Patents by Inventor Valentin Luca

Valentin Luca 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: 20230360060
    Abstract: A method for quantifying the reduction of wildfire related emissions is designed to offer a basis for generating revenues by business willing to engage in fighting climate change by reducing the wildfire related emissions over a territory. The quantifying method is transparent and objective and is based on widely accepted data and forecasts, such that emissions reductions calculated with the disclosed method are certifiable to be traded on carbon markets. The quantifying method may be expeditiously applied to any territory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 11560229
    Abstract: A method of fire-fighting is provided based on unmanned aerial vehicles “UAV(s)” launched from transporter aircrafts to deliver water or fire-retardants or any other fire-fighting materials to a location selected by the fire-fighting personnel. A capability of putting-off high intensity forest fires is provided that stems from the precision and the quantity of material that can be delivered per unit surface per unit time. After releasing the fire-fighting material(s), the UAV reaches a safe altitude from which it flies on autopilot to intercept and then proceed on a pre-programmed route to land per pre-programmed instructions on an airfield from which fire-fighting transporter(s) operate, allowing a high efficiency along the line, from loading the transporter airplanes to maximizing the quantity of material that reach the target, to minimizing the remote-pilot time and up to the recovery system that minimizes the recovery cost and it maximizes UAVs' utilization by a quick turnaround.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20200377231
    Abstract: Systems and methods of handling fluids used in ground deicing and anti-icing of airplanes are provided. The disclosed systems/methods are particularly advantageous in delivering non-Newtonian fluids used in anti-icing applications. Maintaining the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids used in deicing of airplanes within strict limits is of paramount importance for the safe take off/operation of the airplane. The disclosed systems/methods help maintain the viscosity within desired ranges by eliminating two main factors that lead to viscosity deterioration, namely, pumping and high shear stress in piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20200130831
    Abstract: A method of fire-fighting is provided based on unmanned aerial vehicles “UAV(s)” launched from transporter aircrafts to deliver water or fire-retardants or any other fire-fighting materials to a location selected by the fire-fighting personnel. A capability of putting-off high intensity forest fires is provided that stems from the precision and the quantity of material that can be delivered per unit surface per unit time. After releasing the fire-fighting material(s), the UAV reaches a safe altitude from which it flies on autopilot to intercept and then proceed on a pre-programmed route to land per pre-programmed instructions on an airfield from which fire-fighting transporter(s) operate, allowing a high efficiency along the line, from loading the transporter airplanes to maximizing the quantity of material that reach the target, to minimizing the remote-pilot time and up to the recovery system that minimizes the recovery cost and it maximizes UAVs' utilization by a quick turnaround.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20170174365
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airplane ground deicing installation that minimizes the impact of deicing operations on the airport during icing conditions. The installation does not require alteration of a normal taxi pattern and can be performed as quickly as the average separation time between take-offs. The installation allows modification of its shape to adapt to the contour of almost all types of commercial passengers airplanes operating from major airports, and simultaneously deices large surfaces of the airplane. Deicing and anti-icing fluids are applied to airplane surfaces from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the airplane's surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 9365298
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airplane ground deicing installation that minimizes the impact of deicing operations on the airport during icing conditions. The installation does not require alteration of a normal taxi pattern and can be performed as quickly as the average separation time between take-offs. The installation allows modification of its shape to adapt to the contour of almost all types of commercial passengers airplanes operating from major airports, and simultaneously deices large surfaces of the airplane. Deicing and anti-icing fluids are applied to airplane surfaces from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the airplane's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 9352852
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airplane ground deicing installation that minimizes the impact of deicing operations on the airport during icing conditions. The installation does not require alteration of a normal taxi pattern and can be performed as quickly as the average separation time between take-offs. The installation allows modification of its shape to adapt to the contour of almost all types of commercial passengers airplanes operating from major airports, and simultaneously deices large surfaces of the airplane. Deicing and anti-icing fluids are applied to airplane surfaces from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the airplane's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20150360799
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airplane ground deicing installation that minimizes the impact of deicing operations on the airport during icing conditions. The installation does not require alteration of a normal taxi pattern and can be performed as quickly as the average separation time between take-offs. The installation allows modification of its shape to adapt to the contour of almost all types of commercial passengers airplanes operating from major airports, and simultaneously deices large surfaces of the airplane. Deicing and anti-icing fluids are applied to airplane surfaces from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the airplane's surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 9181736
    Abstract: A door mechanism pulling a door closed for latching. A puller tongue is triggered to release when adjacent a strike plate or jamb of a door. The puller tongue pushes the door completely closed resulting in latching. A setting lever is rotated upon turning a door knob setting the puller tongue in a retracted position. A raising lever and pendulum selectively cause the releasing of the puller tongue when the latch contacts a strike plate or jamb of a door and prevents releasing of the puller tongue when a door knob is turned. A door is caused to securely latch even though the door is closing slowly and with little force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20150298826
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airplane ground deicing installation that minimizes the impact of deicing operations on the airport during icing conditions. The installation does not require alteration of a normal taxi pattern and can be performed as quickly as the average separation time between take-offs. The installation allows modification of its shape to adapt to the contour of almost all types of commercial passengers airplanes operating from major airports, and simultaneously deices large surfaces of the airplane. Deicing and anti-icing fluids are applied to airplane surfaces from nozzles positioned in close proximity to the airplane's surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 9133650
    Abstract: A door closing latch for securely latching a door having a closing trigger mechanism coupled to a latching or tongue mechanism. A latch or tongue upon contacting a strike plate on a door frame is pushed inward causing a connecting trigger mechanism to release a closing trigger forcing the door to completely close and latch. Turning a handle or door knob to open the door causes the latch or tongue to retract and the closing trigger mechanism to reset the closing trigger. A connecting trigger mechanism selectively decouples the turning of a door knob to prevent the latch from releasing the set closing trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 8793837
    Abstract: A pneumatic door closer for closing a door having a controlled rate of closing that is generally uniform, smooth and safe. The door closer includes an elongated cylinder with a displaceable piston defining a vacuum chamber and a pressure chamber within the cylinder. A piston rod connected to the piston has its free end extending through a rod opening that includes an air impervious seal formed about the piston rod. A volume displacer placed within the cylinder adjusts the volume of the cylinder to better controlling door closing. Disposed in communication with the vacuum chamber is a breather arrangement for controlling the level of vacuum being created within the vacuum chamber during the closing stroke of the piston to control the resulting resistance forces acting on the piston such that the closing speed is substantially uniform throughout the closing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 8661616
    Abstract: A pneumatic door closer having an arming and latching mechanism that once armed permits a door to be held open by placing it in the desired open position and easily released by opening the door slightly, resetting the arming and latching mechanism permitting the door to be closed. A lever having a flat-profile spring over a substantial portion of its exterior surface is rotated into a position adjacent a latching washer causing the latching washer to canter upon a slight closure of the door, locking the door in an open position. Upon release of the door by further opening the door slightly, the cantered latching washer is released and a recoil spring causes the released latching washer to straighten or become uncantered, permitting a piston rod to move freely relative to the latching mechanism causing the door to close. The single piece lever and external flat-profile spring are easily manufactured and assembled and provides a reliable latching mechanism that can be conveniently operated with one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Connecticut Manufacturing Co., S.A.
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 8051534
    Abstract: A pneumatic door closer for effecting the closing of an associated door having a controlled rate of a closing motion that is generally uniform, smooth and safe in moving from an opened to closed position of an associated door. The door closer includes an elongated cylinder with a displaceable piston defining a vacuum chamber and a pressure chamber within the elongated cylinder wherein the piston is normally biased toward a door closing position by a suitable spring. A piston rod connected to the piston has its free end extending through a rod opening that includes an air impervious seal formed about the piston rod extending therethrough. Disposed in communication with the vacuum chamber is a breather arrangement for diminishing in a controlled manner the level of vacuum being created within the vacuum chamber during the closing stroke of the piston to control the resulting resistance forces acting on the piston such that the closing speed is essentially uniform throughout the closing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Publication number: 20070186375
    Abstract: A door assembly and a door closer arranged and constructed so as to be wholly concealed within the associated door, yet is rendered readily accessible to effect the adjustment thereof to regulate or control the closing speed of the associated door. The door closer is capable of performing all of the functions expected of a door closer such as controlling the closing force, regulating the door closing speed and the arresting of the door in a predetermined opened position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 7219391
    Abstract: A door assembly and a door closer arranged and constructed so as to be wholly concealed within the associated door, yet is rendered readily accessible to effect the adjustment thereof to regulate or control the closing speed of the associated door. The door closer is capable of performing all of the functions expected of a door closer such as controlling the closing force, regulating the door closing speed and the arresting of the door in a predetermined opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 7111359
    Abstract: A bar or rod gripper for arresting the linear axial movement of a rod, e.g. the piston rod of a door closure between a door open or closed position, that includes a compressible bushing slidably disposed about the rod or bar, and a canter washer disposed about the compression bushing whereby the canter washer, when tilted, will cause the compression bushing to compress to impose a surface to surface frictional force onto the bar or rod to resist or restrain the axial movement thereof without scoring, pitting or indenting the outer surface of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 7055319
    Abstract: A piston and cylinder assembly having a cylinder with a piston and a connected piston rod. The piston defines opposed chambers wherein a compensating device is disposed in at least one of the chambers. The compensating device includes a capsule of an elastic material containing a gaseous medium which is compressed comparable to the volume displaced by the piston rod when fully retracted. When the piston rod is in its protracted position, the compensating capsule expands so that the pressure within the hydraulic chamber of the cylinder reaches a value that will minimize the absorption of any air into the cylinder and not overload the bearing seal through which the piston rod extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 6976289
    Abstract: A door closer having a door arresting mechanism to arrest a door in an opened position that includes a cylinder and piston assembly wherein the arresting mechanism includes a cam member having an arresting dwell cam profile and an indexing profile, and an associated cam follower member wherein one member is connected to the piston rod and the other member to the cylinder so that one member is fixedly connected to either the cylinder or piston rod and the other member rendered rotatable relative to the fixed member so that the arresting mechanism is rendered self actuating upon the opening or closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Valentin Luca
  • Patent number: 6976288
    Abstract: A bar or rod gripper for arresting the linear axial movement of a rod, e.g. the piston rod of a door closure between a door open or closed position, that includes a compressible bushing slidably disposed about the rod or bar, and a canter washer disposed about the compression bushing whereby the canter washer, when tilted, will cause the compression bushing to compress to impose a surface to surface frictional force onto the bar or rod to resist or restrain the axial movement thereof without scoring, pitting or indenting the outer surface of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Valentin Luca