With Common Operator Patents (Class 137/601.01)
  • Patent number: 11925765
    Abstract: A gas delivery apparatus configured for use with a mechanical ventilator having an atmospheric inlet for drawing in atmospheric gas includes a connecting device configured to connect to an oxygen supply and an air supply and to deliver mixed air and oxygen gas to the atmospheric inlet of the mechanical ventilator. The connecting device further includes a user control for adjusting a fraction of oxygen in the mixed air and oxygen gas. The connecting device comprises a reservoir configured to hold a volume of the mixed air and oxygen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Bernard F Hete, Peter R Doyle, Kenneth E Cole, Jr., Robert William Murdoch
  • Patent number: 11692645
    Abstract: A valve for controlling a molten liquid includes an expansion port in liquid communication with an internal volume of the valve that is filled with the molten liquid. An expansion valve can be opened during unfreezing of the valve, to allow melting process substance to expand out of the internal volume into an expansion line as it is melted. During initialization of the valve, an inert gas source, pressure regulator, and ultrasonic transition level sensor can be used to establish a liquid/gas interface at a desired height within the expansion line. The valve can include a multi-zone heater, wherein a first of the zones is adjacent the expansion port, so that during unfreezing, after the first zone has been melted, the remaining zones can be sequentially activated in an order that ensures that each zone is activated only after an adjacent zone has been melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Paul Jeffrey Parish, Michael P. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11280073
    Abstract: A smart faucet equipment providing water for washing and sanitizing liquid for dry hand wash. A user may activate different sensors to provide different liquid according to their requirement. The smart faucet equipment of the invention provides water or sanitizing liquid according to the sensors activated by the user. The smart faucet equipment of the invention provides control scheme of regulation of the time period for providing water or sanitizing liquid according to the user's requirement, whereby the user may wash his/her hands without manual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeng-Ywan Jeng, Aamer Nazir, Yeabsra Mekdim Hailu
  • Patent number: 10753501
    Abstract: An outlet device includes an electronic outlet mode and a mechanical outlet mode. The outlet device has a mechanical outlet control device, an electronic outlet control device and a central control module. The central control module comprises a first outlet passage controlled by the mechanical outlet control device, a second outlet passage controlled by the electronic outlet control device, and a central controller. The first outlet passage includes a sensor and the second outlet passage includes an electromagnetic valve. When the mechanical outlet control device controls the first outlet passage to open, the sensor detects water flowing in the first outlet passage, whether the electromagnetic valve opens or not, the central controller switches the electromagnetic value to a normal closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunjie Hong, Lihong Hu, Shanlu Yuan
  • Patent number: 10598433
    Abstract: Seal member for a nozzle or an air bar, that is configured and can be positioned to block at least a portion of the flow of air (or gas) exiting or discharged from the nozzle or air bar into the interior of a housing such as a dryer or the like. Each seal member can be actuated externally of the housing interior, without requiring physical access to the housing interior, to move it into air flow blocking relation with a nozzle, and to move it out of air flow blocking relation with a nozzle. Each seal member can be actuated while the apparatus remains in an operating mode. Also disclosed is a method of controlling or regulating the amount of air emitted or discharged from one or more nozzles in a housing by blocking air flow discharged from the one or more nozzles with a seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P Bria, Nicholas J Klika, Timothy M Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 10158135
    Abstract: A reforming unit for a fuel cell system is provided. The reforming unit may comprise a reforming section, a heat exchanging section and a bypass plenum. The reforming section reforms a hydrocarbon containing fuel. The heat exchanging section effects a heat transfer between a fluid flowing therethrough and the fluid flowing through the reforming section, the bypass plenum, or both. The bypass plenum provides a flowpath for the hydrocarbon-containing fuel to bypass the reforming section. The bypass plenum may comprise a flow restrictor in the outlet of the bypass plenum to control the amount of fluid communication between the outlet of the bypass plenum and the outlet of the reforming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Michael Jennings, Kevin Hufton
  • Patent number: 10077923
    Abstract: An ejector includes a body part having a depressurizing space in which a refrigerant flowing out of a swirling space is depressurized, a suction passage that draws a refrigerant from an external, and a pressurizing space in which the refrigerant from the depressurizing space is mixed with the refrigerant from the suction passage, a conical passage formation member that is arranged in the body part, and a driving device that displaces a nozzle body of the body part forming the depressurizing space. A nozzle passage is defined on an outer peripheral side of the passage formation member in the depressurizing space, a diffuser passage is formed on an outer peripheral side of the passage formation member in the pressurizing space, and an actuating bar that couples the driving device with the nozzle body is arranged without crossing the diffuser passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Suzuki, Haruyuki Nishijima, Etsuhisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 9850923
    Abstract: A hydraulic jack including a load cylinder, a pump, a release valve and a flow regulator. The pump is configured to provide pressurized fluid to the load cylinder. The release valve is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid. The flow regulator is configured to alter a flow path of the fluid therethrough as an inverse function of a pressure drop of the fluid across the flow regulator. The fluid regulator being in fluid communication with the release valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Brookefield Hunter, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd L. Lautzenhiser, Wade Wolf
  • Patent number: 9834064
    Abstract: A vehicle ventilation module for allowing air to exhaust from the inside of a vehicle compartment, comprising a carrier element to be mounted to the vehicle, the carrier element comprising: at least one vent opening for allowing air to exhaust from the inside of a vehicle compartment when the vehicle ventilation module is mounted to the vehicle; at least one flap being pivotable about a swivel axis at the carrier element between a close position and an open position, wherein the vent opening is covered by the flap in the close position and is at least partially uncovered by the flap in the open position so that air may flow through the vent opening; and an actuating mechanism coupled to the flap for pivoting the flap about its swivel axis from the close position to the open position. The actuating mechanism is actuated to pivot the flap to the open position by a current applied to the actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Wurzburg
    Inventors: Thomas Wissmueller, David Rosales, James Salo, Derek Mudge
  • Patent number: 9491776
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to scheduling interference between wireless devices in a manner that reduced interference associated with full duplex communication. Signal strength and interference information associated with communication between wireless devices may be collected and forwarded to a processing device, such as a central controller. The central controller may utilize such information to generate a conflict graph that depicts interference relationships between the wireless devices. Using the conflict graph, the central controller may determine whether requested communications may be scheduled along with concurrently scheduled communications without resulting in interference affecting the communications. In one embodiment, a requested communication may be scheduled with other concurrently scheduled communications if the aggregated throughput is increased with the addition of the requested communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ehsan Aryafar, Roya Doostnejad, Shilpa Talwar
  • Publication number: 20150107706
    Abstract: A fluid flow control apparatus includes first and second bodies, an inlet, and an outlet. The first body includes a slot, and the second body includes a vortex chamber. The second body is moveable relative to the first body to align the slot and the vortex chamber. The vortex chamber includes a chamber inlet section, an orifice, and a tapered section that has a frustoconical shape and tapers from the chamber inlet section to the orifice. The chamber inlet section is in fluid communication with the slot when the vortex chamber is aligned with the slot. The inlet is in fluid communication with the slot, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: DELAVAN INC.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Neal Thomson, Philip Buelow
  • Patent number: 9010369
    Abstract: A pressure type flow rate control apparatus is provided wherein flow rate of fluid passing through an orifice is computed as Qc=KP1 (where K is a proportionality constant) or as Qc=KP2m (P1?P2)n (where K is a proportionality constant, m and n constants) by using orifice upstream side pressure P1 and/or orifice downstream side pressure P2. A fluid passage between the downstream side of a control valve and a fluid supply pipe of the pressure type flow rate control apparatus comprises at least 2 fluid passages in parallel, and orifices having different flow rate characteristics are provided for each of these fluid passages, wherein fluid in a small flow quantity area flows to one orifice for flow control of fluid in the small flow quantity area, while fluid in a large flow quantity area flows to the other orifice for flow control of fluid in the large flow quantity area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated, National University Corporation Tohoku University, Tokyo Electron Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Masahito Saito, Shoichi Hino, Tsuyoshi Shimazu, Kazuyuki Miura, Kouji Nishino, Masaaki Nagase, Katsuyuki Sugita, Kaoru Hirata, Ryousuke Dohi, Takashi Hirose, Tsutomu Shinohara, Nobukazu Ikeda, Tomokazu Imai, Toshihide Yoshida, Hisashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8931511
    Abstract: A valve device is provided with a contraction-type high polymer gel actuator which laminates slab-like negative plates and mesh-like positive plates alternately and interleaves high polymer gel between each negative plate and each positive plate, and with a first and a second valve mechanisms driven by the gel actuator. The direction of deformation of expansion and contraction of the high polymer gel actuator is the same as the driving direction of the first valve mechanism and perpendicular to the driving direction of the second valve mechanism. The valve device is composed in such a way as to switch opening and closing of a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage simultaneously by means of deformation of expansion and contraction by controlling voltage applied to the high polymer gel actuator. This allows to compose a valve device that can open and close plural oil passages at an identical timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Naoki Yajima, Tatsuhiro Tomari, Minoru Ueno
  • Patent number: 8910665
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bypassing a positioner in an active control loop are described. An example actuator assembly includes a pneumatic actuator and a transfer station. The transfer station includes a body defining flow paths that enable fluid to flow between a supply pressure, a valve positioner, and the pneumatic actuator and between the supply pressure and the pneumatic actuator to bypass the valve positioner without disrupting a process loop including the valve positioner. The transfer station also includes a plurality of fluid flow control devices to control the fluid flow through the flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Perry Keith Carter, Bruce Frederick Grumstrup
  • Patent number: 8881769
    Abstract: A gas valve unit for adjusting a volumetric gas flow which is fed to a gas burner of a gas device includes a valve chamber, an actuation shaft protruding out of the valve chamber, and at least two on/off valves arranged in the valve chamber. Further arranged in the valve chamber is at least one restrictor plate having at least two restrictor points, each of the restrictor points having at least one restrictor opening. The restrictor plate is accessible from a side of the valve chamber on which the actuation shaft is protruding from the valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Jörn Naumann
  • Patent number: 8869526
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a wastegate arrangement (5) in which the structural adaptability to different installation situations and the sealing action of the wastegate arrangement (5) are improved. The rotor (4) extends along a charger axis (L). The wastegate arrangement (5) has a control capsule (6), a regulating rod (7) which can be moved by the control capsule (6), a lever (8) which is connected to the regulating rod (7) by means of a guide piece (9), and a spindle shaft (10) which is connected at one end to the lever (8) and at the other end to a spindle (11) which bears a flap plate (12) for opening and closing a bypass opening (13). Here, the spindle shaft (10) is arranged substantially parallel to the charger axis (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Clement Kiefer
  • Patent number: 8863773
    Abstract: A fluid metering device may meter the flow of fluid. The device may have a main chamber and a piston configured and oriented to reciprocate within the main chamber. The piston may be configured and oriented to define a first and a second sub-chamber whose volumes vary inversely as a function of the position of the piston during its reciprocation. The fluid metering device may have a first inlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid into the first sub-chamber, a first outlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid out of the first sub-chamber, a second inlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid into the second sub-chamber, and a second outlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid out of the second sub-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventor: Behrokh Khoshnevis
  • Patent number: 8783027
    Abstract: A pressure regulation circuit delivers pressurized fluid into a generator. The circuit includes pressure regulator structure and a primary valve. The pressure regulator structure outputs pressurized fluid at a predetermined output pressure that is greater than a desired operating pressure of the generator and less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure. The primary valve is downstream from the pressure regulator structure and is selectively opened and closed by a controller based on the pressure within the generator. The controller opens the primary valve to allow the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure to flow into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or below a predetermined lower limit. The controller closes the primary valve to prevent the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure from flowing into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or above a predetermined upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Owen R. Snuttjer
  • Patent number: 8757203
    Abstract: A gas valve unit for adjusting a gas volume flow fed to a gas burner of a gas-operated device, particularly a gas cooking appliance, includes a valve body, in which at least two valve seats of open-close valves of the gas valve unit are formed. At least two throttle points each having at least one throttle opening are formed in the valve body. The valve body includes a plurality of mutually parallel plates, with one of the parallel plates forming a valve sealing plate with the at least two valve seats of the open/close valves and another of the parallel plates forming a throttle plate with the throttle openings of the at least two throttle points. The valve sealing plate is made of a flexible material, such as plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Christophe Cadeau, Stéphane Clauss, Alexander Eisenberg, Jörn Naumann
  • Patent number: 8689822
    Abstract: A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Shajii, Siddharth P. Nagarkatti, Gordon Hill
  • Patent number: 8534317
    Abstract: A barrier valve has an equalizing feature for the ball or plug when in the closed position before it is opened. A hydraulic open and a close line are connected to a housing so that they can move a piston in opposed directions. The piston ends are sealed and the exterior of the piston is tapered to push one or more bypass valves open to connect tubing pressure across the ball when ramped off its seat. Pressure on the main hydraulic line to close the ball reverses the piston movement and allows a spring bias to close the bypass valve or valves. The equalizing system can be integrated into the barrier valve housing or can be separate as a retrofit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin R. Plunkett, Robert J. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8336309
    Abstract: A turbocharger wastegate valve assembly comprises a first bypass port communicating with a first portion of an exhaust inlet and a first valve member adapted for engaging and sealing a first valve seat surrounding the first bypass port. The valve assembly further comprises a second bypass port communicating with a second portion of an exhaust inlet and a second valve member adapted for engaging and sealing a second valve seat surrounding the second port. A shaft supports each valve member for rotation about a shaft axis to lift both the first and second valve members from sealing engagement with the first and second valve seats respectively. The first valve seat is inclined relative to the second valve seat and the shaft has freedom of movement in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jim McEwan, Lee Robinson
  • Patent number: 8327880
    Abstract: A fluid control system may comprise a pressurized fluid path; at least two sensors for determining a state of fluid within the main fluid path; an isolation valve; and fluid-filled connection paths between the main fluid path and each of the at least two sensors. The connection paths may comprise first sensing tubes connected between the main fluid path and the isolation valve; the isolation valve; and second sensing tubes connected between the isolation valve and the at least two sensors. Upon closure of the isolation valve, the connection paths may be interrupted so that the sensors may be isolated from the main fluid path and so that they may be removed from the system without a need to de-pressurize or drain the fluid from the main fluid path of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Robert Eccles, Frank Babayi
  • Patent number: 8037896
    Abstract: A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Shajii, Siddharth P. Nagarkatti, Gordon Hill
  • Patent number: 7934519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve unit for a microfluid system comprising a first and a second fluid reservoir, a flow chamber, a fluid channel array and a conveying means, said first fluid reservoir being, via the flow chamber, in fluidic communication with the second fluid reservoir through the fluid channel array, wherein the valve unit can be brought from a first state to a second state so that, in said first state, a fluid can be conveyed by the conveying means from said first fluid reservoir through the flow chamber in a predetermined direction of flow into the second fluid reservoir, and so that, in said second state, a fluid can be conveyed by the conveying means from said second fluid reservoir through the flow chamber in a predetermined direction of flow into the first fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: ibidi GmbH
    Inventor: Roman Zantl
  • Publication number: 20100300565
    Abstract: A short stroke flow control device or valve which is adapted to provide velocity control trim in a short stroke. The valve constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises multiple disk stacks or cages which are separated from each other by intervening spacers, and are placed axially in a valve gallery clamped between a seat ring and bonnet of the valve. The fluid passageways in the cages are throttled in a controlled manner by a plug which defines multiple throttling elements or plug lobes, the number of plug lobes defined by the plug preferably being equal to the number of cages included in the valve. The plug lobes of the plug control the flow of fluid through the disk stacks or cages in tandem. All of the throttling elements or plug lobes of the plug, with the possible exception of the plug lobe which contacts the seat ring for closure, is larger in diameter than the remainder of the plug and has at least one kidney bean shaped flow passage extending therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Sekhar Samy
  • Patent number: 7814748
    Abstract: An exhaust bypass valve assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust bypass valve having valve structure coupled to a rotatable shaft such that rotation of the shaft moves the valve structure between opened and closed positions. An actuator is disposed remotely from the bypass valve for selectively causing rotation of the shaft associated with the valve structure in opposing directions. Linkage structure is connected between the actuator and the shaft to transfer motion of actuator to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Peter Nydam, David Thibault
  • Patent number: 7798167
    Abstract: A gas supply facility includes a plurality of pressure type flow controllers connected in parallel, and a first controller to control operation of the plurality of pressure type flow controllers so as to supply a desired gas exhausted by a vacuum pump to a chamber while controlling its flow rate, one of the pressure type flow controllers operates as a second controller to control the gas flow rate range up to 10% of the maximum flow rate supplied to the chamber, while the remaining pressure type flow controllers are made to be ones that control the rest of the gas flow rate range. Furthermore, pressure inside the chamber is controlled by installing a pressure detector in the chamber, inputting the value detected by the detector to the controller, and by adjusting a control signal to the pressure type flow controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Akniobu Teramoto, Tomio Uno, Ryousuke Dohi, Kouji Nishino, Osamu Nakamura, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masaaki Nagase, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20100154892
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LUKASZ D. SKALSKI, TIEMEN T. VAN DILLEN
  • Publication number: 20100154906
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LUKASZ D. SKALSKI, TIEMEN T. VAN DILLEN
  • Patent number: 7594517
    Abstract: The present invention prevents substantial reduction of flow rate control accuracy in a small flow quantity range, achieves accurate flow rate control over the entire range of flow rate control, and also allows control of a wide pressure range of a chamber with accurate flow rate control. Specifically, a gas supply facility having a plurality of pressure type flow controllers connected in parallel, and a third controller to control operation of the pressure type flow controllers to supply a desired gas exhausted by a vacuum pump to a chamber while controlling its flow rate, is provided wherein one pressure type flow controller is a controller used to control a gas flow rate range up to 10% of the maximum flow rate supplied to the chamber, while the remaining pressure type flow controllers are made to be ones controlling the rest of the gas flow rate range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated, Tokyo Electron Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kannan, Tomio Uno, Ryousuke Dohi, Kouji Nishino, Osamu Nakamura, Atsushi Matsumoto, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7565912
    Abstract: A frost-proof valve includes a main valve. The main valve opens a fluid connection between an inflow opening and a discharge opening through a connecting channel in an open position and blocks the channel in a closed position. An actuating mechanism switches the main valve between the open position and the closed position. A drain drains the valve in the closed position and includes a bypass line connecting first and second channel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Interforge KleeGmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Klee
  • Patent number: 7383860
    Abstract: A high resolution flow valve may comprise a first stage valve for allowing a first flow through the flow valve and a second stage valve located concentrically within the first stage valve and also connected to the inlet for allowing an additional second flow through the flow valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua M. Haines
  • Patent number: 7341074
    Abstract: A pressure regulator that has particular application for an anode input side of a fuel cell system to provide the desired large turn-down ratio. The pressure regulator includes at least two valves positioned in parallel where the first valve is smaller than the second valve. The first valve is opened and closed and the second valve is maintained closed at low flow rates. Once the flow rate is high enough, the first valve is maintained completely open, and the second valve is opened and closed to control the flow at high flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Pechtold
  • Patent number: 7144149
    Abstract: A homogenization valve comprises an outer case, a homogenization mechanism contained in the outer case and having at least one homogenization device. The homogenization device comprises a high pressure chamber, in communication with a chamber for feeding the high pressure fluid to be homogenized, a low pressure chamber in communication with a channel for discharging the low pressure homogenized fluid. The high pressure chamber is connected to the low pressure chamber by means of a fluid blow-by port. The valve comprises at least two distinct homogenization devices connected in parallel with a same feeding channel and with a same discharge channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Niro-Soavi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Simone Grandi, Marco Gandini
  • Patent number: 6702013
    Abstract: A flow completion system comprises a tubing spool which is connected above a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger which is supported in the tubing spool and which includes an axial production bore and at least two conduits that each extend from the bottom of the tubing hanger to either the top or the outer diameter of the tubing hanger, and a gate valve assembly which includes an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports, each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage, an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20030029507
    Abstract: A fluid discharge floodgate improved for cistern aircrafts dedicated to fight fires comprising a first door, which opens toward an outside of the aircraft, and a second door that opens toward the interior of the aircraft. The first door and the second door are interconnected by a first rod, and a first lever and the combination of the first rod and the first lever forces the doors to open in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Rafael Delgado Zafra, Fernando Espejo Delgado
  • Publication number: 20020139422
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a gate valve assembly which comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage; and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher D. Barlett
  • Patent number: 6453944
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a gate valve assembly which comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage; and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 6416404
    Abstract: An air conditioner unit comprises a case having a plurality of air passages defined therein; two pivotal mode doors pivotally arranged in the case to provide various operation modes of the air conditioner unit when assuming given angular positions, each of the mode doors having a pivot shaft of which leading end is exposed to the outside from a wall of the case; and a mode door actuating mechanism attached to an outer surface of the wall of the case to actuate the two pivotal mode doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20010025658
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a gate valve assembly which comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage; and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Christopher D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 6296059
    Abstract: A circulation control valve includes a top sub having a bore, a body connected to the top sub and having a first fluid passageway and a second fluid passageway parallel to the first fluid passageway, the bore communicating with both the first fluid passageway and second fluid passageway, a one-way valve in the second fluid passageway, and a first activatable block for the first fluid passageway. Upon upon activation of the block, fluid in the first fluid passageway is blocked and only flows through the second fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventors: Rodney Leeb, Gerald Leeb