Patents Examined by Craig Price
  • Patent number: 7806135
    Abstract: A variable flow valve includes a housing, a valve element, an urging member, a first valve, a second valve, and a guide flow passage. The housing has an inlet opening, and an outlet opening. The first valve and second valve are formed between the valve element and the housing. The valve element has a separator wall. The separator wall separates the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and makes the second valve together with the housing. The guide flow passage is disposed on an inlet-opening side of the separator wall, and connects the inlet opening with the outlet opening when the separator wall moves to open the communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The variable flow valve can make fluids flow without generating any turbulent flow, and can cope with the increment/decrement of required breather-gas flow volume more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7806133
    Abstract: A controller and method of using same are disclosed. Preferably, the controller includes a pilot cartridge housing supporting an invertible pilot cartridge assembly (“cartridge”). The cartridge preferably includes a cartridge body supporting a number of pneumatic seals adjacent the housing, wherein at least two of the seals are diaphragms. The cartridge preferably provides a first pilot activation feature and an opposing second pilot activation feature. The operating mode of the cartridge is determined by a selected orientation of the first pilot activation feature relative to the housing; and preferably the method of operating the controller includes the steps of: selecting an orientation of the first pilot activation feature relative to the housing; setting a span control mechanism to a neutral position relative to the housing; adjusting a float communicating with the cartridge to a neutral position; and adjusting said span control mechanism to determine a response type of said cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Amy C. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7802587
    Abstract: A valve and method allows efficient closure for a pipe containing liquid. The valve in the preferred form is operated by a float in a sump pit should the sump pump fail to operate. The float is lifted by rising water and an arm attached to the float is supported on rollers when the valve is normally open turns to disengage from the rollers to close the valve. A shaft positioned in the conduit is attached to a cap which reacts to the expansion of a spring to thus close the end of the conduit and prevent further liquid flow therethrough. An audible alarm system sounds as the rising liquid level reaches a water sensor on the valve to warn a homeowner or building occupant. The alarm also sounds when a manual test switch is closed or if the smoke sensor is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Ralph A. Ball
  • Patent number: 7798173
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically controllable valve accommodating in its valve housing (4) a second valve member (6) that is operable by the first valve member (2) in order to be able to variably adjust a second valve opening cross-section (A2) that is arranged in series to the first valve opening cross-section (A1), and a third valve opening cross-section (A3) that is releasable by means of the first valve member (2) is positioned in series arrangement to the first valve opening cross-section (A1) in order to limit the hydraulic pressure to a mechanically preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans-Jörg Feigel
  • Patent number: 7798171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve having a first assembly cooperating with a second assembly to create a seal, wherein the first assembly opens before the second assembly opens and closes after the second assembly closes. The invention also relates to a valve wherein the pressure required to open the second assembly is greater than the pressure required to open the first assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Lab Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Gabriel, Neil E. Campbell, Dale Murray, Rodney Gerringer, Edward K. Eldreth
  • Patent number: 7793682
    Abstract: A valve assembly (10) able to be mounted with a liquid container, the valve assembly comprising: a housing (20) having a passageway (60) that extends through the housing; a breather float valve (80) mounted within the housing, the breather float valve movable between an open position to allow gas to pass through the passageway and a closed position that prevents liquid from passing through the passageway; a liquid inlet (30), forming part of the housing, the liquid inlet allowing fluid to pass into the housing; and an inlet float valve (41) mounted within the housing, the inlet float valve movable between an open position that permits the flow of liquid through the liquid inlet and a closed position that prevents the flow of fluid through the liquid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Peter Martin Smit
  • Patent number: 7784484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel leakage preventing valve, involving no variations in valve closing characteristics, in which a vertically movable float valve is arranged in a chamber defined inside a housing and in which a valve seat of the housing communicating with an outside is opened and closed by the float valve, which has a protruding step portion formed upwardly at the center of an upper surface of the float valve, a retainer fixed to the upper surface side of the float valve, the retainer having a flange portion covering the upper surface of the float valve and a cage portion raised from the flange portion to define an accommodating space in conjunction with the protruding step portion of the float valve; and a valve body for opening and closing the valve seat of the housing is rockably accommodated in the accommodating space defined by the cage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Piolax Inc., Horie Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Furuya
  • Patent number: 7779867
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a miniature valve, which includes a valve body comprising an inflow channel, an outflow channel and a liquid chamber, and a close assembly comprising a driver, a rocker and a valve film. The close assembly connects to the valve body and is configured to selectively close the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The rocker can be driven by the driver to move, so that the movement thereof acts on the valve film and makes the valve film selectively close the channel. The rocker and the valve film are separate components. The valve film, an elastic film locating in the liquid chamber, has a size configured to cover the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The miniature valve according to the present invention doesn't have interior dead area and has a slight effect on liquid fluctuation when switching channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yushen Bai
  • Patent number: 7779853
    Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve particularly for electro-hydraulic transmissions. The valve includes a cage having pump, clutch, and tank port openings. A spool is received within the cage for controlling flow between the clutch port and the pump and tank ports of the system. The spool has a feedback pressure surface responsive to an applied feedback fluid pressure urging the spool to move towards a first position allowing flow between the clutch and tank ports. A feedback pressure chamber is defined within the cage for developing the feedback fluid pressure. A clutch port pressure feedback passage couples the clutch port with the feedback pressure chamber for admitting flow from the clutch port into the feedback pressure chamber to develop the feedback fluid pressure. The clutch port pressure feedback passage is formed within the cage wall to couple the control pressure chamber in fluid communication with the system clutch port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Reilly, Kevin J. Cassaidy
  • Patent number: 7770594
    Abstract: A liquid exhaust valve gear includes a housing divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by being partitioned by a partition plate having an opening portion, and a float slidably contained at inside of the lower chamber and moved up by receiving liquid inside of the hermetically sealed vessel. An upper end portion of the float is provided with valve means for closing the opening portion of the partition plate in accordance with moving up the float, further, a partition wall in a cylindrical shape is provided to extend in an upper direction from a peripheral edge of the opening portion at inside of the upper chamber, the partition wall is opposed to an opening of an exhaust port, and a notched portion which is not opposed to the opening of the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Morihiko Kishi
  • Patent number: 7770593
    Abstract: A bleed valve which is intended for the fuel tank of a vehicle has a housing, a floating body disposed in such a manner as to be able to move in the longitudinal direction. A rim of an outlet orifice forms a valve seat for a sealing element which is supported by a support disc, wherein the support disc is articulated in a cardanic manner on the floating body. The sealing element is disposed in such a manner as to be able to move according to the movement of the floating body between a position which closes the outlet orifice and a position which opens same, wherein as a result of the said articulation of the support disc on the floating body positional changes, e.g. inclined positions, which are caused by the drive operation of the vehicle do not impair the sealing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: A. Kayser Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Erhard Moses
  • Patent number: 7762273
    Abstract: The object of the present invention relates to a venting device, which can be connected to a tank containing air and water. The device comprises a first venting path for the air and first intercepting means, set along this, which are suitable for closing the first path. The device also comprises a second venting path for the water and second intercepting means, set along this, which are suitable for opening the second passage to deliver the water. The first intercepting means can be influenced by the water to go from the open configuration to the closed configuration, so that when the air has been vented out, the water reaches a set greater pressure limit, opens the second intercepting means and can be delivered outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: OLAB S.r.l.
    Inventor: Cesare Bottura
  • Patent number: 7762271
    Abstract: A material delivery support device is provided for supporting a tubular delivery system from an outermost end of an extendable boom arm. The material delivery support device includes a rigid support arrangement having an upper rigid portion attached to the outermost end of the boom arm, and a lower rigid portion secured to the tubular material delivery system below the upper rigid portion. A flexible support assembly extends between the upper and lower rigid portions and surrounds the tubular material delivery system. The tubular material delivery system is substantially supported from the upper rigid portion of the rigid support arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Putzmeister, Inc.
    Inventor: Carsten Funk
  • Patent number: 7757709
    Abstract: The integrated jet fluid level shutoff sensor vent assembly is designed for use in conjunction with a non-pressurizing tank fast fill system, and to support automatic shutoff fast fill refueling of vehicles. The integrated jet fluid level shutoff sensor vent assembly is mounted to a fuel tank and exposed inside the fuel tank for sensing a predetermined level of fuel within the fuel tank and allowing fully vented refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Adel Wiggins Group
    Inventor: Jose Cortez
  • Patent number: 7753069
    Abstract: A drain valve for a vehicle compressed air system, which separates dirt, water, debris and other relatively heavy objects from a compressed air stream. The drain valve includes a sump with a tangential inlet. The tangential inlet creates a vortex within the sump that collects relatively heavy objects at the bottom of the sump and allows the compressed air to exit the drain valve through an outlet port located at the top of the drain valve. A pressure actuated valve and drain port allows for the water to be discharged from the drain valve while retaining the pneumatic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Randall W. Nichols, Fred W. Hoffman, Leonard A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 7748397
    Abstract: An assembly of two components configured to be in contact with hydrocarbons, and a fuel tank including the assembly. The assembly includes a casing or a retaining member fastened to the casing, each of the two components including at least one fastening part configured to interact, and at least one of the components being made from a material configured to swell through action of the hydrocarbons, thus reinforcing retention of the components on one another. A method for manufacturing such a tank includes assembling the two components in the absence of fuel, and then bringing the two components into contact with the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Eric Firtion, Patrice Baudoux, Alexis Rosseel
  • Patent number: 7748402
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the filling of a fluid containing vessel is provided having a valve body having a fluid inlet regulated by a valve member movable between an open and closed position within the valve body. A valve controller is provided regulating the valve position having a float pivotally mounted on a float arm and a retaining member pivotally mounted for rotation with the float arm through a limited portion of the float arm range. The retainer member engages the valve member urging it to the open position when the float reaches a predetermined low fill angle and the float arm engages and releases the retainer member when a predetermined high fill level is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fester Assets Corporation
    Inventor: Yet Chan
  • Patent number: 7748405
    Abstract: A valve system including a number of shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids is disclosed as is a variety of types of SMA-actuated valves and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a valve system includes a housing having a substantially closed cavity as well as a second port for communicating a fluid. Further, the valve system includes a first SMA actuator configured to control the position of the first seal to vary fluid flow through the firs port, and a first temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the seal by an amount proportional to temperature. A second SMA-actuated valve, driven by either a unidirectional or a bidirectional SMA actuator, controls the position of the second seal to vary fluid flow through the second port, and a second temperature compensator for adjusting the position of the second seal by another amount proportional to temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Alfmeler Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen
    Inventors: Ali Ghorbal, Sandheep K. Surendran, Andrei Szilagyi, Peter Emery von Behrens, Jean-Pierre Maeder
  • Patent number: 7743789
    Abstract: A valve for the hydraulic braking of work machines comprises an outer casing provided with a longitudinal seat and with at least one-to-third connection port, a slider slideable along the seat and provided with a contoured portion to control passage of the fluid through the connecting ports, and a reaction surface which is connected to the third connecting port, and an actuation for actuating sliding of the slider in the seat, which comprises first elastic element, interposed between the casing and the slider to contrast pressurized fluid thrust against the reaction surface, second elastic element interposed between a first abutment element of the slider and a second abutment element arranged inside the casing, which are adapted to contrast thrust of the first elastic element, and a manual actuation for actuating loading/unloading of the second elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Studio Tecnico 6M S.R.L.
    Inventors: Eronne Mamei, Omer Mamei, Enrico Mamei
  • Patent number: 7735516
    Abstract: A lift axle control module is disclosed that is simpler than prior art lift axle control systems, and does not require cycling the input pressure to the regulator. The module includes a housing fluidly connected to a first pressurized air supply and having one chamber with a load bladder port, a second chamber with a lift bladder port, and a common vent port. A pilot pressure is selectively provided for switching the module between the retracted and deployed modes. When the control module is set to the retracted mode, the lift bladders are pressurized to the system pressure, and the load bladders are vented. When the control module is set to the deployed mode, the lift bladders are vented and the load bladders are inflated and maintained at the regulated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Norgren GT Development Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Morris