Patents Examined by Craig J. Price
  • Patent number: 11796081
    Abstract: A valve assembly having a bolt with a through hole for a security wire includes at least one valve of the valve assembly mechanically coupled to a pipe or to a section of another component of the valve assembly by a coupling or by a pair of mating flanges. At least one hollow bolt is bolted through a closing bolt hole of the coupling or a joining bolt hole of the pair of mating flanges. The at least one hollow bolt accepts a safety wire run completely through the hollow bolt in a longitudinal direction of the hollow bolt and extending completely through the closing bolt hole of the coupling or the joining bolt hole of the pair of mating flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Watts Regulator Co.
    Inventors: Peter J. Bertagna, Ian D. Baynes
  • Patent number: 11788641
    Abstract: Provided is a combination structure of an electronic water valve including an electromagnetic unit including a coil body and a yoke having an upper support plate and a lower support plate and which includes a valve body including an upper member and a lower member. The combination structure includes a locking long hole formed in each of opposite sides of the lower support plate, an elastic pressing rod that protrudes, a protrusion locking rod formed on each of opposite sides of an upper portion of the upper member, and a burr blocking member which is formed on an outer circumference of the upper member and which prevents a welding burr from being exposed to an outside of an outer circumference of the valve body through a gap of a friction welding portion, the welding burr being generated when friction welding of the upper member and the lower member is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: USEONG R&D CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soo-cheol Hah
  • Patent number: 11788684
    Abstract: A steam trap includes a replaceable condensate nozzle cartridge with a through passage forming a venturi nozzle in a straight-line working fluid flow path. The venturi through passage includes a venturi nozzle insert that reduces the pressure of the working fluid to cause the liquid water in the working fluid to flash and restrict the flow of steam through the passage. The condensate nozzle is located in a reduced pressure discharge chamber into which a nozzle outlet discharges water condensate extracted by the nozzle and emptied from a trap outlet. The reduced pressure discharge chamber has an access opening sealed by a removable cover to allow the nozzle cartridge to be removed and replaced if necessary, without removing the steam trap from the process line. Locating the removable nozzle cartridge in a lower pressure region of the steam trap overcomes rating limitations on prior steam traps with replaceable venturi nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: STEAMGARD, LLC
    Inventors: Constantine N. Stavropoulos, Charles N. Miller
  • Patent number: 11788631
    Abstract: A barrel valve assembly for a fluid distribution manifold. A barrel valve body has an off-axis passage with substantially linear walls therethrough, allowing for a substantially linear relationship between fluid flow through the body and angular rotation of the barrel valve within the manifold. The barrel valve thus requires a smaller working environment for the valve assembly, providing benefits in terms of assembly size and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam Drew Tankersley, Jesse Andrew Guzowski
  • Patent number: 11781664
    Abstract: An improved unloader valve assembly for a high-speed reciprocating compressor includes improved poppets and valve seat designs. The improved poppets and valve seats are useful for reducing or eliminating poppet leakage and high impact stresses on the sealing surfaces of the poppets, and are especially intended for use with high-speed reciprocating compressors operating at 1000 rpm and higher. A control chamber spacer plate for creating a control pressure chamber within the unloader valve assembly, and a valve seat cushioning plate for reducing stress on the head ends of the poppets are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ACI SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: W. Norman Shade, David W. Legg
  • Patent number: 11781661
    Abstract: A valve core for a faucet includes a casing, an immovable plate, a movable plate unit, a bracket, and a lever. The movable plate unit includes two pairs of coaxial movable plates and dials. The movable plates are disposed on top of the immovable plate. A restricting mechanism is disposed between one dial and the casing, and another restricting mechanism is disposed between the other dial and the bracket. When the lever is opened, the restricting mechanism is unlocked, and the lever is rotated to adjust the water temperature of a manual spray mode of the faucet. When the lever is closed, the restricting mechanism is locked, and the lever is rotated to adjust the water temperature of an automatic spray mode of the faucet. The water temperature adjustments of the manual spray mode and the automatic spray mode are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Xingui Zhang, Yihui Chen, Mouyong Lin
  • Patent number: 11781670
    Abstract: A rocker valve comprising a rocker valve mechanism in a valve body. The mechanism comprises a single pivot arm to which first and second plungers are pivotally fixed to act in opposition. The rocker valve includes a flexible seal member extending laterally across the first and second fluid ports and having a first sealing region attached to a plunger head of the first plunger and a second sealing region attached to a plunger head of the second plunger. When the single pivot arm is pivoted relative to the valve body, a rotation of at least one of the first and second plungers about its respective fixed pivot is constrained solely by the flexible seal member such that a lateral position of the plunger head is automatically adjusted by the flexible seal member to balance tensile forces in the flexible seal member around the plunger head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FAS MEDIC S.A.
    Inventors: Gilles Grandvallet, Raphael Alvarez, Julien Schneider
  • Patent number: 11767918
    Abstract: A singular piston included behind a valve seat within a gate valve assembly can be energized by external pressure through a hydraulic port within the valve body. When the back side of the singular piston is energized, the singular piston applies force in one direction against the adjacent valve seat, valve gate, opposing valve seat and valve seat pocket in both the valve open position and the valve closed position to block any unwanted matter from moving into the valve backside cavity. A singular piston has a pressure sealing surface and a piston pocket with an adjacent pressure sealing surface that allows the valve to seal in the closed position with the contained fluid bore pressure against the opposing valve body flow path side to the piston without the piston being energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Bobby Lee Koricanek
  • Patent number: 11761582
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a backpressure of a fluidic product is provided. The method includes pressurizing a first reservoir to a first predetermined pressure level using compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized first reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the first reservoir reaches a first predetermined level, pressurizing a second reservoir to a second predetermined pressure level using the compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized second reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the second reservoir reaches a second predetermined level, and controlling the backpressure of the fluidic product using the first reservoir and the second reservoir such that a discharge flow of the fluidic product is continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DHF AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Kurokawa, Toshiya Matsumoto, Kenji Yatabe, Isamu Umeda
  • Patent number: 11754199
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a body having spaced apart ports defining a flow passageway therebetween and a top surface. A valve is disposed in the flow passageway. A bonnet is coupled to the top surface of the body. A rising stem is supported by the bonnet and is operably coupled to the valve. A cap includes a bottom sealingly coupled to at least one of the body or the bonnet and an opening. The cap is disposed over the bonnet with the stem extending through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Crane ChemPharma & Energy Corp.
    Inventors: Alejandro Fratini, Samson Kay, Ranjit Bhalkar, Anubhay Sinha, Vivek Katkar
  • Patent number: 11749540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wafer processing system, a dual gate system, and methods for operating these systems. The dual gate system may have a shaft, a first gate and a second gate coupled to the shaft at opposite sides thereof, and an actuator coupled to the shaft. The actuator is configured to tilt together the shaft, the first gate, and the second gate to a first sealed gate position or to a second sealed gate position. The actuator can be operated using a pneumatic mechanism, an electro-magnetic mechanism, or a cam follower mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nir Merry, Jeff Hudgens
  • Patent number: 11739857
    Abstract: A conversion kit creates a redundant hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical control functionality for low-torque, quarter-turn plug valves in remote production environments (i.e., rural or subsea pipelines). The conversion kit comprises at least one custom end cap fitted to the valve and comprising a socket receiving a rotator attachment. Each rotator attachment is in turn connected to a crossover which connects to a bracket remotely actuated via hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical control. The linear movement of the bracket and the attached crossover[s] is converted to rotational force which is transmitted through the rotator attachments to the at least one valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: WRIGHT'S IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: David C. Wright
  • Patent number: 11732458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a siphon device with a bypass, comprising: a siphon upper section having a top coupling means for connecting to a drain outlet, a side drain opening having coupling means for connecting to a wastewater utility pipe, wherein the siphon upper section is adapted to enable a direct flow via the side drain opening and thereby to bypass a basin of the siphon, thus evacuating substantial volume of accumulated water directly into the wastewater utility pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Avraham Amzallag
  • Patent number: 11725377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an intake-end siphon flow regulator that allows for continuous operation in container liquids with entrained gases. A float actuated valve opens and closes as needed so that the siphon draws in container liquid. The float valve mechanism uses magnets that provide for a continuous valve cycling. This cycling overcomes gas build up that typically causes the siphon to fail. By disallowing extended periods of relatively low flow and pressure, the siphon builds up less gas bubbles that obstruct siphon operation. When the liquid rises enough, the float's buoyancy overcomes the magnetic attraction and the valve completely opens. The highest flow possible occurs and washes gases downstream. As the container liquid draws down, the magnets draw closer and when their magnetic fields interact, the magnets are drawn together, completely closing the valve. As liquid again enters the container, the aforementioned cycle repeats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Bradford A. Miley
  • Patent number: 11719348
    Abstract: An encapsulated valve system includes a first housing portion having a first facing surface, the first facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the first facing surface. The valve system further includes a second housing portion having a second facing surface, the second facing surface comprising a plurality of branch pathways formed as a recess within the second facing surface. A disposable conduit is configured to be interposed between the first and second housing portions and disposed within the recess of the first facing surface and the recess of the second facing surface. The disposable conduit is thus sandwiched between the first and second facing surfaces. A plurality of pinch valve actuators are mounted on one or both of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of pinch valve actuators configured to pinch the disposable conduit at selective branch pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Repligen Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Gagne, Steven V. Cates
  • Patent number: 11719373
    Abstract: A coupling for a break-away valve assembly includes a coupling and an adapter, the coupling including: a valve arranged in an annular body, the annular body having a valve seat including a first portion and a second portion, adjacent to the first portion, of greater internal diameter relative to the first portion, the valve being biased in a first direction to seal against the valve seat on disconnection of the coupling from the adapter, wherein the valve is biased in a second direction, and the valve is adapted to extend past the first portion into the second portion of the valve seat to release a volume of fluid if the pressure acting on the valve exceeds a predetermined surge pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MANN TEKNIK AB
    Inventors: Marcus Bäckström, Fredrik Adamsson
  • Patent number: 11718276
    Abstract: A double-use nozzle adapter includes a main body, a switch unit, and a needle unit. The switch unit includes a shifting member and two rigid retaining members. The rigid retaining members are arranged between the shifting member and the main body. The shifting member shifts the rigid retaining member between a first position and a second position. The needle unit is slidably installed in the main body and includes a needle. In the first position, the shifting member drives the rigid retaining member to press against the needle, thereby preventing the needle from moving with respect to the main body and making the needle connectable to a Schrader valve. In the second position, the rigid retaining member moves between the shifting member and the main body, so as to allow the needle to move with respect to the main body and make the needle connectable to a Presta valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Ying-Le Lin
  • Patent number: 11716968
    Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for watering livestock using a livestock waterer, a water source, and a waterer valve system for replenishing water in a water reservoir of the livestock waterer. A valve housing can be affixed to the water reservoir and coupled to a plunger. A cam can be pivotably coupled to the valve housing and one end of a float arm. A float component can be coupled to the opposite end of the float arm. Water from the water supply can enter the valve housing and exit an orifice in the valve housing along first and second side spouts. The float component can have a generally flat bottom and move vertically along with the water level within the water reservoir. As the float component moves vertically, the float arm pivots the cam. The cam can move the plunger in the valve housing to stop water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ritchie industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric David Sieverding, Tad D Upah, Robert John Amundson
  • Patent number: 11713829
    Abstract: A device for shutting off a pipe, the pipe allowing fluidic circulation of at least one fluid, the shut-off device having an in-line shut-off means for shutting off the pipe in a sealed manner and, conversely, for opening the pipe, an upstream valve arranged upstream of the in-line shut-off means, and a downstream valve arranged downstream of the in-line shut-off means. The shut-off device has an interlocking system for interlocking a member for tightly closing the in-line shut-off means with, for the one part, an upstream control member of the upstream valve and, for the other part, a downstream control member of the downstream valve, the interlocking system being movable in translation in a direction OX between a first end position and a second end position, the interlocking system having at least three separate parts assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: ONIS
    Inventors: Yann Fumanal, Adrien Flumiani
  • Patent number: 11712834
    Abstract: A valve unit includes a valve housing having an input line and an output line or the process pressure as well as a process guide shaft, an operating piston for closing and opening a connection between the two lines, two control lines and two control chambers for controlling the operating piston. The operating piston has a closing ring which in the closed state of the connection sealingly abuts a valve seat of the valve housing and it has a diameter which corresponds to a guide diameter of a dynamic process seal. The valve seat includes a softer and more elastic material than the sealing edge. The valve unit has low axial forces, due to low sealing forces, thus makes a long service life with a high number of cycles of operation possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Eugen Seitz AG
    Inventors: Marcel Ramsperger, Joachim Schmidt, Christian Elbs