Patents Assigned to Flow Control LLC
  • Publication number: 20140322029
    Abstract: A pump system features a power adapter and a pump having a signal processor. The power adapter includes voltage settings that respond to a voltage setting by a user and provide a selected voltage. The signal processor receives signaling containing information about the selected voltage supplied to a motor to run the pump, and also containing information about whether a current draw of the pump is lower than a predetermined low current level or is higher than a predetermined high current level; and determines whether to shut off the pump after a predetermined time, based on the signaling received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: David L. PHILLIPS, Humberto V. MEZA, Derrick T. TRAN
  • Publication number: 20140315599
    Abstract: A smart phone for using to optimize the energy production of a solar panel in real time by a user features a signal processor to receive GPS signaling containing information about the global position of the smart phone, and input signaling containing control information to initiate a GUI algorithm in the signal processor to determine visual and/or audio cues for a user on a proper alignment of a solar panel for optimal solar energy collection efficiency; and provide display imaging signaling from a screen of the smart phone, or audio signaling from a speaker in the smart phone containing information about the visual and/or audio cues for the user on the proper alignment of the solar panel for optimal solar efficiency, so as to enable the user to simultaneously adjust the planar orientation of the solar panel having the smart phone placed thereon, based on the visual and audio cues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventors: Keith L. TEICHMANN, Leonid TOPORKOV
  • Patent number: 8864476
    Abstract: A pump is provided featuring a housing and battery configuration, where the housing is configured with a battery receiving portion having electrical terminals for receiving power to the pump, and where the battery has a protruding portion with corresponding electrical terminals configured to contact the electrical terminals to provide power to the pump when the protruding portion of the battery is inserted into the battery receiving portion of the housing and rotated in one direction to an “ON” position, and also configured not to contact the electrical terminals when the battery is not rotated to the “ON” position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventors: Randall H. Moormann, Rick Burnham
  • Publication number: 20140140873
    Abstract: A pump includes a molded housing configured with a rear endbell portion to receive an armature and bearing, an intermediate motor portion to receive a motor shell and magnets arranged around the armature, and a front endbell portion to receive a diaphragm assembly having a diaphragm support plate supporting a diaphragm, the rear endbell portion, the intermediate motor portion and the front endbell portion being configured as an integrated molded housing unit, the diaphragm having two circumferential diaphragm sealing surfaces. The pump also includes an upper housing configured to assemble and couple to the molded housing so as to form a circumferential fluid-tight sealing arrangement that is configured between the front endbell portion and the upper housing on only one end of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. MEZA, Manuel VILLAGOMEZ
  • Publication number: 20140034161
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for turning off a pump. In operation, when the device is activated there is vacuum pressure in a syrup chamber. A diaphragm acting in response to the vacuum causes a piston assembly in the syrup chamber to move in the one direction (e.g. right), thus compressing a W-shaped spring in the air chamber. As the piston assembly moves, a spring holder of the W-shaped spring also moves to the one direction. As the W-shaped spring is compressed over and passed the most compressed position, the W-shaped spring moves a valve assembly in the air chamber to an opposite direction (e.g. left) and blocks a hole in a spool that otherwise allows air to pass through the air chamber to activate the pump. When the air is stopped, this turns off the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: Flow Control LLC
  • Publication number: 20130343907
    Abstract: A pump has a signal processor, including one forming part of a printed circuit board assembly, that receives signaling containing information about a voltage supplied to a motor to run a particular pump model, and also containing information about whether a current draw of the pump is lower than a predetermined low current level or is higher than a predetermined high current level; and determines whether to shut off the pump after a predetermined time, based on the signaling received. The signal processor provides control signalling to shut off the pump after the predetermined time if the current draw of the pump is lower than the predetermined low current level or is higher than the predetermined high current level, where the predetermined low current level and the predetermined high current level depend on the voltage being supplied to the motor to run the particular pump model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: David L. Phillips, Humberto V. Meza, Derrick T. Tran
  • Patent number: 8490223
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a receptacle to receive waste, with a secondary chamber, and with an opening in the receptacle to allow the waste to pass to the secondary chamber; a rinse pump that turns on to add an amount of rinsing water for cleaning the bowl; a flexible self cleaning gasket configured around the opening formed in the receptacle; a bowl valve that has a sealing part having a rounded shape, rotates to a closed position that creates a sealed effect between the sealing part and the gasket trapping the waste and rinsing water in the receptacle of the bowl and sealing odors in the secondary chamber, and also rotates to an open position that sweeps the sealing part to be swept across the gasket and allowing the waste to pass to the secondary chamber. The solenoid rotates the bowl valve between the closed to open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventor: William A. Gell, III
  • Publication number: 20130145975
    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 comprising a low voltage inline pump, a housing having a compartment with an integrated strainer base and configured 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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventor: FLOW CONTROL LLC
  • Patent number: 8398055
    Abstract: A ball segment valve for controlling fluid flow in a piping, includes a valve housing with a valve seat disposed therein, a tubular bearing body fitted to an upper axial opening of the valve housing, a rotating spindle inserted through the bearing body into the valve housing, a tightening sleeve unit sleeved on the spindle to ensure full engagement of the spindle with the bearing body, a journal member inserted through a lower axial opening into the valve housing, and a valve body having upper and lower lugs coaxially fitted to the spindle and the journal member, and a spherical segment having a convex outer spherical surface and rotated with the spindle between a fully closed position, where the spherical surface is in sealing contact with the valve seat, and a fully opened position to permit a full fluid communication of the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: J-Flow Controls, LLC
    Inventor: Chih-Chien Yin
  • Publication number: 20130055498
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a receptacle to receive waste, with a secondary chamber, and with an opening in the receptacle to allow the waste to pass to the secondary chamber; a rinse pump that turns on to add an amount of rinsing water for cleaning the bowl; a flexible self cleaning gasket configured around the opening formed in the receptacle; a bowl valve that has a sealing part having a rounded shape, rotates to a closed position that creates a sealed effect between the sealing part and the gasket trapping the waste and rinsing water in the receptacle of the bowl and sealing odors in the secondary chamber, and also rotates to an open position that sweeps the sealing part to be swept across the gasket and allowing the waste to pass to the secondary chamber. The solenoid rotates the bowl valve between the closed to open positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventor: William A. GELL, III
  • Publication number: 20130032232
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pump unit an assembly frame that receives first and second pumps. A first and second pedal respectively couples to a first and second pump actuating portion. A rocker arrangement has a rocker that pivotally couples the first and second pedals, so a pushing movement of the first pedal in one direction causes a pulling movement of the second pedal in an opposite direction, and vice versa. The first and second pedals respond to a pushing force, respectively move the first and second pump actuating portions for pumping a fluid from the first and second pumps, and correspondingly move the first and second pump actuating portions for drawing the fluid to be pumped into the first and second pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: FLOW CONTROL LLC
    Inventors: Samuel R. RULLI, Robert W. KING
  • Publication number: 20120168661
    Abstract: A ball segment valve for controlling fluid flow in a piping, includes a valve housing with a valve seat disposed therein, a tubular bearing body fitted to an upper axial opening of the valve housing, a rotating spindle inserted through the bearing body into the valve housing, a tightening sleeve unit sleeved on the spindle to ensure full engagement of the spindle with the bearing body, a journal member inserted through a lower axial opening into the valve housing, and a valve body having upper and lower lugs coaxially fitted to the spindle and the journal member, and a spherical segment having a convex outer spherical surface and rotated with the spindle between a fully closed position, where the spherical surface is in sealing contact with the valve seat, and a fully opened position to permit a full fluid communication of the valve housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: J-Flow Controls, LLC
    Inventor: Chih-Chien Yin
  • Patent number: D667466
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Barmore, Daniel J. DeOreo, Randall H. Moormann
  • Patent number: D669501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Nancy I. Chacon Terrazas, Derrick T. Tran, Rick Hayashi
  • Patent number: D692025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Cook, Michael H. Irving, Jeffrey B. Schopperle, Mark F. Ingersoll
  • Patent number: D693371
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventor: Richard F. Orsini
  • Patent number: D698369
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventors: Humberto V. Meza, Manuel Villagomez, Derrick T. Tran
  • Patent number: D701246
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventor: Gregory Cook
  • Patent number: D708648
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC.
    Inventor: Richard F. Orsini
  • Patent number: D712933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Control LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. DeOreo, Joel A. Kenney