Patents Assigned to Flow Control LLC
  • Patent number: 12544722
    Abstract: An integrated infuser/mixer pump system features a liquid inlet configured to receive a liquid drawn from a liquid source, a gas inlet configured to receive an inlet gas from a gas source, a pump and motor combination configured to received the liquid and provide pumped liquid, a gas/liquid mixture chamber configured to receive the pumped liquid and the inlet gas, and mix the liquid and the inlet gas into a gas-infused mixture, and a gas-infused mixture outlet configured to provide the gas-infused mixture; the gas inlet having a gas liquid mixing valve with a mixing orifice that has a mixing orifice size dimensioned to provide the inlet gas to the gas/liquid mixture chamber with an inlet gas volumetric flow rate in order to mix the pumped liquid and the inlet gas with a predetermined mixture ratio that depends on the mixing orifice size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Akshaykumar Patel, Derrick Tran, Humberto V. Meza
  • Patent number: 12397883
    Abstract: Apparatus featuring a toilet base having a wall forming a chamber for receiving waste, the wall having a toilet base coupling portion; a pump/motor assembly having a pump inlet configured to receive the waste pumped from the chamber, the pump inlet having a pump inlet coupling portion arranged inside the toilet base coupling portion when the pump/motor assembly and the toilet base are coupled together; and a quick release coupling mechanism having a clip receiving portion and a clip configured to slide within the clip receiving portion from a disengage position to an engage position to engage the pump inlet coupling portion and couple the toilet base and the pump/motor assembly together, and also configured to slide from the engage position to the disengage position to disengage the pump inlet coupling portion and decouple the pump/motor assembly from the toilet base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Matthew Edmond
  • Patent number: 12051551
    Abstract: A rocker switch assembly features a rocker switching mechanism and a rocker base housing. The rocker switching mechanism has a switch cover and rocker configured to rock between rocking positions in response to rocking switch forces applied thereon, and provide a rocking switch actuator force. The rocker base housing has a piezo buzzer and rocker switch circuitry, e.g., including contacts/terminals. The piezo buzzer is configured to respond to the rocking switch actuator force, and provide signaling from the piezo buzzer to rocker switch circuitry, based upon the rocking switch actuator force applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventor: Michael Howard Irving
  • Patent number: 11898548
    Abstract: Diaphragm pump features upper/lower diaphragm pumping assemblies (U/LDPAs) for pumping fluid and a manifold assembly arranged therebetween. The manifold assembly include a manifold body having an inlet with dual inlet ports and an inlet chamber to receive the fluid from a source; an inlet check valve assembly channel having an inlet duckbill check valve assembly (DCVA) arranged therein to receive the fluid from the dual inlet ports; U/LDPAs orifices having the U/LDPA arranged therein to receive the fluid from the inlet DCVA via first upper/lower manifold conduits and provide the fluid from the U/LDPAs via second upper/lower manifold conduits; an outlet check valve assembly channel having an outlet DCVA arranged therein to receive the fluid from the U/LDPAs; and an outlet having dual outlet ports and an outlet chamber to receive the fluid from the U/LDPAs and provide the fluid from the pump to a outlet source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Derrick T. Tran, Bernard L Perkins
  • Patent number: 11878770
    Abstract: A small lightweight battery operated remote switched bilge pump is provided weighing less than one pound for installing in a small watercraft, including a kayak, canoe, sailboat, row boat, dingy, featuring a bilge pump having a low voltage inline pump, a housing having a compartment with an integrated strainer base to receive the low voltage inline pump, and having a watertight compartment to receive lightweight batteries to power the bilge pump for about 1.5 hours, and a switch assembly to selectively operate on/off functionality of the bilge pump remotely; and a Velcro® arrangement to couple the bilge pump to a surface of the small watercraft to allow easy installation of the bilge pump in about 15 seconds to perform bilge pump functionality without drilling or making holes in the small watercraft, and to allow easy removal of the bilge pump for cleaning and battery replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Irving, Joel A. Kenney
  • Patent number: 11835148
    Abstract: A control valve features a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes a first inlet port having a first inlet port orifice member with a first inlet port orifice size configured to provide a first inlet fluid with a first inlet volumetric flow rate, the first inlet port orifice member being detachably coupled inside the first inlet port; includes a second inlet port having a second inlet port orifice member with a second inlet port orifice size configured to provide a second inlet fluid with a second inlet volumetric flow rate, the second inlet port orifice member being detachably coupled inside the second inlet port; and includes a first housing rim configured to extend from the first fixed inlet and the second fixed inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Akshaykumar Patel, Derrick Tran
  • Patent number: 11592013
    Abstract: A pump includes a liquid housing having a liquid chamber with a piston/diaphragm assembly arranged therein that responds to a suction stroke and draws liquid into the liquid chamber, and responds to a pressure stroke and provides liquid from the liquid chamber; and a gas housing having a slide valve assembly separating first and second gas chambers. The slide valve assembly responds to a suction-to-pressure-force at the suction stroke conclusion, changes from a suction-to-pressure stroke state, provides gas from the first to second gas chamber through the slide valve assembly, and provides the pressure stroke so liquid passes from the liquid chamber; and responds to a pressure-to-suction-force at the pressure stroke conclusion, changes from the pressure-to-suction stroke state, provides gas from the second chamber through the slide valve assembly, and provides the suction stroke so liquid is drawn into the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Christopher H. Verdugo, Manuel Villagomez, Humberto V. Meza
  • Patent number: 11498036
    Abstract: A gas liquid absorption device (GLAD), featuring a gas inlet manifold, a liquid inlet manifold and a gas/liquid mixing foamer. The gas inlet manifold has a gas inlet configured to receive and provide an inlet gas, and also has a gas foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the gas inlet to receive the inlet gas. The liquid inlet manifold has a liquid inlet configured to receive and provide a non-infused liquid, and also has a liquid foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the liquid inlet to receive the non-infused liquid. The gas/liquid mixing foamer is configured between the gas inlet manifold and the liquid inlet manifold and arranged in the gas foamer cavity and the liquid foamer cavity. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a gas foamer wall configured to form a gas receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the gas foamer cavity. The gas foamer wall has gas provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed inlet gas from the gas receiving foamer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Akshaykumar Patel, Derrick Tran
  • Patent number: 11339768
    Abstract: A filter manifold is provided for processing fluid being provided to a fluid dispenser, featuring a new and unique combination of a mounting bracket, a filter cartridge and an accumulator cartridge. The mounting bracket is configured with porting connections. The filter cartridge may include a filter cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to filter the fluid being provided to the fluid dispenser. The accumulator cartridge includes an accumulator cartridge porting connection configured to plumb into another one of the porting connections on the mounting bracket and also configured to receive, accumulate and provide the fluid to the filter cartridge to be filtered before being provided to the fluid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventor: Humberto V. Meza
  • Patent number: 11266956
    Abstract: A system features a controller having a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about a liquid level of a gas infused liquid in a liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel, one or more gas input characteristics of a gas provided to the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel, and one or more liquid input characteristics of an incoming non-infused liquid provided to the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control a pump that provides the incoming non-infused liquid to the infusion tank/vessel on demand each time a beverage is dispensed with the gas infused liquid from the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel and to maintain a desired liquid level and target equilibrium gas pressure in the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel at a given temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Bernard L. Perkins, Jesus Estrada, Akshaykumar Patel
  • Patent number: 11020695
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pump cartridge, which is directly connected in-line with one or more filter cartridges in a mounting bracket. It may be paired with an accumulator tank for a pump version, and with no accumulator tank for a smart pump version. The inline design reduces the size of the system, the amount of connections, and the amount of hose required to install the system, which in turn reduces the space required for installation, the number of potential leak paths, and the likelihood of failure of the system due to issues with the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Bernard L. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10961104
    Abstract: A dispense tap with integral gas/liquid infusion for dispensing a beverage at a given dispensing point inside a restaurant, a coffee shop, a bar, or a convenience store, features a mixing chamber having at least one gas input port configured to receive at least one incoming gas stream; at least one liquid input port configured to receive at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream; and an infuser configured to mix the at least one incoming gas stream and the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream at the given dispensing point within the dispensing tap, and provide a mixing chamber stream containing a gas infused liquid mixture of the at least one incoming gas stream and the at least one incoming liquid or concentrate stream for dispensing as a beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Bernard L. Perkins, Humberto V. Meza
  • Patent number: 10838436
    Abstract: A pump includes a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about a low level of a liquid sensed in an appliance reservoir to be supplied to an appliance that uses the liquid to dispense a flavored beverage, and also about when the appliance reservoir is refilled based upon an indication that forms part of an appliance reservoir refill level calibration procedure programmed by an appliance user; and determines corresponding signaling containing information about automatically refilling the liquid in the appliance reservoir, based upon the signaling received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: David L. Phillips, Jesus Estrada
  • Patent number: 10514042
    Abstract: A pump features an impeller having a rotating disk with a front side and a back side. The impeller is arranged to rotate on a shaft with the front side nearest an inlet and the back side nearest a motor housing, so as to provide a main flow of liquid being pumped and a rear impeller flow of the liquid being pumped in an area between the back side of the impeller and the motor housing. The back side has a spiral-shaped vane configured to constantly sweep, and expel any debris from the area between the back side of the impeller and the motor housing. The spiral-shaped vane is formed as a curve that emanates from a central point defined by an axis of the impeller and gets progressively farther away as the curve revolves at least one complete revolution around the central point or axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lopes
  • Patent number: 10435999
    Abstract: A fluid release valve includes valve housing (VH) coupled between a pump and an outlet pipe, VH chamber providing fluid from its inlet and outlet when the pump starts, and fluid release orifice (FRO) draining outlet pipe fluid flowing back into the VH when the pump stops; and check valve (CV) combination having a CV shuttle that moves towards/away from the inlet/outlet and an internal shuttle chamber (ISC), and having a CV that moves towards/away from the inlet/outlet within the ISC. The CV combination responds to a pumped fluid pressure when the pump's pumping and stops the fluid from flowing from the inlet around the CV shuttle and out the FRO. The CV combination responds to a fluid differential pressure (FDP) when the pump stops and allows the outlet pipe fluid to drain out the FRO until the FDP reaches an equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Kenney, Robert W. King
  • Patent number: 10415228
    Abstract: A drain or sump box features a combination of a housing, a pump, a float switch and a deodorant bar retainer. The housing may include a housing floor and a wall structure attached thereto and configured to receive and contain waste water. The pump is arranged in the housing to respond to signaling for pumping the waste water from the housing. The float switch is arranged in the housing to sense the level of the waste water and provide the signaling to turn the pump on when the waste water exceeds a certain level. The deodorant bar retainer is arranged in the housing in the housing to receive and retain a deodorant bar for preventing, reducing or masking waste water odor and associated bacteria causing the waste water odor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: Michael H. Irving
  • Patent number: 10323646
    Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump chamber configured with a central portion having a tangential outlet, and configured with a tubular coupling end portion having inwardly flexible rim portions on one side; and a mounting base, having a circular portion with an inner circumferential rim configured to receive and engage the inwardly flexible rim portions of the tubular coupling portion of the pump chamber so as to be rotationally coupled to the pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber may be rotated 360° in relation to the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: William A. Gell, III, Jeffrey D. Lopes, Jesus Estrada, Randall H. Moormann
  • Patent number: 10221954
    Abstract: A check valve is provided having a seat and a poppet. The seat is made of a plastic material, has an aperture for enabling fluid to flow through the seat, and also has one end portion that has a circumferential edge with a thin sealing lip. The poppet is slidably arranged in the aperture of the seat and has an elastic member. The poppet is configured for opening to enable fluid to flow in one direction when fluid pressure is detected. The elastic member is configured for ensuring sealing between an outer surface of the poppet and the thin sealing lip of the seat when there is no fluid flow in the one direction so as to substantially prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the thin plastic sealing lip may have a thickness of about 0.01? Embodiments are also envisioned where the thickness may be in a range of 0.003?-0.03?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: John J. Fong
  • Patent number: 10047737
    Abstract: A pump features: A motor having a front end bell (FEB) with a coupling portion having twist lock style (TLS) connections with locking portions, and an outer surface with a detent; and a pump head (PH) including a PH portion having a PH coupling portion with corresponding TLS connections and corresponding locking portions with locking stops. The PH portion has an outer surface having a threaded orifice. The TLS connections couple together when the FEB and PH coupling portions are pushed together. The locking portions engage when the FEB and PH coupling portions twist together about the longitudinal axis of the pump. The locking stops abut against the locking portions to stop the FEB and PH coupling portions from twisting further, so the detent and the threaded orifice align to receive the LP, locking the motor and PH together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: Humberto V. Meza
  • Patent number: D943006
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Matthew B. Edmond, Michael H. Irving