Patents Examined by Alex M Valvis
  • Patent number: 11103955
    Abstract: A computer-controlled method of component manufacture is disclosed, which includes winding a thread of material around a shaping element to form a first layer formed of adjacent turns of the thread. The winding is repeated to form a second layer of adjacent turns of the thread on top of the first layer. A laser beam is then applied between adjacent turns of each layer to attach them at predetermined points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Adrian Norton, Philip Harris
  • Patent number: 11104305
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automated or remotely controlled methods and apparatuses for cleaning and drying soiled external 2-D or 3-D image sensor surfaces such as objective lenses on Light Detection and Ranging (“LIDAR”) sensors when mounted in a configuration that is exposed to dirty environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: DLHBOWLES, INC.
    Inventors: Chunling Zhao, Shridhar Gopalan
  • Patent number: 11098677
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a variable area nozzle of a gas turbine engine. The variable area nozzle includes, among other things, a control unit, a translatable structure, and a plurality of actuators configured to adjust the position of the translatable structure. The plurality of actuators are fluidly coupled to a common fluid source. The control unit is configured to provide instructions to at least one of the actuators to compensate for an asymmetric load from the translatable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Craig T. Stambaugh
  • Patent number: 11084047
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a massage mode assembly for a showerhead is disclosed. The massage mode assembly includes a drive element, a cam, and a shutter. The drive element has a drive element length or diameter, depending on the shape of the drive element, and is rotatable about an axis by fluid flowing through the showerhead. The cam is connected to the drive element and rotates with the drive element. The shutter is operably engaged with the cam and has a shutter length that is longer than the drive element length and the rotation of the cam causes the shutter to move correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cacka, Craig P. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11083920
    Abstract: A dry sprinkler includes a flexible tube section that maintains a pressurized fluid, such as a liquid antifreeze solution, between a first end and a second end. A first seal prevents fluid from a supply line from entering the flexible tube section. The first seal is maintained in a sealed position by a pressure of the pressurized fluid. A sprinkler head is coupled to the second end of the flexible tube section, and includes a frame, an output orifice, a deflector, a second seal that seals the output orifice, and a thermally responsive element configured to maintain the second seal in a sealed position when the thermally responsive element is in a non-responsive state. A differential pressure controller maintains a ratio between the pressure of the pressurized fluid in the flexible tube section and a pressure of a supply fluid in the supply line to at least a certain ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Multer
  • Patent number: 11084050
    Abstract: A spray bar injector including a spray bar defining a longitudinal axis and including a fluid inlet and a plurality of spray outlet orifices spaced apart longitudinally in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A check or spray valve is operatively connected to each spray outlet orifice. A master valve is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, operatively connected to divert flow from the fluid inlet into a first passage and block flow into a second passage in a first position to open the check valves and issue a spray from the spray outlet orifices, and to divert flow from the fluid inlet into the second passage and block flow into the first passage in a second position to close the check valves and block issue of spray from the spray outlet orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Short
  • Patent number: 11084654
    Abstract: A receptacle may provide a touchless opening and closing lid that may be activated by a motion sensor. A swing-door may form a front of the receptacle and may open and close to expose and provide access to a molded interior liner. A non-slip molded base may form a platform for the receptacle. A fragrancing system may be provided inside of the lid and may emit a waterless mist containing a fragrance when the lid opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Forever Gifts, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Pestl, Hendra Wijaya
  • Patent number: 11084051
    Abstract: In one aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a nozzle, a deflector that receives fluid flow from the nozzle, and a friction brake assembly that controls rotation of a deflector. The friction brake assembly is releasably connected to the frame in order to enhance serviceability of the sprinkler. In another aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a frame, a deflector rotatably connected to the frame, a nozzle, and a nozzle socket of the frame. The nozzle and nozzle socket have interlocking portions that releasably connect the nozzle to the frame. The nozzle may be easily removed for servicing. Further, the nozzle socket can be configured to receive a plurality of nozzles having different flow characteristics. A nozzle can be selected and utilized with the sprinkler according to the desired application for the sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene Ezekiel Kim, Radu Marian Sabau
  • Patent number: 11064663
    Abstract: This emitter is configured from an emitter body, a film, and a cover. The emitter has a water intake part, a discharge part, a first flow path, a second flow path, a flow reduction part, a flow path opening/closing part, a pressure-reducing flow path, and a bypass flow path. If the pressure of an irrigation liquid flowing through a tube is less than a first pressure, the opening of a first water intake through hole of the cover is sealed with the film. If the pressure of the irrigation liquid flowing through the tube is equal to or greater than the first pressure, the film is deformed so that the irrigation liquid is taken into the emitter body through the first water intake through hole, the space between the film and the cover, and a second water intake through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ENFLAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kidachi
  • Patent number: 11067028
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an injector body having a proximal end and a distal end, the injector body defining a nozzle having an outlet. The injector system includes a spill valve fluidly connected to the outlet and having a spill valve member movable between an open position and a closed position. The injector system includes a control valve including a control valve member movable between an open position and a closed position. The injector system includes a check valve fluidly connected to the outlet, the control valve including a check valve needle movable between an open position and a closed position. The injector system also includes an electrical monitoring circuit configured to output a signal indicative of at least one of the open position or the closed position of the spill valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Robert M. Campion, Steven C. Taylor, Bao Feng
  • Patent number: 11065633
    Abstract: A spraying apparatus includes a spraying apparatus main body, a liquid introduction portion, a gas-liquid spout portion, a gas introduction portion, a liquid inlet, a first gas inlet passage, a second gas inlet passage, and a spout. The first gas inlet passage is provided at at least one place of the annular gas introduction portion so as to communicate with the gas flow passage and the gas-liquid mixer, and allows a gas flow flowing through the gas flow passage to enter the gas-liquid mixer. The second gas inlet passage has a gas inlet having a predetermined area ratio, is provided on a downstream side of the first gas inlet passage of the gas introduction portion, and communicates with the gas flow passage and the gas-liquid mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Ueda, Akira Isomi, Daisuke Tabata
  • Patent number: 11059059
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing apparatus includes: a liquid nozzle portion for releasing a liquid column into an open space; a liquid conduit portion for introducing pressurized liquid into the liquid nozzle portion; a liquid-side electrode disposed inside the liquid conduit portion for coming into contact with the pressurized liquid; a gas conduit portion made of an insulation material and having a gas nozzle portion disposed around the liquid nozzle portion for converting the liquid column into fine particles to generate an atomized stream by making a gas stream from the gas nozzle portion act at an atomization point of the liquid column released into the open space from the liquid nozzle portion; and a ring-shaped induction electrode disposed around the atomization point located in the open space and having an electrode conductor made of a conductive material and coated with an insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: HOCHIKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihide Tsuji, Tetsuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11045822
    Abstract: A sprinkler head having a nutating fluid distribution cage. The sprinkler head has a first sprinkler body and a second sprinkler body. The first sprinkler body has an upper plate and a lower plate. A distribution cage is configured to hang from the lower plate when fluid is not being sprayed onto the cage. An upper cage plate of the distribution cage is configured to nutate between the upper plate and the lower plate when fluid is sprayed on the cage. The second sprinkler body is positioned below the cage and is connected to the first sprinkler body by one or more arms. The cage has a magnet coupled with a magnet of the second sprinkler body. The magnetic coupling allows the cage to hang at an angle from the lower sprinkler body plate when fluid is not sprayed onto the cage and/or to provide for a speed dampener of the rate of nutation of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: XCAD VALVE AND IRRIGATION, INC.
    Inventors: Don Duffin, Roger Duffin, Casey Nutt
  • Patent number: 11014156
    Abstract: An extruded metal flow 3D printer comprising a rack including a workbench capable of moving along n X-axis and Y-axis direction, and a head capable of moving along an Z-axis direction; a printing device including a printing head, a high frequency coil and a high frequency electric induction heating device; the printing heal including a tungsten steel nozzle, a ceramic tube bank, a high temperature resistant ceramic protective sleeve, and a stainless steel end cover; the tungsten steel nozzle having an extrusion hole; a feeding device; the head comprising at least one laser mounted on a lower end face thereof and configured to locally preheat and melt a metal layer printed from the metal wire or enhance a binding force between metal layers, so that the print effect and model molding effect of the present invention can be improved, enhancing the marketability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ASIA AMERICA INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURE INC.
    Inventor: Jian Feng
  • Patent number: 11013942
    Abstract: A pressure maintenance device is connected to a fire protection sprinkler system having downstream piping that is exposed to freezing temperatures, and supplies a pressurized fluid to the downstream piping when the sprinkler system is in an inactivated state. When an outlet pressure sensor near an outlet of the pressure maintenance device detects that a pressure of the pressurized fluid downstream of an outlet regulator falls below a first predetermined pressure, the pressure maintenance device supplies the pressurized fluid in a primary supply mode or a secondary supply mode. The pressure maintenance device automatically switches from the primary supply mode to the secondary supply mode if a supply pressure sensor detects that a pressure of the pressurized fluid downstream of a first pressurized fluid valve, and upstream of the outlet pressure regulator, falls below a second predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Jimenez, Thomas Multer, Steven Wolin
  • Patent number: 11000718
    Abstract: A fire sprinkler system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a pipe having a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion. The first pipe portion includes a wall having a first wall thickness, and the second pipe portion includes a wall having a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness. The fire sprinkler system further includes structure coupled to the pipe and defining a sealed chamber between the structure and at least the first pipe portion, and a sensor for sensing a pressure in the sealed chamber. Example corrosion monitoring devices and methods for monitoring corrosion in pipe systems, including fire sprinkler systems, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Engineered Corrosion Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Kochelek, Adam H. Hilton, Lucas E. Kirn
  • Patent number: 10994297
    Abstract: Embodiments include individual physical spray nozzles that have passageways inside to combine fluids that flow out of the spray nozzles. The nozzles have at least two valves that are opened and closed in an interleaved manner. The nozzles have multiple outlets. Such nozzles are mounted on a variety of implements including agricultural or industrial spray booms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, Stacy L. Bullock, Richard A. Humpal
  • Patent number: 10986869
    Abstract: The inductive heating device (1) for aerosol-generation comprises a device housing (10) comprising a cavity (13) having an internal surface for receiving at least a portion of an aerosol-forming insert (2) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a susceptor. The device housing (10) further comprises a pin (14) extending into the cavity (13). The device (1) further comprises an induction coil (15) arranged along the pin (14) and a power source (11) connected to the induction coil (15) and configured to provide a high frequency current to the induction coil (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 10974271
    Abstract: A droplet generation device comprising a reservoir split into at least two regions by a substantially liquid impermeable barrier, a perforate membrane connecting one of said regions, containing, in use, the liquid to be dispensed, to the atmosphere, such that vibration of the membrane causes the liquid to be ejected through the perforate membrane into the atmosphere, and a pressure control system consisting of one or more valves in which at least one valve vents gas into the reservoir in response to a pressure difference, ?Pin, across it that is less than zero, and at least one valve is connected to a non-liquid-containing region of the reservoir and vents gas out of the reservoir in response to a pressure difference, ?Pout, across it that is greater than ?Pin, where ?Pin and ?Pout are the absolute pressure of the gas in the reservoir minus the absolute atmospheric pressure outside of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PLC
    Inventor: Daniel Crichton
  • Patent number: 10974085
    Abstract: An enclosure, vehicle, and method for containing an overheating device are provided. An enclosure includes a body and a door that form a volume. The body includes is connected to a Venturi tube that is in communication with a fluid flow path flowing across an opening at an opposite end. In the event an overheating device is placed in the enclosure, a pressure sensor measures a pressure in the volume and a controller opens a first valve in a flow path through the Venturi tube so that air is pumped from the volume via the Venturi effect. The first valve is closed when the measured pressure drops below a threshold pressure. The enclosure can also include an extinguishing agent that can be expelled into the volume if a temperature sensor measures a temperature above a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Rocke R. Koreis, Joseph A. Scarce