Patents Examined by Alan Cohan
  • Patent number: 5100100
    Abstract: An improved control and shut off valve assembly is disclosed. The preferred valve assembly provides sufficient forces to overcome biasing forces so as to provide adequate shut off at a leakage rate of less than 10.sup.-9 std cc/sec of He with an atmospheric differential of Helium applied across the valve seat of the assembly, and precise control of the flow rate, all as a function of a single electrical control signal. In accordance with another aspect the valve seat is made from a material softer than the valve seat engagement means so that the seat is coined by the valve seat engagement means when first used so as to insure tight tolerances for sealing the valve passageway during the shut off mode. Finally, in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the valve assembly is constructed with no separate parts within the flow path so as to maintain a clean passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Benson, Steven M. King
  • Patent number: 5097858
    Abstract: A clock controlled solenoid valve selectively enables or disables one or the other of two pilot control valves, one set at a higher and the other at a lower pressure setting, for selectively changing the outlet pressure from a main regulator valve between said higher and lower settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventors: Robert J. Zlokovitz, Thomas Devaney
  • Patent number: 5097857
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic valve-actuator system (30) includes an electric motor (58) for driving a hydraulic pump (60), with an electrical control circuit (68) energizing the electric motor to thereby furnish hydraulic fluid to a valve actuator (16). A timer (90, 92) times activation of the electric motor and extinguishes such activation at expiration of a time period required to approximately move a valve (22) to a desired position. A four-way electric solenoid valve (66) is coupled to the electrical control circuit for channeling pumped hydraulic fluid to either close or open the valve. An adjustable hydraulic bypass relief valve (76) is coupled to the hydraulic pump for establishing a hydraulic-fluid pressure provided by the pump. Individual electro-hydraulic valve-actuator systems of this invention can replace a pneumatic valve-actuator system, or electro-mechanical valve actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: John Mayhew
  • Patent number: 5097869
    Abstract: A fluid control valve device includes a sleeve, a rotor, and a first recess groove. The sleeve has an inner circumferential surface in which two types of axial channel grooves communicating with an input port and a return port are formed in the circumferential direction, and left and right output ports are open in land portions between the channel grooves. The rotor is inserted in the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve so as to be rotatably held relative to the sleeve and has an outer circumferential surface in which channel grooves communicating with the axial channel grooves of the sleeve are formed in the circumferential direction at positions opposite to the land portions in which the output ports of the sleeve are open, and first and second land portions are formed at positions opposite to the channel grooves of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Emori
  • Patent number: 5097862
    Abstract: A liquid-gas accumulator having a housing with a top gas port and a bottom liquid port. A spring-loaded, normally open valve is positioned in the liquid port and a buoyant float is rigidly connected to the valve element for controlling the opening and closing of the valve in response to the liquid level in the housing. A resilient seal may be provided between the float and the valve element positioned to seat around the valve as the valve closes thereby providing a secondary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Accumulators, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffry A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 5095934
    Abstract: A cartridge type valve is disclosed which is capable of having the flow of hot and cold water to the valve reversed. An adapter is provided which is receivable in a valve body and has two independent passages. In one position, the adapter effects respective fluid communication between hot and cold water inlet pipes and hot and cold water inlets in the stationary valve portion. In a second position, when the adapter is removed from the valve body and turned over, communication between the hot and cold water inlet pipes and the hot and cold water inlets in the stationary valve portion is reversed. An adjustable temperature control feature is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Muhammad Iqbal
  • Patent number: 5095935
    Abstract: A Patch for Ruptured Fluid Tanks consisting of a container having an opening a peripheral edge. A rupture in a fluid tank is enclosed within the peripheral edge of the opening. A fluid filled tubular seal is provided along the peripheral edge of the opening. The tubular seal compresses to bring the opening of the container enclosing the rupture into sealing engagement with the fluid tank. A fluid bypass passage is provided through the container. Fluids escaping through the rupture flow through the bypass while the container is being placed over the rupture. The container is secured by cables to a fluid tank. The bypass passage is remotely closed to contain fluids escaping through the rupture within the container once the container has been secured to the fluid tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Edward E. Blackley
  • Patent number: 5095949
    Abstract: A valve bush for a dynamic multi-port valve comprises a plurality of separately formed hollow cylindrical plastics segments interengaged in end-to-end relationship to form the bush, the or each intermediate set of small diameter apertures being in the form of a plurality of apertures, for example rectangular slots, defined by facing end surfaces of two adjacent segments and by a plurality of spaced fingers extending axially from said end surfaces. A bush of the invention for a five port valve will comprise three such segments, and a bush for a three port valve will comprise two such segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Norgren Martonair Limited
    Inventor: John Day
  • Patent number: 5096503
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing body waste bags that have an opening. The apparatus includes a diverter valve having an internally threaded spout to attach to a faucet. The diverter valve has a plunger and a reduced size nipple adapted to be received in a small opening in a body waste bag. When the faucet is turned on and the plunger is in an diverter open position, the water from the faucet flows normally through the diverter valve for regular use into the bag to wash the bag. When the plunger is in a closed position the water flows through reduced size openings to wash the bag. The diverter valve will remain on the faucet for convenient later use for cleaning body waste bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Sidney E. Wellman
  • Patent number: 5094261
    Abstract: Non-return valve, in which, between the non-return valve assembly and the end of the valve body, which can be connected to a tap, emptying ports are provided and a shut-off diaphragm is supported, which, when the tap is closed, frees the run between the inside of the tap and the emptying ports and, when the tap is open, separates the inside of the tap from the emptying ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Sirio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Giacomini
  • Patent number: 5094260
    Abstract: A pressure control system is disclosed for closely regulating the pressure level of a controlled volume. The system comprises first and second sources, a throttled valve for controlling the flow rate of the fluid between each of the first and second pressure sources and the controlled volume, and a feedback control. The throttled valve comprises a rotationally mounted cam, a housing for receiving the cam and including a chamber, a first port coupled to the first pressure source, a second port coupled to the controlled volume, and a third port coupled to the second pressure source. The cam has first and second cam surface portions for defining corresponding first and second transfer functions of fluid flow through the first and second ports, respectively. First and second metering needles are associated with the first and third ports respectively for throttling the fluid flows therethrough. The first and second metering needles are disposed to engage respectively the first and second cam surface portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Alcon Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Stuart, Michael H. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5094427
    Abstract: A pressure regulator has a diaphragm mounted upon a base to form a flow chamber between the diaphragm and the base. A dome pressure casing is mounted upon the base to form a cavity between the casing and the diaphragm. One piece of tubing is connected either to the base or to the casing and passes sequentially through the base or casing, through the cavity, and through the diaphgram to the flow chamber for inlet fluid injection through the flow chamber. Another piece of tubing is connected either to the base or to the casing and passes sequentially from the flow chamber, through the diaphragm, through the cavity, and through the base or casing for fluid discharge. A pressure port within the dome pressure casing permits the supply of pressure to the diaphragm to restrict the fluid flow through the flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Chevron Research and Technology Company
    Inventor: Collins Solomon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5094267
    Abstract: A tank blanketing valve in which a biased piston is positioned to control the flow of source gas into the tank. The piston is biased by a spring and a pilot gas stream from the source gas (the biasing pressure or force) to close the tank gas inlet. The pilot gas stream is controlled by a pressure sensing component of the valve, whereby the pilot gas stream is directed away from the biased piston when the pressure in the tank is less than a predetermined pressure. This reduces the biasing pressure which is holding the piston in the gas inlet line to the tank. The pressure of the source gas on the piston in the source gas inlet line then exceeds the biasing pressure and causes the piston to slide open and admit source gas into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Jone Y. Ligh
  • Patent number: 5092359
    Abstract: An enclosure for a valve handle formed of two enclosure-halfs of identical structure hinged together to form a clamshell enclosure for the handle of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: W. H. Brady Co.
    Inventors: Gary J. Wirth, Thomas J. Felmer
  • Patent number: 5090438
    Abstract: An improved fluid regulator is provided for receiving high pressure fluid and controllably outputting low pressure fluid. The regulator valve mechanism includes a regulator seat fixed to the regulator body and a regulator valve disk movable within the regulator body for sealing engagement with the seat. A spring-biased piston is provided axially movable within a piston housing in response to the low pressure fluid, and has a port therethrough. A relieving valve mechanism includes a seat formed on the regulator valve disk, and a dart member carried by the piston and having a flow passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the port in the piston. The regulator of the present invention is self relieving to ensure that pressurized fluid will continually be supplied to downstream equipment. The sensitivity of the regulator is enhanced, and the regulator is designed for low cost maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventor: Spencer M. Nimberger
  • Patent number: 5090440
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning fluid lines is disclosed. This apparatus contains a fluid manifold, a valve, and a line connecting said fluid manifold and said valve. The valve used in the apparatus contains at least two input ports, at least two output ports, means responsive to fluid pressure for closing off the flow of liquid from a first of said ports, and means responsive to fluid pressure for opening the flow of liquid from a second of said ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Legris Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean Ladouceur, Kenneth H. Podmore
  • Patent number: 5090447
    Abstract: A thermoplastic valve assembly for use in controlling the flow of corrosive fluids comprising a transparent housing having a passageway through which fluid may flow, a transparent ball disposed in the passageway for rotation between an open position and a closed position, and transparent connector means for connecting the valve housing to a pipeline thereby enabling an operator to visually detect alignment of the ball, turbulence in the through passageway and wear and corrosion of the valve components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Asahi/America, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie B. Lewis, Timothy Robinson
  • Patent number: 5090439
    Abstract: An automatic air release valve which is viable to operate at any pressure. The air release valve includes a first orifice for exhausting air and a second orifice which is exposed to atmosphere but is always sealed. The second orifice exposes a vertically movable stem within the valve to forces which are equal and opposite to a suction force which tends to hold the valve stem in sealing relation to the first, air exhaust orifice. Because of the equalization of pressures made possible by the provision of first and second orifices, movement of the valving mechanism within the valve housing downwardly as the liquid level goes down causes the air vent orifice to open irrespective of the pressure within the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: APCO Valve and Primer Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent M. Sabalvaro, III, Ralph DiLorenzo
  • Patent number: 5088520
    Abstract: A multiple component solenoid valve having a valve part, solenoid part and cap part. The solenoid part which actuates the valve part is reversible relative to the valve part so as to allow the valve to be either of a normally-open type or a normally closed-typed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: South Bend Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Haynes, Charles T. Zakreski
  • Patent number: 5088518
    Abstract: A steam restricter device of the present invention is designed for retrofit to an existing steam trap of the type including a bowl-shaped chamber-defining member having an opening in it for admitting steam and condensate, and a drain for passage of condensate from the chamber to a condensate return. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion of smaller outer diameter than the upper portion. The lower portion may be slidingly received in the drain without rotation. The body has a nozzle formed in it which is sized to permit passage of condensate, but to inhibit passage of steam. The upper portion has an intake in it which provides communication from the chamber to the nozzle, and the lower portion has an opening in it which provides communication from the nozzle to the condensate return. A generally tubular bushing fits around the lower portion of the body and sealingly engages a wall in the drain for sealing between the lower portion and the wall of the drainage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Steam Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: E. M. Stamatakis, Robert B. Nicholson