Patents Examined by Jeremy S Baskin
  • Patent number: 7819380
    Abstract: A solenoid apparatus includes a fixed core, a coil, and a movable core. The coil generates magnetic attractive force when the coil is supplied with electricity. The movable core is attracted to the fixed core by the magnetic attractive force generated between the fixed core and the movable core when the coil is supplied with electricity. The fixed core has a fixed axial end on a side of the movable core. The movable core has a movable axial end on a side of the fixed core. At least one of the fixed axial end and the movable axial end has at least one recession. The at least one of the fixed axial end and the movable axial end, which has the at least one recession, has an outer circumferential periphery and an inner circumferential periphery. The outer circumferential periphery radially communicates with the inner circumferential periphery through the at least one recession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Shinsuke Yamamoto, Takayuki Hokao
  • Patent number: 7802588
    Abstract: A three-way poppet valve that can restrict or eliminate backflow without the use of an external check valve. Unlike conventional three-way poppet valves wherein both inlets can be open to the outlet at the same time during movement of the poppet, the valve according to the present invention can be configured to close both inlets prior to opening one of the inlets to the outlet. The valve features a poppet valve assembly that is operable to prevent both inlets from being open to the outlet at the same time. The valve assembly also reduces the force needed to close the valve against at least one of the inlets thereby allowing the use of a smaller actuator. A unique seal including a valve seat that is configured to conform to a valve member under sufficient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Doutt
  • Patent number: 7793687
    Abstract: An inflation/deflation assembly, which can be mounted upon the inflation valve assembly of an inflatable bag, so as to permit both the inflation and deflation of the inflatable as may be desired. The inflation/deflation assembly comprises an outer housing, and a control rod is rotatably disposed within the housing so as to be rotatably movable between two positions angularly spaced apart from each other. When the control rod is disposed, for example, at a first one of the two positions, the inflatable bag can be inflated, whereas, when the control rod is disposed at the second one of the two positions, the inflatable bag can be deflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Smith, Thomas C. Keenan, Joel L. Kennedy, Johnny Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7793688
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to winterize a recreational vehicle having plumbing lines. A hose may be attached to an air compressor and a recreational vehicle winterizer fitting may be attached between the hose and a freshwater inlet connection port of the recreational vehicle. The winterizer fitting may include a nib, a landing, a first transition, a second transition, and a body having a male connector and a fifth chamber. A pressure gage, a butterfly valve, and an antifreeze additive system may be attached to the body of the winterizer fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: Elmer C. Gross, Jr., Eugene B. Newcomb
  • Patent number: 7757706
    Abstract: A backwater valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve member and a servicing tool. The valve housing has an internal ledge within its interior on which is positioned a retainer clip oriented in vertical alignment with a riser. The valve member has a first engagement of a two part engagement on one face and a mounting along a peripheral edge which includes transverse pins adapted to engage the retainer clip. The servicing tool includes a second engagement of the two part engagement at a working end of a shaft. The hook engages the hook receiver of the valve member during insertion and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Gabe Coscarella
  • Patent number: 7748401
    Abstract: A gas pressure regulator comprises a main body having a first, gas inlet pipe and a second, gas outlet pipe, a calibrated gas passage through which gas flows from the first pipe to the second pipe, a shutter housed at least partially in the main body and mobile lengthwise along a first defined line to adjust the opening of the calibrated passage, a device for actuating the shutter and a regulator spring unit opposing the movement of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Zecchi, Andrea Monti
  • Patent number: 7740224
    Abstract: A valve, in particular, a proportional seat valve or gate valve, includes a valve housing (10) and at least three fluid connections (1, 2, 3) extending through the valve housing. A main piston (18) extends in the valve housing (10). A pilot piston (24) for executing a pilot control (26) may be controlled by a current-carrying magnetic device (28). During an open pilot control (26), fluid from one (2) of the connectors (1, 2), controlled by the main piston (18), reaches the connector (3), controlled by the pilot piston (24), by a cross-sectional narrowing (38) in the main piston (19). The pilot control (26) and, as a result of the corresponding pressure drop, the main piston (18) achieves a control position, controlling both fluid connections (1, 2) with regard to fluid amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bill, Peter Bruck, Alois Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7731153
    Abstract: A handle (1) for valves (4) comprising a connecting region (2) for connecting the handle (1) to a spindle (5) of the valve (4), an actuating arm (3) for actuating the valve (4), a locking lever (8) arranged resiliently in the actuating arm (3) for engaging the actuating arm (3) and a locking and guide disc (16) for locking and guiding the handle (1), the locking and guide disc (16) having a greater external diameter than the connecting region (2) and being arranged to be able to be connected to a flange region (12) of the valve (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Miklo, Peter Tkaczyk
  • Patent number: 7694937
    Abstract: A valve assembly configured to be mounted on a support structure comprises a flowbody having a first port, a second port, and a flow passage there between. A flange is coupled around the flowbody proximate the first port. A sleeve extends into the flowbody through the first port, and a radial lip is coupled to the sleeve proximate the first port. A retaining ring is coupled to the flange and configured to confine the radial lip between the retaining ring and the support structure to secure the sleeve within the flowbody when the valve assembly is mounted on the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Stout, Tom J. Phielix, Christopher L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7694939
    Abstract: A retaining cylinder is threadedly engaged with a fixed cylinder of a flow rate control valve, by means of a screw section formed on an outer circumferential surface. A fence cover, which is capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction, is installed between the fixed cylinder and a float rod supported by the retaining cylinder. An upper seal member is provided on the float rod, on the upper side thereof with respect to a valve plug. A lower seal member is provided on the lower side thereof with respect to the valve plug. The upper seal member and the lower seal member have substantially identical diameters. The float rod is displaced under an energizing action of a stepping motor. The flow rate of a fluid is controlled depending on a distance of the valve plug with respect to a valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Okitsu
  • Patent number: 7681864
    Abstract: A valve actuator including a body, a rotatable drive screw having an external thread over at least a portion of its length and extending through the body and projecting out at least one side of the body. An internally threaded member is captured on the drive screw on the interior of the body, the member being held against rotation during rotation of the drive screw, so as to cause the member to travel along a length of the drive screw as the drive screw is rotated in both a first and second rotational direction. At least one sleeve having an abutment surface engagable by the member upon a sufficient rotation of the drive screw in one of the two directions. The sleeve surrounds the drive screw and may be axially adjustable relative to the drive screw from the exterior of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Timothy M. O'Shea
  • Patent number: 7673649
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum thermal insulating valve that may be used at high temperature in gas supply systems or gas exhaust systems, and also may be made substantially small and compact in size owing to its excellent thermal insulating performance. With a vacuum thermal insulating valve comprising a valve equipped with a valve body and an actuator, and a vacuum thermal insulating box that houses the valve, the afore-mentioned vacuum thermal insulating box S is formed by a square-shaped lower vacuum jacket S5 having a cylinder-shaped vacuum thermal insulating pipe receiving part J on a side and with its upper face made open, and the square-shaped upper vacuum jackets S4, which is hermetically fitted to the lower vacuum jacket S5 and with its lower face made open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Yukio Minami, Kenji Tubota, Tsutomu Shinohara, Michio Yamaji, Nobukazu Ikeda, Akihiro Morimoto, Koji Kawada, Toshio Nariai
  • Patent number: 7628170
    Abstract: A flow control valve is provided that comprises a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber that includes a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet. The various embodiments further comprise a modulating member having first and second tapered arcuate slots therein, which is disposed in the valve chamber approximate the first valve port opening and second valve port opening. The modulating member is rotatable to adjustably position a wider or narrower portion of both the first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and second valve port opening respectively, to adjustably vary the rate of fluid flow through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Kee Kok-Hiong, Girish Mevada
  • Patent number: 7621502
    Abstract: A butterfly-type valve for controlling toner material flow to a toner container, including, a valve plate which is pivotally disposed in an elongate flow path defined by a passage way, wherein the valve plate is pivotal from a closed position which substantially closes a fluid communication along the path to an open position which maximally permitting fluid communication along the path, a gap area defined between the valve plate and the passage way when the valve plate is in the closed position which allows minimum toner material flow therethrough without compressing the toner material, and a pump for supplying air to the gap area when the valve plate is in the closed position to stop the minimum toner material flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Wegman
  • Patent number: 7591449
    Abstract: Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves incorporating a piston comprising slit along an upper piston section for accommodating fluid flow. The slit is closed by the relative geometry of the piston and the valve housing, which acts to terminate fluid flow from between the inlet and outlet of the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: B. Braun Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Raines, Michael J. Janders, Peter Peppel, Benjamin J. Pascal
  • Patent number: 7578495
    Abstract: The present invention is a leak prevention system that monitors and detects loosening of a valve. The leak prevention system includes a biasing member, a tightening member, and a pulling member. The biasing member has a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the tightening assembly, while the second end being in communication with the pulling assembly. The tightening assembly is carried by the valve, is adapted to tighten the packing nut should packing from the valve loosen. The pulling assembly is adapted to pull the tightening assembly via the biasing member after packing wears away, such that the wearing away loosens the tightening assembly and the constant force of the biasing member, supported by the pulling assembly, causes the tightening assembly to move. After packing has worn away, a visual indication can indicate to an operator that the valve may soon leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: The Southern Company
    Inventor: Damon Eric Woodson
  • Patent number: 7552911
    Abstract: A multipart composite valve for an internal combustion engine, in which a valve shaft (2) and a valve plate (4) are embodied separately while being joined together in an overlapping area (6). The invention is characterized in that at least some parts of the valve shaft (2) are provided with an intermediate layer (8) in the overlapping area (6). Said intermediate layer (8) forms an integral joint with both the valve shaft (2) and the valve plate (4) in the form of a chemical bond, the valve plate (4) being cast onto the valve shaft (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Holger Stark, Martin Schlegl