Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Dalton

Thomas B. Dalton 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: 4498336
    Abstract: A torque measuring device is provided for use in conjunction with a valve actuator of the type having a housing and an actuator member movable within the housing in unison with the opening and closure of a valve. The device comprises a mounting plate which is attached to the actuator housing in lieu of the valve. A coupler carried by the mounting plate is detachably secured to the actuator member so that the coupler moves in unison with the actuator member. A double acting piston and cylinder arrangement is attached to the coupler so that the torque applied to the valve actuator member is transmitted to the piston. Fluid gases measure the force imposed on the piston and thus the torque which is applied to the actuator member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Dyna-Torque, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 4149561
    Abstract: A valve actuator is provided for use in conjunction with a valve having a rotatable member the rotation of which actuates the valve in dependence on the direction of rotation. The valve actuator comprises a housing and a coupling member rotatably carried by the housing and coaxially attached to the valve rotatable member. An elongated threaded shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing so that the axis of the shaft is perpendicular to and spaced from the axis of the coupling member. A nut member threadably engages the threaded shaft and a link is pivotally secured at one end to the nut member and at its other end to a radially extending portion of the coupling member. The link prevents rotation of the nut member on the threaded shaft so that rotation of the shaft axially drives the nut member along the shaft. An axial displacement of the nut member along the shaft in turn rotates the valve rotatable member via the link and the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 4084447
    Abstract: A valve actuator is provided for use with a valve having an actuator shaft the rotation of which actuates the valve. The valve actuator comprises a housing having a worm gear rotatably mounted in the housing and wherein the worm gear includes a shaft portion extending externally of the housing so that a handle may be secured thereto. A segmented gear having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the worm gear axis, is also rotatably mounted within the housing and is positioned to mesh with the worm gear so that rotation of the worm gear produces a like rotation of the segmented gear. The segmented gear includes means for securing the actuator shaft thereto and an indicator is secured to the segmented gear and is visible exteriorly of the housing to indicate the rotational position of the segmented gear to thereby indicate the degree of opening of the valve. In addition, preferably adjustable stop members are provided in the housing to limit the rotational travel of the segmented gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 4082247
    Abstract: A valve actuator is provided for use in conjunction with a valve having a rotatable member wherein rotation of the rotatable member selectively actuates the valve in accordance with the direction of rotation of the rotatable member. The valve may be of the rising-stem valve type in which the rotatable member threadably engages the valve stem to axially shift the valve stem to thereby actuate the valve. The valve actuator comprises a nut adapter secured to the rotatable member in combination with actuating means contained within a housing. The actuator means further comprises a drive tube which lockingly engages the nut adapter by means of inwardly projecting indentations formed axially along the drive tube and which are received in axial grooves formed along the periphery of the nut adapter. In addition, the drive tube is coaxial with the valve stem so as to permit the valve stem to be received axially through the drive tube upon valve actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 4078440
    Abstract: A valve actuator is provided for use in conjunction with a valve having a rotatable member wherein rotation of the rotatable member selectively actuates the valve in accordance with the direction of rotation of the rotatable member. The valve may be of the "rising valve stem" type in which the rotatable member threadably engages the valve stem to axially shift the valve stem upon actuation of the valve. The valve actuator comprises a nut adapter secured to the rotatable member in combination with actuating means contained in a housing.The actuator means further comprises a drive tube which lockingly engages the nut adapter by means of inwardly projecting indentations formed axially along the drive tube which are received in axial grooves formed along the periphery of the nut adapter. In addition, the drive tube is coaxial with the valve stem so as to permit the valve stem to be received axially through the drive tube upon valve actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Dalton, Gary D. Counselor
  • Patent number: 4076299
    Abstract: A detachable truck body adapted to be mounted onto the bed of a truck is provided and comprises a substantially horizontal base and a plurality of support legs pivotally secured to the base and movable between a first and second pivotal position. In their first pivotal position, each of the support legs extends downwardly and laterally outwardly from the base and engages a ground supporting surface to maintain the base in an elevated position while bracing the base against lateral movement. With the base elevated the bed of a truck can be moved into position underneath the truck body. In their second pivotal position each of the support legs is in a substantially horizontal position adjacent to and underneath the base of the truck body so that the truck body may be transported by the truck bed. First and second locking means are provided for locking the support legs in their first and second pivotal positions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 4071274
    Abstract: A system for removably and pivotally securing a truck body onto the bed of a truck is provided in which the truck body is automatically locked to the bed of the truck as the truck body is lowered onto the truck bed. The system comprises a plurality of guide members secured to the bottom surface of the truck body and an adapter frame secured to the truck bed which receives and guides the guide members as the truck body is lowered onto the truck bed. A plurality of latch members are pivotally secured to the guide members and automatically lock the truck body onto the adapter frame when the truck body reaches its lowermost position. An actuator is associated with each of the latch members so that actuation of the actuators unlocks the latch members and permits the removal of the truck body from the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Dalton, Theodore Wayne Pyatt, Michael Jay Oosterhouse
  • Patent number: 4036467
    Abstract: A valve which may be manually operated between an on and off position and in addition includes a high pressure shut-off mechanism which is responsive to an external pressure. The valve comprises a housing having a through bore, a transverse fluid inlet bore which intersects the through bore, and a transverse fluid outlet bore which intersects the through bore and is axially displaced from the fluid inlet bore. A control shuttle is disposed in the through bore and is manually movable between a first position and a second position in the through bore so that in the first position the control shuttle permits fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet bore whereas in the second position the control shuttle obstructs fluid communication between the inlet and outlet bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton
  • Patent number: 3985470
    Abstract: A device for pumping hydraulic fluid by means of an air driven reciprocating piston. Valve means control the motion of the piston and the pressure of the hydraulic fluid and an improved, two-piece, piston construction improves its practical machinability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Dalton