Patents Examined by Eric Keasel
  • Patent number: 10378667
    Abstract: A vacuum breaker includes a main body, a bushing mounted in the main body, a braking member mounted in the main body and located above the bushing, a water stop gasket mounted in the main body and located above the braking member, an elastic member mounted in the main body and biased between the bushing and the braking member, a water inlet disk mounted in the main body and located above the water stop gasket, and a washer mounted in the main body and located above the water inlet disk. The vacuum breaker further includes a connection structure mounted between an inner circumference of the main body and an outer circumference of the bushing. The bushing is combined integrally with the main body by the connection structure under an external force and will not be detached from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventors: Chung-Yi Huang, Hsiang-Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 10378672
    Abstract: A method of controlling a valve plunger of a valve makes provision that, prior to the operation, the valve individually runs through a set-up procedure on the basis of a detected closed position, in which set-up procedure the valve plunger exerts an additional force in the direction of the valve seat beyond a detected closed position. The corresponding valve is equipped with an integrated valve controller which performs a corresponding set-up procedure automatically prior to the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BUERKERT WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Beck, Sebastian Frank
  • Patent number: 10370182
    Abstract: A containment body for making a cup-shaped capsule for making beverages comprising a lateral wall (4) that, in a zone of it closer to an upper edge (5) than to a bottom wall (3), is provided with one or more retaining elements (8) projecting towards the central axis in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis, the one or more retaining elements (8) forming between them and the bottom wall (3) an undercut seat (9); and a method for making capsules comprising different quantities of powdered food substance using said containment body (1) and positioning an upper filtering element (16) either coupled to the undercut seat (9) or positioned close to a lid (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Accursi
  • Patent number: 10368683
    Abstract: A machine (1) for the preparation of liquid products via capsules comprises a delivery assembly (2) having an actuation system that can be controlled to cause relative displacements between a first part and a second part of a preparation chamber. The actuation system comprises at least one first transmission member (13) and one second transmission member (14a). The first transmission member (13) includes two pins (13a), which are coaxial and are engaged in corresponding seats (3d), defined on respective side walls of the housing structure (3). The seats (3d) define a fixed axis of rotation of the first transmission element (13). The second transmission member (14a) is connected in an articulated way to the first transmission member (13) for turning about a movable axis of rotation, parallel to the fixed axis of rotation, and to one of the first part of chamber and the second part of chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Denis Rotta, Gabriele Picone, Andrea Colonna
  • Patent number: 10368684
    Abstract: A machine for the preparation of liquid products via capsules comprising a delivery assembly with a preparation chamber, which comprises a first part and a second part. The second part of chamber comprises an injector device, which is configured for introducing a preparation fluid into a capsule and has a hollow body and includes a first body part and a second body part. Defined between the two body parts is a chamber, housed in which is a perforation device having at least one front perforation element that is axially aligned to a respective through hole, defined in a front wall of the second body part of the injector device. The second body part is slidable, against the action of elastic means, from an advanced position, in which the at least one perforation element does not project substantially beyond the front wall, to a retracted position, where the at least one perforation element projects substantially beyond the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Denis Rotta
  • Patent number: 10370832
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a hydrant assembly 102 configured for use with a well casing 900, a pitless adapter 902, and a pump assembly 904. The hydrant assembly 102 includes a water spout assembly 104 configured to be positioned above the ground 906 and also above the well casing 900. A water pipe assembly 106 is configured to be in fluid communication with the pitless adapter 902, the pump assembly 904 and the water spout assembly 104. This is done in such a way that water flows from the pump assembly 904, past the pitless adapter 902 and toward the water spout assembly 104 once the pump assembly 904 is activated. A pipe-support assembly 108 is configured to be positioned relative to the well casing 900, the pitless adapter 902 and the pump assembly 904.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventors: John Albert Leggett, Kyle William Jenkins
  • Patent number: 10366796
    Abstract: The depressurization system comprises a main valve (8) provided with a pneumatic actuator with an opening spring (10) which can be connected at one side to a pressurized container (1) housing a gas inside it and at the other side to the atmosphere, defining this opening spring (10) a predetermined mechanical pressure, so when the pressure inside the pressurized container (1) is bigger than the predetermined mechanical pressure, the main valve (8) remains closed, and when the pressure inside the pressurized container (1) is lower than the predetermined mechanical pressure, the main valve (8) opens, allowing the pressurized gas from container (1) be discharged into the atmosphere. It does not require any external power supply for their main operation, allowing to fulfill appropriately their role in accident scenarios, even with total loss of electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ASVAD INT, S.L.
    Inventor: Arnaldo Laborda Rami
  • Patent number: 10359042
    Abstract: A check valve which allows liquid to flow in one direction while preventing liquid from flowing in a direction reverse to said one direction, the check valve comprising: an inflow port allowing liquid to flow therein; an outflow port allowing liquid to flow out thereof; a valve seat provided between the inflow port and the outflow port, the valve seat having a valve hole through which the inflow port communicates with the outflow port; a valve chamber provided between the valve seat and the outflow port; a valve element disposed in the valve chamber, the valve element opening and closing the valve hole; a plurality of holding surfaces located radially outside the valve element, the holding surfaces extending in an axial direction; and an elastic member supported on the holding surfaces and set in the valve chamber, the elastic member applying an elastic force directed toward the valve hole to the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Koganei Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Yajima
  • Patent number: 10359061
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a remote electro-hydraulic actuator for actuating of mechanical devices, such as a valve in an internal combustion exhaust pipe. The actuator includes a multi-vane rotational assembly that flows the working fluid through strategically sized flow channels within the structure of the rotational assembly. The size of the holes are sized to help the stability of the valve and can also be provided with pressure check valves or reed valves to dampen the rotation of the valve and reduce any instabilities due to pulsations driven back via the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Aventics Corporation
    Inventors: Oswaldo Baasch, Glenn Wethington, Jon A. Bigley
  • Patent number: 10359128
    Abstract: A fluid valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A fluid passageway connects the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A trim assembly is located within the fluid passageway and the trim assembly cooperates with a control member to control fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The trim assembly includes a cage having a lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Griffin, Jr., James M. West, Nathan A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 10352474
    Abstract: A transducer with a lower housing assembly and an upper housing assembly is for connection to a fluid pressure source having a mechanism for setting a pneumatic output via an electrical input signal. The lower housing assembly comprises lower housing configured to receive a supply nozzle, which fluidly communicates with a supply port and intermittently fluidly communicates with an output port of the lower housing through an internal fluid passageway. The lower housing further comprises an exhaust nozzle fluidly communicating with an exhaust port and intermittently fluidly communicates with the output port of the lower housing through the internal fluid passageway. The upper housing assembly comprises an upper housing configured to receive a coil and an armature such that the upper housing, coil and armature define a latching electromagnetic circuit that provides alternating contact of the armature with the supply nozzle and the exhaust nozzle of the lower housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: George W. Gassman, Curt Galbreath
  • Patent number: 10352466
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a body having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. A shuttle valve is arranged within the cavity. The shuttle valve has a first surface and a second, opposing surface. An actuator element is adjacent the first surface of the shuttle valve and configured for translating the shuttle valve along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between a martensite crystallographic phase and an austenite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the shuttle valve between the first position and the second position. Furthermore, a resilient member is adjacent the second surface of the shuttle valve. The resilient member is configured to oppose the movement of the shuttle valve moving from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard J Skurkis, Anthony L Smith, Xiujie Gao
  • Patent number: 10352468
    Abstract: A fluid control system has a body with the inlet passage in fluid communication with a discharge passage. The position of a choke piston in the body controls flow of the fluid from the inlet passage to the discharge passage. A controller connected to the body has an actuator connected to a linkage that is connected to the choke piston. The controller positions the choke piston in the body using the actuator and the linkage to control the flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Philip Easter, Alan Wayne Burkhard
  • Patent number: 10344782
    Abstract: A valve signature diagnosis and leak testing device includes a spool valve operatively connected to a pilot valve, the pilot valve being configured to position the spool valve to one of an open position and a closed position. A blocker valve is fluidly connected to a control fluid outlet of the spool valve. An electrical module is operatively connected to the pilot valve, a supply of control fluid, and the blocker valve, the electrical module being capable of sending pulsed electrical signals to the pilot valve and the blocker valve to selectively position the spool valve and the blocker valve to an open or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Penning, Jingli Li, Bruce Rigsby, Robert Lynn LaFountain
  • Patent number: 10344888
    Abstract: A servovalve (15) comprising a motor (16), a motor bias mechanism (20), a first stage valve member (22) adapted to be moved from a first position to a first off-null position, a second stage member (29) adapted to be moved from a first position to a second position with movement of the first valve member (22), a transfer link (34) acting between the first (22) and second (29) valve members, an eccentric drive member (35) acting between the motor (16) and the transfer link (34), the transfer link (34) and drive member (35) configured such that selective movement of the motor (16) causes the transfer link (34) to move the first valve member (22), movement of the first valve member (22) causes the second valve member (29) to move, and movement of the second valve member (29) causes the transfer link (34) to move the first valve member (22) from the first off-null position back to the null position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: John Kopp, Christopher Mazurkiewicz
  • Patent number: 10337534
    Abstract: A vehicle pressure medium device in which a pressure medium flows, has a multilayer design which has at least two mutually contacting layers. A groove-shaped recess is arranged between a first chamber into which a first flow opening opens and a second chamber into which a second flow opening opens when viewed on a plane parallel to the layers. The groove-shaped recess has at least one opening for a fluidic connection between the first chamber and the second chamber on a plane parallel to the layers. A group of molded seals is provided for mounting between the two layers. A fluidic connection is either produced between the first chamber and the second chamber or not depending on the molded seals which are mounted between the two layers and each of which is selected from the group of molded seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Kuhlen, Karsten Schnittger, Andreas Leinung
  • Patent number: 10337632
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve with a drive housing and with a drive subassembly arranged in the drive housing is proposed, for controlling a process fluid by means of a diaphragm. The diaphragm valve comprises a pretensioning subassembly for the arrangement between the drive subassembly and the diaphragm. A first spring element holds the drive subassembly in a pretensioned state before introduction into the drive housing. A second spring element holds the pretensioning subassembly in a pretensioned state before introduction into the drive housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GEMUE Gebr. Mueller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Zuber, Michael Baumgaertner, Josef Bissinger
  • Patent number: 10337641
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a switch valve unit, a fluid switch, and a fluid switch assembly. The switch valve unit comprises a valve seat which defines a valve cavity having an open bottom end port; an at least partially axially deformable diaphragm member which is mounted in the valve cavity to divide the valve cavity into an upper cavity portion and a lower cavity portion, and provided with a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other and providing fluid communication between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion; a button axially movably mounted on the valve seat; and a valve rod assembly connected to the button so as to follow the movement of the button, extending through the valve seat and into the upper cavity portion, and having a first position to seal the first hole and a second position to depart from the second first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: Xiamen Lota International Co., LTd., La Vida Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Jianping Zhou, Shuanglin Bai
  • Patent number: 10337626
    Abstract: In a heating medium channel switching device, a valve body whose interior is partitioned into two channels by a partition plate is axially rotated by a motor, whereby a relative position of the valve body in a valve chamber is controlled. Because of this, one of a first heating medium and second heating medium can be selected and caused to flow out in one channel, and one of a third heating medium and fourth heating medium can be selected and caused to flow in the other channel. Also, heating medium flow can be controlled by an angle of rotation of the valve body being controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Takamatsu, Mizuki Ogawa, Koji Saito, Masaru Imaizumi, Yuji Motomura
  • Patent number: 10328368
    Abstract: In a rotary drum for thickening pulp, the rotary drum may include drainage channels for delivering filtrate from a pulp mat on the rotary drum to a filtrate chamber at an end of the rotary drum, and includes a flat face valve and plenum chamber assembly in the filtrate chamber. The flat face valve can be juxtaposed against drainage outlets of the drainage channels, wherein the flat face valve does not block the drainage outlets during a majority of the rotation of the rotary drum. An opening on the flat face valve may extend through the front surface and be aligned with the drainage outlets to provide a fluid passage through the flat face valve and to a plenum chamber behind the flat face valve such that air in the filtrate is collected in the upper portion of the plenum chamber and removed from the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Grace