Patents Assigned to Richards Industries
  • Patent number: 7938453
    Abstract: Tap mounting assemblies for reducing loads on the threaded end portions of a tap. Some exemplary embodiments employ a spring such as Belleville washers to bias apart the tap and a mounting plate, and some embodiments provide visual indication of proper tightening. Some exemplary embodiments allow angular adjustment of a portion of the tap assembly without disturbing the tapered thread engagement of the tap on the mounting surface. Exemplary embodiments may employ a base plate between a jack screw and a mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Richards Industries, LLC
    Inventors: John Anthony George, Stephen Phillip Frank
  • Patent number: 5832970
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing nozzle for dispensing a liquid into a receptacle, and for recovering vapor from the receptacle during dispensing. The liquid dispensing nozzle (10) includes a body (12) defining a liquid passageway (14) therethrough and a vapor passageway (16) therethrough. The nozzle also has a spout assembly (17) including a liquid tube (134) for being placed in fluid communication with the liquid passageway (14) of the body (12). The spout assembly also including a spout tube (136). The liquid tube (134) is disposed within the spout tube (136) such that a further vapor passageway (16.sup.1) is defined within the spout tube (136). The spout assembly (17) also includes a support ring (138) for releasably securing the spout tube (136) to the body (12), with the support ring (138) defining a passageway therethrough which establishes fluid communication between the further vapor passageway (16.sup.1) and the vapor passageway (16) of the body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter M. Carow
  • Patent number: 5570719
    Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling for releasably joining two fuel dispensing devices in fluid communication, and for selectively disengaging such dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on the coupling. The coupling (10) includes a first valve assembly (12) for being secured on a first dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fluid from such dispensing device when the coupling (10) is uncoupled. The coupling (10) further includes a second valve assembly (14), including an elbow (72) and swivel connecting mechanism (70), for being secured on a second dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from such dispensing device when the coupling is uncoupled. Further, vapor conduits (28, 28A, 28B) are provided to accommodate the flow of recaptured fuel vapor through the coupling (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton E. Richards, Walter M. Carow
  • Patent number: 5529085
    Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling device (10) for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices in fluid communications, and for selectively disengaging the dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on the coupling device. The coupling device (10) includes first and second valve assemblies (12, 14) for being secured on, and being placed in flow-though communication with dispensing devices and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from such dispensing device. The first and second valve assemblies including first and second valve housings (16, 18) each having a valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through the valve assembly. The device also includes a plurality of shear pins (48A-C) mounted in the second valve housing (18), and at least one stop member (50) carried by the first valve housing (16) for engaging only certain shear pins when the valve housings are engaged in selected relative rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Richards Industries
    Inventors: Alton E. Richards, Walter M. Carow
  • Patent number: 5492146
    Abstract: A sanitary pressure regulator comprises a pressure sensing chamber, downstream of an orifice, has its upper portion defined by a diaphragm. A valve stem, mounted on the diaphragm, extends downwardly through the orifice and has a plug disposed on the upstream side of the orifice. A valve spring, is disposed in a spring housing and acts through a lower spring retainer to yieldingly resist movement of the valve plug to a position which would restrict fluid flow. The spring housing, compression spring and lower retainer form a unit which can be mounted on and detached from a passage housing. The valve stem is mounted on the diaphragm by a nut which is threaded onto a portion of the stem which projects above the diaphragm. Provision is made to lock the valve stem in an open position to facilitate the use of high pressure fluid in cleaning the regulator. In an alternate embodiment, the valve stem is axially fixed relative to the lower spring retainer and a disc engages the lower surface of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. George, Paul R. Ostand, Timothy M. Garrison
  • Patent number: 5115836
    Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling with an integrated swivel mechanism for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices, and for selectively disengaging such dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on said coupling device. The coupling (10) comprises a first valve assembly (12) for being secured on a first dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fluid from such dispensing device when the coupling (10) is uncoupled. The coupling (10) further comprises a second valve assembly (14) with an integrated swivel mechanism (80) for being secured on a second dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from the second dispensing device when the coupling (10) is uncoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Richards Industries
    Inventors: Walter M. Carow, Alton Richards, Jerry L. Cox
  • Patent number: 4913200
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing nozzle (10) with a pump pressure responsive automatic shut-off mechanism. The nozzle (10) comprises a body (12) with an internal passageway (13) therethrough defining an inlet port (14) for being connected to a dispensing pump and an outlet port (16). A main valve (18) is mounted in the body (12) for selectively opening and closing the passageway (13) to the flow of liquid, and a latch mechanism (29) is provided for selectively closing, and prohibiting the opening of, the main valve (18). The nozzle (10) further comprises automatic shut-off mechanism for releasing the latch mechanism so as to close, and prohibit the opening of, the main valve when supply pressure from the dispensing pump falls below a preselected value. Such automatic shut-off mechanism includes an actuator member ( b 43) operatively associated with the latch mechanism (29) and movably responsive to fluid pressure within the passageway between the inlet port (14) and the outlet port (16) reaching a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter M. Carow
  • Patent number: 4905733
    Abstract: An improved breakaway hose coupling (10) for releasably joining the hose ends of two fluid communicating hoses. The coupling (10) comprises first and second valve assemblies (12 and 14) for being secured on the hose ends and for selectively sealing the hose ends when the coupling (10) is disengaged. The first valve assembly (12) includes a first valve housing (18) having a forward end portion (22), and the second valve assembly (14) includes a second valve housing (20), also defining a forward end portion (22). The coupling (10) also comprises a latch housing (48) which circumscribes and extends outwardly from the forward end portion (22) of the second valve housing (20) so as to define a receptor for closely receiving the forward end portion (22) of the first valve housing (18). A ball latch mechanism is mounted within the latch housing (48) which secures the first valve housing (18) in the receptor in absence of disengaging force in excess of a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter M. Carow
  • Patent number: 4896688
    Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling device (10') for releasably joining the hose ends of two fluid communicating hoses and for selectively disengaging and sealing such hose ends in response to a disengaging force of a preselected value is disclosed. The coupling device (10') comprises a coupling sleeve (12') defining an interior surface provided with an annular groove (80). The coupling device (10') further comprises first and second valve assemblies (20'and 22') each comprising a valve housing (24'and 25') having a forward end portion (26') for being received in the opposite ends of the coupling sleeve (12'), and a rearward end portion defining a threaded receptor (34') for engaging a hose end. Each valve housing is also provided with a passageway (30') therethrough communicating with the hose end, the passageway (30') defining a forwardly disposed valve seat (32'). Each of the valve assembly (20'and 22') further comprising a spring biased poppet valve (58') mounted within the passageway (30').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Richards, Leonard R. Nitzberg
  • Patent number: 4674525
    Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling device (10) for releasably joining the hose ends of two fluid communicating hoses and for selectively disengaging and sealing such hose ends in response to disengaging force of a preselected value is disclosed. The coupling device (10) comprises a coupling sleeve (12) defining at least one shear pin hole (18) for receiving a shear pin (54) having a preselected shear strength. The coupling device (10) further comprises first and second valve assemblies (20 & 22) each comprising a valve housing (24, 25) having a forward end portion (26) for being received in the opposite ends of the coupling sleeve (12), and a rearward end portion defining a threaded receptor (34) for engaging a hose end. Each valve housing is also provided with a passageway (30) therethrough communicating with the hose end, the passageway (30) defining a forwardly disposed valve seat (32). Each of the valve assembly (20 & 22) further comprising a spring biased poppet valve (58) mounted within the passageway (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Richards Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Richards, Leonard R. Nitzberg