Patents Assigned to NL Technologies, Ltd.
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Patent number: 7389792Abstract: An apparatus for sampling or feeding a flowable material through a wall of a vessel or conduit includes a body having a collection chamber formed therein. A passage has an opening operatively connected to the collection chamber. An orifice is formed in the body and is in communication with the collection chamber. The orifice is located generally adjacent the opening of the passage. A sealing device is mounted to the body to seal and unseal said orifice. Furthermore, at least a portion of the opening of the passage is located flush with or on a process side of the wall of the vessel or conduit when the apparatus is mounted to the wall of the vessel or conduit.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 7241422Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle and stopper. An end cap is removably mounted to the housing for opening and closing the opening. An inlet is provided in the housing for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing. A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle to separate the receptacle and the stopper while the stopper and receptacle are inside of the housing. Once the receptacle and the stopper are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle through the inlet. The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle and the stopper in order to capture the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Douglas A. Newberg, Richard R. Newberg
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Patent number: 6916012Abstract: A valve for sampling a process from a tank or conduit includes an internal cavity in communication with at least one inlet and an outlet. A valve actuating rod includes a sealing tip attached to one end thereof. The valve actuating rod is movable to open and close the inlet to the internal cavity. Furthermore, a seal is provided to isolate the valve actuating rod and the outside environment from the process. The seal is formed on the process side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity in order to ensure that the process material, cleaning material, steam, etc. drains completely out of the internal cavity of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6852288Abstract: This device is directed at filling multiple receptacles without losing integrity of the system. It is also directed at receiving a (sealed) container of receptacles (opened or stopper/closed), opening an access into the sealed container, retrieving receptacles, filling those receptacles, stoppering the receptacles after filling and ejecting the receptacles, either directly into the outside environment or into a closable sack or container, in the latter case while maintaining the integrity of the environment within the device and, if desirable, the sack or closed container.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6821773Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal sample cavity, a valve operating rod movable to open and close an orifice to the sample cavity and a coupler to attach the body to a port of the vessel or conduit. A portion of the sample cavity is formed by an endcap which includes the orifice. The sample cavity is thermally and/or electrically insulated from the vessel or conduit. This insulation can arise from an empty or filled space between an inner wall and outer wall of the valve. Otherwise, insulating material can be used in forming the valve. The valve can be mountable on the vessel or conduit such that a positive drain angle is maintained regardless of whether the ferrule to the vessel or conduit is inclined upwardly, downwardly or is horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Publication number: 20040021121Abstract: A valve for sampling a process from a tank or conduit includes an internal cavity in communication with at least one inlet and an outlet. A valve actuating rod includes a sealing tip attached to one end thereof. The valve actuating rod is movable to open and close the inlet to the internal cavity. Furthermore, a seal is provided to isolate the valve actuating rod and the outside environment from the process. The seal is formed on the process side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity in order to ensure that the process material, cleaning material, steam, etc. drains completely out of the internal cavity of the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Publication number: 20040016460Abstract: An apparatus for sampling or feeding a flowable material through a wall of a vessel or conduit includes a body having a collection chamber formed therein. A passage has an opening operatively connected to the collection chamber. An orifice is formed in the body and is in communication with the collection chamber. The orifice is located generally adjacent the opening of the passage. A sealing device is mounted to the body to seal and unseal said orifice. Furthermore, at least a portion of the opening of the passage is located flush with or on a process side of the wall of the vessel or conduit when the apparatus is mounted to the wall of the vessel or conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: NL TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6601823Abstract: A valve for sampling a process from a tank or conduit includes an internal cavity in communication with at least one inlet and an outlet. A valve actuating rod includes a sealing tip attached to one end thereof. The valve actuating rod is movable to open and close the inlet to the internal cavity. Furthermore, a seal is provided to isolate the valve actuating rod and the outside environment from the process. The seal is formed on the process side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity in order to ensure that the process material, cleaning material, steam, etc. drains completely out of the internal cavity of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2002Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Publication number: 20030062503Abstract: A valve for sampling a process from a tank or conduit includes an internal cavity in communication with at least one inlet and an outlet. A valve actuating rod includes a sealing tip attached to one end thereof. The valve actuating rod is movable to open and close the inlet to the internal cavity. Furthermore, a seal is provided to isolate the valve actuating rod and the outside environment from the process. The seal is formed on the process side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity in order to ensure that the process material, cleaning material, steam, etc. drains completely out of the internal cavity of the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6532981Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal collection chamber formed therein. A valve operating rod is movable to open and close an orifice in the collection chamber. The mechanism used to reciprocate the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice can be either manual and automatic. Furthermore, a drain passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located adjacent to or below the opening of the orifice. An inlet passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located above the opening of the drain passage. A seal is formed between the movable valve operating rod and the body, thereby separating and isolating certain mechanical parts of the valve from certain other process-contact parts of the valve. The seal is formed by one of seal glands, o-rings, flexible diaphragms or other device.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6491283Abstract: A valve for sampling a process from a tank or conduit includes an internal cavity in communication with at least one inlet and an outlet. A valve actuating rod includes a sealing tip attached to one end thereof The valve actuating rod is movable to open and close the inlet to the internal cavity. Furthermore, a seal is provided to isolate the valve actuating rod and the outside environment from the process. The seal is formed on the process side of the bottom wall of the internal cavity in order to ensure that the process material, cleaning material, steam, etc. drains completely out of the internal cavity of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Publication number: 20020182116Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle and stopper. An end cap is removably mounted to the housing for opening and closing the opening. An inlet is provided in the housing for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing. A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle to separate the receptacle and the stopper while the stopper and receptacle are inside of the housing. Once the receptacle and the stopper are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle through the inlet. The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle and the stopper in order to capture the flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: NL Technologies LTD.Inventors: Douglas A. Newberg, Richard R. Newberg
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Patent number: 6423548Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle and stopper. An end cap is removably mounted to the housing for opening and closing the opening. An inlet is provided in the housing for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing. A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle to separate the receptacle and the stopper while the stopper and receptacle are inside of the housing. Once the receptacle and the stopper are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle through the inlet. The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle and the stopper in order to capture the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Douglas A. Newberg, Richard R. Newberg
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Publication number: 20020066479Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal collection chamber formed therein. A valve operating rod is movable to open and close an orifice in the collection chamber. The mechanism used to reciprocate the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice can be either manual and automatic. Furthermore, a drain passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located adjacent to or below the opening of the orifice. An inlet passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located above the opening of the drain passage. A seal is formed between the movable valve operating rod and the body, thereby separating and isolating certain mechanical parts of the valve from certain other process-contact parts of the valve. The seal is formed by one of seal glands, o-rings, flexible diaphragms or other device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2002Publication date: June 6, 2002Applicant: NL TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 6345640Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal collection chamber formed therein. A valve operating rod is movable to open and close an orifice in the collection chamber. The mechanism used to reciprocate the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice can be either manual and automatic. Furthermore, a drain passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located adjacent to or below the opening of the orifice. An inlet passage having an opening in communication with the collection chamber is located above the opening of the drain passage. A seal is formed between the movable valve operating rod and the body, thereby separating and isolating certain mechanical parts of the valve from certain other process-contact parts of the valve. The seal is formed by one of seal glands, o-rings, flexible diaphragms or other device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 5786209Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal sample cavity, a valve operating rod movable to open and close an orifice to the sample cavity a coupler to attach the body to a port of the vessel or conduit. A manual and/or automatic device can be provided for moving the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice. The manual device includes a trigger actuator. A portion of the sample cavity is formed by an endcap which includes the orifice, the sample cavity has an inner wall and outer wall with a space therebetween. The space can thermally insulate the sample cavity from the ambient environment as well as the interior of the vessel or conduit. The valve operating rod has a diaphragm attached to one end. A blunt sealing tip of the diaphragm seals the orifice when the valve operating rod moves to close the orifice.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: NL Technologies, Ltd.Inventor: Douglas A. Newberg
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Patent number: 5525301Abstract: An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal sample cavity, a valve operating rod movable to open and close an orifice to the sample cavity a coupler to attach the body to a port of the vessel or conduit. A manual and/or automatic device can be provided for moving the valve operating rod to open and close the orifice. The manual device includes a trigger actuator. A portion of the sample cavity is formed by an endcap which includes the orifice. The sample cavity has an inner wall and outer wall with a space therebetween. The space can thermally insulate the sample cavity from the ambient environment as well as the interior of the vessel or conduit. The valve operating rod has a diaphragm attached to one end. A blunt sealing tip of the diaphragm seals the orifice when the valve operating rod moves to close the orifice.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignees: NL Technologies, Ltd., University of Maryland at College ParkInventors: Douglas A. Newberg, Vjekoslav Pavlin