Patents Examined by Andrew J. Rost
  • Patent number: 12152700
    Abstract: A valve apparatus that includes a valve assembly including valve body that defines an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and including a poppet located in the valve body that includes a valve member. An actuator assembly is attached to the valve assembly that includes an armature that is coupled to the poppet and is configured to move the poppet and the valve member to control a flow of fluid through the valve assembly from the inlet to either the first outlet or the second outlet. A diaphragm is located between valve assembly and the actuator assembly that is configured to seal the valve assembly from the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Simmonds, Brett Landacre
  • Patent number: 12129952
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low-spill coupling assembly including a female coupling device and a male coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventor: David J. Vranish
  • Patent number: 12123531
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low-spill coupling assembly including a female coupling device and a male coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Inventor: David J. Vranish
  • Patent number: 12117862
    Abstract: A modular control apparatus for actuating hydraulic valve systems includes an actuating section including a tilting control member and a plurality of control rods provided with a pusher, which interacts with the control member so as to translate the control rods in the longitudinal direction, a sensor section including a plurality of sensor members suitable to detect a movement in the longitudinal direction of said control rods and a blocking section comprising a blocking device that is capable of individually blocking in the longitudinal direction each of said control rods. The actuating section can be alternately connected to the blocking section or to the sensor section so that the sensor section can be directly connected to the actuating section, detecting the longitudinal movement of the control rods also if the blocking section is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: WALVOIL S.P.A
    Inventors: Alessandro Cervi, Davide Mesturini, Ulderico Busani, Daniel Poli
  • Patent number: 12117086
    Abstract: A faucet includes a faucet housing defining a mixing chamber and a dry chamber, a valve assembly, and a damper assembly. The valve assembly includes a main shaft having a first end and a second end, a knob coupled to the first end, a mixing plate coupled to the second end, a main seal coupled to the main shaft, and a first biasing member disposed around the main shaft. The first end is disposed within the mixing chamber and the second end is disposed within the dry chamber. The damper assembly includes an outer cylinder disposed within the dry chamber, a piston extending at least partially into the outer cylinder, and a second biasing member disposed within the outer cylinder. The piston has an interference surface configured to contact the knob, and the second biasing member is configured to bias the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 12110974
    Abstract: A double-power-supply complex control device includes a main body. Four control sections and two load flow ways are disposed in the main body. A main flow way is disposed in control section. Four switch members of a switch assembly are assembled and disposed in the main flow ways. A circumference of each main flow way is in communication with multiple bypasses. The main flow ways of each two of the control sections are in communication with a fluid output passage and a fluid input passage of a power device. Some of the bypasses of control section are in communication with each other. A lower flow guide window is disposed on switch member in indirect communication with main flow way. When switch member is operated under external force, the lower flow guide window is switchable between the bypasses to selectively communicate with the bypasses to make different power devices drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: CH Creative Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 12104713
    Abstract: [Object] A diaphragm can strongly be fixed to a flow path-side body by a diaphragm-holder, a thickness of the flow path-side body of an outer periphery of a diaphragm is thinned, and the flow path-side body is downsized. [Solving Means] A diaphragm-holder abutting surface 75 is formed between a diaphragm-holder inner peripheral side ring-shaped projection 73 and a diaphragm-holder outer peripheral side ring-shaped projection 74, a diaphragm-holder inner peripheral side end surface 73s is abutted against a first fixed portion piston-side end surface 63Ap, a diaphragm-holder inner peripheral side outer peripheral surface 73o is abutted against a second fixed portion inner peripheral surface 63Bi, a diaphragm-holder outer peripheral side inner peripheral surface 74i is abutted against a body-side projection outer peripheral surface 16o, and the diaphragm-holder abutting surface 75 is abutted against the second fixed portion piston-side end surface 63Bp and a body-side projection end surface 16s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ADVANCE DENKI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rikiya Oshima
  • Patent number: 12092239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve body for a process valve, wherein an interior space of the valve body connects at least two ports to one another in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein at least one partition wall separates adjacent flow chambers of the interior space from one another, and wherein an outer shell and the at least one partition wall, at least in a blocking portion of the valve body extending essentially perpendicularly to a blocking axis, are made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Barghoorn, Michael Baumgärtner, Christian Dasbach
  • Patent number: 12066126
    Abstract: A ball valve system includes a body having an upstream end and a downstream end and a ball within the body between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertical axis to move between a closed position and an open position. The ball valve assembly includes a stem movable in an actuation direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis, the stem including a recess at a proximal portion of the stem, a guiding member extending within the recess of the stem, the guiding member being configured to prevent rotation of the stem or cause rotation of the stem, and a lubrication port in fluid communication with the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: SCV Valve, LLC
    Inventor: Sidney McCarra
  • Patent number: 12044319
    Abstract: A high flow/low flow valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected to one another by a fluid passageway. A valve seat is disposed in the fluid passageway. A low flow valve plug is disposed in the fluid passageway proximate valve seat, the low flow valve plug cooperating with the valve seat to control fluid flow through the valve seat. A high flow valve plug is disposed in the fluid passageway proximate valve seat, the high flow valve plug cooperating with the valve seat to control fluid flow through the valve seat. A low flow actuator is operatively connected to the low flow valve plug and a high flow actuator operatively connected to the high flow valve plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Shannon E. Jelken, Katherine N. Bartels, Thomas N. Gabriel, Julian A. Mann, Lawrence Martin
  • Patent number: 12025256
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low-spill coupling assembly including a female coupling device and a male coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventor: David J. Vranish
  • Patent number: 12013043
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a frangible structure coupled or integral to at least a portion of the apparatus and a triggerable mechanism disposed at or proximate the frangible structure. The triggerable mechanism is configured to break the frangible structure in response to a trigger signal. A containment structure is disposed on or over at least a portion of the frangible structure. The containment structure is configured to allow at least the portion of the frangible structure to deform or change shape in response to breaking of the frangible structure while keeping substantially all fragments of at least the portion of the broken frangible structure together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Chua, Julie Ann Bert, Steven Neltner, Emily Coker
  • Patent number: 12006784
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a choke system includes connecting to the positioner an electronic controller which is programmed to output a control signal representing the desired position of the plug, connecting to the electronic controller a flowmeter which is configured to provide a flow signal representing the rate of flow of fluid from the pump to the inlet and a pressure sensor which is configured to provide a pressure signal representing the fluid pressure at the inlet, connecting the inlet to a reservoir of fluid via a pump which is operable to pump fluid from the reservoir into the inlet at varying flow rates, and using gain scheduling to determine optimum values of proportional gain and integral gain required for control of the choke using a proportional differential and integral controller at a plurality of different rates of flow of fluid along the central flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: NTDrill Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Earl Dietrich, Christian Leuchtenberg, Ian Richard Knight
  • Patent number: 12005224
    Abstract: A method of controlling flow through a flexible tube includes providing a pinch clamp mechanism including a pinching element and a pinching surface configured to apply a force on the flexible tube when the flexible tube is positioned between the pinching element and the pinching surface. The method also includes displacing the pinching element relative to the pinching surface with a mechanical drive unit and biasing the pinching element toward the pinching surface with a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Newell, Dennis M. Treu, Kenneth E. Buckler
  • Patent number: 12000242
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic control system for actuating a control valve includes a control module. The control module is coupled to the surface via two hydraulic lines and an electric line. The control module uses one of the hydraulic lines as an “open” line and the other line as a “close” line. The control module includes a normally closed (NC) solenoid valve (SOV) that is coupled to the electric line and can be controlled from the surface to open or close. The opening or closing of the NC SOV in cooperation with hydraulic pressure on an “open” or “close” line of the hydraulic lines operates (i.e., closes or opens) the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenzzo Breda Minassa, Robert William Gissler
  • Patent number: 11994234
    Abstract: A gate valve opens and closes a first opening of a first chamber in a vacuum processing apparatus. The gate valve includes: a valve element configured to open and close the first opening; a drive configured to move the valve element so that the valve element takes at least a closing position, where the valve element closes the first opening, and an opening position, where the valve element opens the first opening; a first gas line and a second gas line; and a first switching valve that connects one of the first gas line and the second gas line to the drive. The drive moves the valve element from the opening position to the closing position by pressure of gas supplied from the first gas line or the second gas line, and holds the valve element at the closing position by pressure of gas supplied from the second gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihiko Amikura, Masatomo Kita
  • Patent number: 11982358
    Abstract: An inline valve includes a sliding piston having a radially outer stop portion with a forward end. A radially inner sliding portion is connected to the radially outer stop portion by an arm. A housing includes an outer housing body surrounding the piston. The housing has a stop surface selectively in contact with the forward end of the radially outer stop portion of the piston to block flow for a housing inlet to a housing outlet. The radially inner sliding portion slides on a support tube. At least a portion of the radially inner sliding portion is formed of a first material having better wear resistance than a second material forming the outer stop portion of the piston. The second material has a greater resistance to high temperature and pressure than the first material. A vent valve for a compressor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: August M. Coretto, Scott W. Simpson, Donald E. Army, Peter J. Dowd, David J. Zawilinski
  • Patent number: 11982375
    Abstract: A bonnet and stuffing box assembly includes a bonnet defining a bonnet bore; a stuffing box connected to the bonnet, the stuffing box defining a stuffing box bore, the stuffing box bore and bonnet bore defining an assembly bore; a bushing assembly received in the assembly bore and comprising a stuffing box bushing and a bonnet bushing, the stuffing box bushing defining a narrow portion disposed in the stuffing box bore and a wide portion at least partially disposed in the bonnet bore, the bonnet bushing disposed in the bonnet bore and confronting the wide portion of the stuffing box bushing, the bushing assembly defining a bushing bore extending through the stuffing box bushing and the bonnet bushing; and a stem extending through the bushing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Thomas Sutterfield, Ian Matthew Gilliam
  • Patent number: 11971119
    Abstract: A pinch valve assembly has opposing pinch members for pinching oppositely against a fluid conduit sleeve and a hydraulic displacement mechanism acting on the opposing pinch members. The hydraulic displacement mechanism a hydraulic displacement push rod coupled to a first pinch member at one end and penetrating a hydraulic reservoir at an opposite end to displace hydraulic fluid therein and a pinch member push rod penetrating the hydraulic reservoir at one end and coupled to a second pinch members at an opposite end. As the first pinch member moves towards the sleeve to pinch against one side of the sleeve, the at least one hydraulic displacement push rod moves into the hydraulic reservoir to displace hydraulic fluid therein to cause the pinch member push rod to be pushed from the hydraulic reservoir under pressure to push against the second pinch member to pinch against an opposite side of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventors: Adam Miners, Allan Miners
  • Patent number: 11971115
    Abstract: A tilting armature for a vehicle solenoid valve, including: a ferromagnetic tilting armature for the vehicle solenoid valve which, by establishment of a magnetic field, is configured to move the tilting armature into one of two positions such that a magnetic flux, associated with the magnetic field, through the tilting armature is in the position conducted through at least one surface of the tilting armature across a gap to form a closed flux loop, wherein the tilting armature is tiltable between the two positions about an axis of rotation that is fixed with respect to the vehicle solenoid valve; in which an enlargement of the at least one surface of the tilting armature by an edge upset of the tilting armature is configured to reduce a magnetic resistance through the gap. Also described are a related vehicle solenoid valve and a related method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Eisenberger, Maher Matar