Patents Assigned to Engineered Controls International, LLC
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Patent number: 12661676Abstract: A cleaning nozzle for cleaning a fueling receptacle capable of receiving a separate fueling nozzle for transferring cryogenic fluid from a fueling station is disclosed. An example cleaning nozzle includes a body that defines a cavity. The example cleaning nozzle includes a nozzle head coupled to and extending from a distal end of the body. The nozzle head defines a plurality of spray holes to spray pressurized air onto the fueling receptacle. The example cleaning nozzle includes a blower that defines a blower inlet, a blower outlet, and a blower flow path extending between the blower inlet and the blower outlet. The blower comprises a valve and a lever operatively coupled to the valve. The example cleaning nozzle includes an insert defining an insert flow path that is fluidly coupled to the blower outlet. The example cleaning nozzle includes a connector fluidly connecting the insert and the nozzle head.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 23, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Kevin Jordan
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Patent number: 12638093Abstract: A combination regulator valve for conveying fluid is disclosed. A valve for conveying fluid includes a body, a bonnet secured to the body, a diaphragm compressed between the bonnet and the body, and a bonnet screw that is ring-shaped and configured to thread into the body to secure the bonnet with respect to the body.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2024Date of Patent: May 26, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Guangbin Cao, Patrick N. Morefield
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Patent number: 12612987Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid. A nozzle for cryogenic fluid includes a flow body, a flow control assembly, a first linear actuator, and a locking actuator. The flow body defines a conduit. The flow control assembly is at least partially disposed in the conduit of the flow body. The flow control assembly is configured to transition between an open position and a closed position to permit and prevent, respectively, the cryogenic fluid to flow through the flow body. The first linear actuator includes an actuator body and a first shaft. The first shaft is configured to slide between an extended position and a contracted position to transition the flow control assembly between the open position and the closed position, respectively. The locking actuator is for locking the nozzle to a receptacle in an automated manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2024Date of Patent: April 28, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Kevin Jordan
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Patent number: 12601435Abstract: A low-emission nozzle and receptacle coupling for cryogenic fluid is disclosed. A nozzle includes a body, a shaft, a poppet eat, and a poppet. The body includes an outer shell, body segment(s), and interior walls sealingly coupled together. At least one of the interior walls is coupled to the outer shell. The interior walls extend longitudinally back-and-forth in a zig-zag pattern to define an elongated conduction path between the chamber and an exterior of the nozzle to impede a heat leak between the chamber and the exterior. The shaft is housed within and slidably extends through the chamber. The poppet is coupled to the shaft and is configured to engage a receptacle poppet when the receptacle is coupled to the nozzle. The poppet is configured to engage the poppet seat in a closed position and be disengaged from the poppet seat in an open position.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2024Date of Patent: April 14, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Kevin Jordan, John Grenaway, David Michael Rakos
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Patent number: 12595852Abstract: Shut-off valves for cryogenic fluids are disclosed herein. A shut-off valve includes a body that defines void(s) in fluid communication with a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The shut-off valve includes a valve seat defined by the body, a housing connected to the body, and a valve spindle disposed within the housing. The valve spindle includes a seat disc configured to sealingly engage with the valve seat. The shut-off valve includes a buffer composed of a cryogenic temperature resistant material circumferentially surrounding and connected to at least a portion of the valve spindle and slidingly engaged with an internal surface of the housing. The shut-off valve includes a valve actuating member operatively connected to the valve spindle and configured to cause an axial movement of the valve spindle, the seat disc, and the buffer to control a flow of a fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2024Date of Patent: April 7, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Guangbin Cao
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Patent number: 12565957Abstract: A breakaway valve for a cryogenic fluid tank includes a tank-side valve and a nozzle-side valve. The tank-side valve is connected to and forms a first vacuum-insulation layer with a first jacketed hose. The first jacket support includes first bellows configured to reduce heat transfer with the first vacuum-insulation layer and one or more first bellow supports that include first teeth inserted between and engaging the first bellows to provide structural support to the first bellows. The nozzle-side valve is connected to and forms a second vacuum-insulation layer with a second jacketed hose. The second jacket support includes second bellows configured to reduce heat transfer with the second vacuum-insulation layer and one or more second bellow supports that include second teeth inserted between and engaging the second bellows to provide structural support to the second bellows.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2024Date of Patent: March 3, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Guangbin Cao, John Grenaway
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Patent number: 12560241Abstract: A cryogenic cylinder control system for regulating fluid within a cryogenic cylinder is disclosed. The system includes a pressure relief and vent module fluidly connectable to a head space above liquid within the cryogenic cylinder, a manual valve module fluidly connectable to the liquid within the cryogenic cylinder and to an external device, a solenoid valve module fluidly connectable to the manual valve module and to the head space within the cryogenic cylinder, a build-up coil fluidly connectable to the manual valve module and to the solenoid valve module, and a controller operatively connected to the solenoid valve module to control fluid flow through the solenoid valve module.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2023Date of Patent: February 24, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Guangbin Cao, Mark Kendrick Hamm
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Patent number: 12551916Abstract: A cleaning receptacle for cleaning a fueling nozzle used to transfer cryogenic fluid is disclosed. An example cleaning receptacle includes an outer body. The outer body includes an outer wall that extends circumferentially around a center axis of the cleaning receptacle. The outer wall has a first inner surface. The outer body includes a plurality of locating members extending inwardly from the first inner surface toward the center axis. The example cleaning receptacle includes a flow body. The flow body includes a second inner surface that defines a cavity and a lip at an outer end of the flow body. The example cleaning receptacle includes a spray body disposed at an inner end of the flow body. The spray body includes a spray head that defines a plurality of spray holes configured to spray air through the cavity of the flow body and onto surfaces of the fueling nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: February 17, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Kevin Jordan
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Patent number: 12473987Abstract: A pressure relief valve assembly is disclosed. The pressure relief valve assembly comprises an inlet manifold, a first pressure relief valve, a second pressure relief valve, and an outlet manifold. The first pressure relief valve is connected to and in fluid communication with the inlet manifold. The second pressure relief valve is connected to and in fluid communication with the inlet manifold and parallel to the first pressure relief valve. The outlet manifold is connected to and in fluid communication with the first pressure relief valve and the second pressure relief valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2022Date of Patent: November 18, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Mark Kendrick Hamm, Christopher Taylor Herman
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Patent number: 12442457Abstract: A valve actuating assembly for actuating an internal valve between a closed position and an open position is provided. The valve actuating assembly comprises a cam holder stem securely connected to a valve body of the internal valve; a cam holder operably coupled to the cam holder stem; a cam operably mounted to the cam holder; an actuating shaft extending through at least a portion of the valve body, rotation of the actuating shaft causing rotation of the cam holder and the cam; and a locking ring configured to rotatably secure the cam holder to the cam holder stem, wherein the actuating shaft is removably coupled to the cam holder such that the actuating shaft can be removed from the valve body while the cam and cam holder remain coupled to the valve body.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2024Date of Patent: October 14, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Elijah Marshall Combs
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Patent number: 12435793Abstract: Shut-off valves for cryogenic fluids are disclosed herein. An example valve includes a valve body defining a flow path and a valve seat, a bonnet coupled to the valve body and defining a bonnet chamber, a plug, and a stem coupled to the plug. The stem is configured to slide to cause the plug to slide. The valve includes a spindle that includes external threads. The spindle is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the bonnet as the spindle is rotated about the longitudinal axis via the external threads to cause the stem to slide linearly along the longitudinal axis. The valve includes a pivot ball positioned between and operatively coupled to the stem and the spindle. The pivot ball is configured to translate linear and rotational movement of the spindle into linear movement of the stem and the plug.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: October 7, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Guangbin Cao
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Patent number: 12429153Abstract: A low-emission nozzle and receptacle coupling for cryogenic fluid is disclosed. An example nozzle includes a body including a front end and a back end and defining a chamber through which the cryogenic fluid is to flow to the receptacle. The nozzle includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The shaft is housed within and slidably extending through the chamber. The nozzle includes a poppet coupled to the first end of the shaft and an actuator including a stem coupled to the second end of the shaft. The stem is configured to linearly actuate to cause the shaft and the poppet to linearly actuate. The nozzle includes a coupling assembly coupling the actuator to the back end of the body. The coupling assembly includes insulating material to thermally isolate the actuator from the chamber through which the cryogenic fluid is to flow.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2023Date of Patent: September 30, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Kevin Jordan, John Grenaway, David Michael Rakos
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Patent number: 12429156Abstract: A rapid-connect coupler having an anti-rotation feature is disclosed. A coupler includes a housing, a probe configured to translate longitudinally within the housing, a ball cage, a plurality of balls disposed in the ball cage, and a slidable sleeve coupled to the probe and configured to translate longitudinally with the probe. The slidable sleeve includes a collar that defines a plurality of channels positioned radially about and extending axially along an outer surface. The plurality of channels of the collar are configured to receive bearings of the receptacle to prevent rotation of the coupler relative to the receptacle. To couple the coupler to the receptacle, the slidable sleeve is configured to slide in a longitudinal direction into the receptacle to cause the plurality of channels to receive the bearings of the receptacle and subsequently cause the plurality of balls to lock the coupler to the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2024Date of Patent: September 30, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Tracy N. Tickle, Jeffrey S. Howard, Chad Thomas
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Patent number: 12392418Abstract: Pressure-relief valves are disclosed. A valve for conveying fluid includes a body, a valve seat, and a valve seat disc. The body includes a plurality of inner surfaces. The valve seat includes a curved outer surface. A first portion of the curved outer surface is configured to contact at least one of the plurality of inner surfaces of the body to secure the valve seat in the body. The valve seat disc is configured to move between a closed position at which the valve seat disc sealingly engages a second outer portion of the curved outer surface of the valve seat and an open position at which the valve seat disc is disengaged from the curved outer surface of the valve seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2024Date of Patent: August 19, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Guangbin Cao
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Patent number: 12338899Abstract: Cryogenic solenoid valves are disclosed. A solenoid valve assembly includes a valve body that includes a valve seat. The solenoid valve assembly includes a cartridge mounted to the valve body, a plunger slidably received by the cartridge, and a seat disc holder slidably received by the cartridge. The solenoid valve assembly includes a retainer attached to the seat disc holder such that the retainer and the seat disc holder form a plunger head receiving cavity that houses a head of the plunger. The solenoid valve assembly includes a seat disc attached to the seat disc holder. The solenoid valve assembly includes an electromagnetic coil energizable to cause the solenoid valve assembly to move from a closed configuration in which the seat disc sealingly engages the valve seat and an open configuration in which the seat disc is disengaged from the valve seat.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2024Date of Patent: June 24, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventor: Guangbin Cao
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Patent number: 12297961Abstract: Low emission nozzles and receptacles are disclosed. A receptacle includes a main body, a first stem, a first poppet connected to the first stem, a valve seat disposed in the main body, a first spring configured to bias the first poppet to a first closed position, a second stem slidingly engaged to the first poppet and the first stem, a second poppet connected to the second stem, and a second spring configured to bias the second poppet to a second closed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2023Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Chad Thomas, Howard M. Konishi, Jeffrey S. Howard
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Patent number: D1071479Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Andrew B. Mendenhall, Paul T. Zink
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Patent number: D1078768Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2023Date of Patent: June 10, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Cody Reeves, Paul A. Courson, Thomas Hegman, Scott Rutherford
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Patent number: D1087522Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Andrew B. Mendenhall, Paul T. Zink
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Patent number: D1125460Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2025Date of Patent: May 5, 2026Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLCInventors: Andrew B. Mendenhall, Paul T. Zink