Patents Examined by John Ball
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Patent number: 5853025Abstract: This invention deals with the problem of providing liquid for the windshield or windows of vehicles. In general, the job of filling an empty windshield container under the hood of the cars is a difficult task and can be dangerous. In order to prevent such a case, this application provides methods that allow the process of filling an existing windshield fluid container to be done from inside the vehicle or from another convenient area adjacent to the vehicle. This model allows a hand-held pump or an electrical pump to be used to pump the fluid from a windshield fluid container into the existing windshield fluid container. Therefore, it will eliminate the need to open the hood of the vehicle and to do a difficult task for this purpose. In some models, the windshield fluid container may be placed in the trunk of the vehicle and will have a switch on the dashboard in order to activate the pump to pump the fluid when needed.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1997Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Inventor: Yousef Daneshvar
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Patent number: 5848780Abstract: A straight fluid flow solenoid valve 10 comprising a conduit 24 having an inlet 148, an outlet 146 and a seat 88 member therein with an aperture 90 therethrough; a plunger 68, backstop 76 and spring 70 positioned inside the conduit 24 such that when a voltage is impressed upon a coil 22 circumferentially positioned around the exterior of the conduit 24, the plunger 68 is moved from a closed position to an open position thereby allowing a fluid to pass through the solenoid valve 10 in a substantially laminar flow stream while engaging the plunger 68 and the backstop 76.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Liberty Controls, Inc.Inventors: Jim D. Miller, Robert J. Rudisil
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Patent number: 5848610Abstract: A diverter valve for diverting fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet selected from among several outlets is disclosed. The diverter valve disclosed is useful for distributing fluids in laundry applications, especially automatic clothes washers and the like. It includes a body, a valve member, a motor to operate the valve, an actuable switch, a cam mechanism to de-energize the motor upon movement to a position, and a housing for the device.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Inventors: Robert A. Livernash, Robert J. Cooper, Manuel Gamez
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Patent number: 5845673Abstract: A special mounting apparatus is provided to support and locate a piece of equipment, especially a shower mixing valve in a wall cavity between a base wall and an outer facing, the mounting apparatus comprising a support member for securing to the base wall, a carrying plate serving to carry a piece of equipment e.g. fluid valve, and a jacking device for positioning the carrying plate relative to the base wall the device including a plurality of threaded studs attached to the support member and corresponding sleeve-form positioning nuts coupled to the carrying plate and threaded to the studs so as to form a telescopic assemblage therewith, compression springs being present between the nuts and the carrying plate. The mounting apparatus permits by selective adjustment of the nuts selective spacing of the carrying plate from the support member and also comprehensive tilting of the carrying plate relative to the support member to cater for angular irregularities at the base wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1997Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: The Horne Engineering Company LimitedInventor: Graham Donald Paul
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Patent number: 5842680Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a valve with less resistance. The actuator includes a rotor, a stator, a valve and a shaft. The shaft having a first and second end, and an axis extending longitudinally therethrough. The stator, having an electromagnet mounted thereon, and circumferentially mounted around the shaft that extends therethrough. The rotor, fixedly mounted circumferentially around the first end, and having a permanent magnet mounted adjacent to the electromagnet and spaced a first distance therefrom. The valve including a rotary valve and valve seat. The rotary valve, mounted circumferentially around and near the second end, having a valve opening therein. The valve seat, mounted adjacent the rotary valve, having a seat valve opening therein, and fixedly attached to the stator.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: CTS CorporationInventors: Eleazor Felipe Bustamante, Phillip G. Adams, Catherine Hoskin, David Yan Leng
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Patent number: 5842504Abstract: A safety valve for retaining liquid in an inverted, liquid-filled canister inserted within a receptacle having an outlet, includes a valve having a base and a head, a retainer attached to the receptacle, the retainer having a compartment for receiving the valve base and at least one passage for allowing the liquid to flow through at least one passage when the valve is disengaged, and a spring positioned within the compartment, telescopically engaging the valve base, for providing a sealing force on the valve, wherein the valve head engages the outlet of the receptacle for retaining the liquid within the canister when the spring force exceeds the hydrostatic force of the liquid within the canister and the weight of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1996Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Steven M. Schennum, Christopher M. Miller
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Patent number: 5839463Abstract: A valve assembly for transferring fluid from a fluid supply tank to a fluid holding tank. The valve assembly includes a housing having a first port for communication with the fluid supply tank and a second port for communication with the fluid holding tank. A drum is rotatably mounted in the housing and has a passageway therein. The passageway has an opening located at each end thereof positioned on an outer surface of the drum for alignment with one of the ports in the housing. The drum is rotatable between a flow position in which the openings are aligned with the ports to permit fluid flow from the fluid supply tank to the fluid holding tank and a shut-off position in which one of the openings is not aligned with the ports to prevent flow from the supply tank to the holding tank. The valve assembly further comprises an actuator for rotating the drum within the housing between the fluid flow and shut-off positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: McDonnell Douglas CorporationInventors: James B. Blackmon, Nelson E. Jones
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Patent number: 5836277Abstract: A valve timing control device includes a rotation shaft for opening and closing a valve, a rotation transmitting member rotatably mounted on the rotation shaft, a vane connected to one of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a chamber defined between the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member and divided into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber by the vane extending into the chamber, a first fluid passage in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber for supplying and discharging the fluid therein and therefrom, respectively, a second fluid passage in fluid communication with the second pressure chamber for supplying and discharging the fluid therein and therefrom, a retracting hole formed on one of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a locking pin slidably fitted in the retracting hole and urged toward the other of the rotation shaft and the rotation transmitting member, a receiving hole formed on the other of the rotation shafType: GrantFiled: December 23, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Kira, Katsuhiko Eguchi, Kazumi Ogawa, Motoo Nakamura
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Patent number: 5836351Abstract: A vent for conducting gas from the atmosphere to a space of a container, the vent comprising a manifold engagable to the container in gas communication and a breather intake assembly engagable to the manifold in gas communication and having a valve assembly operative for admitting ambient air into the container when subatmospheric pressure is present within the container.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Inventor: William D. Underwood, III
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Patent number: 5829480Abstract: An apparatus for locking together male and female coupling members for use in undersea production and drilling applications is disclosed. A lock pin engages a circumferential groove around the body of the female coupling member. The lock pin may be released to allow partial separation of the male and female coupling members while the valves of each coupling member are closed, allowing the coupling members to remain connected subsea while the flow of hydraulic fluid is shut off.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
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Patent number: 5826616Abstract: A shiftable valve spool has a plurality of distinct targets carried thereon. The targets are preferably axially spaced and located at one end of the valve spool. A detector mounted in the valve detects each target as each target enters a detection field of the detector. The detector generates a distinct output indicative of one target positioned within the detection field of the detector. A control determines, in response to the output from the detector, the exact valve spool position.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: ISI Norgren, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Golden
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Patent number: 5823505Abstract: A solenoid valve, whose valve member is acted upon by a feed pressure in a closed setting by the feed pressure obtaining in an inlet duct. In order to render possible rapid switching operations a moving ancillary drive member is provided which is acted upon by a control pressure and which acts through an outlet duct in the opening direction, and hence against the feed pressure, on the valve member.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Festo KGInventors: Kurt Stoll, Jurgen Schnatterer
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Patent number: 5823221Abstract: A coupling device for the automatic coupling of a teeming ladle to several gas pipes is presented. The coupling device comprises a first coupling part connected to a gas supply and a second coupling part attached to the teeming ladle, with several gas outlets being arranged in the first coupling part and several gas inlets being arranged in the second coupling part. Each individual gas outlet can be closed by a closing element in the first coupling part, wherein, when being coupled to the second coupling part, this closing element is pressed inwards into the first coupling part and opens the corresponding gas outlet. To bring about self-cleaning of the coupling parts before they are coupled together, the closing elements are designed in such a way that, when the two parts of the coupling are coupled together, before the sealing union of the two coupling parts, a single gas outlet is first opened, before the other gas outlets are opened.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Hubert Stomp, Albert Feitler
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Patent number: 5823507Abstract: A bobbin 7 around which a solenoid 6 is wound is connected to an electronic control unit 1 fixed to a base plate portion 3c through a connection terminal 11 penetrating a connection hole 2 and a guide hole 4 whose one end portion is fixed to a bobbin 7 and is connected to an end portion of a solenoid 6 and other end portion is connected to the connection hole 2, a hook portion 3d is engaged into a hole 10b so that a yoke 8 is supported, an electromagnetic-force generating portion 5 is assembled to a casing 3, gaps 18 and 21 are formed between the yoke 8 and the bobbin 7 so that the yoke 8 is made to be movable with respect to the bobbin 7 in the axial direction of the sleeve 13 and also in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the sleeve 13. When the casing 3 and the valve housing 14 are assembled, the sleeve 13 is smoothly inserted into the electromagnetic-force generating portion 5, and the yoke 8 is pressed and urged to the valve housing 14 by a ring spring 12.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Inden, Yoshiyuki Katoh, Akihiko Sugiura
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Patent number: 5820102Abstract: A pressurized fluid transfer system is provided comprising a supply storage vessel, a receiver storage vessel, a fluid flow passage extending from the supply storage vessel to the receiver storage vessel, a sonic nozzle comprising a convergent nozzle portion, a divergent nozzle portion, and a nozzle throat positioned between the convergent nozzle portion and the divergent nozzle portion. The nozzle throat defines a minimum flow area orifice having a cross sectional flow area which is smaller than a remainder of flow orifices within the system. Further, a sonic nozzle is provided in a pressurized fluid storage system such that sonic fluid flow into the fluid storage vessel is maintained until the storage vessel is about 90-95% full.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Superior Valve CompanyInventor: Robin Neil Borland
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Patent number: 5820101Abstract: The metering valve has a shutter for a discharge conduit, and an electromet for controlling an armature disconnected from a respective stem and sliding along the stem by means of a respective sleeve; the stem is guided by a bush and pushed by a first spring to keep the shutter in the closed position; and the armature is held axially resting against the stem by a second spring preloaded between the armature and an annular shoulder of the stem, so as not to affect the action of the first spring.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Elasis Sistema Ricerca Fiat Nel Mezzogiorno Societa Consortile Per AzioniInventor: Mario Ricco
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Patent number: 5819798Abstract: A multiple port rotary indexing vacuum valve in a liquid ink printer including a selecting member and a multiple port member. The selecting member, defines an aperture therethrough and a first axis, including a first oscillatory surface. The multiple port member defines a plurality of ports and a second axis, including a second oscillatory surface wherein the second oscillatory surface is matable with the first oscillatory surface so that relative movement therebetween aligns the aperture of the selecting member with one of the plurality of ports of the multiple port member.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Alfred J. Claflin, David G. Anderson
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Patent number: 5820100Abstract: An electromagnetic linear actuator having a stationary annular assembly with a magnetic outer shell and a magnetic inner core. Monostable or bistable control components may be mounted interchangeably between the outer shell and inner core. An assembly which is moveable in the axis of the annular assembly includes two magnetic plates which face the extremities of the annular assembly and a rod which is mounted so that it can slide inside the core. The first core is made of a material chosen for its frictional characteristics. The actuator may be used to control the valve of a regulator in the fuel supply circuit of a satellite engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale IndustrielleInventors: Laurent Fontaine, Claude Tallend, Jean Yves Frere
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Patent number: 5819775Abstract: An improved control valve to control very low rates of flow having a valve body housing a throttle mechanism. The throttle mechanism comprising a bore and throttle plunger, having a helical exterior groove, sized with an annular passage therebetween. The size of the cylindrical passage is selected and held within limits so that media of a chosen viscosity maintains fully developed laminar conditions as it enters and exits the valve, by keeping the Reynolds Number under 4000. The flow rate is controlled by varying the distance that the throttle plunger extends into the bore. Because the valve operates under constant laminar conditions this varying distance yields linear results between the length of engagement of the throttle plunger in the bore and the flow rate resulting in an increased accuracy control valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Parker & Harper Companies, Inc.Inventor: David G. Holloway
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Patent number: 5819774Abstract: A self-lubricating and wear resistant valve/valve guide combination for an engine includes a self-lubricating coating deposited on one of (a) the inner surface of the valve guide, or (b) the outer surface of the valve stem. A wear-resistant coating deposited on one of (a) the outer surface of the valve stem when the self-lubricating coating is deposited on the inner surface of the valve guide, or (b) the inner surface of the valve guide when the self-lubricating coating is deposited on the outer surface of the valve stem. The self-lubricating coating has a composition, by weight, consisting essentially of, (a) a first component, comprising, a metal-bonded chromium carbide in the range of about 60% to about 80%, (b) a second component, comprising, a soft noble metal in the range of about 1% to about 20%, and (c) a third component, comprising, a metal fluoride eutectic in the range of about 5 to about 20%.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: M. Brad Beardsley, Karen R. Raab