Patents Examined by John Ball
  • Patent number: 5984261
    Abstract: A flow control valve unit includes a pressurized fluid inlet, a pressurized fluid outlet, a pressurized fluid chamber in which is positioned a stationary seat member, a partition member dividing the pressurized fluid chamber into a first section in constant communication with the inlet and a second section that communicates with the outlet via a center opening in the stationary seat member, an orifice for communicating said first and second sections to each other, and a through hole formed in the partition member. A movable rod is positioned within the pressurized fluid chamber and extends through the through hole in the partition member. The movable rod has a sealing portion at one end for opening and closing the center opening in the stationary seat member during movement of the stationary member. A spring is operatively associated with the movable rod for urging the movable rod in a direction which causes the sealing portion to close the center opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tokihiko Akita
  • Patent number: 5979866
    Abstract: An electromagnetically actuatable disc-type valve includes a pre-assembled hydraulic sub-assembly with a core member and a separately pre-assembled electrical sub-assembly with a body. The exterior surface of the core member is configured to facilitate insertion into the electrical sub-assembly and orientation relative thereto by use of a bushing. The outside diameter of the body of the valve is no more than 13.5 millimeters in the vicinity of the delivery end of the hydraulic sub-assembly. A fluid filter is disposed between a tensioning spring and a calibration slide to facilitate more accurate flow checking and leakage checking of the valve during manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sagem, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy C. Baxter, David R. Gallup, H. A. Staples, III
  • Patent number: 5964448
    Abstract: An access plug is provided for use in oil pans, transmissions and other fluid containers of equipment and the like. The access plug is weight imbalanced along the longitudinal axis to prevent inadvertent rotational movement of the access plug as may occur from vibrational forces when the plug is not properly tightened. By designing the plug with such an imbalance, the plug will terminate its rotation as the weighted half reaches the lowermost point during removal rotation and will so remain, preventing complete removal and rapid fluid loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Bobby G. Kiger
  • Patent number: 5961095
    Abstract: A water outlet fitting with a transmitter, a receiver and an electronic circuit for the contactless operation of an integrated non-return valve, in which the circuit is designed for operation in a plurality of selectable functions. On the fitting there is a manually operable switch, especially a push-button which, when operated, can issue setting commands in the form of switching pulse groups in order to select and activate a given function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Harald Schrott
  • Patent number: 5931185
    Abstract: Instead of wrapping the air hose around the portable tire inflator housing to store it, an internal storage compartment is provided. A guide device in the compartment guides the hose so that it travels a path which is offset downward from a straight line path between its attachment to the compressor of the inflator and the opening in the compartment top wall. This path reduces pulling stresses on the attachment, assists in manual incremental feed of the hose back into a concealed storage position, and prevents the hose from bunching up into upper corners of the compartment. When in its storage position only the air chuck at the end of the hose is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberta Scheiner Hall, Scott D. Price, Wallis Alsruhe, Robert G. Frederick
  • Patent number: 5915669
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve particularly suited for use in an internal combustion engine includes a housing, a coil, a magnet armature guided within the coil, and a spring-actuated valve body interacting via a tappet with the magnet armature. The valve body includes a bead disposed on the side of the valve body facing the coil, wherein when the valve is in the completely open state, the bead contacts the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Sebastian Zabeck, Joachim Heinemann, Reinhard Tinz
  • Patent number: 5904335
    Abstract: A flow control valve having a pressure compensation function. This valve is free of fluid leakage and needs no pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 5901939
    Abstract: An electrostatic actuator device including a stationary support and a buckled, moveable support mounted to enter into contact with the stationary support. At least three electrodes are employed. The first is mounted on the moveable support and a second electrode is on the stationary support. A third electrode is mounted on one of the supports such that the electrodes are positioned to form two pairs of electrodes for electrostatic attraction therebetween. The electrodes are powered by a voltage supply to provide electrostatic attraction between pairs of electrodes and move them into electrostatic contact. The buckled electrode has a shape configured to transmit a restoring force to its portion in contact with stationary support upon application of voltage to another pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Cleopatra Cabuz, Thomas R. Ohnstein, William R. Herb
  • Patent number: 5899228
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for male and female coupling members for use in undersea production and drilling applications is disclosed. At least one pin extends radially from the female member. Each pin enters a slot in a guide sleeve extending longitudinally from the male member. The guide sleeve also contains a spring and spring plate. The female member is inserted into the guide sleeve, compressing the spring, and the pin enters the first longitudinal portion of the slot. The female member may be rotated with respect to the male member when the pin is in the circumferential portion of the slot. The pin then may enter the second or third longitudinal portion of the slot. When the pin is in the second portion of the slot, the female member is "parked" or secured to the male member while coupling member valves remain closed, and when the pin is in the third portion of the slot, the valves are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 5897098
    Abstract: A solenoid valve (10) for use in an electronic shift control system of an automotive automatic transmission. The solenoid valve includes a body (12) having a cylindrical chamber (34) in which a movable armature (34) is slidably received and which is in communication with an inlet (96) for the automatic transmission fluid and an outlet (104). The body defines a cylindrical valve seat (88) in which a cylindrical valve member (90) coupled to the armature is slidably fitted. The valve member has a control port (92) opening onto the circumferential outer surface thereof and an inner passage (94) communicating the control port with the inlet (96). The solenoid valve is operable to control the fluid pressure substantially proportionally to the axial movement of the armature even in a condition in which a large amount of air bubbles are contained in the automatic transmission fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishinosono, Nobuyuki Oka
  • Patent number: 5895027
    Abstract: A solenoid unit includes a plurality of solenoid valves having respective valve bodies for attachment with a main casing of an automatic transmission and a case equipped with the solenoid valves in a manner that the solenoid valves can be installed in the main casing collectively. In the unit, the wiring for the solenoid valves has been completed in the casing prior to assembling the unit to the automatic transmission unit. With the arrangement mentioned above, if only attaching the solenoid unit to the main casing, it is possible to assemble the valve bodies of the solenoid valves to the main casing with a predetermined arrangement. Further, since the wiring for the solenoid valves has been already completed in the case, it is possible to omit the post-operation, such as soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Sakai Yagi
  • Patent number: 5894857
    Abstract: A fuel delivery device for a fuel tank comprising a float chamber for sucking fuel in a normal state, a sub chamber for sucking a small quantity of fuel remaining within a tank and a communication chamber for communicating the float chamber and the sub chamber to each other in lower portions thereof En the fuel delivery device for a fuel tank, a sub float chamber is provided above the sub chamber, the sub float chamber has a gas discharge port communicating with-the fuel tank in an upper portion, a vent hole communicating with the sub chamber in a lower portion and a sub float valve within, and the sub float valve ascends and descends in accordance with a quantity of an excess fuel returned to the sub float chamber from the engine so as to open and close the vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: OM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takaki, Shinya Shimada, Kunihito Kawai
  • Patent number: 5890505
    Abstract: A valve assembly and method for controlling the flow of fluid through a conduit in which a ball valve is disposed in the conduit and is provided with a through bore for receiving the fluid. An insert is also disposed in the conduit downstream of the ball valve and has a plurality of relatively small flow passages. A relatively large flow passage is defined by that portion of the conduit not occupied by the insert. The valve is rotatable in the conduit to direct the fluid from its bore through one or more of the flow passages and a portion of the insert forms an airfoil surface to prevent separation of the fluid as it passes through the relatively large flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry William Boger
  • Patent number: 5887619
    Abstract: A dry disconnect coupling assembly which includes a body with a first end flangedly connected to a manifold and a second end releasably secured to an angle valve, for allowing fluid to flow through the coupling assembly. At the point of engagement between the assembly body and the angle valve, there is included a first angle poppit valve for sealably engaging against the inner wall of the flow bore of the angle valve and a check valve for sealably engaging against the internal wall of the assembly body, with the angle poppit valve and the assembly body sealing adjacent one another for providing minimal space therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: John Robert Keary
  • Patent number: 5881770
    Abstract: A switching valve having a bottom plate, an intermediate plate and a top plate. A distributor rotatably mounted in the intermediate plate. The bottom plate has an upper surface, and the distributor has a lower surface which interface with each other. The bottom plate has an inlet and an outlet spaced from each other and each having an inlet conduit extending from the inlet to the upper surface of the bottom plate and an outlet conduit extending from the outlet to the upper surface of the bottom plate. The distributor having an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a connecting conduit connecting the two together. The distributor inlet conduit is in communication with the bottom plate inlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hoke Incorporated
    Inventors: John H. Neill, Sergio Radossi
  • Patent number: 5876014
    Abstract: A motor damper arranged in a passage in a refrigerator through which the cold air flows comprises a frame constituting a part of the passage, a cold air gate formed at the center of the frame, a baffle rotatably secured on a rotation shaft formed on the frame for opening and closing the cold air gate and a rotation mechanism for swinging the baffle between open and closed positions of the cold air gate. The baffle is arranged to enclose a neighboring region by the frame at the position it closes the cold air gate. The rotation mechanism includes a motor arranged outside the frame and in the vicinity of the rotation shaft of the baffle. The motor damper also includes an output shaft of the motor which is rotatably secured to the rotation shaft of the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Mfg Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Noritake, Yoshinori Shinohara
  • Patent number: 5868162
    Abstract: An automatically switching valve measures pressure at an outlet line using an electric, pressure-sensitive switch which can be set to close at a predetermined pressure threshold within relatively narrow tolerances such that a pressure regulator can be placed between the pressurized gas supply tanks and the switching valve. Closing of the pressure-sensitive switch in response to the drop in pressure below the predetermined threshold sends an electric signal to a relay. In response to the electric signal, the relay causes a different inlet line to be selected, thus changing the particular pressurized gas supply from which the outlet line receives pressurized gas. When gas is supplied through a first inlet line, an electric signal from the pressure-sensitive switch causes the relay to toggle to supply gas through a second inlet line. A subsequent signal from the pressure-sensitive switch causes the relay to toggle back to again supply gas through the first inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: William H. Dickerson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5865421
    Abstract: A valve structure for use in a vaporizer is provided including: a valve seat 16 confronting a vaporization area Y in which a liquid feedstock 106 is to be vaporized and having a liquid feedstock feeding port 15a for introducing the liquid feedstock 106 into the vaporization area Y, and a valve body 1 movable so as to abut against and depart from the valve seat 16 for opening/closing a flow channel extending from the liquid feedstock feeding port 15a to the vaporization area Y, the valve body 1 being capable of controlling the degree of opening of the flow channel thus opened thereby controlling the flow rate of the liquid feedstock 106 flowing through the flow channel into the vaporization area Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lintec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Ono
  • Patent number: 5855355
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device for maintaining a substantially constant predetermined rate of flow through a control valve including a fluid flow passage for directing fluid flow through the valve, a resilient fluid flow rate control washer positioned in the fluid flow passage for maintaining a substantially constant predetermined rate of flow through an outlet of the fluid flow passage irrespective of a pressure of the fluid in the passage and fluid flow conditioning washers for conditioning the flow of fluid through the flow rate control washer with the fluid flow conditioning washers being movable with respect to the flow rate control washer for aiding in the conformability of the flow rate control washer. Preferably, at least two fluid flow conditioning washers are positioned upstream of the flow rate control washer and at least one fluid flow conditioning washer is positioned downstream of the flow rate control washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Horton Company
    Inventors: Jordan Bryce Grunert, James R. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5853162
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control valve having a coil housing and a valve housing provided with a connector for inlet into the valve housing of a medium whose pressure is to be controlled. The valve housing has a chamber connected to ambient atmosphere and a pressure valve controlling communication between the chamber and the medium introduced into the valve housing. A by-pass channel is connected to ambient atmosphere, and a suction valve controls communication between the by-pass channel and the medium introduced into the valve housing. The pressure valve comprises a valve plate facing a valve seat in the valve housing for selectively opening and closing an opening in the valve seat to respectively connect and disconnect the medium introduced into the valve housing from the chamber. The valve plate is slidably supported by a basket and is biassed by a spring against stops provided on the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Pierburg Aktiegesellschaft
    Inventor: Janusz Zurke