Patents by Inventor Joel LaBenz

Joel LaBenz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8528880
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for use in a valve plate assembly includes a sealing ring and a retention spacer. The sealing ring has a radial ring section and an axial ring section, the axial ring section extends axially from the radial section and includes an outer diameter surface and a contact face, the contact face includes a contact surface and an annular slot, and the contact surface is located radially outward relative to the annular slot. The retention spacer is configured to be positioned adjacent the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joel LaBenz, Craig Kolb, Anthony Matarazzo, Scott Martin, Ryan Brown
  • Patent number: 8517333
    Abstract: A valve actuator includes an actuator housing, a piston, a linkage assembly, a magnet, and a Hall sensor. The actuator housing is adapted to receive pressurized fluid. The piston is movably mounted within actuator housing, and is configured to translate in a first direction and a second direction. The linkage assembly is rotationally coupled to the piston and is adapted to couple to a valve element. The linkage assembly is configured to rotate the valve element in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction in response to piston movement in the first direction and the second direction, respectively. The magnet is mounted on the piston and is movable therewith, and the Hall sensor is mounted on the actuator housing and is responsive to movement of the magnet to supply a position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ara Briley, Craig Kolb, Ed Kesner, Joel LaBenz, David Pantier, Dave Tornquist, Maureen Sugai
  • Patent number: 8459609
    Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly includes a unitary flow body and a unitary valve element. The unitary valve element is rotationally mounted within the flow body and includes a rotationally mounted shaft and a butterfly plate that is formed integral to the shaft. The butterfly valve assembly can withstand the maximum drive torque supplied from an associated actuator, while at the same time meeting a desired level of flow performance, and allows the unitary valve element to be installed up through the pilot bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Robert Casillas, Ed Kesner, Joel LaBenz, Mitch McGinty
  • Patent number: 8317158
    Abstract: Flapper valve assemblies are provided. One flapper valve assembly includes a flowbody, a flapper valve element, and an elongated stiffening rib formed in the flowbody. The flowbody includes a generally flat plate portion, and an arcuate portion adjacent the generally flat plate portion. The flapper valve element is hingedly coupled to the flowbody proximate the generally flat plate portion. The elongated stiffening rib extends from the generally flat plate portion to the arcuate portion to distribute mechanical stress and to reduce deflection of the flowbody during pressure loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Patterson, Joel LaBenz, Ara Briley, Rene Villalba, Scott Martin
  • Patent number: 8276880
    Abstract: Butterfly valve plate sealing assemblies are provided that include a sealing ring and a retention spacer disposed at least partially within a sealing ring groove formed about a periphery of a butterfly valve plate. The sealing ring includes a first portion, a second portion configured substantially perpendicular to the first portion, and a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The sealing ring is positioned at least partially within a groove opening and a groove body defining the sealing ring groove. The retention spacer is positioned at least partially within the groove opening and adjacent the first portion of the sealing ring. The retention spacer is configured to limit expansion of the sealing ring when under the influence of a pressurized fluid flow. The second portion of the sealing ring may be configured to optimize stiffness for a desired sealing ring tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Kolb, David Pantier, Joel LaBenz, Scott Martin
  • Publication number: 20120056115
    Abstract: A valve actuator includes an actuator housing, a piston, a linkage assembly, a magnet, and a Hall sensor. The actuator housing is adapted to receive pressurized fluid. The piston is movably mounted within actuator housing, and is configured to translate in a first direction and a second direction. The linkage assembly is rotationally coupled to the piston and is adapted to couple to a valve element. The linkage assembly is configured to rotate the valve element in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction in response to piston movement in the first direction and the second direction, respectively. The magnet is mounted on the piston and is movable therewith, and the Hall sensor is mounted on the actuator housing and is responsive to movement of the magnet to supply a position signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ara Briley, Craig Kolb, Ed Kesner, Joel LaBenz, David Pantier, Dave Tornquist, Maureen Sugai
  • Publication number: 20120025118
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for use in a valve plate assembly includes a sealing ring and a retention spacer. The sealing ring has a radial ring section and an axial ring section, the axial ring section extends axially from the radial section and includes an outer diameter surface and a contact face, the contact face includes a contact surface and an annular slot, and the contact surface is located radially outward relative to the annular slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Joel LaBenz, Craig Kolb, Anthony Matarazzo, Scott Martin, Ryan Brown
  • Publication number: 20110155939
    Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly includes a unitary flow body and a unitary valve element. The unitary valve element is rotationally mounted within the flow body and includes a rotationally mounted shaft and a butterfly plate that is formed integral to the shaft. The butterfly valve assembly can withstand the maximum drive torque supplied from an associated actuator, while at the same time meeting a desired level of flow performance, and allows the unitary valve element to be installed up through the pilot bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Larry Robert Casillas, Ed Kesner, Joel LaBenz, Mitch McGinty
  • Publication number: 20110140022
    Abstract: Embodiments of a flapper valve assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the flapper valve assembly includes a flowbody, a flapper valve element, and an elongated stiffening rib formed in the flowbody. The flowbody includes a generally flat plate portion, and an arcuate portion adjacent the generally flat plate portion. The flapper valve element is hingedly coupled to the flowbody proximate the generally flat plate portion. The elongated stiffening rib extends from the generally flat plate portion to the arcuate portion to distribute mechanical stress and to reduce deflection of the flowbody during pressure loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steve Patterson, Joel LaBenz, Ara Briley, Rene Villalba, Scott Martin
  • Publication number: 20100301241
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body, a valve element, a valve actuator, a main connector port, and a dummy connector port. The main connector port is coupled to the valve body and is electrically coupled to the valve actuator. The main connector is also adapted to mechanically and electrically mate to an electrical harness. The dummy connector port is coupled to the valve body and is disposed proximate the main connector port. The dummy connector port is electrically isolated from the valve actuator and is adapted to at least mechanically mate to the electrical harness in a manner that is at least substantially identical to the manner in which the electrical connector mechanically mates to the main connector port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joel LaBenz, David Pantier, Scott Martin
  • Publication number: 20100301249
    Abstract: Butterfly valve plate sealing assemblies are provided that include a sealing ring and a retention spacer disposed at least partially within a sealing ring groove formed about a periphery of a butterfly valve plate. The sealing ring includes a first portion, a second portion configured substantially perpendicular to the first portion, and a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The sealing ring is positioned at least partially within a groove opening and a groove body defining the sealing ring groove. The retention spacer is positioned at least partially within the groove opening and adjacent the first portion of the sealing ring. The retention spacer is configured to limit expansion of the sealing ring when under the influence of a pressurized fluid flow. The second portion of the sealing ring may be configured to optimize stiffness for a desired sealing ring tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Kolb, David Pantier, Joel LaBenz, Scott Martin
  • Publication number: 20070102049
    Abstract: A valve actuator is provided that comprises a unitary housing and a piston translatably mounted within the housing. The piston comprises a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. A position sensor having a third diameter at least as large as the second diameter is fixedly coupled to the housing and to the piston for determining the position of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Joel LaBenz, Dori Marshall, Kenneth Roberts, Osman Coronel