Patents Examined by Juan C Barrera
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Patent number: 9532515Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente I. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
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Patent number: 9532513Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente I. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
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Patent number: 9528480Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity to control a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion, a guide coupled to the valve needle, an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle and comprising an armature axially moveable in the cavity relative to the valve needle, the armature configured to be coupled to the guide when the valve needle leaves the closing position and configured to mechanically decouple from the guide due to its inertia when the valve needle reaches the closing position, and an armature spring coupled to the armature to provide a force to the armature contributing coupling the armature with the valve needle. A block-shaped stop element axially adjacent the armature and coupled to the valve body limits the axial movement of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Marco Omeri
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Patent number: 9521812Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hendrik F. Hamann, Levente I. Klein, Sergio A. Bermudez Rodriguez, Michael A. Schappert
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Patent number: 9504212Abstract: A system comprises a distribution boom, a first pump device configured to provide a flow stream of a carrier substance for the distribution boom, a second pump device configured to supply a chemical substance into the flow stream of the carrier substance, and a control module. The distribution boom includes a plurality of boom sections. A boom section includes one or more dispensers, a mixing device configured to provide a combination of chemical and carrier to the one or more dispensers, and a control valve configured to supply the chemical substance to the mixing device. The control module is configured to individually control a rate of supply of the chemical substance to the boom section by the control valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.Inventors: Nick Michael, Diane Miller, Warren L. Thompson
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Patent number: 9491939Abstract: A top motor broadcast spreader having a container for storing material and having an opening at its lower end for releasing material from the container. A closure spreader member below the container covers container opening and is movable downward away from the opening to release and spread material onto a surface. A motor is mounted inside the container and above the opening at the lower end of the container having a motor shaft extending downwardly from the motor through the opening at the lower end of the container and is connected to the closure spreader member to move the closure spreader member downward upon rotation of the motor shaft to release and spread material onto a surface. The closure spreader member comprises a flat horizontal and circular plate having flat rectangular spreader flaps extending vertically up and flat rectangular spreader flaps extending vertically down in an alternating pattern on the circular plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Anthony Myers
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Patent number: 9492830Abstract: A perforated plate produced as a plastics component by injection moulding, there being provided for this purpose a mould with two mould halves which together define a cavity filled with plastics material during injection moulding, wherein the first mould half has a planar abutment surface directed towards the cavity, and the second mould half has a multiplicity of elevations rising up over a base surface, wherein, in the closed state of the mould, distal contact regions at the distal ends of the elevations butt against the abutment surface, and therefore keep the dispensing openings free of plastics material when the plastics material is being injected.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBHInventor: Gerald Krampen
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Patent number: 9487064Abstract: This invention relates to an air nozzle, comprising a flange intended for the attachment to a vehicle body opening, and comprising at least one air guiding element via which air flowing through the air nozzle can be deflected. Furthermore, at least two, in particular three, pivot stubs (18,20,22) are mounted to the flange (16) whose pivot axis (61) extends substantially parallel to the axis of the air flow through the air nozzle (10) before reaching the air guiding elements, and the pivot stubs (18, 20, 22) are movable in a direction parallel to their pivot axis (61).Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Aurora Konrad g. Shulz gmBH & Co. KgInventor: Thomas Banschbach
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Patent number: 9481003Abstract: A pop-up rotor-type irrigation sprinkler includes an outer case and a riser assembly telescopically extensible from the outer case. A coil spring surrounds the riser assembly and normally holds the riser assembly in a lower retracted position within the outer case. The coil spring is dimensioned and configured to permit extension of the riser assembly to a raised upper position when pressurized water is introduced into the outer case. A cushion made of an elastomeric material is retained in the outer case adjacent an end thereof and surrounds the riser assembly. The cushion may be solid and may move between hard structures to facilitate absorption of the shock of the impact caused by rapid extension of the riser assembly to its raised upper position. The cushion may also include a plurality of voids that facilitate deformation and shock absorption.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Zachary B. Simmons, William D. Holton
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Patent number: 9475070Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a water faucet which allows a large space to be secured above the washing area and yet can deliver a high washing performance by landing streams or waterdrops having a large cross-sectional area evenly on a piece to wash. This water faucet includes a flow velocity changing part which changes the flow velocity of the stream discharged from each of multiple water spray holes such that the cross-sectional area of the stream changes with time. The multiple water spray holes are disposed at intervals such that, when the cross-sectional area of one stream discharged from one water spray hole exceeds a predetermined size, the one stream is merged with one of the other streams discharged from the multiple other water spray holes adjacent to the one water spray hole, and such that the one of the other streams with which the one stream merges changes with time.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hiromi Akahira, Koji Takeda, Minoru Shibata
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Patent number: 9475072Abstract: A chute assembly may include a chute having an inlet and an outlet and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be used to move the chute to adjust the outlet: forward to back with respect to a spinner disc; and/or, (2) side to side with respect to the spinner disc in order to change the spreading characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLCInventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
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Patent number: 9463476Abstract: Dispenser with a liquid storage unit, a dispensing head with a perforated plate component which has at least 25 dispensing openings in a dispensing opening region, with a pre-chamber connected upstream of the dispensing openings of the perforated plate component and from which the dispensing openings are supplied, and a connecting channel which connects the liquid storage unit to the pre-chamber. The perforated plate component is fastened on the dispensing head in an edge region and the dispensing opening region is pressed into a curved form by means of a curvature body which is arranged in the pre-chamber and acts with force upon the perforated plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBHInventors: Juergen Greiner-Perth, Nicole Schwarz
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Patent number: 9457214Abstract: A gas fire-extinguishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is configured such that a silencer is disposed on an ejection head which ejects fire-extinguishing gas supplied from a fire-extinguishing gas supply source via a conduit pipe, a diverging pipe and a branch pipe. The configuration suppresses ejection sound caused by an ejection flow of the fire-extinguishing gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: AIR WATER SAFETY SERVICE INC.Inventor: Hideaki Goto
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Patent number: 9433959Abstract: A dispenser apparatus is disclosed herein. A dispenser is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the dispenser includes a piston slidably sealingly engagable with a container containing a unit dose of liquid therein. The dispenser includes a cutting edge disposed about a piston face of the piston, the cutting edge configured to open a covering of rigid construction sealingly engaged with the container, in various aspects. A passage is formed between a piston face of the piston and a nozzle outlet of a nozzle to communicate fluid from the container through the nozzle outlet by sliding of the piston within the container, in various aspects. Methods of use of the dispenser are disclosed herein. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. ยง1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Inventors: Martin Krauss, Loo T. Yap
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Patent number: 9433144Abstract: An orifice selector module for use with flow gauges in a sprayer environment. The orifice selector module is retrofit into existing or new flow gauge assemblies and is placed in line between the spray nozzles and the flow gauges. The orifice selector module includes a rotatable cap which rotates a rotor which in turn rotates an orifice plate which features numerous orifices of different sizes. These orifices can be switched on the fly manually by the vehicle operator to increase or decrease flow through a particular hose from a particular flow gauge.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: CDS-John Blue CompanyInventor: Jason T. Stewart
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Patent number: 9434625Abstract: A system and method for containing a flame originating from a flame source within a fluid containing enclosure includes de-energizing the flame source when the fluid falls below a pre-established level or when the water temperature exceeds a pre-established level.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: ATG R&D LIMITEDInventors: Chris Orritt, Richard Joshi
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Patent number: 9421568Abstract: A spray gun extension adapter allows a user to extend the reach of a spray gun. The adapter includes a mount shaped for receiving the spray gun. The adapter includes an adapter handle shaped to be gripped by a user. An adapter trigger is linked to an adapter actuator that operates the spray gun when the adapter trigger is engaged. The adapter actuator is positioned on the adapter to engage the spray gun trigger in some embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Inventor: Kevin Tetz
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Patent number: 9416709Abstract: A dosing valve for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The dosing valve includes a valve needle internally coaxial to a valve body and held in a closed position by a force of compressed spring acting axially and held in relation to the valve needle and valve body. The negative impact of varnish and dehydrogenated compounds, or coking products, of hydrocarbon based reducing agents, is substantially reduced or eliminated. Additionally, this includes decreased sensitivity to the negative impact of the precipitates and crystals that come out of the solution due to temperature change with urea-based reducing agents.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Hamid Sayer, Michael J. Hornby, Perry Robert Czimmek, Christopher Lee Szymanski
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Patent number: 9399860Abstract: A powered hygiene shower spray system is provided. The system has a slide bar housing adapted for mounting to a shower chamber substrate. A moving head or spray nozzle is provided that is movable along said slide bar housing. A hose is in fluid communication between a water supply and the spray nozzle when the spray nozzle is moveably present. A control panel accepts user input as to a parameter of the spray nozzle. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the spray nozzle without user manual manipulation of the spray nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Vega Innovations LLCInventor: Mordechai Lev
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Patent number: 9394868Abstract: A valve assembly of an injection valve may include a valve body having a cavity forming an inner guide surface and having a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle in the cavity that controls a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion, the valve needle having an upper end facing the fluid inlet portion and an inner recess extending from the upper end and enabling a fluid flow inside the valve needle. A guide element in the cavity is mechanically coupled to the upper end of the valve needle and extends radially to the inner guide surface of the valve body and guides the upper end of the valve needle inside the valve body. The guide element forms a one-piece extension of the valve needle with an inner recess hydraulically coupled to the fluid inlet portion and the inner recess of the valve needle.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Matteo Soriani, Mauro Grandi, Valerio Polidori