Patents Examined by Craig J. Price
  • Patent number: 10837570
    Abstract: A valve for closing a fluid line, comprising: an inlet element with an inlet line; an outlet element with an outlet line; a closing element which, in a first state, allows a fluid passage between the inlet line and the outlet line and which, in a second state, closes the fluid passage, wherein the closing element, in the first state, is fixedly connected to the inlet element or the outlet element and, in the second state, is detached from the inlet element or the outlet element; an actuator which, when actuated, is configured to move the closing element from the first state towards the second state; and a pretension element which is pretensioned and is configured to move the closing element into the second state after actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Kraus, Thomas Maier, Markus Wolf, Georg Schulte
  • Patent number: 10828982
    Abstract: A fuel tank system constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a saddle fuel tank, a control module, a first and second solenoid, and a first and second vent line. The saddle fuel tank can have a first lobe and a second lobe. The first vent line can have a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank. The first solenoid is configured to open and close the first vent port. The second vent line can have a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank. The second solenoid is configured to open and close the second vent port. The control module sends a signal to the first and second solenoids to close the first and second vents upon reaching a full fuel condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Vaughn K. Mills
  • Patent number: 10823309
    Abstract: Retractable handle assembly used in a valve of an Intermediate bulk container (IBC) includes a valve body, a valve core, and a valve stem. The valve stem is used to drive the valve core to move so as to open/close the valve. The handle of the handle assembly is connected to the valve stem and can be rotated around the central rotating axis of the valve stem. When the valve needs to be opened/closed, the handle is rotated around the central rotating axis to a deployed state to open/close the valve. The handle is rotated around the central rotating axis to a retracted state so as to reduce the space occupied by the valve for the valve to be welded to the liner bag or installed to IBC. The handle can be switched between a deployed state and a retracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO. LTD
    Inventors: Zhengwei Fang, Zuocheng Qian, Kai Gong, Qingxin Liao
  • Patent number: 10816096
    Abstract: To achieve a compactly designed, simple and robust control valve for a hydrodynamic torque generator which is linear over a wide adjustment range, the control channel (12) of the control valve is formed in such a way that a substantially linear relationship between valve position (?) and flow ({dot over (V)}) is achieved by rotating the valve body (6) between a first valve position (?1), which differs from the closed position, and a second valve position (?2) with a larger flow ({dot over (V)}) than in the first position (?1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Eitzinger, Hannes Gruber, Martin Monschein
  • Patent number: 10806105
    Abstract: A spray boom includes a body having a length defined a first end and a second end thereof. The body is formed by a plurality of layers of composite material adapted to be molded together to form an inner surface and an outer surface. A hollow cavity is defined in the body internally of the inner surface, and a channel is formed in the body between the inner surface and the outer surface. The channel extends along the length and is defined between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Patrick M. Murphy
  • Patent number: 10801751
    Abstract: A system and method of operating a water supply system with one or more water consuming appliances is provided. The water supply system includes a hot water heater for supplying a flow of heated water through a supply conduit to at least one water consuming appliance. The water consuming appliance receives the flow of heated water and provides an indication of a fault condition if excessive water accumulates in the appliance, which might indicate a malfunction with a drain pump or a water supply valve. A safety shutoff valve is positioned on the supply conduit and is in operative communication with the water consuming appliance. The safety shutoff valve is configured for stopping the flow of heated water when it receives the indication of the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Joseph Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10801629
    Abstract: A solenoid device includes a yoke, a core, a shaft, a bobbin, a coil, a plunger, a lid, and a housing. A housing body part of the housing has a first opening; a cylindrical first inner wall part having a first step part extending toward the outer side in the radial direction; and a cylindrical second inner wall part having a second step part extending toward the outer side in the radial direction. A first cylindrical part has a first flange part. The outer diameter of the first flange part is larger than the inner diameter of the first inner wall part and smaller than the inner diameter of the second inner wall part. A circumferential end part of the first flange part contacts the second step part. The lid is non-magnetic, and a circumferential edge part is held between the first step part and the first flange part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC TOSOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Kuramochi, Weiming Chen, Tomohiro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 10794513
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an overload protection valve for automatic release of a load. The valve may include an outer housing having an end wall, a cam, and inner slide, and an overload spring. The inner slide may include a side wall, a shelf area, an internal barrier, an inlet and an outlet. Each of the inlet and outlet may include an opening through the side wall, and the inlet and the outlet may be separated by the internal barrier. The overload spring may be arranged between the end wall and the shelf area, and may define a load on the valve which will cause the valve to open. The cam may be configured such that when the valve is closed, the defined load will cause the cam to rotate thereby allowing the openings of the inlet and outlet to be in fluid communication and open the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Loon LLC
    Inventor: Mathew Tabor
  • Patent number: 10781936
    Abstract: A valve has a valve housing in which a closure element having at least one sleeve section is movable along its sleeve longitudinal axis by an actuator to open and close a fluid connection between a fluid inlet and outlet. The actuator has stationary and movable parts relative to the valve housing. At least the movable parts and the closure element are arranged entirely within an enclosed fluid space between the fluid inlet and outlet. To close the fluid connection spaced first and second seal devices of a double-sealed seat are in sealing contact with equally-spaced first and second counter-seal devices on the valve housing along first and second closed seating lines, respectively. With regard to the at least one double-seal seat, the ratio between first and second areas enclosed by first and second sealing lines in projection along the sleeve longitudinal axis, respectively, is between 6/10 and 10/6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Eugen Seitz AG
    Inventors: Marcel Ramsperger, Guenter Morawietz
  • Patent number: 10781804
    Abstract: A displacement control valve is provided for discharging liquid refrigerant in a control chamber at startup and achieves a reduction in startup time and an improvement in operating efficiency during control of a variable displacement compressor simultaneously. The opening area between communicating holes in a third valve section and a third valve seat surface in a control area to control the flow rate or pressure in a working control chamber is set smaller than the area of auxiliary communicating passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Higashidozono, Masahiro Hayama, Kohei Fukudome, Daichi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10781806
    Abstract: A compressor valve may include a guard and a seat affixed thereto. The seat may have an inlet surface and an outlet surface opposite the inlet surface. A reconditioning limit indicator may be defined by or adjacent the outlet surface. The reconditioning limit indicator may be indicative of a maximum amount of material of the seat removable from the outlet surface during reconditioning of the seat. The reconditioning limit indicator may be a groove defined by the outer cylindrical surface of the seat, a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of the seat adjacent the outlet surface and having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the seat, or a predetermined shape of a predetermined depth machined on the outlet surface of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn D. Hatch, Joel T. Sanford, Jeffrey Pennypacker
  • Patent number: 10774933
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet spaced from each other, a first chamber defining the inlet, a second chamber defining the outlet, and a valve seat disposed between the first and second chambers, wherein fluid communicates between the first and second chambers. A valve head is disposed in the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an open position spaced from the valve seat and a closed position engaged with the valve seat. A valve stem is coupled to the valve head for moving the valve head between the open and closed positions. The valve stem is coupled to the valve head and rotatably and reciprocally movable for moving the valve head between the open and closed positions. A retainer plate is coupled to the valve head and a valve seal is disposed between the valve head and the retainer plate. The valve head includes an integrally formed rivet that secures the retainer plate to the valve head, thereby retaining the valve seal to the valve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Marshall Excelsior Co.
    Inventors: James C. Zuck, Alex L. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10767766
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid valve assembly with an outlet base dimensioned to be positioned through a drain in a fluid tank, and a float assembly including a moveable float. The moveable float can form a fluid-tight seal at a first end when the moveable float is coupled to the outlet base, and a flow opening when the moveable float is at least partially decoupled from the outlet base. Some embodiments include a housing positioned with the moveable float, where the housing encloses a suction device coupled to a moveable piston. Some embodiments include an actuable diaphragm positioned in the outlet base, and a compressed air tube or passageway coupled to one side the actuable diaphragm. In some embodiments, the actuable diaphragm is configured and arranged to be actuated by compressed air to move the moveable piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
  • Patent number: 10766760
    Abstract: In an example, a method of supplying fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle includes supplying, via a fuel line, fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle at an initial rate of fuel flow, which causes an electrostatic charge to accumulate on a surface of the fuel in the fuel tank. The method also includes exposing an air medium in the fuel tank to ionizing radiation to increase a level of ionization of an air medium in the fuel tank and increase a rate of dissipation of the electrostatic charge. The method includes determining the level of ionization of the air medium in the fuel tank, and determining an increased rate of fuel flow based on a difference between the determined level of ionization and a baseline level of ionization. The method further includes supplying the fuel to the fuel tank at the increased rate of fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Tillotson, Carol Elizabeth Anway
  • Patent number: 10767802
    Abstract: Provided is a plug device which includes: a body portion; and a valve element portion. A fluid flow passage is formed in the body portion. The fluid flow passage extends along an axis, and has a valve hole at one end thereof. The valve element portion is accommodated in the body portion in an advancing and retracting manner along the axis. A proximal end portion of the valve element portion is made of a conductive fluororesin material containing a fluororesin material and carbon nanotubes dispersed in the fluororesin material. The proximal end portion is conductive with a conductive member maintained at a ground potential. A volume resistivity of the conductive fluororesin material falls within a range of larger than 1.0x×103 ?·cm and less than 1.0×104 ?·cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 10753250
    Abstract: An improved venting and/or air admission valve for an operating fluid reservoir, wherein different shutoff levels (SOH) can be achieved. The venting and/or air admission valve is distinguished by the fact that it comprises an adapter, which can be fastened on an operating fluid reservoir wall, and that a valve housing of the venting and/or air admission valve can be fastened on the adapter in such a way that the adapter is arranged between the operating fluid reservoir wall and the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Poul Hedevang
  • Patent number: 10745267
    Abstract: An intermediate storage tank assembly can include a filling line; a filling machine; and an end-valve assembly. In some embodiments, the intermediate storage tank assembly comprises a switch arranged between said filling machine and said end-valve assembly for detecting a level of product and in response thereto stopping a priming of intermediate storage tank thereby preventing product from reaching said end-valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Johannes Van Ballekom
  • Patent number: 10746317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (10, 50, 52) for operating a pressurizing medium driven actuator of a process control valve for technical process equipment, comprising a valve seat (14) in a basic valve body (48), a closing body (12) and an electromagnetic drive (18, 30), which closing body (12) is ball -shaped and cooperates with a valve seat (14) so as to block the flow from an inlet side to an outlet side, said closing body (12) cooperating with a piston surface (20) which can be moved within a piston chamber (25) connected to the inlet side, characterized in that a connecting element (17) is provided between the closing body (12) and the piston surface (20) which is actively connected to an armature (18) of an electromagnetic linear direct drive, with a coil assembly (30) being embedded in the basic valve body (28) and a magnetic field with alternating polarity in the axial direction being present at the armature (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSON AG
    Inventor: Stefan Kolbenschlag
  • Patent number: 10738909
    Abstract: A fuel tank valve having: a housing that is arranged in a fuel tank and has a communication port communicating with an outside of the fuel tank; and a float valve body that is installed in the housing and closes the communication port when fuel in the housing increases, where a wall part of the housing has an opening part through which the fuel flows in and out, and a projecting part that is formed to correspond to the opening part and projects outwardly from the wall part, and the projecting part is separated above from the opening part by a predetermined distance, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Nakaya, Toshinori Seki, Kenichiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10737861
    Abstract: A spout for use with a flexible bag and a flexible bag having a spout. The spout includes a threadform that extends about the outer surface. The threadform includes opposing threadforms that are of different configurations. Additionally, the insert member includes a poppet and a spring member to maintain the poppet in a configuration that precludes the passage of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Scholle IPN Corporation
    Inventor: Kyle Erickson