Patents Examined by John C. Fox
  • Patent number: 5392826
    Abstract: A drain valve assembly for positively sealing an aircraft waste system drain line to prevent waste fluid leakage and the formation of so-called "blue ice" due to such leakage during high altitude flight. The valve assembly has an inlet for connection to the drain line, an outlet for connection to a waste drain hose of an airport waste disposal facility, and an outer valve cover and inner ball valve between the inlet and outlet which provide truly redundant seals for the drain port in flight, can be opened with relative ease when frozen, are relatively immune to improper sealing due to obstruction by waste, enable removal of a frozen waste blockage in the waste flow path without a sudden large waste dump, and permit inspection and easy replacement, if necessary, of the valve seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventors: Eric J. Saville, Raymond S. Hunt, Jr., William R. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5388807
    Abstract: A modular butterfly valve includes a disc member which is adapted for selective rotation between an open and a closed position, a housing, a resilient valve seat, and a clamping ring which are held together by a hinged quick coupling ring. The disc member is resiliently suspended by the valve seat which provides a self-centering of the disc member in a direction transverse to a direction of material flow. This butterfly valve further includes at least one means for limiting the displacement of the disc member in a direction which is parallel to the direction of material flow when loads are placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Helmut Habicht
  • Patent number: 5388806
    Abstract: A valve comprising a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a through opening forming a fluid flow passage and a wall surrounding a portion of the fluid flow passage, the fluid flow passage defining an axis that is co-axial with the wall. A valve element is rotatably mounted in the valve body, the valve element having an annular, radiused sealing surface and being rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis passing through the fluid flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Kusmer, Robert A. Frenzel
  • Patent number: 5386967
    Abstract: A coupling for use in a rotary Ball valve having a spherical ball with a passageway therethrough controlling the flow of fluid through the valve. The coupling is particularly suited for use with non-metallic, for example, ceramic, spherical balls which are rotated by torque applied to a metallic actuator shaft extending from the valve body. The coupling includes a plurality of depressions and protrusions formed at the interface of the non-metallic and metallic components. The depressions and protrusions are positioned away from the central axis of the spherical ball. A cushion is interposed between the metallic and non-metallic components to further disperse the force applied to the non-metallic component so that as torque is applied to the shaft the non-metallic component is rotated without breakage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Valtek Incorporated
    Inventors: Dan O. Enniss, Robert E. Gooch, Stephen R. Chipman
  • Patent number: 5386966
    Abstract: A rotary slide valve for controlling the flow of molten material from a discharge opening of a holding vessel into an inlet of a rotatable casting mold has three valve plates which are in face-to-face contact. A first valve plate at the inflow side of the valve is fixed and is designed to abut the holding vessel peripherally of its discharge opening. A second valve plate at the discharge side of the valve is designed to engage the mold peripherally of the mold inlet and to rotate with the mold between two terminal positions. The third valve plate is sandwiched between the others and can be driven in rotation relative to both. Each of the valve plates is provided with a through opening. The valve is designed so that, at least in the two terminal positions of the discharge valve plate, the openings of all the valve plates can be brought into register and the openings of two of the valve plates can be brought out of register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: EB Bruhl Aluminiumtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Gosch
  • Patent number: 5385333
    Abstract: A butterfly valve disc has a circular cross-section bore for receiving the end of a drive shaft which engages with a member non-rotatably located in the bore. The member is polygonal and preferably formed with twelve sides and edges, the edges biting into the internal surface of the bore to prevent rotation. The member preferably is of harder alloy than the disc to resist wearing and is formed with a slot extending perpendicularly to the plane of the disc to receive a corresponding tongue formed at the end of the shaft. This arrangement allows a small degree of play so that if the disc is subjected to pressure on one side and therefore bends, the torque required to open the valve is not increased. Alternatively wherein the disc (or another component) is not subject to such pressure the member may be integrally formed with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: BTR plc
    Inventors: Michael P. Morris, Phillip J. Haseley
  • Patent number: 5383439
    Abstract: An aftercooler mounting and sealing system for use with an internal combustion engine is disclosed including an intake manifold, a distribution manifold disposed downstream of the intake manifold, and an aftercooler clamped between the intake manifold and the distribution manifold. Resiliently compressible U-shaped seals are provided between the intake of the aftercooler and the intake manifold and between the outlet of the aftercooler and the distribution manifold to effectively seal against leakage of charged intake air from the manifold joints. The clamp load across the resiliently compressible seals is selectable independent of the clamp load across the manifolds to enhance seal life and reduce the number of fasteners required to assembly the aftercooler in place between the intake manifold and the distribution manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Allyn P. Bock
  • Patent number: 5383486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a warewasher drain valve having a valve cover and a drain. The method comprises the step of rapidly reciprocating the valve cover from a first position closing the drain to a second position in which the drain is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Premark FEG Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Warner, Richard W. Cartwright, James M. Straughn
  • Patent number: 5381832
    Abstract: A branched hose connector includes a branched inner pipe substantially made from a suitable lightweight material, a plurality of hoses connected onto the branched inner pipe, a cover covering the branched inner pipe and a portion of the hoses to join the branched inner pipe and the hoses, and an integrally formed flange projecting outwardly. The branched hose connector is lightweight so that it can be installed with ease via the flange, and it can be manufactured easily and less expensively. Further, the branched hose connector can include a valve member, and a convexity and a concavity provided on opposing end surfaces of the branched inner pipe and the valve member. With these extra features, the valve member can be tightened into the branched inner pipe with a predetermined appropriate torque by a manual operation alone, and it can resist loosening by vibrations, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 5381600
    Abstract: A method of making an automotive heat exchanger comprises the steps of assembling a heat exchanger core having a plurality of interleaved tube and fins disposed between a pair of endsheets and expanding the diameter of the tubes a predetermined distance by forcing an expansion tool therethrough. The tubes of the heat exchanger include a plurality of internal projections of predetermined height and the expansion process decreases the height of the projections by less than 25% of its original height. A heat exchanger formed in accordance with this method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Ramchandra L. Patel
  • Patent number: 5381831
    Abstract: A combined valve device (10) for draining of tub (6) and pipe devices consisting of pipes for liquid and air, such as for bubble bath, comprising a housing (5), a first valve (1) for the liquid pipe and a second valve (2) for the air pipe, as well as means for operating and actuating the respective valves. Valve device (10) has one and the same, rigid actuating means, activating or opening and closing valve (1) for the liquid pipe and valve (2) for the air pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Vico Products Mfg. Co. A/S
    Inventor: Anders Versland
  • Patent number: 5379801
    Abstract: Exhaust directing mechanisms are useful for directing exhaust gas flow from an inlet to either a vehicle dump body or a muffler means. A valve mechanism for a vehicle includes a valve body having a valving element mounted within the valve body and being rotatable to a first position upon movement of a dump body to a raised position to direct exhaust from an engine to a muffler. With the dump body in the lowered position the valving element is in the second position to direct exhaust to the dump body. This arrangement of components provides for rotation of the valving element to direct exhaust flow to the dump body or to the muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Reinhart, Richard D. Walker
  • Patent number: 5379983
    Abstract: A shut-off slide valve for use in pipelines or for closing a container aperture includes a housing, a shut-off member formed of a sealing plate and a counter element spaced from the sealing plate and displaceable in the housing, and an actuation member for displacing the shut-off member in the housing, with the actuation member having a portion extending between the sealing plate and the counter element, and at least one of the sealing plate and the counter element having a collar substantially bridging the space between the sealing plate and the counter element, so that the shut-off member has a shape similar to that of a lid-covered can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Geiser
  • Patent number: 5379800
    Abstract: A cam operated valve mechanism for directing the flow in a fluid flow duct to selective alternative outlets. The valve comprises an annular array of segmented elements which are each pivotally mounted to an axially translatable sleeve disposed coaxially within the duct. In a first axial position the sleeve extends across port and starboard alternative flow outlets, and in a second axial position extends downstream thereof. Each valve element comprises a cam follower which engages an axially extending cam track formed in the duct surface. The profile of the cam track is such that translation of the sleeve from its first to second axial position causes each of the valve elements to rotate from a stowed to a deployed position, and thereby obturate the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Philip A. Mansfield
  • Patent number: 5379984
    Abstract: A vacuum gate valve includes a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening, and a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The swing gate assembly includes a swing gate body, a resilient seal gasket mounted to the swing gate body so as to sealingly engage the valve seat in the closed position, and a spreader for flattening the resilient seal gasket in a region that engages the valve seat. The gate valve further includes an actuator for rotating the swing gate assembly between the open position and the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the seal gasket is a resilient tube, and the spreader is located within the tube. The swing gate assembly may include a mechanism for adjusting the spreader to thereby adjust the tension applied to the seal gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Coad, George Matthias
  • Patent number: 5377953
    Abstract: A closure valve assembly for the discharge outlet line of a garbage disposal has a resilient deformable housing which defines a fluid passage and a rigid valve element pivotal in said housing and having an outer circumferential surface with a greater diameter than that of the inside surface of said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Lynn A. Steinmetz
    Inventor: Edgar T. Lordier
  • Patent number: 5377954
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disc valve with a laminated seal ring secured to the housing which forms a leakproof seal with a seating surface on the valve disc. The seal ring is made of two or more metal laminates, the outer peripheral edges of which are cold welded together, by WIG welding or laser welding, for example, to prevent any leakage of fluid pass the opposing, abutting surfaces of the laminations. A bolt-tightened pressure ring presses the laminated seal ring in an axial direction against an axially oriented support face of the housing. An axially open groove in support face is covered by the proximate seal ring lamination and is filled with a graphite gasket to prevent leakage behind the seal ring. Alternatively, the laminated seal ring can be mounted on the disc and the cooperating valve seat is formed on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Adams GmbH & Co. Armaturen KG
    Inventors: Siegbert Adams, Thomas Heitmann
  • Patent number: 5377955
    Abstract: A gate valve comprising a valve body, a gate, a bonnet assembly and an actuator assembly. The gate having a closure area, a flow opening extending through the gate, and a recess circumscribing the flow opening and the closure area having a material disposed therein and case hardened to form a wear resistant sealing surface about the flow opening and the closure area having a hardness greater than about 50 Rockwell. The gate being press fitted between a pair of seat rings such that the sealing surface remains in sealing engagement against the seat rings to provide a substantially fluid tight seal when the gate is in an open and closed position. The actuating assembly is connected to the gate for reciprocally moving the gate across the flow bore between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventor: Dwight Baker
  • Patent number: 5373892
    Abstract: The design of past vehicles having internal combustion engines has focused attention toward aerodynamic principles. However, present day vehicles have done little to reconfigure the vehicle's engine systems in order to enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle. The present invention allows for enhancements of the aerodynamics of the vehicle by utilizing a dry sump means 60 within a dry sump lubricated engine 36 which eliminates a conventional oil pan and allows a replacing cover 46 to be smaller and more shallow thereby lowering the overall profile of the engine 36. The additional use of a separately mounted oil cooler 76 reduces the heat load to a radiator 80 thereby decreasing the necessary size for the radiator 80. The smaller radiator 80 decreases the vertical spatial requirements for the engine 36. By lowering the overall profile of the engine 36, with both the more shallow cover 46 and the smaller radiator 80, a vehicle hood 18 can be manufactured with an increased slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Johnson, Roger A. Stapf
  • Patent number: 5374031
    Abstract: The butterfly valve assembly comprises a body formed with an admission duct and a disk shaped butterfly valve member of predetermined shape carried by a shaft that extends transversally to the passage and mounted for rotation in the body between a minimum opening position of the valve member and a maximum opening position. The duct has a cylindrical length whose cross-section matches with the shape of the butterfly valve member when the latter is in its minimum opening position. It further has respective zones upstream and downstream from the cylindrical length, along the paths followed by upstream and downstream edges of the valve member up to a determined opening angle thereof. Such zones are further defined by successive circular arcs centered on the axis of the admission duct and having radii that decrease going away from the cylindrical length along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Solex
    Inventors: Pierre Semence, Michael Pontoppidan