Patents by Inventor R. Dale Moretz

R. Dale Moretz 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).

  • Publication number: 20240125438
    Abstract: A valve system for controlling a flow of material includes a pipeline including an upstream portion a downstream portion. The system includes a variable flow restrictor configured for providing a restrictive orifice within the pipeline and creating a pressure differential in the flow of material high-pressure material in the upstream portion and low-pressure material in the downstream portion. The system includes a low-pressure tube connected to the downstream portion and a low-pressure chamber connected to the tube and receiving low-pressure material. The chamber includes a secondary flapper configured for selectively blocking the tube. The system includes a primary flapper disposed between the upstream portion and the low-pressure chamber and configured to be disposed in one of a first and second position. The flapper is held in the first position by the pressure differential. The flapper moves to the second position blocking the pipeline when a leak occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Safe Crossings, LLC
    Inventors: R. Dale Moretz, Derek J. Moretz
  • Patent number: 11835184
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline is provided. The system includes a first portion of the pipeline including an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material and a flow restriction downstream of the first portion of the pipeline. The system further includes a second portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restriction, receiving the flow of fluid material from the first portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline. The flow restriction is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the second portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the first portion. The system further includes a third portion of the pipeline downstream of the environmentally sensitive area and including the downstream portion of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Safe Crossings, LLC
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Publication number: 20230017448
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline is provided. The system includes a first portion of the pipeline including an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material and a flow restriction downstream of the first portion of the pipeline. The system further includes a second portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restriction, receiving the flow of fluid material from the first portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline. The flow restriction is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the second portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the first portion. The system further includes a third portion of the pipeline downstream of the environmentally sensitive area and including the downstream portion of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Safe Crossings, LLC
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Patent number: 11454353
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Safe Crossings, LLC
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Publication number: 20210062978
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Patent number: 10865946
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Patent number: 10641405
    Abstract: This specification discloses a Valve designed to be used in systems wherein it is desirable to activate and close the valve in response-to changes in pressure inside a pipeline downstream of the valve, without any dependency on electronic communications or external power, relying solely on the energy within the pipeline for sensing the differences and for closing the valve. The present invention is specifically targeted to petroleum pipelines, but is applicable to fluid pipelines and piping systems for any fluid, liquid or gaseous. The Valve functions by utilizing a lowered pressure downstream of the Valve in opposition to the full pipeline pressure on the upstream side of the Valve. The pressure downstream is typically lowered by providing a flow restrictor on the downstream side of the Valve, or incorporated into the downstream side of the Valve, in a system with a pump on the downstream side of the section of the pipeline it is intended to protect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventors: R. Dale Moretz, Jeffrey D. Moretz
  • Publication number: 20190195430
    Abstract: A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Publication number: 20190154162
    Abstract: This specification discloses a Valve designed to be used in systems wherein it is desirable to activate and close the valve in response-to changes in pressure inside a pipeline downstream of the valve, without any dependency on electronic communications or external power, relying solely on the energy within the pipeline for sensing the differences and for closing the valve. The present invention is specifically targeted to petroleum pipelines, but is applicable to fluid pipelines and piping systems for any fluid, liquid or gaseous. The Valve functions by utilizing a lowered pressure downstream of the Valve in opposition to the full pipeline pressure on the upstream side of the Valve. The pressure downstream is typically lowered by providing a flow restrictor on the downstream side of the Valve, or incorporated into the downstream side of the Valve, in a system with a pump on the downstream side of the section of the pipeline it is intended to protect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: R. Dale Moretz
  • Patent number: 10144544
    Abstract: A vacuum adapter device is useful for connecting a suction generating device to a garment bag. The device includes at least one conical section. The conical section includes a wide opening configured be connected to one of the suction generating device and the garment bag and a narrow opening connected to a reinforcing feature configured to prevent the narrow opening from collapsing when suction is applied to the device. The conical section is constructed with a flexible polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grace, Gregory T. Morano, William F. Steusloff, R. Dale Moretz, Vincent B Re
  • Publication number: 20170247165
    Abstract: A vacuum adapter device is useful for connecting a suction generating device to a garment bag. The device includes at least one conical section. The conical section includes a wide opening configured be connected to one of the suction generating device and the garment bag and a narrow opening connected to a reinforcing feature configured to prevent the narrow opening from collapsing when suction is applied to the device. The conical section is constructed with a flexible polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grace, Gregory T. Morano, William F. Steusloff, R. Dale Moretz, Vincent B. Re
  • Patent number: 4750707
    Abstract: A valve for regulating fluid flow between a pair of angularly disposed passages. A valve body closely receives a valve member therein and both components are preferably formed of a polymeric material for corrosion protection. The valve member includes first and second grooves spaced therealong, and has a handle disposed at one end thereof. The first groove is of a generally elliptical conformation having a pair of arcuate portions disposed axially and approximately 180.degree. circumferentially from each other. A pair of interconnecting portions extend between the arcuate portions. A stiffener is included in the valve member for limiting deformation and deflection thereof during high fluid pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Perfection Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Johncox, R. Dale Moretz, Richard M. France, David P. Passerell
  • Patent number: D851331
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grace, Gregory T. Morano, William F. Steusloff, R. Dale Moretz, Vincent B. Re