Patents Examined by Kenneth Rinehart
  • Patent number: 12292162
    Abstract: An apparatus, namely an infrared (IR) interference shield, is described that can be utilized with a vehicle that employs hydrogen fueling, such as a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). For example, the IR interference shield is mounted onto the vehicle's hydrogen fueling receptacle. The IR interference shield is distinctly structured to reduce or prevent interference of IR wireless communication between a vehicle-side IR transmitter on the receptacle, and an IR receiver of the hydrogen fueling station. The IR interference shield can block interference to IR signals that may negatively affect IR wireless communication between the hydrogen fueling station and the vehicle. Thus, the IR interference shield improves reliability of the communication between the vehicle and the hydrogen fueling station, thereby improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the hydrogen refueling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Giorgio L. Zoia, Hannah L. White, Dallas K. Fox, Jacquelyn A. Birdsall
  • Patent number: 12280347
    Abstract: A machine for preparing fluid products has a dispensing module with a tank for fluid products. The tank is connected to a pump device for dispensing measured quantities of fluid product in an operating dispensing zone of the dispensing module. The dispensing module has a transport device for transporting a container from an inlet to an outlet which are different from each other, by passing through the operating dispensing zone in which the container is selectively located. The machine further includes an inlet and an outlet which are mutually different, for introducing and removing to/from the machine a container, in which to dispense measured quantities of fluid products to obtain a finished fluid product. The inlet of the machine communicates with continuity of transport with an inlet of a dispensing module, and the outlet of the machine communicates with continuity of transport with an outlet of a dispensing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: ALFA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Edoardo Rossetti, Marco Rossetti, Marco Lunghini
  • Patent number: 12270511
    Abstract: A fuel rail and a method for producing the fuel rail for a pressure vessel system are provided. The method provides a fuel line and configures a plurality of rail connectors. The rail connectors have a cross-sectional area that is enlarged in comparison to the provided fuel line, and the rail connectors are configured so as to be integral to the fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Timo Gutmann
  • Patent number: 12246158
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic valve for regulating a flow rate of liquid intended to circulate in a flexible tube, comprising: a cam system (23) mounted moveably on a base and rotationally around an axis of rotation, a bearing part (24) translationally mounted on the base, arranged to be translationally moved as a result of a rotational movement of the cam system (23), and comprising a compression portion (240), an abutment part (25) positioned opposite the compression portion (240), defining with the bearing part (24) a receiving space intended to receive a flexible tube (3), the translation of the bearing part (24) displacing the compression portion (240) along the direction of translation, in order to modify a dimension of the receiving space, a magnet and a magnetic sensor detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: I-SEP
    Inventors: Adrien Fiorino, Sylvain Picot
  • Patent number: 12241556
    Abstract: Disclosed is a regulating vacuum valve having a first valve seat having a first valve opening defining a first opening axis and a first sealing surface surrounding the first valve opening, and a first valve disk having a first contact surface corresponding to the first sealing surface. The valve includes a drive unit coupled to the first valve disk to adjust at least between an open position to a closed position. The regulating vacuum valve has at least one second valve seat, having a second valve opening with a second sealing surface. In addition, a second valve disk having a second contact surface corresponding to the second sealing surface is provided. An overall valve opening of the regulating vacuum valve is formed by the first valve opening as a first valve partial opening and the second valve opening as a second valve partial opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: VAT HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Florian Ehrne, Martin Netzer, Hanspeter Frehner
  • Patent number: 12234915
    Abstract: A damper adjusting arrangement configured for regulating the flow of a gaseous fluid within a channel of an extractor tubing. The damper adjusting arrangement includes a damper member pivotably arranged in the channel and coupled to a rotary control means of the damper adjusting arrangement. A first member of the rotary control means includes a resilient element, which exhibits a plurality of radially protruding first bulges being configured for engagement with a second member of the rotary control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: FUMEX AB
    Inventor: Gustav Stenberg
  • Patent number: 12215799
    Abstract: A tamper switch, tamper resistant valve and valve monitor are disclosed. The tamper resistant valve comprises a valve housing comprising a valve case and a valve cover, the valve case comprising a base and a wall, the valve cover removable from the valve case and the valve cover defining a housing mechanical linkage or part thereof; and a gear sleeve for fitting onto a main valve drive shaft, the gear comprising a valve mechanical linkage or part thereof for inter-fitting with the housing mechanical linkage or part thereof so the valve cover can only be removed when the valve mechanical linkage or part thereof and the housing mechanical linkage or part thereof are in an access orientation and not a secure orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: FST INNOVATION PTY LTD
    Inventor: Shae Mete
  • Patent number: 12215793
    Abstract: A controller valve with a valve body and a valve cartridge. The valve body has a water inlet, a primary water outlet, and a bypass water outlet. The valve cartridge is positioned within the valve body and has a diaphragm that fluidly isolates an upper chamber from a lower chamber within the valve cartridge. A piston is attached to the diaphragm and is configured to move within the valve cartridge between an upper position and a lower position. When the piston is in the upper position, the valve cartridge limits water flow through the primary water outlet and allows water flow through the bypass water outlet, and when the piston is in the lower position, the valve cartridge allows water flow through the primary water outlet and limits water flow through the bypass water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: PUL PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Steven James Goettl, Ross Anthony DiJulio
  • Patent number: 12215721
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve manifold includes spacers and pressure reducing valves. Each spacer includes an attachment surface to which a body of the pressure reducing valve is attached. The body includes a first surface, a second surface, and a connecting surface, which connects the first and second surfaces to each other. A pressure gauge is provided on the connecting surface. The width of the body is smaller than the size of the pressure gauge in the width direction of the body. The bodies include one or more first bodies and one or more second bodies. The first surface of each first body is attached to the attachment surface. The second surface of each second body is attached to the attachment surface of one of the spacers different from the spacer to which the first body is attached. The first bodies and the second bodies are arranged alternately in the arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Itoh, Chenghua Xue
  • Patent number: 12215802
    Abstract: A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet section formed in one of the inner and outer walls, a curved intermediate section, and an outlet section formed in the other of the inner and outer walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Thomas N. Gabriel, Michael W McCarty
  • Patent number: 12209683
    Abstract: A locking device for a regulator and/or valve is disclosed herein. The locking device includes an adjustment head barrier assembly, the adjustment head barrier assembly configured to restrict access to an adjustment head of a regulator and/or valve so as to prevent a tool from engaging the adjustment head; a housing assembly configured to be disposed over the adjustment head barrier assembly, the housing assembly configured to restrict access to the adjustment head barrier assembly and protect the adjustment head barrier assembly from exposure to outdoor precipitation; and a locking assembly configured to removably couple the housing assembly to the adjustment head barrier assembly, the locking assembly configured to prevent unauthorized access to the adjustment head barrier assembly and the adjustment head of the regulator and/or valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventor: Forrest Neil Day
  • Patent number: 12209602
    Abstract: A method for filling a hydraulic circuit of an electro-hydrostatic system includes connecting first and third shut-off valves to a discharge valve, and connecting a second shut-off valve to a filling valve, while the second and third shut-off valves are closed, opening the filling valve, the discharge valve and the first shut-off valve and operating a vacuum generator, once a vacuum has been established in the hydraulic circuit, opening the second shut-off valve in order to fill the hydraulic circuit with pressurized hydraulic fluid while the vacuum generator is still in operation, once the hydraulic circuit has been filled with fluid, closing the first shut-off valve and then opening the third shut-off valve in order to bypass the vacuum generator and circulate the fluid through the electro-hydrostatic system until the fluid contained in the hydraulic circuit reaches a predetermined pressure, and closing the discharge valve and the filling valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Roger, Jean-Baptiste Kamis, Thomas Prado
  • Patent number: 12209698
    Abstract: An isolation tool assembly for isolating a section of pipe includes a launcher, an adapter arrangement and an isolation tool. The launcher is configured to deploy and/or retrieve the isolation tool through a single opening in a wall of the pipe. The adapter arrangement is configured to couple a housing of the launcher to the pipe and a piston and a yoke of the launcher to the isolation tool via a linkage arrangement. The isolation tool includes a seal unit in the form of a seal module including annular primary and secondary seal elements. The seal module reconfigurable from a first configuration to a second, axially retracted, configuration, and movement of the seal module to the second, axially retracted, configuration urges the seal elements towards the wall of the pipe to isolate the section of pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: STATS (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Angus Bowie
  • Patent number: 12203600
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed herein. The actuator includes a drive body including a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a first side and an opposing second side, a magneto strictive material disposed within the drive body and contacting the first side of the bottom surface of the drive body, a solenoid disposed within the drive body and surrounding the magneto strictive material, a drive rod extending through the magneto strictive material and through the bottom surface of the drive body, and a spring disposed adjacent the second side of the bottom surface of the drive body, wherein the drive rod extends through the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Poly John, Vasantha Kumara Jnanegowda, Guangqing Shen
  • Patent number: 12203563
    Abstract: A valve comprises a hand wheel, a locking operation member inserted in a space of the hand wheel and a fixing locking member. The valve is locked when the locking operation member is combined with at least partial of the fixing locking member, the valve is unlocked when the locking operation member is separated from the fixing locking member, the locking operation member rotates in response to rotation of the hand wheel while the locking operation member is inserted in the hand wheel, and the fixing locking member is used for locking of the valve with fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: FLUONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Sang Seon Lee
  • Patent number: 12194330
    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 Fire 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 receiver/diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Walt Dorn
  • Patent number: 12196340
    Abstract: A valve lock for a linear valve system includes a housing including a passage configured to receive a rod of a linearly extendable valve member of the linear valve system, and a collet assembly received in the housing, wherein the collet assembly has a central axis extending parallel the rod of the valve member, a radially inner configuration with respect to the central axis of the collet assembly, and a radially outer configuration relative to the central axis of the collet assembly, wherein the lock includes an unlocked configuration associated with the radially outer configuration of the collet assembly, and a locked configuration associated with the radially inner configuration of the collet assembly and which locks against the rod of the valve member and thereby prevent the rod from travelling in at least one axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, Wade Ernest Sheppard
  • Patent number: 12196371
    Abstract: A regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder includes a shut off valve having a ball tappet that actuates the shut off valve. A lever has a cam surface that interacts with the ball tappet as the lever is rotated to translate the ball tappet linearly and actuate the shut off valve. The lever is rotatable from a first valve closed position through a valve open position to a second valve closed position such that the valve open position is intermediate of the first and second valve closed positions. A pressure or flow regulating valve is downstream of the shut off valve. A handwheel is operatively connected to the pressure or flow regulating valve to adjust an outlet pressure of the pressure or flow regulating valve. The handwheel has an axis of operation that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder by an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ivan P. Pezzo, Marco Arzenton, Silvano M. Bendazzoli, Lucia Travagliati
  • Patent number: 12188619
    Abstract: A safety vacuum supply gas cylinder includes a cylinder body, a pipeline structure, first and second check valves (respectively having first and second check valve opening pressures Pc1, Pc2, wherein Pc1 is greater than an atmospheric pressure P0). The cylinder body has an opening and an internal space configured to store a gas, wherein the gas forms an internal pressure P2 smaller than P0. The pipeline structure, communicated with the opening, has first and second pipelines where the first and second check valves are respectively arranged. An external filling gas enters the cylinder body when a pressure of the external filling gas is greater than Pc1 and P2. The gas flows out when P2 is greater than Pc2 and an external environmental pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventors: Feng Yuan Ku, Min-Kuang Chang
  • Patent number: 12188602
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sealing plug assembly, a line stop assembly, and a yoke for stopping flow of a product in a pipe as well as methods of using the same. The sealing plug assembly, the line stop assembly, and the yoke include one or more fluid pathways. A benefit of the sealing plug assembly, the line stop assembly, and the yoke can be to remove product from an isolation zone of a stopped pipe through the one or more fluid pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: WELDFIT LLC
    Inventors: David Albertson, Brian Anderson, Paul Hatch, Ray Prater, Joaquin Reyes Espinosa, Robert Niksich, Timothy Irelan, Brian Gresh