in respective ones of which a spindle and a pin coaxial with the spindle are fitted with the abutting walls positioned on the side of the one seal carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Seikisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Bando, Teruyoshi Asano, Shigenobu Kato, Katsuhiko Tanioka
  • Patent number: 4678005
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a flow regulator for gaseous substances, particularly a flow regulator intended for air in air-conditioning and ventilation installations, for maintaining the volumetric flow of the gaseous substance at desired magnitude with sufficient accuracy when the differential pressure acting across the flow regulator varies within given limits. The flow regulator comprises an envelope and a regulating member turnably disposed in the flow passage confined by the envelope. The torque produced by the flow of gaseous substance on the regulating member and on the other hand a countertorque dependent on the position of the regulating member cause the regulating member turning in the flow passage to assume a position of equilibrium such that the requisite pressure drop is obtained for maintaining the volumetric flow rate at predetermined magnitude. The regulating member is substantially slightly curved at least in the flow surface facing the incoming flow of the gaseous substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Halton Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Aalto, Veikko Yla-Hemmila
  • Patent number: 4678003
    Abstract: A safety cap for protecting against damage and tampering the shut-off valve of a high-pressure gas cylinder. The safety cap has a female threaded base bracket which is engaged with the male-threaded neck ring of the gas cylinder. Hinges carried by the base bracket and symmetrical shield halves pivotally mount the shield halves. Positive-lock hinge clamps maintain the shield halves in abutting closed position to protect the shut-off valve. The clamps can be unclamped and the shield halves fully opened to provide full and unrestricted access to the shut-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Beacher C. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4676481
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a high performance, leak tight seal for use primarily in butterfly control valves. In accordance with a significant feature of the invention, the seal is arranged and configured whereby fluid pressure within the butterfly valve environment is retained by the seal through three clearly defined, discrete pressure range operating stages. The seal is mounted within a seal containment chamber formed in the valve housing. The fluid pressure inherently and automatically orients the seal relative to the seal containment chamber to provide a seal geometry, containment chamber support, stress distribution and seal deflection which is optimum for the pressure range of the particular operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4674528
    Abstract: A butterfly valve includes a body having pipe connecting parts forming two opposite ends thereof and a cylindrical flow path interconnecting the pipe connecting parts, a stem attached rotatably at the central part of the body diametrically across the cylindrical flow path, a lever handle connected non-rotatably to the external leading end of the stem, and a disc formed by joining two substantially circular metallic plates in a mutually opposed manner, coating the entire outer surfaces of the metallic plates with a corrosionproof, resilient material, and boring a stem-insertion hole between the two joined metallic plates in the central diametric position thereof and disposed inside the cylindrical flow path of the body for accommodating the stem non-rotatably within the stem-insertion hole thereof. An externally open groove having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed in the joint periphery of the two joined metallic plates of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Kitz Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Nishio, Masahiko Tomono
  • Patent number: 4674531
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a flow regulator for gaseous substances, particularly a flow regulator intended for air in air-conditioning and ventilation installations, for maintaining the volumetric flow of the gaseous substance at desired magnitude with sufficient accuracy when the differential pressure acting across the flow regulator varies within given limits. The flow regulator comprises an envelope and a regulating member turnably disposed in the flow passage confined by the envelope (11). The torque produced by the flow of gaseous substance on the regulating member and on the other hand a counter-torque dependent on the position of the regulating member cause the regulating member turning in the flow passage to assume a position of equilibrium such that the requisite pressure drop is obtained for maintaining the volumetric flow rate at predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Halton Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Aalto, Veikko Yla-Hemmila, Reijo Villikka
  • Patent number: 4672994
    Abstract: A fixing cover for a walled faucet, and more specifically, novel structure for fixture to reinforce the rear section of a faucet installed straight against a wall. It includes number of folded segments selectively distributed along the interior of a central section, to permit fitting of an annular pad by reverse setting. Thus the rebounding tension inherent inside compression members distributed along the inner diameter of the annular pad may bear against the rear portion of the faucet relative to the wall, in a manner more effective and reliable than in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Inventor: Hsi-Chia Ko
  • Patent number: 4671314
    Abstract: A homogeneous fluid sampling valve mounted into a high pressure or low pressure flow line or the like wherein homogeneous fluid is flowing therein, preferably the body of the valve mounted perpendicular to the flow with a small portion of the valve body extending into the flow line. There is further provided a bore through a conduit in the valve body for transporting fluid from the main flow line through the valve body and exterior to the valve. The valve body is further provided with an extended stem wherein there is rotatably mounted a thickened collar member having a spout in fluid communication with the bore when the collar member is placed in the open position and in fluid tight engagement with the valve body when the collar member is rotated to the closed position by a stationary sealing wafer. The collar member is maintained in fluid-tight engagement against the end of the valve body against the bias of a spring member engaged on the stem member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: John S. Heil
  • Patent number: 4671310
    Abstract: A valve for controlling the flow of particulate material through a conduit which may be referred to as a clam shell valve including and arcuate valve plate. The valve includes a seal block having a recess for receiving the leading edge of the valve plate to assure a seal between the conduit and the valve element. The seal block is shaped to inhibit the entrance of material into the seal block and allow for the easy discharge of that material on opening of the valve element. The valve also includes an upper wiper seal element for cleaning the surface of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventor: Stephen R. Henninger
  • Patent number: 4671320
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustable valve for liquid including a flexible tubular body having a first and a second end. The tubular body is capable of elongation along the longitudinal axis. Provided within the flexible tubular body is a substantially cylindrical rigid body the rigid having a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the flexible tubular body to form a radial clearance between the rigid body and the inside surface of the flexible tubular body. Means for elongating the flexible tubular body along the longitudinal axis about the rigid body are also included, whereby elongation of the flexible tubular body reduces the radial clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: Victor Grifols Lucas
  • Patent number: 4669499
    Abstract: This invention is intended to solve the problem that a valve casing for use in a butterfly valve formed by press working, which is advantageous from the standpoint of productivity, thickness and weight, has such as a serious disadvantage of breakage or deformation and lowering in the sealing performance due to release on aging or the seal ring when the valve is mounted on pipe line and clamped from both sides. From this point of view, a valve casing according to this invention is formed into a double structure composed of an inner shell and an outer shell, the inner shell comprising a cylindrical part defining a bore and seal ring receiving portions formed on both ends with their diameters enlarged larger than the cylindrical part substantially forming an S-shape in cross section, the outer shell defining a space by surrounding a whole outer periphery of the inner shell, and the inner shell and the outer shell being superposed to each other at both end of the valve casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Kurimoto, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunobu Miyake, Hiroshi Horii, Kenji Ikoma
  • Patent number: 4669493
    Abstract: A safety relief valve for liquified gas containers has dual pilot valves, one set to a given operating pressure and one adjustable. A main valve is responsive to the pilots, which are connected in parallel. The adjustable pilot is continuously adjustable and may be set below the operating pressure of the set pilot. The main valve has an inlet at the tank wall and a valve seat with a lateral outlet downstream thereof. The piston is faced at the inlet side by the gas pressure in the tank and on the control-pressure space side with a closing pressure adjusted by the pilots. If a given pressure in the tank is exceeded, the piston lifts from its valve seat, so that gas can flow from the inlet to the outlet. The second pilot valve can be provided with a thermal or other enabling means to initiate its operation when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Cryogas GmbH
    Inventors: Drago Kober, Erich Martin
  • Patent number: 4667929
    Abstract: The valve comprises a valve body defining a valve chamber having input and output openings, and housing a rotatable shutter element, traversed by a passage, adapted for selectively connecting the input and output openings. Provided between at least one of the openings and the shutter element, is a sealing seat having a truncated-cone shape with its axis lying in a plane, substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shutter element and inclined with respect to the axis of the opening. The sealing seat has, in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the opening an ellipse portion, placed eccentrically with respect to the axis of the opening, with the eccentricity arranged along the major axis of the ellipse on the part which is opposite with respect to the position of the apex of the cone relatively to the axis of the opening. On the shutter element, a sealing ring is provided, for engagement with the sealing seat upon closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Inventor: Franco Narduzzi
  • Patent number: 4667924
    Abstract: An air release valve for sphygmomanometers in the form of a flow metering device in an air outlet duct comprising a length of a flexible tube as part of said duct and a pressure member which is displaceable against the valve tube by means of a pivot lever, so as to collapse one tube wall against the other to close the cavity of the valve tube and to produce an initially very gradual and later progressively greater opening response, when the pressure member is retracted and the valve tube is allowed to return to its open state. The valve tube may be an arcuate tube portion extending freely between two parallel spouts of the air outlet duct, or it may be a straight tube portion confined in a longitudinal groove of the valve housing. A U-shaped leaf spring between the valve housing and the pivot lever provides a valve closing force, finger pressure against the pivot lever produces a controlled valve opening action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Inventor: Blasius Speidel