Patents Examined by Kevin L Lee
  • Patent number: 10648582
    Abstract: A check valve is provided with a rectilinear flow passage having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and allowing a liquid to flow therethrough in one direction, and a first valve body, a first valve seat, a second valve body, and a second valve seat are provided in the rectilinear flow passage. A first drive body is provided in the rectilinear flow passage at a position closer to the liquid inlet than the first valve body so as to be movable in one direction. The first drive body is driven in one direction by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is adapted to set the first drive body either to an open state in which the first drive body presses the first valve body toward the liquid outlet side to detach the first valve body from the first valve seat or to a closure state in which the first drive body does not press the first valve body toward the liquid outlet but allows the first valve body to be seated on the first valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Imamura
  • Patent number: 10640956
    Abstract: A drain valve to drain water from a dry barrel hydrant includes a drain valve body fixed to a main valve assembly of the hydrant, and a hollow drain hole sleeve positioned in a drain hole of an elbow of the hydrant. The drain valve body includes a drain valve facing configured to align with the drain hole of the elbow as a result of the main valve assembly being in an open position, and to not align with the drain hole of the elbow as a result of the main valve assembly being in a closed position. In another embodiment, an elbow of a fire hydrant includes a hollow body, an upper end defining a drain hole to allow water to drain out, and a hollow drain hole sleeve in the drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Kennedy Valve Company
    Inventor: Paul Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10633840
    Abstract: The present invention provides a faucet with a hose connection that is easier to assemble, install, uninstall, and disassemble. The faucet includes a hose, a valve body, a mounting shank, a first hose retainer, and a second hose retainer. The mounting shank includes a first end and a second end. The first hose retainer includes a base section. The base section includes a first hose opening. The second hose retainer includes a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section. The first end section includes a second hose opening. The second end section includes a first hose retainer opening. The intermediate section includes a first hose retainer channel. The hose is fluidically connected to the valve body at or near the first end of the mounting shank. The hose is mechanically connected to the valve body at or near the second end of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FB Global Plumbing Group LLC
    Inventor: Steven M. Macsay
  • Patent number: 10633212
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the rapid deployment of a fracturing water transferring system, along with the rapid picking up and storage of such system after use. In different embodiments the method in includes the use of a tensioning system to retrieve one or more segments of lay flat hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TETRA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Novotny, Scott Richie, Reza Talabi, Yannick Harvey
  • Patent number: 10627037
    Abstract: A conduit locking device includes a housing having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall disposed between the first end and the second end. The conduit locking device may further include a slide engaged with the sidewall of the housing, the slide including an extension arm and an end portion structurally configured to engage with an inner wall of a conduit. The slide may be extendable via the extension arm from a first position substantially adjacent to the sidewall of the housing to a second position disposed away from the sidewall of the housing, where, when in the second position, the slide is configured to retain the conduit locking device at a fixed position within the conduit through the engagement of the end portion with the inner wall of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Barry M. Scott
  • Patent number: 10627000
    Abstract: A device for controlling or regulating the through-flow amount and/or through-flow direction of fluids, includes: a housing with at least two inlets and/or outlets, at least one arm, which is movably arranged within the housing, and at least one closure element, which is arranged within the housing and is movably connected with the arm. The arm and the closure element connected therewith are arranged and connected with one another such that at least one inlet and/or outlet is able to be closed off by the closure element. The closure element and/or at least one inlet and/or outlet has a curved sealing surface for sealing the inlets and/or outlets. In order to achieve a high degree of mobility of the closure element in the stressed state with simultaneous defined alignment of the closure element in the relieved state, a pre-stressed spring element is arranged between the arm and the closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Bernd von Birgelen, Leonhard Sylvester Göttgens
  • Patent number: 10619795
    Abstract: The present invention provides a monitoring apparatus for an outlet of a vessel storing gas under pressure. The monitoring apparatus comprises a flow control valve movable to a position between a fully open position and a fully closed position to adjust a flow of gas from the outlet of the vessel, a valve position detector connected to the flow control valve to detect the position of the flow control valve, an internal pressure sensor to sense an internal pressure Pint(t) of the gas in the vessel at different times, a processor, a memory and an alarm. The processor calculates an actual rate of change in pressure dPint/dt of the gas in the vessel over time, and compares dPint/dt with an expected rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Piers Lambert, Rigoberto Perez De Alejo Fortun, Helmut Franz
  • Patent number: 10612218
    Abstract: A fire hydrant stem includes a shaft having a center axis, a first end portion, a first end, and a second end. The first end portion extends axially a length from the first end, has external threads, and defines an internal cavity open through the first end. The second end is configured to engage a fire hydrant main valve operating assembly. A fire hydrant upper stem assembly includes a fire hydrant stem and a spring element. The fire hydrant stem defines an internal cavity, and the spring element is in the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kennedy Valve Company
    Inventor: Paul Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10605116
    Abstract: A hydraulic driving device for a steam valve includes a plurality of hydraulic actuators to generate driving force to be transmitted to the valve body through a valve shaft of the steam valve. The hydraulic actuators each include a cylinder, a piston that is capable of reciprocating in the cylinder, and a rod having respective ends connected to the piston and valve shaft. The hydraulic actuators include a main actuator including a throttle portion for regulating a flow of pressure oil in a hydraulic chamber defined by the cylinder and piston so that a damping force is applied to the valve body during its closing operation. The one or more hydraulic actuators other than the main actuator include at least one sub actuator not having the throttle portion. The hydraulic chamber of the sub actuator communicates with the hydraulic chamber of the main actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Futahashi, Katsuhisa Hamada
  • Patent number: 10604006
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fuel tank having a module pot, which forms a first separate fuel reservoir for a fuel pump arranged inside the fuel tank. To prevent a gap in delivery of fuel to supply the first fuel reservoir in certain operating conditions, in particular when there is persistent lateral acceleration, according to the invention, a second separate fuel reservoir arranged separately from the first fuel reservoir inside the fuel tank is proposed, such that fuel is transferred from the second fuel reservoir into the first fuel reservoir at least when a predetermined acceleration level acting on the fuel tank is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TI AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Albert J. Boecker, Gerrit Michaelis, Peter Grauer, Patrick Gmünd, Matthias B. Olbrich, Alex Ehler
  • Patent number: 10602658
    Abstract: A kit for retrofitting a vehicle, such as a lawn mower or tractor, into a lawn care vehicle for distributing liquids for treatment of a lawn, the kit includes a base, a liquid tank, a hose reel, and a fluid flow control system. The fluid flow control system includes a dispensing hose on the hose reel and a hand-held hose. A Y-shape valve fluidically connects the dispensing hose and the hand-held hose to each other and to the liquid tank. The nozzles of the dispensing hose and the hand-held hose have a magnet so as to magnetically mount them anywhere on the vehicle, and the components of the kit may be mounted in various arrangements on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Ryan Najpauer
  • Patent number: 10605278
    Abstract: A system for detecting leaks in a hydraulic supply system for a double-acting hydraulic actuator is disclosed. The system may include a first conduit in fluid communication with a first chamber of the actuator, and with a second chamber of the actuator, and a directional control valve coupled with the first conduit and the second conduit. A directional control valve may be in fluid communication with a hydraulic oil supply line and may switch between the hydraulic oil being sent and received via the first conduit and second conduit. A valve can be associated with the oil supply line. A first and second flow meter can generate a first signal and a second signal, respectively, indicating flow rate within the first conduit and the second conduit. A controller may receive the first signal and the second signal, calculate their ratio, and cause the valve to inhibit flow within the oil supply line upon the ratio differing from a given ratio by more than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Mohammad Ebrahimi
  • Patent number: 10598294
    Abstract: To provide a safety joint capable of preventing a component of a weighing machine side member or a vehicle side member is broken in case that the weighing machine side member and the vehicle side member are separated from each other in an emergency when a vehicle runs while hydrogen gas is filled for instance. The safety joint (100) according to the present invention includes a plug (10) with a cylindrical shape in which a passage (1A) is formed, a socket (20) in which a passage (21A) continuing to the passage (1A) in the plug (10) is formed, and a shut off valve mounted on the passage (21A) in the socket (20), the shut off valve opening when the plug (10) being inserted into the socket (20) and closing when the plug (10) being disconnected therefrom, wherein central axes of the passages (1A,21A) of the plug (10) and the socket (20) do not form a straight line, a cover (50) for protecting a valve rod (2) mounted on one of the plug (10) and the socket (20) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: TATSUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Takezawa, Yuki Terasoma, Kiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10598312
    Abstract: A connection structure for pressure vessels is configured such that respective mouth pieces are connected to at least one ends of the pressure vessels, and when adjacent mouth pieces are connected to each other in an intersection direction intersecting with the axial direction, the pressure vessels placed in parallel can be connected to each other. The mouth piece includes a connecting portion along the intersection direction intersecting with the axial direction. The connecting portion includes an external screw thread portion formed on a first side thereof, and a nut rotatably locked to a second side thereof and having an internal screw thread portion threadedly engageable with the external screw thread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Sawai, Yuki Kai
  • Patent number: 10584647
    Abstract: An aspect includes an offset parallel valve system that includes a first valve body and a first valve disc operably disposed within the first valve body. The offset parallel valve system also includes a second valve body in parallel with the first valve body and a second valve disc operably disposed within the second valve body, where the second valve disc is laterally offset from the first valve disc. A linkage system is operably coupled to the first valve disc and the second valve disc. The linkage system includes an armature coupled to a grooved linkage member having a first groove and a second groove. The first groove delays movement of the second valve disc as the first valve disc rotates, and the second groove controls a rotation angle of the second valve disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew C. Waddell, Jesse W. Clauson
  • Patent number: 10563804
    Abstract: Provided is a snap tap mounting jig for mounting a snap tap where the generation of buckling can be prevented by reducing a diameter enlarging pressing force of a diameter enlarging roller, a shim can be mounted on both end surfaces of the diameter enlarging roller, and a fold-back deformation amount of a metal sleeve can be checked from the outside. The snap tag mounting jig is also characterized as follows. The diameter enlarging roller is formed into a hyperboloid shape, and the recessed portion is formed such that a substantially upper half portion of the diameter enlarging roller mounted obliquely is formed into a substantially tapered shape, and a substantially lower half portion of the diameter enlarging roller mounted obliquely is formed into a rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: YONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toyohiko Yoneda, Tetsuzo Yoneda, Norio Doman
  • Patent number: 10562361
    Abstract: A tubeless air valve stem has a body, an airtight element, and a sleeve. The body has a passage, a through hole, and at least one side hole. The passage is formed on a top end of the body. The through hole is formed through a bottom end of the body and is in communication with the passage. The at least one side hole is formed through an outer surface of the body and is in communication with the passage. The airtight element is disposed around the body. The sleeve is disposed around the body for closing the at least one side hole. Gas or liquid can be injected into a tubeless tire via the at least one side hole. The intake efficiency of the tubeless air valve stem can be maintained and is not influenced by the remaining reinforcing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: RIM MASTER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: I-Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 10563773
    Abstract: A fluid system coupling includes an adaptor, a coupler, and an actuation mechanism. The adaptor has an adaptor poppet that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The adaptor poppet has a poppet face that is substantially planar and devoid of any recesses. The coupler has a coupler poppet that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The coupler poppet has a poppet face that is substantially planar and avoid of any recesses. The actuation mechanism selectively moves the poppets from the closed positions to the open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: OPW-ENGINEERED SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Roth, David Morrow, Donald M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10564659
    Abstract: An electric valve device (1) for household appliances, includes a hollow body (2) with an inlet (4, 5) and an outlet (5, 4) for a flow of a liquid, between which in the body (2) there is defined a chamber (6) wherein a first valve seat (7) is provided, a (first) obturator (17) moveably mounted in the chamber (6) and cooperating with the first seat (7) for controlling the communication between the inlet (4, 5) and the outlet (5, 4), and a movable member (12) coupled with the obturator (17) and displaceable towards and away from the first valve seat (7) and controlled by means of an electrically operable actuator (10) carried by said body (2). In the body (2) a second valve seat (8) is staggered with respect to the first valve seat (7) along the direction of displacement of the first obturator (7), to which is connected a second obturator (18) displaceable from and towards the second valve seat (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ELBI INTERNATIONAL S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Molino, Maurizio Rendesi, Paolo Ravedati, Paolo Da Pont
  • Patent number: 10557557
    Abstract: An apparatus to allow or stop an air flow into an enclosed environment or piping system comprises (a) a housing, (b) a first valve seat, (c) a first sealing member, (d) a second valve seat, (e) a second sealing member, (f) at least one locking mechanism configured to limit a movement of the first sealing member and/or the second sealing member; wherein the first sealing member moves away from the first valve seat when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure in a predetermined pressure difference; wherein the second sealing member moves away from the first valve seat when the third pressure is greater than the second pressure in a predetermined pressure difference; wherein the first pressure communicates with a system pressure in the piping system; and wherein the third pressure communicates with an ambient air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Anthony Di Monte