Patents Examined by Arthur O. Hall
  • Patent number: 9873131
    Abstract: A method of atomizing a fluid using a pair of counter-rotating rollers including a first roller having grooves, the grooves enclosed by a pair of fins extending away from the first surface and a second roller having channels, the first and second rollers aligned with each other such that the grooves of the first roller mate with the channels of the second roller forming enclosures and nips. The method includes drawing the fluid from a fluid source through the nips, the nips having an upstream side and a downstream side, stretching the fluid between the diverging surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers on the downstream side of the nips to form fluid filaments, and forming fluid droplets from the stretched fluid filaments on the downstream side of the nips between the diverging surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Victor Alfred Beck, David Mathew Johnson
  • Patent number: 9874031
    Abstract: A drywall texture dispensing system includes an air gun that may be fluidly coupled to an air source. A reservoir is provided and the reservoir may contain a fluid. The reservoir is removably coupled to the air gun such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the air gun. The reservoir has a diameter that is less than approximately thirty cm. Thus, the reservoir facilitates the air gun to dispense the fluid in a restricted area. A lid is removably coupled to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Ignacio Villarreal
  • Patent number: 9873096
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a feed nozzle assembly 100 for atomizing a heavy hydrocarbon feed by mixing the hydrocarbon feed with a diluent and an atomizing media. The feed nozzle assembly 100 includes at least one primary mixing chambers 101 for receiving the liquid hydrocarbon feed and the diluent to create a primary mixture. The primary mixture is than forwarded to a secondary mixing chamber 102. The secondary mixing chamber extends to a tertiary mixing chamber 103. A steam inlet 110 is provided to inject streams of steam to the secondary mixing chamber 102 and to the tertiary mixing chamber 103 through a first opening and a second opening, respectively, located within the steam inlet 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Bidyut De, Pankaj Kumar Kasliwal, Debasis Bhattacharyya, Venkatachalam Krishnan, Santanam Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 9874128
    Abstract: A fluid injector includes a valve assembly constructed and arranged to control flow of fluid from an inlet to an outlet of the injector. A metal housing surrounds at least a portion of the valve assembly. A plastic body is molded over at least a portion of the housing. A distal end of the body defines an integral stepped portion extending from the body. A carrier surrounds at least the distal end of the body. A seal member is in contact with at least the stepped portion and a surface of the carrier to prevent liquid from entering a space between the housing and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. McFarland, Todd M. Detweiler, Keith A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 9874188
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to further improve the characteristic of the fuel spray of a fuel injection valve which has a plurality of stepped injection holes having a hole diameter of an outlet side injection hole larger than a hole diameter of an inlet side injection hole and which injects fuel from the stepped injection holes into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A cutout portion, which guides a flow of gas flowing into an outlet side injection hole from a lateral position of a fuel outlet of the outlet side injection hole during fuel injection, in a circumferential direction of the outlet side injection hole, is provided for at least one of both lateral portions between which the fuel outlet is interposed along with an arrangement direction of a plurality of injection holes, on a circumferential edge of the fuel outlet of the outlet side injection hole, in relation to at lease some of the injection holes of a fuel injection valve having the plurality of stepped injection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hisaki Ito, Noriyuki Takada, Tsutomu Kawae
  • Patent number: 9867339
    Abstract: A rigid wand receives water under pressure from a pump. A canister of larger diameter than the wand receives the water from the wand with impact on flow disruptive material promoting aeration by turbulence. A large number of peripheral outlet ports allow water to tumble out of the canister through the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher J. Newman
  • Patent number: 9868004
    Abstract: The fire hose and pump system is a fully duplex water management system adapted for use in firefighting. The fire hose and pump system pumps and delivers water during firefighting operations. The pump is reversible and can be used to remove water from the scene after firefighting operations have terminated. The fire hose and pump system further comprises a communication extender for improving communication reliability in a hazardous situation and an emergency lighting capability for low light situations. The fire hose and pump system comprises a modified hose, a pump system, and an electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher Crawley
  • Patent number: 9867329
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a first storage container mounted on a frame of the agricultural implement and configured to store a solid particulate agricultural product and a second storage container mounted on the frame and configured to store a liquid. The agricultural implement also includes at least one arm configured to extend laterally outward from the frame, and each of the at least one arms has at least one first nozzle for distributing the solid particulate agricultural product and at least one second nozzle for distributing the liquid. An air metering system includes an auger assembly configured to meter the solid particulate agricultural product from the first storage container into a pneumatic distribution hose, and an air flow in the pneumatic distribution hose is configured to transfer the solid particulate agricultural product toward the at least one first nozzle as the agricultural implement travels across a field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, John H. Posselius
  • Patent number: 9869251
    Abstract: An electric motor assisted airblast injector design for gas turbines is disclosed. The electric motor assisted airblast injector assembly consists of an airblast injector, a high speed electric motor and a compressor. The electric motor assisted airblast injector is designed to improve engine light-off and starting reliability without using a fuel staging system to incorporate pressure injectors. A high speed motor is activated during starting to drive a compressor for locally producing pressurized air without sacrificing combustor performance. The pressurized air exiting the air swirler with high velocity penetrates perpendicularly into the fuel spray cone obtained by orifices in the fuel swirler. The amount of pressurized air through the compressor is controlled by motor speed to match fuel starting schedule and produce fuel/air mixture within flammability limits. After engine starting, the high speed motor may cut off as sufficient air pressure differential is available across the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: DYC TURBINES, LLC
    Inventor: Daih-Yeou Chen
  • Patent number: 9868126
    Abstract: An electrostatic spray device capable of reducing a leakage current is provided. An electrostatic spray device 100 includes a spray electrode 1 configured to spray a material from an end thereof, a reference electrode 2 for allowing voltage application across the spray electrode 1 and the reference electrode 2, a dielectric 10 on which the spray electrode 1 and the reference electrode 2 are provided, and a gap section 11 provided on a surface of the dielectric 10 for providing on the surface of the dielectric 10 a detouring current path between the spray electrode 1 and the reference electrode 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Van Thanh Dau, Tibor Terebessy, Jude Anthony Watts
  • Patent number: 9861846
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a broadhead cutter activation mechanism and system inside of a fire extinguisher. The broadhead cutter device may be attached to a cutter shaft which is driven downward when the elastic potential energy is released form a spring system. The broadhead cutter device may be configured to pierce and open a burst disc to release the flow of an extinguishing agent under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Frasure, John Wright Porterfield
  • Patent number: 9861844
    Abstract: A method for fire prevention and/or fire fighting on board an aircraft comprises the steps detecting a fire event, leading an extinguishant to a fire source through a cooling-system piping system (12) which serves, in the normal operation of the aircraft, to supply a refrigerant to a cooling station (14a, 14b) and/or discharge a refrigerant from a cooling station (14a, 14b), and flooding the fire source with the extinguishant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Sieme, Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 9863385
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injector for use in delivering fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a nozzle having a valve needle which is movable with respect to a valve needle seat. The valve needle travels through a range of movement between a closed position and an open position to control fuel delivery through at least one nozzle outlet. The valve needle cooperates with a needle sleeve or a control member which is located in a piston guide. The valve needle is movable relative to the needle sleeve or the control member. The needle sleeve or the control member is movable relative to the piston guide. The invention also relates to a method of operating a fuel injector; and a fuel injector control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Mark S. Graham
  • Patent number: 9861993
    Abstract: A gyrating nozzle head spray gun includes grip including air inlet, valve seat, gas-delivery tube connected to valve seat and terminating in mating connection screw rod and trigger operable for letting external compressed air go into air inlet and gas-delivery tube, attachment tube connected to mating connection screw rod of the gas-delivery tube, gyrating nozzle head assembly including gas-supply tube connected to mating connection screw rod and suspended in attachment tube, bearing, cap, linking module and gyrating nozzle head mounted on one end of the gas-supply tube, and water-delivery tube having one end extended bottom of coupling hole of gas-delivery tube and connected to water tank for sucking in water and opposite end thereof inserted through gyrating nozzle head for ejecting fluid for creating mist of fine droplets upon ejection of compressed air through the gas-supply tube and oblique jet hole and central axle hole of the gyrating nozzle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Neutek International Inc.
    Inventor: Den-Nan Fu
  • Patent number: 9861720
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to a microfluidic delivery system that dispenses a fluid in a direction that, at least in part, opposes gravity. In one embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system includes a microfluidic refill cartridge that is configured to be placed in a housing. The microfluidic refill cartridge includes at least one nozzle that faces upward or off to a side. The microfluidic refill cartridge includes a fluid transport member that allows fluid to travel upward from a fluid reservoir in opposition to gravity. A fluid path is located above the fluid transport member placing an end of the fluid transport member in fluid communication with a chamber and a nozzle. In response to the microfluidic delivery system receiving an electrical signal, an ejection element is configured to cause fluid in the chamber to be expelled through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, Joe Scheffelin, Dave Hunt, Tim Hoekstra, Faiz Sherman, Steve Bush
  • Patent number: 9863380
    Abstract: When injection-hole inlets and injection-hole outlets are projected vertically onto an X-Y plane (N) perpendicular to a valve-seat axial center, an injection-hole arrangement angle (?), which is formed by a straight line (a) passing through a center of the injection-hole inlet of a reference injection hole and the valve-seat axial center and a straight line (b) passing through a center of the injection-hole inlet of the injection hole neighboring the reference injection hole and the valve-seat axial center on the plane (N), is set so as to become smaller as being closer to a Y-axis. A fuel turn angle (?) on a wide-angle side, which is formed by the straight line (a) and a straight line (c) passing through a center of the injection-hole inlet and a center of the injection-hole outlet on the plane (N), has a relationship: 90°<?<180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukitaka Sakata, Tsuyoshi Munezane, Naoya Hashii, Keisuke Ito, Kyosuke Watanabe, Shota Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9863128
    Abstract: An adjustable jet valve includes a valve body containing a cold water opening, a hot water opening and a mixed water opening for outputting mixed water; a spray nozzle arranged in the valve body includes a cold water inlet and a cold water outlet connected to a cold water channel of a valve by means of the cold water opening; a spray needle assembled inside the spray nozzle forms a cold water inflow space with an inner chamber of the spray nozzle, and forms a cold water spray outlet with the cold water outlet of the spray nozzle; and a throat pipe connected to the mixed water opening of the valve body for guiding the mixed water to flow into a device using mixed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU SEAGULL KITCHEN AND BATH PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xunping Yuan, Zhiqiang Tang
  • Patent number: 9863127
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting having an outlet contains an outlet end which is formed in a substantially tubular manner. In this tubular end there is arranged a shut-off valve having a cartridge, water flowing through the center of said shut-off valve. A rotary shaft serves to rotate and thus actuate the valve cartridge. The rotary shaft is arranged and mounted inside a mounting sleeve which contains an outlet element at its outlet-side end. An external sleeve, which forms a flush continuation of the fitting housing, serves to rotate the rotary shaft. The sleeve is connected to the rotary shaft by a radial pin which engages through an arcuate slot that extends in the circumferential direction. When the sleeve is rotated, the position and setting of the outlet element remains the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hansgrohe SE
    Inventors: Matthias Balkau, Joachim Blattner, Ulrich Kinle, Marcus Wöhrle
  • Patent number: 9856842
    Abstract: A fuel injection device includes a nozzle needle, an actuator for actuating the nozzle needle, a force sensor for detecting a force applied by the actuator, and a control unit which is connected to the force sensor. The force sensor supplies signals to the control unit and the control unit is designed for determining a position of the nozzle needle and for precisely determining an injected fuel quantity, based on the supplied signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Gernot Wuerfel, Ingo Pietsch, Ingo Kerkamm, Andreas Jakobi
  • Patent number: 9855572
    Abstract: A mixing and dispensing device comprising an outer casing including a body portion, a handle portion, and a nozzle portion with a nozzle. A mixing manifold disposed in the body portion including a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the nozzle. Canisters within the body portion each including a valve connected to the mixing manifold movable between preventing and providing fluid communication between the canister and the mixing chamber. A trigger disposed within the handle portion and configured to move from a trigger passive to dispensing position causing the valves of each canister to move from a valve passive position to the valve dispensing position. A pull safety including a central cover and a tail tip removably disposed on the outer casing such that the central cover occludes the nozzle and the tail tip prevents movement of the trigger from the trigger passive position to the trigger dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Decon7 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Bluhm, Meggie L. Oudheusden, Mark R. Clark, Joseph R. Drake, Thomas William Murray, Jonathan D. Albert