Patents Examined by Craig Price
  • Patent number: 7370663
    Abstract: A new and useful barrier device for a utility system cover is provided. The barrier device is designed to be coupled to a utility system cover (e.g. a water meter cover), in a way that effectively seals the opening in the cover against ingress of dirt, debris, animals, etc. Moreover, the barrier device also provides a structure that enables a hook like tool to engage and manipulate the coupled barrier device and cover, while maintaining the barrier against ingress of dirt, debris, animals, etc. The barrier device includes a hood with a border that at least partially flattens against a utility system cover as the baffler device is coupled to the utility system cover, so that the border of the hood and the utility system cover combine to form a baffler to materials and objects near the border of the hood. A stem extends from the hood, and is pressed into the utility system cover, in a way that effectively couples the baffler device with the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Catalina Tool & Mold, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Lundeberg, Renato J. Sasselli
  • Patent number: 7367355
    Abstract: A twin manifold seat valve comprising at least two closure members S1, S2, S3 each functionally associated with at least one valve seat D1, D2, D3, D4. At least one of the closure members is moved to a blocking position with predetermined blocking force at the valve seat upon energization of a solenoid and counter to the force of a spring 22, 7. A single common solenoid M is functionally associated to both closure members S1, S2, S3 by two pivotably supported reduction levers U1, U2. The armature 2 of the solenoid actuates both reduction levers U1, U2. The closure members are located on the same side of the pivot support of the reduction levers. A spring member is integrated into at least one of the reduction levers. The solenoid armature deforms the spring members to generate the closure member blocking force by moving the closure members into contact with their respective seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hawe Hydraulik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Georg Neumair
  • Patent number: 7363942
    Abstract: A valve which is composed of: —A seal consisting of two identical ferromagnetic discs (1), which enclose another smaller-diameter disc (2) and a permanent magnet, the rims (3) of the outer discs (1) being bevelled and the three discs conjointly forming a perimeter groove housing a spring ring (4), —A valve body in two superimposed parts (5)-(5?) with an intercommunicating chamber (6), inside which the rolling movement of the seal can take place, —Seal movements means consisting of: a bi-metal conductor (8) and an opposing spring (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Irrimon, S.A.U.
    Inventor: Angel Valero Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7357142
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously aspirating a fluid from a fluid source. A vacuum source is operatively connected to a first container forming a first chamber and a second container forming a second chamber. A fluid collection tube provides communication between the fluid source and each of the first chamber and the second chamber. A first level sensor is positioned within the first chamber and a second level sensor is positioned within the second chamber. Upon receiving a signal generated by one of the first level sensor and the second level sensor, a relay responsively exposes a vacuum within one of the first chamber and the second chamber to continuously aspirate at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source. A shut-off valve is preferably positioned within each of the first chamber and the second chamber to prevent communication between the vacuum source and the corresponding chamber with a fluid level within the chamber at a fluid level setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: MD Technologies inc.
    Inventor: William L. Merkle
  • Patent number: 7357149
    Abstract: Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling manifold. The aircraft can further include an auxiliary fuel tank system operably coupled to the fuel system. The auxiliary fuel tank system can include a master tank assembly and at least one slave tank assembly. The master tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage, and can include a master tank body configured to hold fuel. The master tank body can be configured to pass through a door in the fuselage without disassembly. The slave tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage at least proximate to the master tank assembly, and can include a slave tank body configured to hold fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark E. Howe
  • Patent number: 7347221
    Abstract: A valve assembly comprises two valves and a single solenoid actuator with only one magnetizing coil that controls both valves. The corresponding magnetic circuit comprises a yoke with only two pole pieces. The valves are arranged concentric to one another. The valve closing element of the outer valve is connected to an armature by means of a sleeve. The cup thus formed receives the armature that is connected to the valve closing element of the inner valve. The pole piece and the armature form a transmission air gap through which the sleeve extends. A coupling air gap is formed between the armatures. The armature and the pole piece form a working air gap. The valves are opened collectively and are able to close independently of one another when the coil is rendered currentless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Karl Dungs GmbH & Co. Kg
    Inventors: Siegfried Berger, Joachim Forster
  • Patent number: 7347223
    Abstract: A fluid flow stabilizer for use in a flow of fluid in a conduit between a source of turbulence and a fluid control device. The stabilizer comprises a fluid conduit section having a first end with a mounting arrangement for mounting the first end to the fluid conduit and a second end with a mounting arrangement for mounting the second end to the fluid conduit, the fluid conduit section having a fluid passage therethrough to allow fluid to flow from the first end to the second end, and a flow straightening device positioned in the fluid conduit section. The fluid conduit section may be constructed to absorb at least one of shock, vibration and alignment in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: The Metraflex Company
    Inventor: James R. Richter
  • Patent number: 7337804
    Abstract: A single handle mixing valve of the plate valve type where a single stem controls both the temperature and flow output from the valve. A control plate having an opening is positioned over the stem and has at least one surface defining limits of stem movement. An actuating ring positioned within an exterior cover for the mixing valve has inwardly facing cam surfaces, which interact with the control plate to adjust either maximum temperature or maximum flow from the valve. The actuating ring has a tab extending to the outside of the exterior cover for convenient operator manipulation without the need for disassembly or the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: M. Scot Rosko
  • Patent number: 7334603
    Abstract: A check valve has an elastic valve body portion and an inelastic valve body portion and a valve seat. The valve body is fixed to a valve shaft, and a valve body abutment plate for abutting the elastic valve body portion is supported to the valve shaft. The valve body abutment plate includes an elastic valve body portion pressing portion for pressing on an outer peripheral portion of the elastic valve body portion and a backflow fluid pressure exerting hole for causing fluid pressure from the fluid outlet side to be exerted on the elastic valve body portion. A spring for urging the valve body into abutment with the valve seat through the valve body abutment plate is interposed between the valve body abutment plate and a shaft support portion provided on the fluid outlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Miura Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohisa Takeda
  • Patent number: 7322376
    Abstract: A piezoelectric valve has a flexural transducer accommodated in a valve housing and having a free ending cantilever operational section able to be deflected by electrical control. The operational section extends over two controlled valve openings lying on the same side and possesses two control section associated with such valve openings. One of the control section serves for control of a supply opening and is urged into its closed by actuating means provided in addition to the flexural transducer. The actuating force is powerful enough to reach the closed position, when the other control section clears the associated valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventor: Herbert Frisch
  • Patent number: 7318445
    Abstract: In a fuel vapor pipe structure including a plurality of cut valves for passing or cutting a fuel vapor at inside of a fuel tank, a pipe joint connected to the cut valves for communicating the fuel vapor to a canister, and a resin tube for connecting the cut valve and the pipe joint, the resin tube is bent to pipe by making a length of the resin tube longer than a length of connecting connection tube portions of the cut valve and connection tube portions of the pipe joint and arranging the connection tube portion of the cut valve to shift from a straight line of connecting a center of the cut valve and a center of the pipe joint by a predetermined angle in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohshiro, Ryo Nishino
  • Patent number: 7316241
    Abstract: A steam trap comprises a trap body having an inlet and an outlet each defining inner threads. The trap body further includes a spigot defining external threads. Also provided is a cap defining internal threads for engaging the external threads of the spigot of the trap body. A valve element freely moves inside a trap chamber defined between an inner surface of the cap and the valve seat of the spigot. The cap defines a top surface on which a disc of thermally insulative material is juxtaposed. A cup-shaped cover, which may carry indicia such as manufacturer name and model number, is received over the thermally insulative disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Spirax Sarco, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Sharp, Jr., Bernard J. Radle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7314056
    Abstract: A hydrogen supply method using an inexpensive and compact hydrogen supply means to reduce a pressure of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen supply means and to supply efficiently hydrogen to a high pressure hydrogen storage means. Hydrogen is supplied under high pressure from first hydrogen supply means and from second hydrogen supply means containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy to a hydrogen storage means for storing hydrogen under high pressure. Hydrogen is supplied from the first hydrogen supply means to the hydrogen storage means until the pressure in the hydrogen storage means reaches a predetermined pressure. Thereafter, hydrogen is supplied from the second hydrogen supply means to the hydrogen storage means until the pressure in the hydrogen storage means reaches a maximum filling pressure. A plurality of the first hydrogen supply means or a plurality of the second hydrogen supply means may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuya Yamashita, Norio Komura
  • Patent number: 7296586
    Abstract: A gas-regulating unit for regulating an internal gas pressure in a gas-tight liquid-storage tank is mounted on the gas-tight tank in which stored liquid is sealed from outside atmosphere by covering a top surface of the stored liquid with an isolating-gas. The gas-regulating unit includes a main gas-exhausting unit and an isolating-gas regulator. The main gas-exhausting unit includes an exhaust valve for opening and exhausting gases from the gas-tight tank when an internal gas pressure in the gas-tight tank increases to more than a specified level. The isolating-gas regulator supplies the isolating-gas when an isolating-gas pressure decreases to less than a specified level. The main gas-exhausting unit and the isolating-gas regulator are integrally coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kaneko Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Hosoda
  • Patent number: 7296590
    Abstract: A liquid suction device for sucking liquid contained in a vessel is described herein. A liquid retention room having an inflow port and an exhaust port is inserted into the vessel via an opening at an upper part of the vessel and is dipped in the liquid. A suction tube connected to the exhaust port extends from the opening of the vessel. A float member provided in the liquid retention room is enabled to open and close the exhaust port. The liquid is retained in the liquid retention room when the retention room is dipped in the liquid and the float member is floated upward so as to open the exhaust port. The retained liquid is exhausted from the inflow port when the liquid is lessened to reach a predetermined volume or below, and the exhaust port is closed by the float member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7293578
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes an indicator for providing an indication of an amount of fluid in a tank and a stop-fill assembly for stopping the flow of fluid flowing into the tank once the fluid reaches a particular level. The gauge assembly has a shaft that rotates as the fluid level changes in the tank. The indicator translates the rotational position of the shaft into a fluid level. The stop-fill assembly moves from an open position, where fluid can flow into the tank, to a closed position, where fluid is prohibited from flowing into the tank, depending on the rotational position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny E. Swindler, Herbert G. Ross, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7293580
    Abstract: The valve includes a body having five surfaces and a plurality of blind holes, grooves and channels interconnected with the blind holes to form communication net. Two rectangular diaphragms are embedded separately into the grooves so as to selectively open and close the blind holes. An internal sliding base with an external sliding base coupled to the external periphery thereof and comprises a sliding section and an internal press pillar disposed separately on two corresponding ends of the bottom of the sliding section. The two internal press pillars are capable of selectively opening and closing the two diaphragms. The external sliding base includes an external press pillar disposed separately on both corresponding ends of the concave groove. A casing for covering the external periphery of the external sliding base is secured with the body. At least one elastic member is installed between the top surface of the casing and the external sliding base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: V-Controls Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Veltri
  • Patent number: 7287544
    Abstract: A triple-valve internal blow out preventer having unitary construction is provided, each valve including a tubular assembly having a central passageway with upper and lower seats mounted therein. A ball is rotatably received between the upper and lower seats and includes an external surface and a central opening, wherein the central opening may include an undercut. A protective coating may also be applied to both the external surface and the undercut of the ball to increase the durability of each of the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Padmasiri Daya Seneviratne, Lawrence Wells, David B. Mason
  • Patent number: 7284567
    Abstract: A liquid level controller for maintaining the level of liquid in a tank at a predetermined height includes a housing with an upper and lower section wherein the upper section is connected to a liquid supply and the lower section is submerged in liquid the level of which is to be maintained. The upper section includes a pressure chamber and an outlet chamber divided by a resilient material; a bore extending through the resilient material; and an inlet tube extending from the supply to the bore. A control valve controls the liquid flow through a hole providing communication between the pressure chamber and the lower part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Pong Kit Chan
  • Patent number: 7278438
    Abstract: In order to evaporate a liquid substance (3) and convey it to a user, a bubbler (1) is provided, into which a carrier gas (7) is conveyed. When a minimum level (4) has been reached, an exact quantity of the substance (3) is refilled from a reservoir tank (15). For this purpose, an intermediate tank (25) is provided, which is filled with an inert gas up to a pressure P1. An inert gas (21) is applied to the reservoir tank (15) at a pressure P2, higher than P1. The intermediate tank (25) is connected with the reservoir tank (15), as a result of which a specific quantity of the substance (3) flows into the intermediate tank (25) and is conveyed via a connection line (17) to the bubbler (1), with inert gas (32) first having been applied to the connection line (17) at a pressure P3, lower than P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: CS Clean Systems AG
    Inventor: Christoph Scholz