Patents Examined by Joseph A Greenlund
  • Patent number: 11872575
    Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source regardless of the inlet flow rate. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
  • Patent number: 11865388
    Abstract: A corridor sprinkler includes a frame, a seal, a thermally-responsive trigger, and a deflector. The frame defines a passageway between an inlet and an outlet along a longitudinal axis, the passageway having a nominal K-factor greater than or equal to 8.0. The seal is coupled with the outlet to prevent fluid flow out of the passageway while the seal is in an unactuated state. The thermally-responsive trigger changes the seal from the unactuated state to an actuated state to allow fluid to flow out of the passageway. The deflector is coupled with the frame and distributes fluid received at the inlet at a pressure of between 8 psi and 250 psi and through the passageway to provide a coverage area of between 220 square feet and 400 square feet and a polygonal spray pattern with a long axis length of between 28 feet to 36 feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventor: Bonnie H. Dibble
  • Patent number: 11865555
    Abstract: The spray nozzle includes a body, which has a fluid inlet region and a fluid outlet orifice, and which houses: a core, internally defining a passage, of increasing cross-section, in communication with the outside substantially at the point of its smallest cross-section, resulting in a Venturi effect, an insert, provided with an outlet slot defining the opening angle of the nozzle, the core and the insert being at a distance from one another and forming therebetween a working chamber. The nozzle further includes a splitter, housed in the working chamber, arranged to form an obstacle to the flow of the fluid, the splitter having two axial orifices, each forming a fluid passage, on either side of a radial plane, such that the two streams passing through the orifices of the splitter combine and then impinge the surface of the outlet slot of the insert, ultimately generating a flat jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SOLCERA
    Inventors: Hervé Foubert, Alexandre Billoir, Paul Tourneroche
  • Patent number: 11864502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an emitter that can properly exhibit a flow rate adjustment function even when produced by molding a resin material having low hardness. The emitter has an emitter body and a base part stored in the emitter body. The emitter body comprises a water intake part, a reduced-pressure flow path groove, a storage part, and a diaphragm part. The base part has a base, a communication hole, and a deformation prevention part that is disposed protruding from the reverse surface to the surface of the base which the diaphragm part deformed by the pressure of a drip irrigation liquid contacts, and when the diaphragm part contacts the base by the pressure of the drip irrigation liquid, contacts the tube to prevent the base from being deformed by the pressure of the drip irrigation liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Koki Ono
  • Patent number: 11859583
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel injector may have an injector body having a fuel inlet and at least one orifice. The fuel injector may also have a first check valve member. The first check valve member may be selectively movable to fluidly block a first flow of fuel from the fuel inlet to the at least one orifice. The fuel injector may have a second check valve member. The second check valve member may be selectively movable to fluidly block a second flow of fuel from the fuel inlet to the at least one orifice. The fuel injector may also have a control valve assembly. The control valve assembly may be configured to selectively operate either the first check valve or both the first check valve and the second check valve to fluidly connect the fuel inlet and the at least one orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sana Mahmood, Robert M. Campion, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11857932
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a mixing valve for mixing two coating agent components (e.g. master batch and hardener) to form a multi-component mixture, with two coating agent inlets for supplying the two coating agent components and with two coating agent valves for controlling the coating agent flow through the two coating agent inlets, as well as with a coating agent outlet for discharging the multi-component mixture in a specific outflow direction. The disclosure provides that at least one of the coating agent valves is formed as a rotary slide valve having two plane-parallel valve discs which are rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventor: Frank Schnur
  • Patent number: 11849679
    Abstract: An emitter forms a flow path that runs to a discharge part from a water collecting part for receiving an irrigation liquid in a tube. The flow path includes a flow rate control part which includes: an end surface including a concave inclined surface that faces a film for receiving the pressure of the liquid inside the tube; a hole that opens at the center of the flow volume control part and connects to the discharge part; and a groove crossing the inclined surface and running to the hole. When the film adheres to the inclined surface as a result of the pressure of the irrigation liquid inside the tube, the flow volume of the irrigation liquid inside the emitter is controlled so as to be a volume that can pass through the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kidachi
  • Patent number: 11839784
    Abstract: A fire suppression system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a detection unit for detecting a particular change due to a fire and transmitting a particular change value as a measurement value; a fire extinguishing unit for spraying a fire extinguishing substance; a control unit for receiving the measurement signal and transmitting an execution signal to the fire extinguishing unit; and a management unit enabling a user or a manager to confirm whether or not there is a fire, and for remotely operating the fire extinguishing unit, wherein the control unit transmits a notification signal to the management unit only when a measured measurement data value exceeds a threshold value, and transmits the execution signal only when an operation command is received from the management unit, thereby enhancing convenience and safety and reducing the initial cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Young Sook Lee, Yong Taek Moon
  • Patent number: 11806742
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a sprayer having a blower that outputs a HVLP flow of air into a hose, the hose connecting with a spray gun. A pressure sensor measures pressure of the HVLP air within the hose via a tube that branches from a fitting to which the hose connects. If the sensor indicates that the pressure level has increased above a threshold amount, indicating that the trigger of the spray gun is not being actuated, then power output to the blower is reduced (e.g., stopped). HVLP air is trapped within the hose by two valves when the trigger is not actuated. When the sensor indicates that the pressure level has decreased, corresponding to release of the trapped HVLP air into the gun for spraying by actuation of the trigger, power to the blower is increased (e.g., resumed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Svendsen, Diane L. Olson
  • Patent number: 11801520
    Abstract: A cable driven irrigation device has a frame that acts as a manifold to supply a sprinkler head and a separate spray nozzle. The frame is supplied with an externally triggered latching valve. The valve is held in the open position by a spring and has an internal flap that enters the flow of water through the valve when the external trigger is moved. The water flow moves the flap to the closed position and holds it there until the water pressure is removed. The spray nozzle dispenses water onto an exposed turbine which drives a gearbox. The gearbox is coupled to a spool which can wind up a cord. The spool being wound is what pulls the sprinkler along. A knot near the end of the cord engages the external trigger to stop the flow of water into the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Lynn Rodes
  • Patent number: 11801407
    Abstract: A wall-mountable spray head unit is shown with a display and/or at least one user input device. The wall-mountable spray head unit is shown deployed in a fire suppression system that includes at least one or at least two wall-mounted spray head units capable of aiming and shooting fire suppressant liquid into a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Hart, William Makant, Yusuf Muhammad, Andrew Horst, Mitchell Couper
  • Patent number: 11793187
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of an agricultural sprayer includes a computing system is configured to determine a movement parameter associated with the movement of a boom assembly of the agricultural sprayer relative to a frame of the agricultural sprayer based on data captured by a movement sensor. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to determine the distance between a spray nozzle of the agricultural sprayer and the underlying crop canopy or field surface based on data captured by a position sensor. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine a spray deposition parameter indicative of a rate at which agricultural fluid is deposited on the underlying crop canopy or field surface based on the determined movement parameter and the determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Trevor Stanhope, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11786768
    Abstract: A method of suppressing a kitchen fire includes detecting a fire and identifying a location of the fire with a tracking system, aiming a nozzle at the location, and releasing an agent through the nozzle at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Karen K. Bouchard
  • Patent number: 11771936
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid and a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate. The foam concentrate mixes with the fire protection fluid to form a fire protection solution. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The restrictor disk and opening are configured to form an annulus between an outer surface of the restrictor disk and an inner surface of the opening when at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed within the opening and the restrictor disk is spaced from the orifice plate. The restrictor assembly is configured to maintain the annulus for a full travel range of the restrictor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Derek John Scheffers, Marc Serge Ferere, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 11759802
    Abstract: A garden sprinkler has an input base, an output member rotatably installed at the top of the input base, and a rotating member capable of driving the output member. The output Both sides of the output member are respectively equipped with a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet is equipped with a first sprinkler, and the second outlet is equipped with a second sprinkler and an adjusting sleeve. The second sprinkler is a side outlet and is screwed with the adjusting sleeve. The second sprinkler can be adjusted by the adjusting sleeve, which improves the convenience of sprinkling operation without multiple sprinkler heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Shih-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 11752382
    Abstract: An electronic fire sprinkler system includes a plurality of electronic fire sprinklers that each output a flow of fluid in response to receiving an activation signal, a plurality of temperature sensors that each detect a temperature and output an indication of the detected temperature, a plurality of network devices that detect a distance to at least one of the plurality of electronic fire sprinklers, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit receives a plurality of detected distances, calculates a location of each electronic fire sprinkler based on the of detected distances, determines that a fire condition is present based on the detected temperature, identifies one or more of the plurality of electronic fire sprinklers based on the calculated locations and an identifier of the temperature sensor from which the indication of the detected temperature was received, and transmits one or more activation signals to the identified electronic fire sprinklers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventor: Cassandra Lyn DeNunzio
  • Patent number: 11744238
    Abstract: A blower spray device is provided having a housing which comprises an electrically driven blower and a spray nozzle, and having a liquid supply line opening into the spray nozzle. The housing has a funnel-shaped intake channel and a tubular blow-out channel, and an electrical valve is provided in the liquid supply line to activate and deactivate the liquid supply to the spray nozzle. An electronic controller having a regulating unit for the electric blower is further provided to adjust the air flow velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Birchmeier Sprühtechnik AG
    Inventors: Jürg Zwahlen, Michael Zaugg, Harald Glenz, Frank Rimpl, Sébastien Demont
  • Patent number: 11737446
    Abstract: The invention is a portable sprayer for liquids and particulate-containing liquids, including a fluid storage module having at least one fluid tank, a fluid transport module in fluid connection with the fluid storage module, a distribution block, and a dispersion module in fluid connection with the fluid transport module, having a turbine, an adjustable nozzle connected to the turbine in fluid connection with the fluid transport module and air flow connection with the turbine. Fluid exits the dispersion module under a pressure of approximately 100 psi and the sprayer emits droplets containing particulates about 130 microns in diameter to a height of 100 feet vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Broward County
    Inventors: Mark Ridings, Adriana Toro
  • Patent number: 11737447
    Abstract: A boom truss structure for an agricultural sprayer that includes boom segments on either side of the sprayer, including primary boom segments, secondary boom segments attached to the primary boom segments at a first hinge, and breakaway boom segments attached to the secondary boom segments at a second hinge. The primary boom segment includes truss elements extending upwardly from a base support member. The secondary boom also includes a base support member, but with an inverted underside truss support member that is located underneath the base support member instead of on top of the base support member. This allows the secondary boom segment to fold on top of the primary boom segment in a compact manner about a lower pivot axis. Additionally, the breakaway boom segment may be folded initially about the secondary boom segment, after which the secondary boom segment is folded about the primary boom segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11730158
    Abstract: A system includes a fluid supply line, a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned and oriented to spray portions of a target, and a plurality of electrically actuated valve assemblies configured to control fluid flow to the nozzle assemblies. The system also includes a controller connected in communication with the plurality of electrically actuated valve assemblies and configured to individually actuate the valve assemblies between a closed position and an open position. The controller is configured to receive an orientation of each nozzle assembly relative to the target and determine a duty cycle of each valve assembly based on the orientation of the respective nozzle assembly. The controller is configured to actuate each valve assembly based on the respective orientation to provide a desired fluid characteristic of the fluid emitted from the respective nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey John Grimm, Andrew J. Holtz