Patents Examined by John Fox
  • Patent number: 10788144
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flow switch operated by a single button, including a switching device and an outlet device. The switching device includes a diverter member and a switching assembly. The switching assembly includes a fixing member, a sealing member and a linking rod. The diverter member has a passing through chamber. The fixing member has a first movable chamber and a linking rod channel. The sealing member has a second movable chamber. The linking rod has a blocking flange and a sealing portion. The sealing member is used to control an inlet condition of the passing through chamber and the first movable chamber. The sealing portion is used to control an inlet condition of the linking rod channel. The blocking flange and the second movable chamber are correspondingly moved to make the sealing member and the sealing portion to be operated continuously with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: PURITY (XIAMEN) SANITARY WARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: James Wu, Alex Wu, Ce-Wen Yang
  • Patent number: 10788135
    Abstract: A multi-port valve is disclosed that includes a valve body having an outer surface, an inner surface that defines an internal cavity, an upper end, a lower end, a stop member extending from the upper end, a plurality of output ports for transmitting a liquid to respective outputs, and an input port for receiving the liquid from an input. The multi-port valve also includes a directional component positioned in the internal cavity and configured to be rotated relative to the valve body, where the directional component includes a stop member and defines an outer surface that includes a channel for directing the liquid from the input port to one of the plurality of output ports when the directional component is in a first rotational position and a blocking extension that extends through the channel to prevent the channel from completely extending around the circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Carl T. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 10781549
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a drain system for an appliance. The drain system can include a Y-hose having a flexible end coupled to a supply of water from tub, a recirculating end, and a drain end, a recirculating valve coupled with the recirculating end, a drain valve spaced from the recirculating valve and coupled with the drain end, and wherein the recirculating end and the drain end are connected via a continuous connecting wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Vinayak A. Afajalpurkar, Lucien Bourbeau, Eamon C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 10781713
    Abstract: A starter air valve (SAV) system includes a pressure actuated SAV actuator configured to be operatively connected to a SAV, a first pressure valve configured to selectively allow pressure from a pressure source to the SAV actuator when in fluid communication with the SAV actuator, and a second pressure valve configured to selectively allow pressure from the pressure source to the SAV actuator when in fluid communication with the SAV actuator. A manual override (MOR) valve selector is disposed between the first pressure valve, the second pressure valve, and the SAV actuator, the MOR valve selector configured to selectively fluidly connect the first pressure valve and the SAV actuator in a first position and to fluidly connect the second pressure valve and the SAV actuator in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Boris N. Grigorov, Tyler J. Selstad, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10766694
    Abstract: An alternative bottom drop and straight tee discharge from bulk tank conveying granular material, the tee having extensions for the automatic and manual operations of a disc valve, pivotally located within the horizontal section of the tee, during functioning. The disc valve may be manually operated, or pivoted through motorized operations, to allow for the alternative flow of bulk material from the vehicle hopper. The disc valve has an annular disc, integrally formed with upright supports, that are bearing mounted by shafts to the sidewalls of the structured tee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bulk Tank, Inc.
    Inventors: David E Sisk, Jason Huskey, Peter Kemp
  • Patent number: 10767351
    Abstract: A mixer valve (1) having a body (2) and adapted to be connected to two fluid supplies. The mixer valve (1) has at least one connector (6) comprising a housing (8); a fluid delivery tube (10) within the housing, the fluid delivery tube (10) having at least one aperture (22); a slider (16) arranged around and slideable over the delivery tube (10) and having an interior chamber (18) in fluid communication with an interior (20) of the delivery tube by means of the at least one aperture (22); and a fluid inlet (14) connected to the slider (16) at an angle thereto, the fluid inlet (14) being connectable to a fluid supply pipe. The fluid inlet (14) is in fluid communication with the chamber (18), and the housing (8) has an external opening (12) within which the fluid inlet (14) is located and movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Toby Risbey, Karl Fearnley, Ben Lea
  • Patent number: 10746406
    Abstract: The breaker box assembly may include a plurality of breaker modules that are removably attached to each other. Each breaker module includes a body and a first valve assembly disposed within the body. The body includes an inlet and first and second outlets. The first valve assembly is movable between a first position in which fluid is allowed to flow to the first and second outlets and a second position in which fluid is prevented from flowing to the first outlet and is permitted to flow to the second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Central Plastics LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Thomas G. Veeley
  • Patent number: 10744991
    Abstract: A hydraulic block for a hydraulic unit of a brake controller of a hydraulic vehicle brake system is configured to fit with hydraulic components such as solenoid valves of the brake controller. The hydraulic block is manufactured by 3D printing, which enables considerably more complex line routing than manufacture by machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Mayr, Dieter Pflaum, Andreas Weh
  • Patent number: 10746311
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of gas space monitoring of a gas space (17) of an electrical system (40) filled with a harmful gas, the invention provides a multi-path valve device (44) for connecting a density monitor (20) to a system to be monitored for gas density, comprising a first gas connection (13) for connecting the valve device (44) to the system, a second gas connection (14) for connection to the density monitor (20), a third gas connection (15) for connection of a testing device (19) for testing the function of the density monitor (20), and switching device for selectively connecting the second gas connection (14) to the first gas connection (13) or the third gas connection (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Trafag AG
    Inventors: Remo Halbheer, Dieter Zeisel
  • Patent number: 10738899
    Abstract: A faucet contains: a hollow body, a control assembly, an inlet pipe set, a mixing-water outlet pipe, a pull hose, a spray head, and an isolation pipe. The hollow body includes an inflow portion and an outflow portion. The control assembly includes a mixing valve and an operation element. The inlet pipe set includes a cold-water inlet pipe and a hot-water inlet pipe. The mixing-water outlet pipe includes a first connector and a second connector. The pull hose includes an inlet segment and an outlet segment. The spray head is connected with the outlet segment of the pull hose, and the spray head is removed from and fixed on the outflow portion of the hollow body. The isolation pipe includes a channel defined therein so that the pull hose slidably moves in the isolation pipe and avoids contacting with the inlet pipe set and the mixing-water outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Yuanhao Chang, Chungyi Huang, Yiping Lin, Kuotung Ni
  • Patent number: 10738928
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a manifold assembly includes a skid, a low pressure manifold connected to the skid, and a high pressure manifold connected to the skid. In another aspect, the high pressure manifold has a modular configuration so that the high pressure manifold is disconnectable in whole or in part from the skid, and reconnectable in whole or in part to the skid. In yet another aspect, the high pressure manifold includes high pressure modules, all of which are in fluid communication with each other and each of which is adapted to be in fluid communication with at least one pump. In still yet another aspect, the low pressure manifold includes one or more flow lines, the high pressure manifold includes fittings, and the manifold assembly includes vibration isolators to dampen dynamic loading, the vibration isolators being disposed between the fittings and the one or more flow lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: S.P.M. Flow Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Arizpe, Lun Tsuei, Timothy Long, Adam Hardman, Matthew Green
  • Patent number: 10737215
    Abstract: A housing includes an air introduction flow passage, an air discharge flow passage, and a desiccant agent accommodated in the housing. One end portion of the housing is at a lower side of the housing in a vertical direction aligned with the axial direction. An air-liquid separation chamber is formed at a bottom portion of the housing, and includes an air supply passage supplying air to the desiccant agent at an upper housing surface, and is communicated with the air introduction flow passage and the air discharge flow passage to separate moisture in the air introduced from the air introduction flow passage. An adsorption member is accommodated in the air-liquid separation chamber to adsorb moisture separated in the air-liquid separation chamber. Air introduced from the air introduction flow passage is supplied to an air suspension device through the adsorption member and the desiccant agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Oishi, Satoshi Kimura, Taichi Mizuno, Masakazu Ohashi, Hiroyuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 10738715
    Abstract: This valve device includes a body having passages and valve shaft holes, a valve shaft passed through the valve shaft holes in a rotatable manner, and butterfly valves. The butterfly valves include first contour parts and second contour parts forming outer contour parts that are smaller than the first contour parts. The first and second contour parts are fixed to the valve shaft in order to close off the passages at positions set apart from the valve shaft holes toward the downstream side (upstream side) of the passages, and are disposed flanking a straight line parallel to the valve shaft to form prescribed outer contour parts. The body includes first seal parts with which the first contour parts are brought into contact and second seal parts with which the second contour parts are brought into contact within the passages. Fluid leakage in a closed state can thereby be reliably prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 10738908
    Abstract: A rotational magnet indexing valve, which has a housing assembly and a rotational magnet valve assembly. The rotational magnet valve assembly has a driven gear assembly, a manifold assembly, a motor assembly, and a plurality of magnetic cartridge valve assemblies. The rotational magnet valve assembly has an inlet and a plurality of outlets. The manifold assembly is cylindrical in shape. The plurality of magnetic cartridge valve assemblies is radially positioned on the manifold assembly. The motor assembly is joined to the manifold assembly by a bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Keith Donald Brookins
  • Patent number: 10738898
    Abstract: Provided is a switching valve for use in an analyzer module for switching flow passages of fluids, in which the manufacturing cost is reduced and the life is increased. The valve element is provided with a lower contact portion that comes into close contact with a lower valve seat disposed at a valve body when a valve is closed, and with an upper contact portion that comes into close contact with an upper valve seat disposed at a counter plate when the valve is open. The counter plate has a first recess that is open downward and a second recess that is open toward the first recess and has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than that of the first recess, and the upper valve seat is press-fitted into the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishibashi, Tadayuki Yakushijin, Ryohei Fujimoto, Norifumi Suntou, Michio Yamaji, Yasuhiro Yoshikane
  • Patent number: 10724649
    Abstract: In the present invention a mixing valve is provided, comprising a valve seat provided with first and second fluid conduits and a mixed fluid conduit and including a first plug-fit portion and a first mounting portion, and a valve core defining first and second stop surfaces. The valve core comprises a valve housing provided with a second plug-fit portion configured to be mated with the first plug-fit portion, a valve shaft disposed within the valve housing and provided with a valve plate comprising a first regulating aperture and a second regulating aperture, a stop member mounted on the valve shaft, the valve core defining an initial position in which the stop member engages with the first stop surface and a final position in which the stop member engages with the second stop surface, and a valve module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: XIAMEN LOTA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liming Ye, Jianping Zhou, Shuanglin Bai, Lucheng Wang
  • Patent number: 10724643
    Abstract: A control valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve closure member displaceable a closed position and an open position. An anti-cavitation element is provided and includes a plurality of hollow tubes including a first tube, a second tube and a third tube. Each tube includes a flow axis from an open first end to an open second end, and an inner surface defining a flow area and having a cross-sectional shape normal to the flow axis. A second end of the tubes is between the valve closure member and first ends of the tubes along their respective flow axes when the valve closure member is closed. The first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Kuhlman, Andrew M. Prusha, Billy R. Flowers, David Scheffert
  • Patent number: 10718103
    Abstract: A shower valve assembly configured to divert water between a tub port and a shower port. The diverter valve assembly position or state is changed by pushing a button connected to a stem and a poppet valve. When the water supply is turned off, a poppet spring shifts the poppet valve to a tub open position, and a check valve spring opens a check valve, allowing water from the shower port to flow out of the tub port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Brian W. Johnson, Todd A. Huffington, Mark A. Cipriani, Garry R. Marty
  • Patent number: 10718458
    Abstract: A gate valve cartridge, valve housing and installation assembly as well as a completion plug for a line stop fitting and installation assembly. The gate valve cartridge comprises a gate, a paddle, a threaded valve stem and a completion plug. Both completion plugs include an outer circumferential slot for accommodating a circumferential seal and both completion plugs also accommodate a normally-closed check valve. The check valves have an open distal end for receiving a check valve actuator and an open proximal end in communication with fluid disposed proximally of the circumferential seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hydra-Stop LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Nelson, Christopher C. Vazzana, Cole Strickland, Carl Mastny
  • Patent number: 10704455
    Abstract: Provided is a rotary type valve device capable of being easily assembled and securing desired sealing performance. The rotary type valve device includes a rotor having an internal passage formed around an axis and an opening portion which opens outward from the internal passage to an outer contour surface in a radial direction, a housing supporting the rotor to be rotatable around the axis and defining an axial passage communicating with the internal passage and a radial passage facing the outer contour surface and capable of communicating with the opening portion, a passage member disposed in the housing to define a part of the radial passage, and a biasing spring biasing the passage member toward the outer contour surface. The housing comprises a housing body accommodating the rotor, and a holding member coupled to the housing body and having a tubular portion holding the biasing spring and the passage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Akase