Patents by Inventor Steven A. Wortmann

Steven A. Wortmann 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: 20240068607
    Abstract: A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
  • Patent number: 11668417
    Abstract: A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
  • Publication number: 20190390802
    Abstract: A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
  • Patent number: 10408370
    Abstract: A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
  • Patent number: 9631731
    Abstract: A valve for diverting the flow of fluid has a housing with an inlet and a plurality of outlets arranged in spaced relation around the housing. A body is positioned within the housing. The body is rotatable relatively to the housing and has an intake port and an exhaust port joined by a void space. The intake port is aligned with the housing inlet and both the intake port and the housing inlet are coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of the body. The exhaust port is positioned eccentric to the axis and may be aligned with any one of the plurality of housing outlet ports upon rotation of the body relatively to the housing. A seal is positioned between the body and the housing. The seal surrounds the outlets and the exhaust port to prevent leakage when the exhaust port is aligned with an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Davis, Kerry L Dewitt, Steven A Wortmann, William J Reilly
  • Publication number: 20170082227
    Abstract: A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
  • Publication number: 20170002938
    Abstract: A valve has a single piece housing defining an inlet, an outlet and a chamber therebetween. A non-round valve closing member engages a non-round seat within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20130248035
    Abstract: A valve for diverting the flow of fluid has a housing with an inlet and a plurality of outlets arranged in spaced relation around the housing. A body is positioned within the housing. The body is rotatable relatively to the housing and has an intake port and an exhaust port joined by a void space. The intake port is aligned with the housing inlet and both the intake port and the housing inlet are coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of the body. The exhaust port is positioned eccentric to the axis and may be aligned with any one of the plurality of housing outlet ports upon rotation of the body relatively to the housing. A seal is positioned between the body and the housing. The seal surrounds the outlets and the exhaust port to prevent leakage when the exhaust port is aligned with an outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: VICTAULIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Davis, Kerry L. Dewitt, Steven A. Wortmann, William J. Reilly
  • Patent number: 6959909
    Abstract: A handle assembly mountable on a valve is disclosed. The assembly includes a head having a receptacle engageable with a rotatable shaft on the valve and a grip projecting outwardly from the head to facilitate turning of the head for actuating the valve. An arcuate slot is positioned in the head, the slot having a curvature matched to the arcuate motion of the handle when used to turn the valve shaft. A limit post is attached to the valve and projects through the slot. A jam nut is mounted on the post adjacent to the head. When tightened against the head the jam nut fixes the position of the head relatively to the valve. A bolt is positioned within the slot and retained by a nut. The bolt is movable along the slot to a predetermined position where it can be temporarily fixed by tightening the nut. The bolt acts as a memory stop when it engages the limit post as the head is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
    Inventors: Philip W. Bancroft, Steven A. Wortmann
  • Patent number: 6938879
    Abstract: A flexible, resilient incompressible seal for a butterfly valve is disclosed formed from a loop having a perimeter mounting surface and a perimeter sealing surface with first and second oppositely disposed axial surfaces extend between the perimeter sealing and mounting surfaces. Channels are positioned in the axial surfaces in spaced relation around the seal. The channels extend from the perimeter mounting surface toward the perimeter sealing surface and provide fluid communication to the perimeter mounting surface allowing fluid trapped against the perimeter mounting surface to escape when compressed by the closing of the valve. A void space is positioned in the perimeter mounting surface in the form of grooves or dimples allowing the perimeter sealing surface to deform under compression when the seal is captured within the valve and substantially restrained from deforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
    Inventors: Philip W. Bancroft, Richard R. Weston, Steven A. Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20050161624
    Abstract: A handle assembly mountable on a valve is disclosed. The assembly includes a head having a receptacle engageable with a rotatable shaft on the valve and a grip projecting outwardly from the head to facilitate turning of the head for actuating the valve. An arcuate slot is positioned in the head, the slot having a curvature matched to the arcuate motion of the handle when used to turn the valve shaft. A limit post is attached to the valve and projects through the slot. A jam nut is mounted on the post adjacent to the head. When tightened against the head the jam nut fixes the position of the head relatively to the valve. A bolt is positioned within the slot and retained by a nut. The bolt is movable along the slot to a predetermined position where it can be temporarily fixed by tightening the nut. The bolt acts as a memory stop when it engages the limit post as the head is turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Victaulic Company of America
    Inventors: Philip Bancroft, Steven Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20050029483
    Abstract: A flexible, resilient incompressible seal for a butterfly valve is disclosed formed from a loop having a perimeter mounting surface and a perimeter sealing surface with first and second oppositely disposed axial surfaces extend between the perimeter sealing and mounting surfaces. Channels are positioned in the axial surfaces in spaced relation around the seal. The channels extend from the perimeter mounting surface toward the perimeter sealing surface and provide fluid communication to the perimeter mounting surface allowing fluid trapped against the perimeter mounting surface to escape when compressed by the closing of the valve. A void space is positioned in the perimeter mounting surface in the form of grooves or dimples allowing the perimeter sealing surface to deform under compression when the seal is captured within the valve and substantially restrained from deforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Philip Bancroft, Richard Weston, Steven Wortmann
  • Patent number: D526705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Richard R. Weston, Philip W. Bancroft
  • Patent number: D527445
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Richard R. Weston, Philip W. Bancroft
  • Patent number: D529145
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Richard R. Weston, Philip W. Bancroft
  • Patent number: D529146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Richard R. Weston, Philip W. Bancroft
  • Patent number: D536071
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Wortmann, Richard R. Weston, Philip W. Bancroft