Patents Examined by Harold W. Weakley
  • Patent number: 4722186
    Abstract: A dual pressure source, or selectively alternative high pressure source, control system for a variable displacement hydraulic unit servo mechanism wherein normal control of the unit is provided by the low pressure source, such as a transmission charge pump, and wherein a high pressure source of control fluid with a restrictive orifice is provided to initiate servo movement, especially under conditions generating high internal friction. The flow restrictive orifice generates a pressure drop in a high pressure control line once the servo mechanism starts to move, inducing flow through such line. Thus, the control system provides a momentary source of high pressure fluid but permits control rate changes which are substantially independent of the hydraulic unit working pressure. Preferably, the high pressure source is a shuttle selected highest pressure of a transmission main loop incorporating the hydraulic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Louis, Craig C. Klocke
  • Patent number: 4721129
    Abstract: A relief valve for relieving pressure in a system and sealing the same from incoming rain or other moisture or foreign material after relief of pressure. The valve has a spring biased piston which operates internally of the valve to relieve pressure, then reseal in an air-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Robert H. Holland
    Inventor: Gilbert Sousa
  • Patent number: 4719940
    Abstract: A gas pressure reducing regulator has a tied-diaphragm so as to obtain relatively complete valve closure even with corrosive gases that tend to deposit particulate matter on the valve seat and otherwise inhibit valve closure. Misalignment of the diaphragm with respect to the valve is accommodated in several ways. First, a loose thread connection is provided at the point of attachment between the valve stem and the diaphragm. Second, the valve poppet has a spherical surface which mates with a frustoconical valve seat. Third, the diaphragm, which has a depending skirt, is free to move across the open end of the valve body prior to clamping the top to the valve body with the diaphragm sandwiched in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Victor Equipment Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Beavers
  • Patent number: 4719847
    Abstract: A fluid pressure operated motor having a piston rod located in parallel offset relationship to the axis of the cylinder is provided with a fixed guide rod extending through the cylinder between the end caps in parallel offset relationship to the cylinder axis. The guide rod passes in sliding sealed relationship though a bore in the piston formed within like outwardly flared frusto-conical counterbores at each end. Complementary opposed frusto-conical locator members coaxially mounted at spaced fixed locations on the guide rod are seated respectively in the counterbores in the piston at opposite ends of the piston stroke to accurately locate the piston axially, radially and rotatively relative to the cylinder at each end of its stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Inventor: Leland F. Blatt
  • Patent number: 4718639
    Abstract: A valve body containing a valve core comprises a generally cylindrical body having a tapered flange, allowing the valve body to be installed in a wheel rim so that none of it extends beyond the outer surface of the rim. The valve core is contained in a central tube spaced inwardly from an outer wall of the valve body, allowing entry of an air chuck to apply or check pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventors: Allen L. Sherwood, Allen L. Sherwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4718450
    Abstract: A valve head of the pressure relief valve is urged into the closed (seated) position by a spring, assisted by a force derived from pressurized fluid which is situated in a chamber behind the valve head and which is admitted thereto from the upstream side of the valve seat through a chamber in the valve head. The chamber in the valve head is open toward the inlet port of the valve and is partly defined and surrounded by a skirt-like extension oriented transversely to the axis of the valve inlet port. The diameter of the chamber whose opening has a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of valve head motion, is at least as large as the diameter of the valve intake port. In the seated (closed) state the skirt-like extension reaches transversely into the inlet port at least as far as the axis of the inlet port and in the maximum open position the skirt-like extension is at the most just clear of the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: L. Ike Ezekoye
  • Patent number: 4717117
    Abstract: A valve (10) comprising a plurality of passages (22,24), and an annular sealing area (30) in communication with one of the passages. The valve also includes a diaphragm (50), movably supported relative to the sealing area (30) in response to a force differential applied thereacross; including a thin, planar, flexible, non-metallic membrane (92) for sealably engaging against the sealing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Bendix Electronics Limited
    Inventor: John E. Cook
  • Patent number: 4716817
    Abstract: A piston, particularly for internal combustion engines, of which the bearing surfaces with which the piston comes into contact with the engine cylinder bore lie on a generated surface which runs asymmetrically to the axis of an engine cylinder accommodating the piston without clearance in the longitudinal direction of the piston and/or in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventors: Emil Ripberger, Eberhard Bubeck
  • Patent number: 4716925
    Abstract: A reversible side outlet washing machine box for being mounted between two adjacent studs in a wall and for allowing first and second water supply lines and a drain line to be coupled to the first and second water hoses and drain hose, respectively, of a washing machine. The box includes a first side wall; a second side wall; and a base member having a first and a second end; the base member extends between the first and second side walls and is reversible to allow either the first or second end thereof to be attached to either the first or second side wall; the first water supply line and the first water hose being attachable to the base member adjacent the first end thereof, the second water supply line and the second water hose being attachable to the base member intermediate the first and second ends thereof, the drain line and the drain hose being attachable to the base member adjacent the second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Industrial Polychemical Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Prather
  • Patent number: 4714233
    Abstract: An adapter bracket that can be attached to the exterior of a conventional gate valve and valve actuator converting the valve to a fire safety valve. The bracket can be clamped to the exterior of the valve/actuator housing without modification to the existing structure. The bracket includes an adapter plate with an externally threaded cylindrical extension. A hole through the adapter plate is coaxial with the aperture through the cylindrical extension to non-engagingly permit the valve actuator rod to pass therethrough. The threaded extension receives a standard lock-open cap to hold the valve in the open position to avoid severing of the cable in wireline operations due to a power outage, for example. The cap includes a portion made of fusible material which, in the event of fire, will melt permitting the valve to close under operation of a biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Danny R. Oates
  • Patent number: 4712583
    Abstract: A valve for use in medical applications is disclosed which is a highly precise, passive, one-way valve which makes an excellent inlet valve or outlet valve in a drug infusion pump. The valve operates with a very small forward pressure, requires only a small amount of fluid in the valve chamber, and operates in a positive and predictable fashion, even after an extended shelf life. The valve, may be inexpensively molded in one piece, thereby facilitating construction of a disposable pump, and may be installed with the portion of the pump housing contacting the top surface of the valve being flat, thereby further reducing manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Pacesetter Infusion, Ltd.
    Inventors: John P. Pelmulder, Lanny A. Gorton, Armen J. Guleserian, John H. Livingston
  • Patent number: 4712769
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a seal forming means in a valve plug for use in a fluid control valve, particularly in high temperature and high pressure fluid applications. The valve plug of the invention generally comprises a main valve plug member and a seal forming member associated therewith. The seal forming member is axially aligned with the main valve plug member and includes an outer wall having a surface that is coincident with an imaginary surface extension of the outer surface of the main valve plug. The seal forming member comprises a durable material having predetermined resilient characteristics, whereby said seal forming member is resiliently compressible within a predetermined range of compression. Moreover, the seal forming member includes an interior space and a finite section of minimum wall thickness formed in the outer wall. A packing material is tightly received and compressed within said interior space and, means are provided for compressing the seal forming member upon valve shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4711092
    Abstract: A brake light switch and brake line connector assembly for a master cylinder, the assembly including a pressure actuated light switch having a threaded stem which is adapted to be connected to a threaded opening provided in the high pressure side of the master cylinder, the threaded stem including an inner passage and an annular groove around the outside connected to the passage by a port, and a Banjo connector assembly including a Banjo connector and a pair of soft metal washers, the Banjo connector being mounted on the annular groove in the threaded stem of the light switch and sealed thereon by the washers, to connect the master cylinder to the brake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Hayes Industrial Brake, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan E. Prusak
  • Patent number: 4708164
    Abstract: An improved safety relief valve that includes an adjusting ring located on the valve seat member. The adjusting ring has one end located to provide an orifice which will control the area governing the rate of closure or "blow down" of the valve and a much larger peripheral surface which cooperates with a valve member carrier to provide an orifice that governs the force applied to the valve carrier and valve member to lift the valve which has been previously "cracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Scallan
  • Patent number: 4706934
    Abstract: A gate valve includes a body which includes first and second valve seats. First and second gates are mounted for movement adjacent to the valve seats, and each of the gates has an outer face adapted to seal against the respective valve seat and an inner face which defines a thrust pad. A wedge is interposed between the first and second gates, and the wedge defines first and second converging wedge faces rigidly positioned with respect to one another to bear against the respective thrust pads. At least one of the thrust pads and the wedge faces defines a convex surface. A hand wheel axially moves the wedge with respect to the body and the wedge is coupled to the gates such that movement of the wedge away from the valve seats moves the gates away from the valve seats. The convex surface allows the respective gate to articulate with respect to the wedge as necessary to align with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Mark Controls Corporation
    Inventor: George W. Brown
  • Patent number: 4706698
    Abstract: A fluid pressure relief apparatus of the rupturable type which ruptures at different pressures depending upon the temperature of the fluid in contact therewith. A rupture member is provided supported by a support member which is maintained in place by a material having a selected melting point. When the fluid under pressure reaches the temperature at which the material melts, the support member ceases to support the rupture member causing the pressure at which rupture occurs to be lowered. A method of relieving pressurized fluid at a predetermined pressure level when the temperature of said fluid is below a preselected temperature and at a lower pressure level when the temperature is above said preselected temperature is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward H. Short, III
  • Patent number: 4705070
    Abstract: Fluid-flow control apparatus is disclosed by which magnetically-positionable elements within a rigid body can be externally manipulated using a controlling source of magnetic flux. The relative attractive forces which bias internal magnetic elements into normally-closed sealing engagement are substantially altered by repositioning the magnetic elements in response to the controlling magnet flux. Complete sealing or isolation against back flow through the valve under conditions of net positive outlet pressure is inhibited by the internal double-acting sealing elements which respond in unified manner to the controlling magnetic flux. Sealing surfaces on the elements are dome shaped to limit the effect of horizontal forces imposed thereon. The elements are biased into floating relation and reduced in dimension to inhibit contact with sidewalls of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Inventor: Paul G. Eidsmore
  • Patent number: 4702148
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous actuation of a plurality of hydraulic consumers by means of intrinsically-safe electro-hydraulic valves. The consumers are connected by hydraulic directional control valves to a pressure line and/or a return line. These hydraulic directional control valves can be connected in a predetermined manner, via pre-control valves to a control line. The pre-control valves are pressureless, and possess electro-magnets with a current consumption of less than 50 milliamps. By connection of a series-connected electro-hydraulic directional control valve means, the pre-control valves are connected to the control line, and at the same time are hydraulically locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
    Inventors: Willy Kussel, Michael Dettmers, Walter Weirich
  • Patent number: 4700736
    Abstract: A faucet valve comprising a removable cartridge which snaps into place, a taper-shaped insert that keys into a valve body and which fits tightly into a tapered annular ring. The lower portion of the cartridge has an external stop spanning over 90 degrees for stable stoppage of the faucet handle. The cartridge snaps together with the insert so that it can't fall out or become disengaged during assembly or normal usage. The insert has two straight projection keys which lock it into place on the valve body (i.e. prevent it from rotating on the valve body). The insert is tapered on its lower end so as to fit securely into a tapered annular ring. A locking cap secures the insert, and the pieces therein, in place vertically on the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Inventor: Guang-Yue Sheen
  • Patent number: 4701148
    Abstract: A valve assembly for filling balloons comprising an elongated generally tubular body member having an upper section and a lower section divided by a transverse interior wall, a radially outwardly directed flange defining a circumferentially extending channel for the bead at the mouth of a balloon, means defining at least one outlet port in the sidewall of the lower section and at least one opening in the side wall of the upper section spaced downwardly from the upper terminal edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Inventor: John Cotey