Patents Examined by Harold W. Weakley
  • Patent number: 4770204
    Abstract: In a spring-loaded safety valve for gas and vapor, a valve disk which faces a valve seat and is movable to open or close the valve is provided with a deflecting collar which includes at an inner face thereof overlapping the valve seat two cone portions smoothly connected to each other by radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventors: Manfred Schmitt, Emil Zitzelsberger
  • Patent number: 4745904
    Abstract: A fuel regulator receives fuel from a fuel pump at essentially constant pressure and reduces the pressure of the fuel to a constant low value in response to a predetermined high to moderate vacuum in an inlet manifold of an internal combustion engine, the vacuum corresponding to low or moderate load. At high load the regulator supplies fuel at a pressure proportional to absolute manifold pressure. At low to moderate loads the fuel at low pressure passes into the float bowl of a carburetor when a float controlled needle valve opens in response to a low level of fuel in the bowl as fuel is burned in the engine. The low pressure does not unseat the needle valve and supply an excess of fuel to the bowl. At high loads, the fuel pressure to the bowl is adequate to supply the increase rate of fuel such loads demand. As a result, the engine operates lean at low to moderate loads and richer at high loads. The regulator has a first diaphragm controlled valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Cagle Corporation
    Inventor: Toby T. Cagle, deceased
  • Patent number: 4744387
    Abstract: A fluid pressure regulator having a flow path from inlet port to outlet port. Reduction of particulates which might be generated by the regulator itself are minimized by the absence of springs, freely moving parts, and rubbing contacts in the flow path, and by minimizing the cavity volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Inventor: John H. Otteman
  • Patent number: 4744383
    Abstract: A thermally activated valve is disclosed for attachment to a pressurized vessel such that substances contained therein can be released at a selected temperature value. The valve includes a body having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with each other. The inlet fluidly communicates with the interior of the pressurized vessel while the outlet is in communication with an area having a lower pressure value. Secured in the outlet is an insert having a stem. The stem has a helical groove formed about its outer periphery and has at least one small aperture which is in communication with the helical groove. The insert cooperates with the body to form a helical passageway therethrough. Positioned within the helical passageway is a material for normally blocking fluid flow therethrough which is fusible at a selected temperature to permit fluid flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: James E. Visnic, Kevin M. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4744382
    Abstract: A combination thermal or pressure activated relief valve is disclosed. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein. The inlet is adapted to be attached to a pressure source while the outlet is in communication with an area having a lower pressure value than said pressure source. An insert is secured in the outlet and includes a stem having a first passage formed therethrough and a helical groove formed about its outer periphery. The groove cooperates with the housing to form a helical passageway between the inlet and the outlet. A fusible material is inserted into the helical passageway and normally blocks fluid flow therethrough and is fusible at a selected temperature to permit fluid flow therethrough. A second member is secured to the insert and has a passage formed therethrough which communicates with the first passage formed in the insert. A pressure responsive lamina is positioned across the passage for normally blocking fluid flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: James E. Visnic, Kevin M. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4742845
    Abstract: The valve of a liquid fuel pressure regulator comprises a two-part construction consisting of a spherically contoured element and a stem. The spherically contoured element serves to swivelly mount the valve on the movable wall which carries the valve. The spherically contoured element comprises a hole which is on a radial to the center of the element. The shank of the stem is press-fitted to this hole to dispose the stem's flat circular head toward a seat with which the valve coacts as the pressure regulator operates. The swivel mounting compensates for misalignment and out-of-squareness of the valve travel relative to the seat and enables the head to close flat against the seat. Two embodiments are disclosed. In one, the spherically contoured element is a sphere and the hole is a blind hole drilled into the sphere. In the other, the spherically contoured element is a truncated sphere and the hole is a through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Weber U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: David Capoccia, Alexander Chadwick
  • Patent number: 4741360
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a first chamber and second chamber, a passage from the exterior of the housing to the first chamber, an inlet and an outlet associated with the second chamber of the housing, and a valve seat associated with the outlet. A carrier is mounted on and movable with the diaphragm and a first spring within the first chamber yieldingly urges the carrier toward the valve seat. The carrier supports a plate that has an opening therein. A valve has a hollow tubular closed end portion that projects through the opening in the plate for engagement with the valve seat and a peripheral portion that retains the valve between the carrier and the plate. A second spring is interposed between the carrier and extends into the tubular portion of the valve to yieldingly urge the valve toward the valve seat and permit relative movement between the valve and the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Tom McGuane Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Affeldt, Kenneth L. Rische
  • Patent number: 4739813
    Abstract: A tubeless tire valve has a valve body and an external annular gasket having an internal through hole. The gasket, when not mounted, has a diameter partially lower than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the valve body, on which it will be inserted, and partially larger than the latter at the coupling area with the rim. Externally, the gasket has at one end an extended lip directed towards the rim, then an intermediate zone having a larger diameter than that of the hole in the rim, and close to the intermediate zone an annular groove of reduced diameter, while a hollowed impression is provided on the valve body at the zone where the rim will be positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Bridge Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ezio Pagani
  • Patent number: 4738277
    Abstract: A tap incorporating a tap body and a tap top assembly having an inner end in sealing engagement with the valve seat within the tap body and having a pair of ceramic discs in a housing within the tap top assembly for controlling fluid flow, and operable by a spindle. The control valve is received within a closure member, one end of which is externally threaded at so as to be screwed within an access opening to the tap body with the other end being internally threaded at to receive an externally threaded adjustment nut surrounding the spindle and cooperating with the control valve, whereby, when the tap top assembly is screwed into the tap body, the adjustment nut is operable to move said control means axially into tight engagement with the valve seat. The externally threaded adjustment nut carries a lock nut adapted to engage the closure member and lock the adjustment nut relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Dorf Industries Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Neville G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4731998
    Abstract: In a hydraulic system loaded on a working vehicle, an oil pump is fixedly secured to a casing block of a transmission system disposed on a vehicle body as separated from an engine, an input shaft of this oil pump is drivably coupled to an input shaft of the aforementioned transmission system, and a clutch is interposed between the input shaft and a transmission mechanism of the transmission system. Preferably, a control valve is fixedly secured to the oil pump, and a delivery port of the oil pump is directly coupled to an inlet of the control valve. Furthermore, so improved structures of a hydraulic switching valve adapted to be disposed on an outlet side of the control valve is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotomi Maesaka, Satoshi Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 4732188
    Abstract: A valve plug (22, 22a, 22b) is biased inwardly by a spring (78, 78a, 78b) to close an opening (6, 6a, 6b) in a tank. A stem (32, 32a, 32b) extends axially inwardly from the plug (22, 22a, 22b). The stem (32, 32a, 32b) has an inner portion (36, 36a, 36b) which is mechanically interlocked with an outer portion (52, 52a, 52b) to directly transmit axial forces created by the spring (78, 78a, 78b). Fusible material (66, 66a, 66b) holds the stem portions (36, 36a, 36b, 52, 52a, 52b) in an interlocking position but carries only relatively small loads. The plug (22, 22a, 22b) and stem (32, 32a, 32b) move against the force of the spring (78, 78a, 78b) to relieve pressure. At elevated temperatures, the fusible material (66, 66a, 66b) melts to allow the stem portions (36, 36a, 36b, 52, 52a, 52b) to separate and the plug (22, 22a, 22b) and outer stem portion (52, 52a, 52b) to move away from the opening (6, 6a, 6b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: GT Development Corporation
    Inventors: Zdenek Gabrlik, John M. Morris, Nelson O. Phillips, Timothy L. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 4732319
    Abstract: A fill valve for a water heating system. An expansion tank is provided with a flexible diaphragm which divides the tank into a water chamber and a closed gas chamber. A fill valve assembly is mounted within an opening in the tank and includes a valve body having an axial passage and a radial passage connects the axial passage to a water inlet. One end of the axial passage communicates with the water chamber of the expansion tank, while the opposite end of the axial passage communicates with the water heating system. The central portion of the axial passage defines a valve seat and a hollow valve member is mounted for sliding movement in the axial passage, and the inner end of the valve member extends into the tank in position to be contacted by the diaphragm. Mounted on the valve member is an annular valve which is biased to engage the valve seat. A plurality of ports extends laterally of the valve member and provides communication between the inlet and the interior of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Schurter, Patrick J. Bourke
  • Patent number: 4730548
    Abstract: A light metal alloy cast piston comprises a thermal strut provided in the shoulder portion of the piston skirt. The thermal strut is composed of a fiber reinforced metal portion containing high tensile strength fibers integrally molded in the matrix metal. The piston is shaped in such a manner that the inner periphery of the thermal strut is exposed toward the inside of the piston skirt, except for the regions at the piston pin bosses, to avoid the presence of non-reinforced metal a the inside of the thermal strut. This arrangement prevents the formation of cracks along the inner periphery of the thermal strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yorishige Maeda, Yoshiaki Tatematsu, Atsuo Tanaka, Shiro Machida
  • Patent number: 4729543
    Abstract: A fluid-supply valve comprises a fluid inlet passage; an intermediate fluid chamber of greater volume than this passage; an fluid outlet from the chamber; and a device for closing off the inlet passage which is selectively adaptable to operate in one of two modes, namely, a first mode in which the inlet is closed off by virtue of the fluid pressure of the supply system acting against the device and a second mode in which the the inlet is opened for the passage of fluid sequentially therethrough and through the intermediate chamber and the fluid outlet by virtue of user pressure exerted via the device and against the fluid pressure. The valve may be incorporated in a public drinking fountain in which the user activated mechanism is remote from and sealed from the passages through which the fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Shaham Y. Aricha & Sons Limited
    Inventor: Yoel Aricha
  • Patent number: 4728078
    Abstract: A ceramic valve seat is disclosed herein. A face portion of the valve seat at which the valve seat is to contact with a valve is made of a ceramic material. At least edge portions of the valve-contacting face portion of the valve seat are rounded. By so constructing, impact force due to contact between the valve and the valve seat and stress concentration can be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Oda, Yoshihiko Ishida
  • Patent number: 4727903
    Abstract: An excess pressure and/or excess flow/temperature shutoff valve comprising a valve housing having an axial bore therethrough with inlet and outlet ends, a portion of the bore being enlarged to form a valve chamber, and a spool movable in the valve chamber and having a sealing fit with the walls of the chamber. In the event of an upstream pressure increase of predetermined magnitude, the spool is adapted to move from an open position in which it permits flow of fluid through the bore to a position wherein additional spool area is exposed to the upstream fluid pressure, whereupon the spool is adapted to move further downstream to a shut off position for blocking the flow of fluid through the bore. The valve may be optionally equipped to shut off the flow of fluid in the event of a downstream pressure decrease as a result of excess leakage and/or an increase in fluid temperature in excess of a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Malcolm B. Sturgis
    Inventors: Malcolm B. Sturgis, Richard E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4724858
    Abstract: An improved firestop fitting with a flammable main conduit (11) and extension conduit (12) supporting a non-flammable sleeve (14) and plug (16). The plug lodges into the sleeve when a harness (17) is melted by heat from a fire below the floor (100 or 101) in which the fitting is mounted which passes into the conduits. The fitting is relatively light and inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Cornwall
  • Patent number: 4724857
    Abstract: A valve body having a lateral exhaust port is provided with a valve movable toward and away from a fluid inlet sealing face at its pressure connected end and guided by a valve stem projecting through the other end of the body and terminating in spaced relation with respect to a cap closing the end of the body opposite its inlet port. An axially collapsible member is axially interposed between the downstream end of the valve stem and the cap to normally maintain the flow passageway between the ports closed. Excessive fluid pressure against the valve at the inlet port collapses the collapsible member, unseats the valve and opens the fluid discharge passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Julian S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4725042
    Abstract: A ball valve assembly employing valve seats which are constructed of teflon and form part of end seal members, with the teflon valve seats being of a thin and deformable arrangement backed by an elastic loading ring which is isolated from the liquid. The valve ball is floatingly mounted between the opposed valve seats so that the ball automatically centers itself onto the opposed valve seats to ensure a proper sealing engagement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Mace Corporation
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Mason
  • Patent number: 4723570
    Abstract: A water tap cartridge to be mounted on the barrel of a compression-type faucet essentially consisting of an inlet portion communicating with a water supply pipe, an outlet portion forming a tap hole, a horizontal dowel seat portion horizontally extending and forming a partitioning wall between said inlet portion and outlet portion and a cylindrical rise-up portion extending vertically above said dowel seat portion, said rise-up portion being provided with a packing retaining thread on its top exterior surface, which comprises a cylinder having a flange portion, said cylinder being such that its lower end seats on said seat portion and its flange abutts the top end of said cylindrical rise-up portion when the cartridge is mounted on the faucet barrel, a cap nut adapted to be screwed onto said packing retaining thread with said flange being interposed therebetween so as to fix said cartridge rigidly with respect to the barrel, said cylinder having an orifice which is brought into communication with said outlet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Naniwa Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasushi Baba, Masahiro Aoki