Patents Examined by Jonathan J Waddy
  • Patent number: 11959557
    Abstract: An evacuation unit is configured to remove entrapped fluid from a flow control. These configurations may incorporate devices that can passively discharge fluid in response to loss of system pressure. These devices may use gravity or spring-assist as mechanisms to move fluid out of spaces in the device. This feature mitigates risks that the entrapped fluid freezes and expands, which can cause damage to metal components and lead to extensive downtime of process lines. As an added benefit, the features can reduce product costs or complexity because the proposed designs avoid the need for additional, peripheral “accessories,” like pumps or heating elements, resident at the location of the flow control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dresser, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh Krithivasan, Richard John Klimas, Jr., Jason Glen Knudson
  • Patent number: 11957865
    Abstract: A device for clamping and holding medical hose lines includes a hose clamp with two clamping legs on opposite sides of a passage. The passage is configured to receive a first hose portion. The clamping legs are movable between a clamping position, in which the clamping legs constrict the passage and clamp the first hose portion, and a release position in which the constriction is eliminated. The device also includes a holding clip connected to the hose clamp. The holding clip has two arms arranged opposite one another bordering a recess. The recess is configured to receive at least one second hose portion to be held between the arms. The arms are movable relative to one another between an open position, in which the arms expose a slot opening radially into the recess, and a holding position in which the slot is closed or at least constricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Braun Avitum AG
    Inventor: Kai-Uwe Ritter
  • Patent number: 11953105
    Abstract: A valve cartridge assembly supported by a receiver and fluidly coupled to a waterway assembly. The waterway assembly includes a base and a plurality of flexible tubular members. A gasket is received intermediate the receiver and the waterway assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Mark Cipriani, DeWayne Davis
  • Patent number: 11953097
    Abstract: Described are isolation valves, and chamber systems incorporating and methods of using the isolation valves. In some embodiments, an isolation valve may include a valve body and a flapper assembly. The valve body may define a first fluid volume, a second fluid volume, and a seating surface. The flapper assembly may include a flapper disposed inside the valve body having a flapper surface complimentary to the seating surface. The flapper may be pivotable within the valve body to a first position such that the flapper surface may be away from the seating surface to allow fluid flow between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume. The flapper may be pivotable within the valve body to a second position such that the flapper surface may be proximate the seating surface to form a non-contact seal to restrict fluid flow between the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Riordon, Anantha K. Subramani, Charles T. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11946595
    Abstract: An enclosure for a fill plug is provided and includes a base to which a retainment plate is secured. The retainment plate has an opening for engaging about a throat of the fill plug such that axial and rotational movement of the fill plug relative to the base is prevented. A lid is secured to the base and is movable between a closed position in which the lid covers the base and an open position in which the base is uncovered by the lid. The lid defines a cavity for accommodating the fill plug when the lid is in the closed position. A lock is carried by the lid for locking the lid in the closed position, a spring resiliently urges the lid into the open position when the lid is unlocked, and a gasket is carried by the lid for forming a seal with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DIXON VALVE & COUPLING COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Josh Money, Mike Suggs, Jesse Nelson
  • Patent number: 11946494
    Abstract: An actuator includes a housing defining an inlet port, a piston and a return spring disposed within the housing, and an elastically deformable element. The return spring is configured to apply a biasing force to the piston to move the piston to a spring return position. A first fluid pressure applied to the inlet port moves the piston against the biasing force of the return spring to a first actuated position in which the piston indirectly engages a stop portion of the actuator housing. A second fluid pressure, greater than the first fluid pressure, applied to the inlet port moves the piston against the elastically deformable element to compress the elastically deformable element to move the piston to a second actuated position beyond the first actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: William H. Glime, III, Branden W. Keeper
  • Patent number: 11939750
    Abstract: An adapter cap for a fire hydrant including a hydrant actuation nut by means of which the hydrant is opened and closed by rotating the hydrant actuation nut, where the adapter cap includes a cap housing having connection means for connecting the adapter cap to the hydrant actuation nut, the cap housing having a cap actuation nut by which the adapter cap may be engaged and the cap housing including a skirt part arranged to encircle at least a part of the connection means, where a connection means centre axis of the connection means and a cap actuation nut centre axis of the cap actuation nut are arranged coaxially, where the connection means and the cap actuation nut are made from metal, and where at least a part of the skirt part is made from a polymer material, the adapter cap further includes at least one sensor arranged in the cap housing, where the at least one sensor is arranged to detect at least one operational parameter of the hydrant, and wireless communication means arranged in the cap housing for c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: AVK HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Christian Henrik Simonsen
  • Patent number: 11920690
    Abstract: A check valve system includes a housing, a blocking element, and a biasing member. The housing has a passageway therethrough, the passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the second portion so as to form a stepped portion. The blocking element is disposed within the second portion of the passageway. The biasing member is disposed within the second portion of the passageway and configured to maintain the blocking element in contact with the stepped portion when under compression. The housing, the blocking element and the biasing member being obtainable by substantially simultaneously 3D printing, so as to be formed from one or more 3D printable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MEDMIX SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Hayden Turner, Garrett Faino
  • Patent number: 11913582
    Abstract: An air chuck for facilitating the connection of a pneumatic hose with a threaded stem of a tire valve includes a housing with an air passage. The housing includes an air inlet port connectable to the pneumatic hose, and an air outlet passage to receive the threaded stem of the tire valve. A clamping member is mounted externally about the outlet passage and includes a hollow tubular member, a front end portion of which terminates in a plurality of separate, radially deflectable fingers, a free end portion of each finger extending towards the discharge end of the outlet passage. The free end portions of each finger define an aperture for receiving the threaded stem of the tire valve. The size of the aperture is variable by the movement of a sleeve, slidable over the body of the housing and the clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GURTECH (PTY) LTD
    Inventor: Cary Donald Lusso
  • Patent number: 11879564
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking the position of the rotary valve, wherein the valve has a valve shaft adapted to have first and second opposed flatted formations. The apparatus includes first and second cam followers. The cam followers are reciprocally movable via the action of a cam assembly comprising first and second cams mounted on a rotatable cam stem. The cam followers can be simultaneously moved in opposite directions whereby engagement walls in the first and second cam followers can engage the first and second opposed flatted formations simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Edward G. Holtgraver
  • Patent number: 11879561
    Abstract: A valve setup for SMB chromatography includes a cassette block, a control block, a swiveling door, and a flexible pressurizing tube. The cassette block is configured to control each of a plurality of valves when an operation surface is in close contact with a control surface of the cassette block. The swiveling door is hinged to the valve control block such that an open state of the door arranges the cassette block such that the control surface is at the operation surface of the control block, and a closed position holds the cassette block with an inner surface of the swiveling door abutting a rear surface of the cassette block opposite the control surface. The flexible pressurizing tube is arranged at the inner surface of the swiveling door so the pressurizing tube presses against the rear surface of the cassette block when the pressure in the tube is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sartorius Stedim Chromatography Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Dinesh Shukla
  • Patent number: 11864960
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a dental suction system. The valve assembly includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly also includes a valve plug positioned at least partially within the valve body and including a through-passage. The valve plug is rotatable relative to the valve body to selectively alter a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path. The fluid flow path exhibits a varied cross-sectional area along a length of the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Crosstex International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Bushman
  • Patent number: 11841093
    Abstract: A fluidic connector to connect two ducts of a system such as an air conditioning system. The connector includes at least one elastic material, and includes a duct surrounded by an adjustable clamping collar which, when tightened, serves to deform it to reduce the internal space of the duct. The clamping of the collar makes it possible to easily and quickly regulate the rate of flow in the ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Didier Reynes, Frédéric Goupil
  • Patent number: 11840389
    Abstract: The bag side connector for a BIB package comprises: an element (10) having a longitudinal axis (12) and including a flange (14) with an upper and a lower face, wherein a first collar (16) protrudes from the upper face, so that a cylindrical chamber (18) is defined, a second collar (20) protrudes from the lower face, and the flange (14) has at least one through hole (22) in the area delimited by the second collar (20); and an internal valve device including an obturator (24) slidable along said axis (12) and a third collar (26) protruding from the lower face of the flange (14) coaxially and internally in respect of the second collar (20) and externally in respect of the area with at least one through hole (22), wherein said obturator (24) has a foot (30) suitable for contacting a distal edge (32) of the third collar (26) to form a leak-tight seal, and a top wall (34) from which an actuating pin (36) protrudes and extends through a center bore (38) of the flange (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: LB EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Darby
  • Patent number: 11821180
    Abstract: An umbrella like structure deployed in an inverted configuration that acts as a funnel and collection area to receive rainwater. The center of the umbrella is connected to a support structure which includes tubing that transfers the water to a collection tank via an irrigation system. The umbrella like structure has further applications as providing shade and additional protection for the vegetation underneath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Mohieddine Rahmouni
  • Patent number: 11815193
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve housing having first and second regions, at least one valve chamber configured to be pressurized with air and including an actuating element for opening and closing a valve opening and an actuator for actuating the actuating element, both arranged in the first region. A printed circuit board extends into each valve chamber and to electrically operate the actuator, the printed circuit board(s) being connected to a common main printed circuit board arranged in the second region. Each valve chamber is surrounded by boundary surfaces closing the valve chamber in a substantially gas-tight manner. An open space open to at least two oppositely disposed sides of the valve housing extends between at least two of the valve chambers, and a connecting member of the printed circuit boards extends through connecting openings of the boundary surfaces of adjacent valve chambers and the open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Alfmeier Präzision SE
    Inventors: Erich Dörfler, Jürgen Baumgartl, Helmut Auernhammer
  • Patent number: 11808101
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ram system for a blowout preventer. The ram system includes a first ram having an interlocking arm, where the interlocking arm includes a first anti-deflection feature. The ram system includes a second ram having a second anti-deflection feature. The first ram and the second ram are configured to move toward one another along a longitudinal axis to reach an engaged configuration. The second ram is configured to receive the interlocking arm of the first ram to enable the first anti-deflection feature to engage with the second anti-deflection feature while the first ram and the second ram are in the engaged configuration to thereby enable the first and second anti-deflection features to block deflection of the interlocking arm relative to a lateral axis, an axial axis, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miguel Urrutia, Micah Threadgill, John Gregory Landthrip
  • Patent number: 11808389
    Abstract: A connector system for medical fluid includes a male connector and a female connector that have a closed configuration when detached from one another. The first end of the male connector is configured to mate with a first end of the female connector. When the male connector is coupled with the female connector, complementary structures engage to move seals away from ports in the male connector and the female connector, opening a fluid pathway through the connectors. The mating ends of the connectors are not exposed to the medical fluid when the connectors are coupled so that when the connectors are disconnected, the mating ends are substantially free of residual medical fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Patent number: 11796080
    Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes an outer sleeve having first and second pillars and defining an outer sleeve hollow, a first notch, a second notch, and a third notch, wherein the first pillar of the outer sleeve at least partially defines and is positioned between the first and second notches, and the second pillar of the outer sleeve at least partially defines and is positioned between the second and third notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIBCO INC.
    Inventors: James Stogdill, David A. Bobo, Matthew J. Krazit
  • Patent number: 11795667
    Abstract: A mobile water/fluid collection, recirculation management apparatus and system for the promotion of best and safest practices by firefighting engineers, candidates fire departments, agencies, colleges and academies as well as for the NFPA (National Pire Protection Agency) recommended annual testing of other apparatuses, pumps, and appliances, which allows for engineers and candidates to train and practice their requisite evolutions and drills using full-flow water/fluids at full and various pressures including, but not limited to, drafting, flowing hand lines, deck guns, ground monitors, aerials and ladder pipes, nozzles and appliances while returning the water/fluid to the apparatus via direct and indirect connections. All returning water/fluids encounter the diffuser screen that is internal and integral to the unit and/or via the roof target and associated diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Walt Dorn