Patents Examined by Christopher D Ballman
  • Patent number: 11673104
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes mixing apparatuses comprising a pipe having an internal channel having a convergent frustoconical portion, and a divergent portion. The divergent portion may comprise a divergent frustoconical portion and an annular, concave curved portion. A plurality of injection ports may be spaced circumferentially in the convergent frustoconical portion and communicate a liquid into internal channel. The plurality of injection ports may define an opening in the internal channel having a first dimension in a circumferential direction that is larger than a second dimension in a longitudinal direction. The injection mixer may be configured to mix a first fluid flowing through the pipe with the second fluid to form a fully homogenous, dispersed fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PRODUCED WATER ABSORBENTS INC.
    Inventors: John Sabey, William Jagers, Yuecun Lou, Tommie Jackson, III
  • Patent number: 11673534
    Abstract: A sensor protection apparatus includes a first sensor cover movable between a sensor covering position and a first cover waiting position; a second sensor cover movable between the sensor covering position and a second cover waiting position, wherein each of the first and second sensor covers is located at the sensor covering position for protecting the surface of the sensor from being contaminated by foreign matter; and an actuator configured to move the first and second sensor covers such that the first sensor cover and the second sensor cover are alternately located at the sensor covering positions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hwi-Sung Jung, Jeong-Ho Lee, Jae-Wung Seo, Byung-Kyu Yoon, Sang-Hyeok Seo, Seon-Min Kim
  • Patent number: 11649897
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a valve plug apparatus for use with control valves. An example valve plug apparatus disclosed herein an upper plug segment, a middle plug segment, and a lower plug segment, the middle plug segment positioned between the upper plug segment and the lower plug segment, the upper plug segment, the middle plug segment and the lower plug segment defining an overall length of the valve plug, the middle plug segment removably coupled to the upper plug segment and the lower plug segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan W Richardson
  • Patent number: 11642635
    Abstract: A chemical liquid dilution system includes a first material offering device providing fluid, a second material offering device, and a mixing device. The second material offering device provides liquid. The mixing device includes a fluid mixer, a first connection port, a second connection port, and an output port. The fluid mixer has a fluid limiting channel with an interface communicating with the first connection port and another interface communicating with the second connection port and the output port. The first connection port is connected to the first material offering device. The second connection port is connected to the second material offering device. After the fluid passes through the first connection port and the fluid limiting channel, the fluid and liquid are mixed up to form a diluted chemical liquid, and the output port discharges the diluted chemical liquid. A chemical liquid dilution method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TRUSVAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Pao Chien, Yao-Tai Yang, Chu-Chiao Kung
  • Patent number: 11635016
    Abstract: A seal for use in a fluid control valve includes: a first, elastically deformable, plastic part; and a second plastic part configured as a hard seal element and connected to the first plastic part. The first and the second plastic parts form a seal assembly having a first frontal end configured to bear in a sealing manner on an actuatable valve body of the fluid control valve, and a second frontal end configured to bear in a sealing manner on a valve housing of the fluid control valve, wherein at least the first frontal end has a first end side having an encircling projecting bead configured to seal against the actuatable valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Alexandru Popa
  • Patent number: 11624447
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides: at least one component of a rotary valve subassembly; a rotary valve assembly including the rotary valve subassembly; a hydraulic circuit including the rotary valve assembly; an assembly including a robot that incorporates the hydraulic circuit; and a method of operating the rotary valve assembly. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a spool. The at least one component of the rotary valve subassembly includes a sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Christopher Everett Thorne, John Aaron Saunders
  • Patent number: 11624455
    Abstract: A valve trim includes a body having a plurality of parallel flow passages extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, opposite the first end. Each flow passage includes a throat and an expansion chamber and each throat is nested between the expansion chambers of directly adjacent flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Jason D. Jablonski
  • Patent number: 11619313
    Abstract: A valve upper part for insertion into a sanitary fitting includes a head piece in which a spindle is pivotably mounted, the first end of the spindle projecting from the head piece and the second end thereof engaging via a pin with a control element which is in contact with a stationary passage disc, wherein the passage disc has at least two passage openings and wherein the control element is designed as an adjusting block which is dimensioned such that it can be used to seal at least one passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Fluehs Drehtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Wendt
  • Patent number: 11614174
    Abstract: The fluid channel structure includes a base and a connector. The base includes a first side surface defining at least three first openings, and a second side surface defining at least three second openings, each of the at least three first openings is communicated to one corresponding second opening to form a first inlet channel, a second inlet channel, and an outlet channel, inner surfaces of the first inlet channel, the second inlet channel, and the outlet channel are provided with threaded connecting elements. The at least three through holes are in one-to-one correspondence with the at least three first openings and communicated to corresponding second openings. The present disclosure further provides a valve core assembly and a tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Chunhe Qiu
  • Patent number: 11614173
    Abstract: A multi-passage coolant valve may include an outer housing including an outer body formed with a first outer inlet, a second outer inlet, a first outer outlet, and a second outer outlet, and an auxiliary body formed with a third outer outlet, and an inner housing rotatably provided in the outer housing. As the inner housing rotates by a predetermined angle, the first outer inlet and the first outer outlet are fluidly communicated with each other, the first outer inlet and the second outer outlet communicate with each other, and the second outer inlet and the third outer outlet communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 11598449
    Abstract: A control valve a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a valve seat between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A valve plug is positioned within the body and movable between a closed position, in which the valve plug sealingly engages the valve seat, and an open position, in which the valve plug is spaced away from the valve seat. A cage is disposed within the body adjacent the valve seat. The cage includes a cage wall having a throttling inlet and a throttling outlet, which are connected by a throttling passageway. The throttling passageway has a radial direction, an axial direction, and an angular direction between the throttling inlet and the throttling outlet. The passageway includes a plurality of vena contracta and a plurality of pressure recovery chambers, which form a plurality of pressure reducing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sempell GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Von Der Lieck, Peter Ens, Marc Pollmann
  • Patent number: 11598441
    Abstract: A coolant control valve is provided that includes at least one actuator, a first rotary valve body and a second rotary valve body, each rotary valve body driveably connected to the at least one actuator. The second rotary valve body is arranged non-coaxially to the first rotary valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ashish Karve
  • Patent number: 11566741
    Abstract: A multi-fitting rotatable fluid connection apparatus comprising a fluid entry fitting and first and second fluid discharge fittings. The fluid entry fitting comprises a first end connector threaded for attachment to a fluid source, and first and second distribution connectors. The first fluid discharge fitting has a first intake connector which receives fluid from the first distribution connector. A first rotation member is coupled between the first intake connector and the first distribution connector such that the first fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The second fluid discharge fitting has a second intake connector which receives fluid from the second distribution connector. A second rotation member is coupled between the second intake connector and the second distribution connector such that the second fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a second axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Swan Products, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. O'Connor, Erick Williams
  • Patent number: 11562726
    Abstract: Plates and plate assemblies for noise attenuators and other devices and methods of making the same are described herein. An example plate assembly includes a support frame to be coupled to a body of the noise attenuator. The support frame has a plurality of radially extending ribs. The plate assembly also includes a disc-shaped plate having a plurality of openings forming flow paths to attenuate noise. The disc-shaped plate is coupled to the support frame such that pressure-induced loads on the disc-shaped plate are distributed to the plurality of radially extending ribs of the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Diaz, Doug Scheffler, Roy Ronald Pelfrey
  • Patent number: 11549502
    Abstract: A valved manifold module is disclosed, constructed and arranged to be readily connected in a chain with similar modules to form a manifold assembly. The modular manifolds allows for expansion or modification of the manifold assembly to control a group of pneumatically or hydraulically driven pumps, valves or combinations thereof in a liquid flow control apparatus. The valved manifold module can be configured to accept a group of four substantially identical valve assemblies, and can be controlled by a local controller mounted to the manifold module, thus forming an independently programmable valved manifold module. The resulting modular system is expandable to allow for coordinated operations of a liquid flow control system, using substantially independent controller functions originating at the manifold assembly level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Timothy D. Moreau, Richard J. Lanigan, Michael A. Baker, David Blumberg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11549599
    Abstract: A diverter valve is provided for use in directing a flow of bulk material from a source to at least one receiver. Included in the present diverter valve is an inlet housing having an inlet port and partially defining a valve chamber, an outlet housing connected to the inlet housing, having at least one outlet port and defining an end of the valve chamber. A rotating disc is rotatably disposed in the chamber and constructed and arranged for selectively creating fluid communication between the inlet port and diverting the flow to a selected one of the at least one outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CYCLONAIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Michael Schmid, Zackary James Bonick
  • Patent number: 11536414
    Abstract: A pig trap of this disclosure may include one or more injectors or nozzles located along a sidewall of the barrel and oriented to deliver a jet of fluid toward a back side of a vertical member of a pig or tool. The nozzle may be part of an assembly that includes a longitudinally extending pipe having a flat-profile flange at an inlet end, a curved-profile flange at the nozzle end, and a bend in between the two ends. When the assembly is installed in a sidewall opening of a pig trap, the nozzle delivers a jet of fluid toward the back side of a vertical member of the pig. A leak path may be provided through flanges or formed between the sidewall opening and a periphery of the curved-profile flange. Launch forces of more than 10 to 15 times that of a conventional launcher may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Poe, Woody Smith, David Turner
  • Patent number: 11517862
    Abstract: A fluid mixing assembly includes a connecting cap, a three-way pipe and a connecting member; the connecting cap has a first connecting portion; the three-way pipe is connected to the connecting cap, and has a second connecting portion, an output portion and a cavity, wherein the second connecting portion, the output portion and the cavity communicate with each other; the connecting member is connected to the connecting cap, and has a pin-hole channel, wherein the pin-hole channel has a first end bore and a second end bore opposite to the first end bore, the first end bore communicates with the first connecting portion, and the second end bore communicates with the second connecting portion and the output portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TRUSVAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Pao Chien, Yao-Tai Yang
  • Patent number: 11512785
    Abstract: An electrically operated valve capable of quickly achieving reliable switching between multiple flow paths. The electrically operated valve includes a driving mechanism, an executing mechanism and a valve body assembly, wherein the driving mechanism includes a bushing and an output shaft located in the bushing, the executing mechanism includes a valve stem connected to the output shaft and a valve core connected to the valve stem, and the valve core is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel; the valve body assembly includes a valve body and a valve seat, the bushing forms a space isolated from the outside, the output shaft and a connecting portion between the valve stem and the output shaft are located in this space, and the valve body has a cavity, four through holes and a plug port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuai Cheng, Ze Li, Hong Yuan, Dun Xia, Xiaolong Wang, Shuiqing Liang
  • Patent number: 11506305
    Abstract: A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet apertures. At least a portion of the intermediate section extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, such that the flow paths are able to utilize previously un-used space in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. McCarty, Thomas N. Gabriel