Patents Assigned to Numatics, Incorporated
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Patent number: 7533684Abstract: A dispensing valve assembly with a housing having a plurality of inlet passageways connectable at a respective upstream end to a respective supply source. Each inlet passageway is in communication with a pressure responsive valve element. The valve element is biased to abut a discharge valve seat in a closed position about an upstream end of an outlet passage. The valve element is moveable to an open position when pressure in its respective inlet passageway exceeds a predetermined value. Each outlet passage is in fluid communication with a common dispensing outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: Richard L. Dalton, Jr., Scott A. Weickel
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Patent number: 7089848Abstract: A fluid actuated piston and cylinder assembly with a cylinder housing having a head end and a cap end with a piston slidably reclined within the cylinder. A piston rod is attached to the piston for sliding movement with respect to the cylinder housing between an extended position and a retracted position with the piston rod extending out of the head end of the cylinder housing. A linear bearing assembly is interposed between the cylinder housing and piston rod for slidably engaging the piston rod along the axial direction with respect to the cylinder head. The linear bearing assembly frictionally engages the rod to prevent relative rotation motion between the piston rod and the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Michael O'Neal McCrary
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Patent number: 6490172Abstract: A circuit board having at least one resilient leg with a catch constructed to releasably engage a shoulder of a body to releasably retain the circuit board in the body. The circuit board may be slidably inserted into a slot of the body until the catch engages the shoulder to securely and releasably retain the circuit board within the body. Desirably, the circuit board has an outwardly extending shoulder at the end of the leg opposite the catch to limit the extent of insertion of the circuit board into the body so that the catch remains generally adjacent to the shoulder. This eliminates the play or looseness in the connection between the circuit board and body by preventing the circuit board from being significantly advanced beyond the point wherein the catch engages the shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: William M. Bates, Shawn M. Stover
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Patent number: 6405754Abstract: A multiple output modular pneumatic pressure valve has a plurality of modules connected together. Each module has a regulator, shuttle valve and four way solenoid actuated spool valve for provides a plurality of pneumatic pressures to a single outlet which may be quickly selected via the actuation and deactuation of the proper valves. Adjustment of the pneumatic pressures can be easily performed by rotation of a knob of the pressure regulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 6375156Abstract: A weld gun cylinder and piston assembly includes a common center end wall interposed between two cylinders. The common center end wall functions as a manifold with bores extending therethrough. The manifold houses two spool valves. The spool valves control the passage of pneumatic pressure through passages of the manifold to and from the cylinders to extend and retract two piston rods for controlling jaws and a weld tip on a robotic arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 6273318Abstract: A weld gun cylinder and piston assembly includes a common center end wall interposed between two cylinders. The common center end wall functions as a manifold with bores extending therethrough. The manifold houses two spool valves. The spool valves control the passage of pneumatic pressure through passages of the manifold to and from the cylinders to extend and retract two piston rods for controlling jaws and a weld tip on a robotic arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 6257277Abstract: A multiple output modular pneumatic pressure valve has a plurality of modules connected together. Each module has a regulator, shuttle valve and four way solenoid actuated spool valve for provides a plurality of pneumatic pressures to a single outlet which may be quickly selected via the actuation and deactuation of the proper valves. Adjustment of the pneumatic pressures can be easily performed by rotation of a knob of the pressure regulator.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 6164323Abstract: A solenoid valve that includes a valve body in which a valve spool is slidably mounted, and a solenoid assembly mounted at one end of the valve body. The solenoid assembly includes a solenoid having a plunger operatively coupled to the spool and a solenoid coil for actuating the plunger. A solenoid valve driver circuit includes a circuitboard assembly that has a power supply responsive to external power for supplying electrical power to the driver circuit and the solenoid coil, and a microprocessor-based control circuit responsive to external control signals for controlling actuation of the solenoid coil. The solenoid assembly, including the solenoid and the circuitboard assembly, comprises a unitary molded or potted assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: William S. Smith, Shawn M. Stover
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Patent number: 6053198Abstract: A fluid control system that includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form at least first and second passages extending continuously through the manifold and each of the bodies. A plurality of solenoid valves are each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into the body to the fluid passage(s) that extend through the manifold. An electrical connection arrangement is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A plurality of circuitboards are disposed one within the second passage of each body, with each of the circuitboards including male and female connectors at opposed ends for connecting the circuitboards in series with each other to the electrical connection arrangement at the end of the manifold. A third connector on each circuitboard extends laterally from the circuitboard for connection to the solenoid valve mounted on the side of the associated manifold body.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: Bradly J. Atkin, Dennis L. Bonacorsi, Donald E. McGeachy, William S. Smith
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Patent number: 5992461Abstract: A solenoid valve with a ferromagnetic flux frame which, in assembly, locates and retains the components of the solenoid valve without an exterior housing. Preferably, the solenoid valve has an electric coil disposed on a tubular coil bobbin, a plunger received within the bobbin and first and second bodies each having at least one passage with the passages selectively communicated with each other by the plunger. The flux frame preferably has two complementary halves which when mated together interconnect the first and second bodies at opposed ends of the flux frame to retain and locate the parts of the solenoid valve without an overmolded or exterior housing. Preferably, the halves of the flux frame are mated with a snap-fit to facilitate assembly of the solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1998Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: Paul A. Gilmore, Richard L. Dalton, Jr.
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Patent number: 4995421Abstract: A lock-out valve is designed to direct pressure fluid to an operational port and system, and to exhaust such pressure for purposes of repair or reconstruction of a valve controlled system. The valve may be quickly moved to the exhaust phase by a manual stroke overriding threads between two concentric parts. However, reverse motion of the valve to re-establish pressure to the operational port can only be accomplished by a turning action on the manual actuator. This insures a slow return of pressure to the system and a slow start up so that the controlled system can be safely and properly reset. The thread design is such that the motion in one direction will override the threads but prevent reverse action except by turning.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1990Date of Patent: February 26, 1991Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: Dennis L. Bonacorsi, Donald E. McGeachy, Alan L. Smith
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Patent number: 4765385Abstract: A pressure-controlled remotely-operated valve for utilization in respective wheels of a vehicle, on-road, off-road type. The valve is functional to effect tire deflation or tire inflation in a stationary or moving vehicle. Multiple piston-valve elements are axially aligned in a multi-step recess of a housing, wherein the effective areas of two opposed valves differ in value whereby a first valve movable in a two-stage phase can move a second valve only under certain tire pressure conditions. A third valve operable by said first valve can connect tire pressure to exhaust upon action of the first valve in a first phase operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1987Date of Patent: August 23, 1988Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 4742841Abstract: A coolant system and control valve used in a circuit for cooling spot welding tips. The control valve normally passes coolant to and from the tips. Should a break in the coolant flow occur because of a breakdown of one or more of the tips, the control valve will shift to close the normal coolant loop and divert coolant from a pressure source to a tank until a repair is made. A switch indicator can be utilized for visual observation of a break and also a flow indicator is provided on the valve body to indicate normal coolant flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1987Date of Patent: May 10, 1988Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventors: Douglas B. Vonderhaar, Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 4073311Abstract: A bi-directional valve for unrestricted flow in one direction and a regulable restriction for flow control in the other direction which includes an in-line housing and a two-piece valve assembly transversely positioned in said housing having a valve seat in one portion, a valve to control said valve seat opening in another portion, and a ring by-pass valve on one of said portions cooperating with an annular seat on said housing, the by-pass valve being flexible to respond to fluid flow, closing in one direction against the annular seat and moving away from said annular seat when the flow is reversed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1976Date of Patent: February 14, 1978Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 4000684Abstract: A lock-out valve for pneumatic systems which provides the operator with mechanical means to exhaust the system and lock it out with a padlock or similar device and, when unlocked, provides a valve to control automatically the gradual reset of working cylinders and the filling of the system with operating pressure to a safe percentage of line pressure before full line flow is established.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1975Date of Patent: January 4, 1977Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Douglas W. Ruffley
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Patent number: 3952619Abstract: A tool for assembling press-in tube connections which comprises pivoted plier elements having an L-shaped nose with two pairs of opposed recesses at right angles to each other to grip tubes in the plane of the pliers, or perpendicular to the plane, with in-turned ends on the handle to limit the closure to prevent crushing of the tube while providing both a palm rest for application of pressure. The gripping jaws are made with cutters below the jaws and are also designed to facilitate the application of pressure to releasable couplings to assist in the removal of tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1975Date of Patent: April 27, 1976Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Roger J. Cook