Patents Assigned to Knappco Corporation
  • Patent number: 10407296
    Abstract: An optical fluid sensor (OFS) is disclosed that includes a body defining a chamber and having one or more apertures to allow a fluid to enter the chamber, a light source optically coupled to the chamber and configured to emit light into the chamber, and a detector optically coupled to the chamber and configured to receive light from the chamber. The light source may emit IR, visible, and UV light into the chamber, and the detector may measure an intensity of one or more wavelengths of IR or visible light received by the detector. When fluid is disposed within the chamber, the light emitted by the light source may pass into and through the fluid disposed in the chamber before being received by the detector. A crossover protection system is also disclosed that includes an OFS for determining a transported liquid type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KNAPPCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bjornebo, Jeffrey Joseph Blair, Mark William Dudley, Richard Lee Henderson
  • Publication number: 20190084821
    Abstract: Crossover protection system graphical user interfaces, crossover protection systems that display graphical user interfaces, and methods for pairing tank delivery connectors with product delivery vehicle systems are provided. A tank delivery connector reads a tank tag with a tank tag reader, and transmits a tank tag indicator associated with the tank tag with network interface hardware. An electronic control unit receives the tank tag indicator with network interface hardware, determines a distribution tank fuel type associated with a distribution tank based on the tank tag indicator, determines that the tank delivery connector is associated with a tank compartment of a product delivery vehicle based on the tank tag indicator, and displays a graphical user interface on the display. The graphical user interface includes a tank delivery connector graphic displayed proximate a tank compartment graphic to indicate that the tank delivery connector is associated with the first tank compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Knappco Corporation
    Inventors: Mikael A. Nelson, Kapil Pandey, Scott A. Finnell, Jeffrey J. Blair
  • Patent number: 10207912
    Abstract: Crossover protection system graphical user interfaces, crossover protection systems that display graphical user interfaces, and methods for pairing tank delivery connectors with product delivery vehicle systems are provided. A tank delivery connector reads a tank tag with a tank tag reader, and transmits a tank tag indicator associated with the tank tag with network interface hardware. An electronic control unit receives the tank tag indicator with network interface hardware, determines a distribution tank fuel type associated with a distribution tank based on the tank tag indicator, determines that the tank delivery connector is associated with a tank compartment of a product delivery vehicle based on the tank tag indicator, and displays a graphical user interface on the display. The graphical user interface includes a tank delivery connector graphic displayed proximate a tank compartment graphic to indicate that the tank delivery connector is associated with the first tank compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KNAPPCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikael A. Nelson, Kapil Pandey, Scott A. Finnell, Jeffrey J. Blair
  • Publication number: 20180099860
    Abstract: An optical fluid sensor (OFS) is disclosed that includes a body defining a chamber and having one or more apertures to allow a fluid to enter the chamber, a light source optically coupled to the chamber and configured to emit light into the chamber, and a detector optically coupled to the chamber and configured to receive light from the chamber. The light source may emit IR, visible, and UV light into the chamber, and the detector may measure an intensity of one or more wavelengths of IR or visible light received by the detector. When fluid is disposed within the chamber, the light emitted by the light source may pass into and through the fluid disposed in the chamber before being received by the detector. A crossover protection system is also disclosed that includes an OFS for determining a transported liquid type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Knappco Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Paul Bjornebo, Jeffrey Joseph Blair, Mark William Dudley, Richard Lee Henderson
  • Publication number: 20180039289
    Abstract: A crossover protection system including a product transport vehicle having a tank compartment for containing a liquid product, a fluid property sensor positioned to contact liquid product stored in the tank compartment, a system controller, and a valve coupled to the tank compartment. The valve regulates a flow of liquid product from the tank compartment and has a normally locked state. The system controller may compare a received transported liquid type signal from the fuel property sensor indicative of the type of liquid product in the tank compartment and compare the type of liquid product to a stored liquid product type. If the two types match, the crossover protection controller transitions the valve to an unlocked state to allow the liquid product to unload from the tank compartment. If the two types do not match, the crossover protection controller will disable the valve from transitioning to the unlocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Knappco Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Finnell, Steven D. Gramling, Mark William Dudley, Claude W. Mixon, Francis V. Stemporzewski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9863570
    Abstract: A hopper tee for redirecting the flow of material from one passage to another passage includes a radius providing a transition between the passages. A port at the exterior of the radius includes an upwardly-open cavity having a bottom wall disposed within the radius and forming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and the inner surface of the radius. The cavity provides an indication that material moving through the tee has worn the wall of the radius by the creation of a passage between the interior of the tee and the cavity and expelling material through the passage to the exterior of the tee. A plug may be secured within the cavity allowing a user to continue to use the tee until the tee is rotated or replaced. The radius may include a thickened wall for providing added structural support and sacrificial material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Donald Robinson
  • Patent number: 9823665
    Abstract: A crossover protection system including a product transport vehicle having a tank compartment for containing a liquid product, a fluid property sensor positioned to contact liquid product stored in the tank compartment, a system controller, and a valve coupled to the tank compartment. The valve regulates a flow of liquid product from the tank compartment and has a normally locked state. The system controller may compare a received transported liquid type signal from the fuel property sensor indicative of the type of liquid product in the tank compartment and compare the type of liquid product to a stored liquid product type. If the two types match, the crossover protection controller transitions the valve to an unlocked state to allow the liquid product to unload from the tank compartment. If the two types do not match, the crossover protection controller will disable the valve from transitioning to the unlocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Finnell, Steven D. Gramling, Mark William Dudley, Claude W. Mixon, Francis V. Stemporzewski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9715241
    Abstract: A wireless system for monitoring and control of the temperature of a product in transport includes a controller system wirelessly connected to a temperature system and a valve control system. The temperature system measures the current temperature of the product and wirelessly transmits the temperature information to the controller system. The valve control system controls the position of a valve allowing heated fluid to move through the product, heating the product. The controller system allows an operator to input a high temperature limit and low temperature limit and alarm, and using the current temperature of the product, wirelessly signals the valve control system to open or close the valve in order to keep the temperature of the product between the high temperature limit and low temperature limit. The controller system monitors and records the product temperature, high and low temperature limits and alarms, and provides a report of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Claude W. Mixon
  • Publication number: 20140277820
    Abstract: A wireless system for monitoring and control of the temperature of a product in transport includes a controller system wirelessly connected to a temperature system and a valve control system. The temperature system measures the current temperature of the product and wirelessly transmits the temperature information to the controller system. The valve control system controls the position of a valve allowing heated fluid to move through the product, heating the product. The controller system allows an operator to input a high temperature limit and low temperature limit and alarm, and using the current temperature of the product, wirelessly signals the valve control system to open or close the valve in order to keep the temperature of the product between the high temperature limit and low temperature limit. The controller system monitors and records the product temperature, high and low temperature limits and alarms, and provides a report of the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KNAPPCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Claude W. MIXON
  • Patent number: 8757582
    Abstract: A valve assembly for sealing a port of a housing includes a primary sealing member and a secondary sealing member mounted to a valve body. Valve body includes a lower body with an upper portion depending from the body having a cross sectional diameter less than the upper body, and a lower portion depending from the upper portion having a cross sectional diameter less than the upper portion. The primary member includes apertures and is slidably mounted to the upper portion, and the secondary member is mounted to the lower portion. In a closed position the secondary member seals against the primary member, and the primary member seals against the port. Downward movement of the valve body unseals the secondary member from the primary member allowing venting through the apertures, and then unseals the primary sealing member from the port allowing full venting through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Donald Robinson
  • Patent number: 5275202
    Abstract: A vent for relieving pressure from within a storage tank at a predetermined tank pressure through an opening in the tank including a mounting member for connecting the vent in sealed engagement with the opening and for providing a valve opening and associated valve seat, a poppet member for closing the valve seat at tank pressures less than the predetermined tank pressure and for opening the valve seat at tank pressures equal to and greater than the predetermined tank pressure to enable venting of the tank pressure to atmosphere, and an adjusting member for altering the predetermined tank pressure at which the poppet member opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan E. VanDeVyvere
  • Patent number: 5244181
    Abstract: A high flow emergency valve contained within an interior of a storage tank having an opening and a valve seat about the opening including a housing member for sealing and unsealing the valve seat, a push rod member for engagement with and activation of the housing to seal and unseal the valve seat, the push rod including a first portion positioned within the housing and a second portion extending out of a housing aperture to the tank exterior for manipulation from the exterior of the tank to open and close the valve seat, a sleeve member for substantially enclosing the first portion of the push rod within the housing and providing sealed sliding engagement between the push rod and the sleeve, a connecting member for attaching a portion of the sleeve against movement with respect to the valve seat, an engagement member between the housing and the sleeve for sealed sliding movement of the housing with respect to the sleeve, and a biasing member for maintaining the housing in a normally closed position with resp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan E. VanDeVyvere
  • Patent number: 5048553
    Abstract: A tank valve apparatus including a sealed piston assembly for regulating movement of a spring biased poppet, the poppet being in cooperative engagement with the sealed piston assembly and a valve seat of an associated valve opening, the valve opening being in communication with ambient atmosphere and pressure within the tank so that the poppet can be activated by a predetermined pressure developed within the tank to overcome the spring bias and vent the pressure to ambient atmosphere. The piston assembly includes a piston head and a flow path through the piston head for flow of material therethrough within a closed piston chamber which encloses the piston head. A snubber valve assembly is included which is carried by the piston head and contained within the closed piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Knappco Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan E. VanDeVyvere