Patents Examined by Andrew J. Rost
  • Patent number: 9829113
    Abstract: Releasable tubing pinch clamps of a generally U-shaped configuration are described. The embodiments include ones that prevent cross-clamping of the tube by various interlocking features on riser portions of the clamp. Methods and molds for making the pinch clamps are also described. The pinch clamp consists generally of a strip that curves so that its ends can be brought together by manually squeezing the strip at its ends which oppose each other as a result of the strip curve. The strip ends contain locking edges or surfaces that cause the strip ends to interferingly engage with each other and lock together. The strip also contains opposing pinching projections that pinch a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell
  • Patent number: 9810344
    Abstract: A valve system includes a spring-biased locking slide plate which extends in an axial direction parallel to and offset from the axis of the valve stem and selectively extends through a base plate mounted to the top of a valve to selectively engage stop tabs on the valve body. The locking slide plate also extends through the valve handle and through a locking member to selectively lock the valve in open or closed positions. In one embodiment, the locking slide plate comprises two sections which include a lower section having tines which selectively engage tabs on the valve body and a second upper section which is spring-biased to the lower section to float to allow the lower section to accommodate different diameter valve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIBCO INC.
    Inventors: Paul Frische-Mouri, David A. Bobo, Matthew Krazit, Girish Kamble, John P. Andrejko
  • Patent number: 9803447
    Abstract: An asymmetrical ram button is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a blowout preventer including such a button. Particularly, the blowout preventer may include an actuation assembly having the asymmetric ram button attached to a connecting rod coupled to a piston. The asymmetric body of the button can engage an internal shoulder of the ram such that a retraction force on the actuation assembly causes the asymmetrical ram button to load against the internal shoulder. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny E. Jurena, David J. McWhorter, Charles E. Gibbs, Steven F. Shimonek
  • Patent number: 9777866
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a non-contact flow control system having a totally sealed cavity, comprising a housing, a flow control unit and an operation unit. The housing is provided with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid channel extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; the flow control unit is arranged in the fluid channel and the operation unit is arranged on an outer side of the housing, wherein the operation unit comprises an operation element and an outer magnet fixed on the operation element; the flow control unit comprises a flow control element and an inner magnet fixed on the flow control element; when the operation element moves relative to the housing, the flow control element can move under the action of a magnetic force between the outer magnet and the inner magnet, thereby changing the flow of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: JIANGSU VOCATIONAL COLLEGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Chao Deng
  • Patent number: 9759032
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a blowout preventer housing including a bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore. The apparatus further includes grooves in the outer profile of the blowout preventer housing, the grooves being on opposite sides of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Gibbs, Steven F. Shimonek
  • Patent number: 9746113
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bladder that may be configured as a supply bladder and as a discharge bladder in a fluid coupler. The bladder may comprise at least one overtube having a lumen in which is positioned a catheter, which may include a fluid passage portion and an inflation portion, wherein the overtube has a first securing edge and a second securing edge, at least one gland nut to be secured to the first securing edge of the overtube, the gland unit may be tightened internally to the first securing edge of the overtube, a cord grip located with the gland unit when the gland nut is secured to the first secured edge, at least one sealing coupler ring to be secured to the second securing edge of the overtube, at least one bladder insert for creating a seal between the overtube and the sealing coupler ring within the catheter, and a plurality of O-rings to be secured inside the sealing coupler ring with a screw unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Gregory Mark Johnson
  • Patent number: 9732856
    Abstract: A manual valve includes a knob, a stem, a stopper, and a male thread. The stem is extended from the knob. The stopper is extended from the stem. The male thread is extended from the stopper. The stem is smaller than the stopper in outer diameter. The stem is configured to be installed with a clip, which is a separate component from the manual valve. The stopper is configured to make contact with the clip in the axial direction and to be regulated movement in the axial direction when an outer periphery of the stem is installed with the clip and circumferentially surrounded with the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Parker Farlow, Hugo Martinez, Daniel Tylutki, Peter Mickley, Sara Seres
  • Patent number: 9732577
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to a blowout preventer with a hinged bonnet assembly having components designed to improve the maintenance and serviceability of the blowout preventer. The blowout preventer includes a body with intersecting passageways extending therethrough. The blowout preventer also includes a bonnet including a ram unit capable of seating in a ram location of the body and a bonnet door removably coupled to a first side of the body. The blowout preventer further includes a pin or hinge adapter disposed along the body and defining a hinge axis, and a hinge rotatably coupled to the pin or hinge adapter. The hinge is coupled to the bonnet door to rotate the bonnet about the hinge axis, and the hinge and the bonnet door are selectively separable. The separable hinge allows an operator to access, remove, and replace the hinge if the hinge becomes worn or impacted during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Axon Pressure Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William Rinehart Holland, Jr., Jess W. Shows, Bradford S. Franks
  • Patent number: 9732877
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a control valve comprising: —A passage path for a fluid inside the valve and that puts in communication an inlet with an outlet; —An obstruction element arranged as to result mobile between a closing position, in which it obstructs the path impeding the passage of the fluid from the inlet towards the outlet, and an opening position in which it allows said passage, and; —Movement means for operating the movement of the obstruction element between said opening position and said closing position and vice-versa. In accordance with the invention, the movement means comprise a joint linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Nicola Lucchesi
  • Patent number: 9726298
    Abstract: A valve for use in conjunction with an application device having a valve housing and a valve spindle which bears a sealing element at a first free end outside the valve housing and, within the valve housing, is mounted displaceably between a closed position and a release position. The valve spindle includes at least one first piston element and at least one second piston element, wherein the first piston element is guided in a first piston space and the second piston element is guided in a second piston space, said piston spaces being bounded by the valve housing. A pressure fluid can be supplied in each case to the first piston space and to the second piston space in such a manner that a force acting in the same direction is exerted on the first piston element and on the second piston element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Jan Reichler, Simon Maurmaier, Mathias Moll
  • Patent number: 9714720
    Abstract: An electrical actuator (1) especially for operating a valve (2) has at least one electric motor (3), a drive shaft (4) driven by the electric motor (3) and a gear shaft (5) rotatable by the drive shaft (4), which gear shaft is connected to a valve member (6) in a motion-transferring manner. Between the drive shaft (4) and the gear shaft (5), a return stop device (7) especially acting both ways in rotational direction is formed. This return stop device (7) has a pot-shaped outer part (8) and a hub part (9) rotatably supported therein. The hub part (9) is connected to the gear shaft (5) in a torque-proof manner and within at least one free space (10) between the hub part (9) and the outer part (8) a wedging member is arranged. This is only movement into free rolling position by the drive shaft (4) under a rotation of the drive shaft (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Norbert Lenz
  • Patent number: 9694732
    Abstract: A valve assembly for mounting a pump to a storage tank of a vehicle includes an upper flange, a lower flange, and a wall extending axially between the upper flange and the lower flange, the lower flange being offset by the wall relative to the upper flange to facilitate installation of the pump on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MARSHALL EXCELSIOR CO.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Blanchard, Alex L. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9695955
    Abstract: A valve for metering fluid under pressure includes: a valve housing having an inlet opening and a metering opening for the fluid; an outward-opening valve needle pressure equalized via an elastic hollow body which is subject to the fluid pressure; and an electromagnet which lifts the valve needle up from the metering opening against the force of a valve closing spring. The valve housing is assembled from a valve tube and one valve body on the metering end and another on the inlet end, each being connected in a fluid-tight manner to the valve tube at the tube ends. The magnet pot including the enclosed solenoid coil is secured on the valve tube on the outside by the electromagnet, and the magnetic core is secured on the valve tube on the inside in such a way that it surrounds a needle section of the valve needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Schmieder, Tilo Landenfeld
  • Patent number: 9695953
    Abstract: Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves incorporating a piston comprising slit along an upper piston section for accommodating fluid flow. The slit opens when the piston is compressed by a medical implement, such as a syringe tip, to permit fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet of the vale housing. The slit may be cut using high frequency cutting machine or a multi-axis robot arm and a cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: B. Braun Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin L. Burnard, David M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9664302
    Abstract: A flow rate control device includes a needle valve mounted within a body section and is configured such that the needle valve is advanced and retracted within the body section by the rotation of a handle, thereby adjusting the flow rate of fluid flowing between a first port and a second port. The handle is surrounded by a cover to prevent a change in the adjusted flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9657866
    Abstract: A water valve rotational brake including a convex, C-shaped base, a plurality of suction cups continuously disposed on a bottom surface of the base from a right edge of the base to a left edge of the base, a pair of pin height adjustable legs disposed on a top surface of the base, and an angled locking arm attached to a top end of each of the pair of pin height adjustable legs. A curvature of a front edge of the base substantially conforms to a curvature of an exterior edge of a water valve. The plurality of suction cups removably attaches to a surface proximal the water valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Randall D. Miskowic
  • Patent number: 9657651
    Abstract: An intake pipe for intake gas of an internal combustion engine has an intake pipe channel and a flap unit with a flap shaft and a flap fixedly arranged on the flap shaft. The flap unit alternatingly opens or closes the intake pipe channel. A hollow insert body is disposed in the intake pipe channel, wherein the flap unit is arranged in the insert body and the flap is positioned in a hollow interior of the insert body. The insert body has opposite end faces and the opposite end faces are open. The flap shaft extends through opposite walls of the insert body in a radial direction relative to an insert body axis of the insert body. The insert body is rotatable on the flap shaft. A radial inner circumferential side of the insert body widens toward at least one of the open end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Korn, Herbert Pietrowski
  • Patent number: 9657849
    Abstract: A diaphragm-type control valve having a diaphragm and a valve body is provided preferably for use in the separation of and fluid control between a fluid source and a pressurized gas volume. The diaphragm element and a port in the body together form an intermediate chamber that eliminates the need for a check-valve downstream of the valve. In one preferred embodiment, an inner surface of the valve body defines a chamber having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber, and an elongated seat member defining a groove in communication with the port. A diaphragm member having upper and lower surfaces is disposed within the chamber. The lower surface preferably includes a pair of spaced apart elongated members defining a channel therebetween. The diaphragm member engages the seat member placing the channel in communication with the groove to define an air seat in communication with the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Yoram Ringer, Roger S. Wilkins, Boris Frenkel
  • Patent number: 9650912
    Abstract: A system and device to prevent damage during over-speed condition in a turbo-machine. In one embodiment, the system includes a fluid circuit with a header, which couples to the turbo-machine, and a hydraulic circuit through which fluid evacuates the header to a drain during the over-speed condition. The hydraulic circuit includes a trip header manifold with a pilot element in flow connection with a drain valve element having an actuator to regulate flow of fluid from the header. For example, the pilot element uses a pair of solenoid valves to change pressure of a fluid in the drain valve element and maintains the actuator in a first position to prevent fluid evacuation during normal operating conditions. When over-speed condition is detected, the solenoid valves change state, reducing the pressure of the fluid, permitting the actuator to move to a second position placing the header in flow connection with the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Allan Dietrich, Ricardo Stack, John Kirk Foundoulis, Steven Jackson Foss
  • Patent number: 9651164
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator, which is arranged at a position opposing to a hydraulic control valve, has a movable-core chamber for movably accommodating a movable core and an air breathing passage for communicating the movable-core chamber to the atmosphere. An inside opening of the air breathing passage is formed in an inner wall of the movable-core chamber, while an outside opening of the air breathing passage is formed in an outer wall of the actuator, which is in contact with the atmosphere. The outside opening is formed at such a position out of an oil-splashing area, to which oil discharged from an oil-discharge port of the hydraulic control valve is directly splashed. According to the above structure, it is possible to prevent the oil discharged from the oil-discharge port from rushing into the movable-core chamber through the air breathing passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Arao