Patents by Inventor Rick E. Puffer

Rick E. Puffer 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: 5839465
    Abstract: An above-ground tank auto-limiter is provided for preventing the overflow of fluid in storage tanks. The auto-limiter includes a valve assembly insertible downward through the top of a fill pipe of the fuel storage tank. The valve assembly has a cylindrical valve housing providing a fluid flow passage directing fuel downward into the storage tank under pressure. A hollow cylindrical float is provided in the valve assembly and is coaxially mounted along the outside surface of the valve housing leading into the storage tank. The float moves vertically to slide freely along the lower portion of the valve housing with the fluctuation of the fuel level within the tank. A series of linkage assemblies communicate the cylindrical float to valve doors. The valve doors prevent any fluid flow from passing through the fluid flow passageway when the doors are in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: EBW, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Phillips, Rick E. Puffer, James F. Biesecker
  • Patent number: 5655565
    Abstract: An above-ground tank auto-limiter is provided for preventing the overflow of fluid in storage tanks. The auto-limiter includes a valve assembly insertible downward through the top of a fill pipe of the fuel storage tank. The valve assembly has a cylindrical valve housing providing a fluid flow passage directing fuel downward into the storage tank under pressure. A hollow cylindrical float is provided in the valve assembly and is coaxially mounted along the outside surface of the valve housing leading into the storage tank. The float moves vertically to slide freely along the lower portion of the valve housing with the fluctuation of the fuel level within the tank. A series of linkage assemblies communicate the cylindrical float to valve doors. The valve doors prevent any fluid flow from passing through the fluid flow passageway when the doors are in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: EBW, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Phillips, Rick E. Puffer, James F. Biesecker
  • Patent number: 5033519
    Abstract: A float actuated valve for automatically shutting off the flow of fluid into a storage tank when the tank is filled to a predetermined level includes a pair of shutter plates movable transversely across the flow passage from an open position wherein the plates are retracted clear of opposite sides of the passage and a fully closed position in which the plates project into and cooperatively block the passage. A spring biased rotary trip plate underlying the shutter plates controls actuation of the shutter plates and may be held by first and second detents in rotative positions locating the shutter plates in the fully closed or a partially closed position. A lower float located within the tank releases the first detent to cause the trip plate to drive the shutter plates from the fully closed to the partially closed position when the level of fluid in the tank rises to a first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: EBW, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick E. Puffer, Leo J. LeBlanc, Robert P. Whitney, Elmer P. Klop