Patents Examined by John C. Fox
  • Patent number: 5549136
    Abstract: A metering valve wherein an outer casing defines a first and second chamber communicating with each other via a hole and respectively communicating externally of the casing via a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid recirculating conduit. The first chamber also communicates externally via a supply conduit, and houses a shutter movable axially inside the chamber between a first position wherein a first portion of the shutter closes the aforementioned hole, and a second position wherein a second portion of the shutter closes the supply conduit. For any intermediate position between the first and second positions, the total area of the gaps between the supply conduit and the second portion and between the hole and the first portion is notably constant, so that, for any position of the shutter, the total section of the fluid passage of the metering valve is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Dromont Meccanica S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Drocco, Mario Drocco
  • Patent number: 5549278
    Abstract: A parallel-slide gate valve with a sealing liner in two parts, comprises a semicircular lower housing part which can also be used as a mounting segment (30), and an upper housing part (31). The sealing liner (5) is also in two parts, wherein a transverse seal (20) which is subsequently compressible in operation is insertable in the liner stem (6). The assembly and dismantling of the parallel-slide gate valve can thus be effected in the direction of movement of the slide gate, and considerably ease the installation in relation to liner replacement. The mounting segment (30) can remain bolted to the pipe flanges when replacing the sealing liner (5), to align the pipe ends. The assembly is simplified in every respect, and all operating functions are optimally ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Sistag
    Inventor: Hans-Jorg Sidler
  • Patent number: 5549139
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly construct ed cabinet of a microsurgical control console.In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Storz Instrument Company
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Peter F. Appelbaum, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5547167
    Abstract: A gate valve apparatus which includes a housing having a passageway defined therein for a fluent material, a generally planar gate, and apparatus for supporting the gate within the housing. The apparatus for supporting allows movement of the gate in opposed first and second directions that are generally parallel to the generally planar gate. The apparatus also includes an annular seal carried on the housing around the perimeter of the passageway and apparatus for moving the gate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the generally planar gate. The apparatus for moving includes a first and second shafts, the shafts have a first and second axial portions that is disposed in eccentric relationship to other axial portions of the shaft, a roller is carried on each of these eccentric portions. A roller including a bearing allowing free rotational movement is carried on each of these eccentric axial portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Torok, Ernest A. Duschen
  • Patent number: 5544700
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes first and second circuits disposed in a counterflow configuration for respectively channeling first and second fluids. In one embodiment, the first circuit is joined to an aircraft engine fuel tank with the first fluid or fuel being a heat sink, and the second circuit is joined to a plurality of aircraft engine oil sumps, with the second fluid or oil being cooled in the heat exchanger by the fuel. The second circuit of the heat exchanger includes first and second outlets in succession with a portion of the oil being removed prior to completion of flow through the heat exchanger and channeled to one or more of the sumps. The remaining portion of the oil in the heat exchanger is removed after completion of flow therethrough at a lower temperature than that of the first portion and is channeled to a predetermined one of the sumps for providing cooler oil thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John G. Shagoury
  • Patent number: 5542452
    Abstract: In a valve assembly exhibiting zero dead volume the port head is mounted on a solenoid and defines an inlet port on one side of the valve seat, and two outlet ports on the opposite side of the valve seat. A flexible diaphragm is seated across the valve seat between the port head and the solenoid, and is sealed along its peripheral edge. A spring-biased valve rod is coupled to the opposite side of the diaphragm relative to the valve seat, and the solenoid is actuated to move the valve rod and diaphragm between open and closed positions. The valve assembly is opened by actuating the solenoid to drive the valve rod and diaphragm away from the valve seat and permit the passage of fluid across the valve seat between the inlet and outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: CDC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Carver, Jr., Steven Skiptunas
  • Patent number: 5542445
    Abstract: A dual function safety valve is designed to automatically stop a flow of fluid through the valve in response to the valve being subjected to a minimum impact force or excessive vibration and in response to the valve being subjected to heat above a predetermined minimum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: George R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5542644
    Abstract: An improved plug type valve of the type having seat and reseat retractable seals, the plug assembly having a tapered faceted cylindrical plug with a waterway therethrough. A first pair of shut-off slips is positioned on the plug for axial movement, relative to the plug, wherein the plug surfaces adjacent the shut-off slips are tapered for retracting the shut-off slips as the plug is moved vertically in a first direction relative to the inlet and the outlet of the valve. A pair of thru-bore slips are positioned on the plug adjacent the waterway for relative axial movement therebetween. The plug surfaces adjacent the thru-bore slips are tapered for retracting the thru-bore slips as the plug is moved vertically in a second direction, relative to the inlet and outlet of the valve. The thru-bore slips have a thru-bore aperture to permit flow through the waterway without leakage around the plug and thus the interior of the valve body, when the waterway is aligned with the inlet and outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Johnston Pump/General Valve, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5540415
    Abstract: A steam isolation valve system for opening and closing a steam flow passage of a steam flow comprises a valve body, a valve disk accommodated in the valve body to be reciprocatingly movable for opening and closing the steam flow passage, and a drive mechanism for moving the valve disk along an axial direction of the valve body. The steam flow passage has a portion elliptical in section having a short axis in a direction of the reciprocating axis of the valve disk projected on a plane perpendicular to an axis of the steam flow passage. The steam flow passage has a throttling inlet passage which is deformed in shape from a circular tube portion having a diameter D on a steam upstream side to an elliptical tube portion having a long side diameter D and a short side diameter D cos.theta. (45.degree..ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.65.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuzo Yamamoto, Katsumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 5540249
    Abstract: The valve in automatic shutoff valve mechanism is held in a predetermined elevated open position by a magnet spaced above the valve, and the valve can be released for downward movement into shutoff position either by melting of a fusible nut holding a threaded magnet-supporting stem or by the mechanism being vibrated sufficiently severely to shake the valve loose from the attraction of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ayres Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ayres W. Johnson, Daniel F. Healy
  • Patent number: 5535983
    Abstract: The sleeve is inserted into the passage of the valve casing and fastened to the valve casing by means of a bayonet connection at one end and by means of a support arrangement at the other end. The fastening collar embedded in the sleeve body has projecting lugs. The latter can be moved through grooves on insertion with the sleeve into the valve casing. The holding collar has a flange which on the insertion of the sleeve comes to bear against the support surface of the valve casing. When the sleeve is then turned, the lugs engage behind the holding surface of the valve casing. This permits extremely simple installation and replaceability of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Ho-Matic AG
    Inventor: Kurt Hohermuth
  • Patent number: 5535784
    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: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Pneu-Draulics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Saville, Raymond S. Hunt, Jr., William R. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5535986
    Abstract: A fluid seal for rotary valves wherein a metal seal ring is adapted to fit within a groove formed within the valve body and a retainer ring for sealing engagement with the sealing surface of a closure member. The metal seal ring has a non-symmetrical cross section with the retainer ring side portion including a shoulder engaging the retainer within the groove and a seating portion extending from the groove for sealing engagement with the closure member. A valve body side portion of the metal seal ring includes a shoulder engaging the valve body within the groove and a non-seating portion extending from the groove for a substantially non-sealing and non-engagement with the sealing surface of the closure member. Engagement of the closure member with the seating portion of the retainer side portion of the metal seal ring torsionally loads the cross-section of the seal ring so as to only enlarge the retainer side portion. A resilient material seal ring can be added to the metal seal ring for desired applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur D. Hutchens, Timothy A. McMahon, Brian V. Nolan, Steven M. Kirk, Paul R. Hunsberger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5531248
    Abstract: A butterfly valve having a plastic body with a one-piece valve member formed of thermoplastic elastomer with an integral hub with torque transmitting surfaces which are engaged by lugs on a rigid shaft received in the hub and the shaft is journalled for rotation in the valve body. The valve member has integral thin blade portions extending in opposite directions from the hub with a thickened rim formed about the periphery of the blade with the edge of the rim preferably chamfered. The preferred butterfly member has integral stiffening ribs extending centrally from the hub along the blades to the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Pearson, Dennis R. Carls
  • Patent number: 5531249
    Abstract: A valve block assembly for controlling the flow of operating air to air operated mechanisms of a section of an I.S. machine comprising at least one valve block including a plurality of valves, each of the valves having an inlet chamber for receiving operating air, a conduit associated with each valve for directing operating air away from the valve towards the air operated mechanisms or for directing exhaust air from the air operated mechanism to the valve, and an exhaust channel for directing exhaust air away from the valves, and a manifold including means for supplying operating air to the inlet chambers, an exhaust channel for receiving exhaust air from the valve block exhaust channel, and a corresponding plurality of conduits communicating with the valve block conduits for delivering exhaust air from the air operated mechanisms to the valve block conduits or for directing operating air received from the valve block conduits towards the air operated mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Borbone
  • Patent number: 5531267
    Abstract: In a refrigeration system in which coils are mounted in a coil passage, a fan system is provided by which air is caused to pass over the coils. The fan system includes a housing communicating with a coil passage. The housing has an intake and an outlet each with a mouth, the mouths of the intake and outlet being oriented substantially 180.degree. from on another. A centrifugal scroll caged blower is mounted in the housing and an electric motor is connected to rotate the blower. Baffles are provided within the housing for directing air in separate paths through the housing intake to an inlet of the blower and from the blower through the housing outlet, the flow of the air through the housing mouths lying in substantially parallel planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Sohail Ahmed, Kevin M. May
  • Patent number: 5529026
    Abstract: A regulating valve, comprising a housing having a cylindrical valve chamber, is disclosed. The valve chamber is provided with at least one inflow and at least two outflow ports. The inflow and the outflow ports can be at least partly closed off as required by a single common valve body arranged in the valve chamber that can rotate about an axis. The valve body acts as a rotary valve and can be actuated by a drive. The inflow and/or at least one of the outflow ports is surrounded on the side of the housing facing the valve body by a seal. The seal can be brought into sealing engagement with the valve body under an elastic preload. The valve body has an extension in the peripheral direction of the valve chamber that is delimited in each case by an edge, such that the flowoff edge passing over the inflow port while it is opening has an axially extending elliptical indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Klaus Kurr, Karl-Heinz Spies, Wolfgang Krause
  • Patent number: 5529284
    Abstract: A pipe union assembly with embodiments which are capable of use over a very wide temperature range and which may be cycled through temperatures varying widely from the ambient assembly temperature and also over a wide range of pressures without the need to be retightened. Embodiments of the invention also include structures to automatically check the flow of fluids from the components of the pipe union upon disassembly of the union. The pipe union generally comprises one or more fitting members and a sealing member. The sealing member receives a ridge formed on each fitting member in a sealing fashion. One or more external sleeves hold the fitting member and the sealing member in sealing engagement. The materials from which each fitting member and sealing member are fabricated may be chosen so as to exhibit the proper hardness characteristics and thermal expansion coefficients. A compensating washer is also provided to increase compensation for thermal contractions at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventors: Martin H. Berger, Leo L. Krywitsky, Lee A. Krywitsky
  • Patent number: 5529278
    Abstract: A flow control valve is described comprised of first and second rigid members and a resilient single or multi stage valve element disposed between the rigid members. A fluid flow path is defined through the rigid members and through or around the valve element to provide a continuous flow path through the valve. The rigid members are movable relative to each other between a first position and a second position. The valve element is sufficiently compressed by the rigid members when they are in the first position so as to close the flow path through or around the valve element. The valve element is sufficiently relaxed when the rigid members are in the second position to allow fluid flow through the flow path through or around the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Novoste Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Weldon, Charles E. Larsen, Jonathan J. Rosen
  • Patent number: 5529285
    Abstract: A valve comprises a valve body having threaded connections on each end. A unit handled valve mechanism includes a cage carrying a spring loaded floating valve ball. The valve mechanism is placed in and removed from the valve body without the use of special tools. The valve mechanism includes lip type polyseals allowing pressure from below to leak past a lower valve seat so pressure from below causes the valve ball to seal only against an upper seat assembly. The only segment of the valve ball in substantial compression is immediately adjacent the upper seat assembly. An actuator for the valve fits onto a connector between the actuator and ball in only one manner, so the indicator on the actuator correctly points at the correct indicia on the valve body describing the valve condition, i.e. open or closed. An improved connector between the actuator and the valve ball minimizes the potential of deformation due to abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: M&M Supply Company
    Inventors: Devereux J. McKnight, Brent H. McKnight, James A. Cunningham