Patents Examined by Craig Schneider
  • Patent number: 9777852
    Abstract: A non-return valve fitted on a tubular element for use for the reinforcement and consolidation of soil, for example, in an excavation. The non-return valve includes a portion of elastomer material which has a nick and is connected to a structural body tightened onto the tubular element. The structural body can be connected rigidly to the portion of elastomer material or may be at least partially incorporated therein. The body has a central portion with a window within which the nick is arranged, and the edges of the nick open out and function as a non-return valve under the action of a fluid under pressure injected into the interior of the tubular element and emerging from radial holes in the vicinity of the nick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ELAS GEOTECNICA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Cristiano Bonomi
  • Patent number: 9777469
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control valve for a water channel, which comprises of, from top to bottom, a control shaft bolt, a sliding valve disc, a fixing valve disc and a valve base. A valve shell combining with the valve base covers around a lower portion of the control shaft bolt, the sliding valve disc and the fixing valve disc to prevent mentioned components from falling out. The amount and the open/close operation of the two different kinds of water sources can be operated and controlled by a single control valve of the water channel to simplify the complexity in structure. Also it is convenient for a user to control the amount and the open/close operation of two different water sources by a single control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GEANN INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Shih Wang
  • Patent number: 9777879
    Abstract: A pulsation damper is disposed within a fluid volume defined by a fluid volume wall such that the pulsation damper is exposed to pressure pulsations within the fluid volume. The pulsation damper includes a pulsation damper first half having a first damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; a pulsation damper second half having a second damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; and a damping volume defined between the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half such that the damping volume is fluidly segregated from the fluid volume. One of the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half defines a spacing member which maintains separation between the fluid volume wall and one of the first damper wall and the second damper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mahoro M. Fujita, Kenneth J. Dauer, Daniel F. Kabasin, Ravish S. Masti, Youssef Kazour
  • Patent number: 9772042
    Abstract: Devices and systems which control the flow of fluid through a conduit are described herein. One flow control device that controls the flow of fluid through a conduit, includes a body having an axis and defining a passage that allows fluid to flow from an upstream position to a downstream position, the valve body having a converging portion in the upstream position with an inner surface that curves gradually inward, but having an annular rim formed by a portion that extends outward from the inward curving shape, and a throat between the converging and diverging portions; and, a flow regulator supported within the body for controlling the flow of fluid through the conduit, the flow regulator having an annular seating surface configured to contact the annular rim of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David Ronald Boisvert, Joseph Mello, Lloyd Nghi Trong Le
  • Patent number: 9765505
    Abstract: An air-gap device integrated within a faucet base of a faucet fixture for use with a dishwashing device is disposable on a counter surface and includes: a base forming flow channels adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal at the surface; a fixed block wall extending from the base, the fixed block wall separating a first pair of flow channels from a second pair of flow channels and providing a fluid-tight seal for the first pair of the flow channels; and a removable block cover selectively attachable to the fixed block wall to fluidicly couple the second pair of flow channels, the block cover further forming an air-gap channel in fluidic communication with ambient. Modular design permits removal of the faucet and valve portion to access the air-gap device for maintenance, without the need to disconnect any fluid supply or waste lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Symmons Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Mellits, Jeff Peltier, Hai Le, Steve Ferreira
  • Patent number: 9765786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure-increasing unit (1) comprising first receiving means (2) for receiving a pipeline (4) conveying pressurized gas, at least one first pipeline (3) for further transferring the pressurized gas to applications utilizing it, and second receiving means (6) for receiving a second pipeline (5) conveying reduced-pressure gas returning from the applications. The present solution is characterized in that the receiving means (6) are connected with at least one pressure intensifier (7). This pressure intensifier, in turn, is connected to the first receiving means (2) receiving pressurized gas for transferring gas re-pressurized by a substitution means (8) back to the applications utilizing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: BF+ ENERGIA OY
    Inventor: Samuli Korpela
  • Patent number: 9765902
    Abstract: A sanitary high pressure valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes an inlet adaptor for admitting pressurized gas into a sanitary central passageway for release into a storage vessel containing granular material for the purpose of aiding flow of the granular material from the storage vessel. The valve assembly also includes an isolation chamber for housing serviceable parts that are isolated from the sanitary central passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Control Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry D. Tiffany, III, Paul S. Rose, Aaron G. Hall, Daniel S. Smith
  • Patent number: 9766636
    Abstract: A dilution control device and method of operating the same. The dilution control device can include a structure for dispensing concentrate and diluent fluid in a desired dilution ratio utilizing volumetric dosing. In some embodiments, diluent fluid drives a wheel or compresses a pliable concentrate bag in order to dispense concentrate in the desired ratio with the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, one or more floats can be used to drive a pump or actuate a valve to dispense concentrate at a particular rate proportional with the flow rate of the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, a rocker is responsive to the flow of diluent fluid to pump concentrate. In some embodiments, the dilution control device can be operable to automatically modulate the dispense rate of concentrate when the diluent fluid flow rate is varied in order to maintain a predetermined dilution ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Jones, Christopher F. Lang, Susan K. Lewis, Michael Roosa, Jeffrey L. Crull, Michael Maloney, Thomas Sutrina, Jonathan Mick
  • Patent number: 9766632
    Abstract: A device having pressure independent control and balancing valves, suitable for use in a hydronic system, comprises a seat, a plug having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, and a piston, wherein the seat, plug and piston are aligned coaxially, a controller determines the size of a first flow restriction between the upstream surface of the plug and the seat, the piston is operable to move in response to differential pressure across the first restriction and a predetermined force, the position of the piston relative to the downstream surface of the plug determining the size of a second flow restriction thereby in use maintaining a substantially constant differential pressure across the first restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Peter Volovec, Slavko Lah, Gregor Bozic
  • Patent number: 9757698
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Adam R. Abate, Tony Hung, Pascaline Mary
  • Patent number: 9758241
    Abstract: A steering valve includes a housing and a spool disposed inside the housing. The housing includes a top plane and a bottom plane, the top plane including an opening of a first port and the bottom plane including an opening of a second port. The spool includes a top plane including a first and second opening corresponding to a third port and a fourth port, one of which is configured to align with the opening of the first port depending on the orientation of the housing. The spool also includes a bottom plane including a first and second opening corresponding to the third port and fourth port, one of which is configured to align with the opening of the second port depending on the orientation of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL MACHINE COMPANY
    Inventor: Raymond Alvero Forrester, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9759339
    Abstract: A safety isolation plug fitting for detecting pressurized fluid in a pipe may include a body defining an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with the pipe, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet. A valve assembly may be seated in the passageway and movable between a closed position in which fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is inhibited, and an open position in which a pressurized fluid in the pipe can flow between the inlet and the outlet. A flow deflector can be in fluid communication with said outlet that is configured to redirect at least a portion of the pressurized fluid exiting said outlet in direction away from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Safe Effective Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee A. Krywitsky
  • Patent number: 9759341
    Abstract: A freeze tolerant ball valve for controlling the direction of expansion of freezing water within the ball valve is disclosed. The valve includes valve body inlet and the valve body outlet, and a spherical-shaped gate that has an axial fluid passage that extends through the spherical-shaped gate. The spherical-shaped gate can be rotated to block fluid communication between the valve body inlet and the valve body outlet. The valve body also has a first sidewall that is of a first sidewall thickness, and a sidewall having a boss that supports a concave cap that has a bottom wall that is of a bottom wall thickness, the bottom wall thickness being substantially thinner than the sidewall thickness. The cooperation of the passage through the spherical-shaped gate, the first sidewall with its first sidewall thickness positioned opposite to the bottom wall of the concave cap results in a valve that directs the effects of freezing on to the concave cap, which would fail first in the event of freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Ronald Lehman
  • Patent number: 9759032
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a blowout preventer housing including a bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore. The apparatus further includes grooves in the outer profile of the blowout preventer housing, the grooves being on opposite sides of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Gibbs, Steven F. Shimonek
  • Patent number: 9752731
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for conserving various resources, such as, but not limited to, water, laundry chemicals, natural gas, electricity, linen, labor, and wear on equipment (e.g., a solenoid valve of a commercial washing machine drain line). The inventor has spent the past 14 years in the industrial chemical field, allowing him to access and service commercial washing machines, and has discovered that drain issues relative to such commercial washing machines result in enormous losses to such institutions that process a large volume of laundry. Such typical institutions include, but are not limited to, hotels, hospitals, prisons, universities, colleges, laundries, and nursing homes. By replacing a portion of the opaque drain pipe section between the valve and the floor drain, operators and technicians can quickly determine if a leak is occurring, and take corrective action. An access port may also be provided to test characteristics of discharged wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin C. Goodsell
  • Patent number: 9752729
    Abstract: A system for generating swirl includes a pipe and at least two orifice plates located within a section of the pipe and defining a swirl generation area. Each orifice plate has an off-set orifice or hole and is configured to have a position that is adjustable within the swirl generation area. Each orifice plate may be oriented at an angle variable to each other to generate a variable degree of swirl as fluid flow exits the swirl generation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Canada Pipeline Accessories, Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Sawchuk
  • Patent number: 9752697
    Abstract: A valve unit for a motor vehicle having a valve housing, which includes a valve inlet and a valve outlet, and having a valve body disposed in the valve housing, which includes a cross-section, increasing up to an inflection point and decreasing once past the inflection point, and which is guided from a closed position in which the valve body seals the valve inlet to a final opened position in which the valve body abuts a stop element fixed in the valve housing, releasing the valve inlet, and in which an inflow section is formed between the valve inlet and the inflection point of the valve body, and an outflow section is formed between the inflection point of the valve body and the valve outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ralph Hobmeyr
  • Patent number: 9752696
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally include a pressure relief system and methods of use, in which an apparatus includes an upper chamber fluidly connected to a pressurized fluid source, a lower chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically moveable plate intermediate the chambers and disposed within a plate support, and connected to the plate by a vertical shaft, a vertically actuating lower chamber inlet valve including an inlet seal. Pressure relief is accomplished by controlling fluid pressure in the upper chamber such that varying downward force on the plate and therefore, via the shaft, the inlet seal, allows for selective opening/closing of the inlet valve as a function of upper chamber fluid pressure relative to the pressure exerted from a fluid source for which pressure relief is desired, beneath the inlet seal, whereby over-pressured fluid entering the lower chamber via the inlet is vented out the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Strom W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9752694
    Abstract: The single-use valve to be installed on a line for transporting a fluid includes a tubular body, which is intended to be placed on the line and contains a mobile element that is able to take up two positions in the tubular body. Each position allows the fluid to pass through the tubular body or not, one being a standby position, while the other is an active position. Inside the tubular body, a driver able to move the mobile element such that the mobile element passes from its standby position to the active position. The driver includes a pretensioned elastic device. Outside the tubular body, a device for maintaining the pretension connects to a controller able to deactivate the device for maintaining the tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: CONSEIL ET TECHNIQUE, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNS
    Inventors: Guy Valembois, Denis Dilhan, Bernard Salvetat
  • Patent number: 9752776
    Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least one dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders