Patents Examined by Kevin L Lee
  • Patent number: 10465803
    Abstract: A multipurpose valve tool is provided. The multipurpose valve tool includes multiple flow control discs, a retention ring, and a valve key. The flow control discs are configured to be installed within a valve body of a valve assembly to modulate a flow of fluid through an outlet port of the valve body. The retention ring is configured to retain the flow control discs on a component of the valve assembly when the flow control discs are not installed within the valve body. The valve key includes a first end configured to engage an installation feature in a retention fastener for one of the flow control discs. The flow control discs, the retention ring, and the valve key are detachably coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
  • Patent number: 10470251
    Abstract: A self-regulating electric heater cable includes a monolithic heater core of PTC material encapsulating a pair of bus wires, and a conductive layer disposed on an outer surface of the heater core such that the conductive layer levels the voltage generated at the outer surface of the heater core when an electric current is passed through the bus wires. The conductive layer draws the current evenly through lobes of PTC material encapsulating the bus wires. The conductive layer may be a coating, such as a conductive ink or paint, or may be an extruded or wrapped material applied to the heater core. Standard heater cable layers are applied over the conductive layer, including an electrically insulating layer that contacts a portion of the conductive layer and also may be separated, at points, from the conductive layer by one or more air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: nVent Services GmbH
    Inventors: Mohammad Kazemi, Peter Martin, Linda D. B. Kiss, Edward H. Park, Jennifer Robison
  • Patent number: 10464171
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a turbomachine component including a metal alloy with a layering device is provided. The method for fabricating the turbomachine component may include combining two or more elemental powders to form a powdered material. The method for fabricating the turbomachine component may also include forming a first metal alloy layer of the turbomachine component on a substrate. Forming the first metal alloy layer on the substrate may include melting a first portion of the powdered material to a first molten material with a heat source, mixing the first molten material with the heat source, and cooling the first molten material. The method for fabricating the turbomachine component may further include forming a second metal alloy layer of the turbomachine component on the first metal alloy layer, and binding the first metal alloy layer with the second metal alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventor: Byron Mohr
  • Patent number: 10464803
    Abstract: A loading arm includes a stand pipe, a coupler configured to be connected to a tank to deliver a product, and a pipe assembly having a first pipe end pivotally coupled to the stand pipe and a second pipe end pivotally connected to the coupler. The pipe assembly includes a pivot joint disposed between the first pipe end and the second pipe end such that the pipe assembly is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A linkage assembly has a first portion connected to the pivot joint and a second portion connected to the stand pipe. The linkage assembly is operable to allow for the positioning of the coupler at any of a plurality of points corresponding to the pipe assembly being positioned between the retracted position and the extended position. The linkage assembly is fully supported by the stand pipe such that movement of the pipe assembly does not require manipulating the weight of the linkage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: EMCO WHEATON CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel Gheorghiu, Roelof van der Sleen, Mark Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10465819
    Abstract: A pipe branching manifold including a multitude of pipe branches, wherein each pipe branch of the multitude of pipe branches includes an entry block valve, an exit block valve, and a bleed outlet including a bleed valve arranged between the entry block valve and the exit block valve, wherein in a standard operation of each pipe branch a respective entry block valve and a respective exit block valve is open and a respective bleed valve is closed, wherein in a test operation or maintenance operation of each pipe branch the respective entry block valve and the respective exit block valve is closed, and the respective bleed valve is open, wherein the pipe branching manifold includes a selector device for selecting either none or one out of the multitude of pipe branches for switching from the standard operation to the test operation or the maintenance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MOKVELD Valves B. V.
    Inventor: Jelte Adriaan Jansen
  • Patent number: 10458337
    Abstract: A starter air valve comprising: a housing comprising an inlet at a first end, an outlet at a second end opposite the first end, and a center portion between the first and second end, the outlet being fluidly connected to the inlet through a fluid passage; a first piston located within the housing between first end and center portion, the first piston configured to block airflow through the fluid passage when in a closed position and allow airflow through the fluid passage when in an open position; a second piston located within the housing between second end and center portion, the second piston configured to block airflow through the fluid passage when in a closed position and allow airflow through the fluid passage when in an open position; and a manual override system configured to move from closed to open position at least one of the first and second pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Myles R. Kelly, Robert Goodman, Michael D. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 10443251
    Abstract: A wheeled hose moving device that is movable over a support surface and that is operable to grasp, lift and move a concrete supply hose at the support surface. The device includes a wheeled support including a hose grasping device and at least one hose support element. The hose grasping device includes a pair of grasping arms configured to grasp and release a concrete supply hose. The hose grasping device is vertically movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The hose support element includes a pair of support arms that pivot relative to one another. The pair of grasping arms move from their opened state toward their closed state to engage and grasp the concrete supply hose. As the grasping device raises the grasped hose upward, the support arms pivot from their opened state toward their closed state to support the grasped and raised hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SOMERO ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Eenigenburg, Ryan Kangas
  • Patent number: 10443880
    Abstract: The present invention allows for a combination valve in a hydronic HVAC system that functions as an isolation valve; a check valve; and as a device for measuring fluid parameters, such as flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature, and also allows for the isolation valve to be configured in the field to be mounted either in a straight 180° or an angled 90° orientation, as well as at an intermediate angle. The new combination of isolation valve, check valve, with embedded sensors for flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature measurement provides a more compact product envelope that achieves space savings, e.g., by eliminating the need for separate components in an HVAC system, such as separate isolation valves, check valves, flow meters, pressure gages, and/or thermometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Paul Evans, Mrinalini Litoriya, Mahesh Nair, Florin Rosca, Deep Trambadia, Amitkumar Welekar
  • Patent number: 10442270
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided. The vehicle system may include a tube configured to provide an outlet for condensate collected within a plenum that connects a cabin duct to a ventilation manifold arrangement. The vehicle system may also include a clearing duct that bypasses the plenum and connects the tube and arrangement, and a controller configured to block passageways between the plenum and cabin duct, and to activate a blower of the arrangement to build pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, Robert Steven Sawyer
  • Patent number: 10436343
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a faucet includes a valve body, a valve cartridge received within the valve body and including a valve stem defining a longitudinal axis, a handle operably coupled to the valve stem of the valve cartridge, and a magnetic coupling operably coupled between the valve body and the handle. A spring biases the magnetic coupling downwardly toward the valve body, and biases the downwardly facing surface supported by the handle downwardly toward an upwardly facing surface supported by the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Darrell S. Crowe, Gerald R. Hayes
  • Patent number: 10427539
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described relating a connector assembly having a mating end and a non-mating end, the mating end configured to engage a mating end of another connector assembly. The connector assembly may include a housing, a central member disposed within the housing, and a sleeve disposed between the central member and the housing. The sleeve may be slidably coupled to the housing and may be slidable along an axial direction relative to the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to an open position, may form a flow channel defined by at least (1) a sloped surface on the sleeve and (2) a sloped surface on the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to a closed position, may close the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventor: Khiem Dinh
  • Patent number: 10428972
    Abstract: A gas valve assembly configured to operate without a pilot assembly is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, a servo valve actuates a diaphragm valve to selectively allow for fluid coupling of a gas inlet and gas outlet. The diaphragm valve may be a normally closed valve that opens in response to a pneumatic force resulting from the opening of the servo valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Hazzard, David Heil, Ravindra Khosla
  • Patent number: 10428968
    Abstract: A valve core capable of suppressing manufacturing costs, including: a first core cylinder body, a second core cylinder body having a valve opening on an opposite side to the first, a movable member having a valve body which opens and closes the valve opening at the front end of a shaft section linearly movably extending through the insides of the core cylinder bodies, an elastic member in contact with the movable member and the first body and biasing to sandwich the second body between the first and valve body, and a pair of fitting sections including a first and a second fitting section on the core cylinder bodies and which are rotatably fitted and are separable from each other without interfering. The fitting sections have cylindrical shapes that are detachably fitted to each other, and the first section has a stepped surface with which the second section is in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yamamoto, Masatoshi Aimoto
  • Patent number: 10422435
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve including an axially driven valve spindle provides a pressure member, which allows to directly couple the diaphragm to the valve spindle. The same pressure member may always be used for coupling, irrespectively of the type of fastener, which is integrated in the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: BUERKERT WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Kettemann, Marcel Konstandin
  • Patent number: 10415837
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes are provided. In some embodiments, systems for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes that carry a liquid used to heat a heated space and that are exposed to freezing temperatures outside of the heated space are provided, the systems comprising: a hardware controller that causes the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes irrespective of the air temperature in the heated space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Valentin Borovinov
  • Patent number: 10406570
    Abstract: An access device for installation to a condensation drainage system, such as a drain line of an HVAC unit, includes a main body with connecting ports at opposite ends for sealed, fluid flow inline connection to the drainage system. A top cover releasably secures to the main body to completely cover and seal an open top and interior cavity. A cleanout adapter has a flange that surrounds a bottom opening. The flange includes a seal around its outer periphery and is structured for sliding receipt within either of two transverse slots within the interior cavity to position the bottom opening of the adapter in sealed alignment with either of the connection ports, whereby a pressurized gas or liquid flow source, or a vacuum source can be connected to a top opening of the adapter for clearing a clog in the drain line either upstream or downstream of the access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RS ACQUISITION SUB, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Oakner, Donna Oakner
  • Patent number: 10405693
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for manufacturing a drink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: H&G ENGINEERING LLC
    Inventors: Steve Y. Kang, Chang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10399287
    Abstract: A manufacturing arrangement realized for the manufacture of a rotor blade, including a pair of tracks arranged along the longitudinal sides of a blade mold, a first gantry assembly realized to span the track pair and to carry a first tool arrangement, which first tool arrangement includes at least a fiber distributor, a second gantry assembly realized to span the track pair and to carry a second tool arrangement, and a control arrangement realized to effect a coordinated movement of the gantry assemblies along the track pair and to coordinate the operation of the second tool arrangement with the operation of the first tool arrangement, is provided. A manufacturing line, a method of manufacturing a rotor blade, and a wind turbine rotor blade are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Karsten Schibsbye
  • Patent number: 10400335
    Abstract: Provided are gas distribution apparatus with a delivery channel having an inlet end, an outlet end and a plurality of apertures spaced along the length. The inlet end is connectable to an inlet gas source and the outlet end is connectible with a vacuum source. Also provided are gas distribution apparatus with spiral delivery channels, intertwined spiral delivery channels, splitting delivery channels, merging delivery channels and shaped delivery channels in which an inlet end and outlet end are configured for rapid exchange of gas within the delivery channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhenbin Ge, Chien-Teh Kao, Joel M. Huston, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 10393280
    Abstract: A seat valve with electromagnetic actuation combines, in one device, the functions of a seat valve, of a pressure-limiting valve and optionally also of one or more check valves. Furthermore, the switching noise of the seat valve function is reduced. In a de-energized state of an electromagnet, a fluid flow from a port P to a port TNC occurs only if a pressure difference between the ports P and TNC exceeds a limit value of ?pG, wherein the force of the specified pressure difference overcomes the force of a spring and therefore pushes a first sealing body out of a first sealing seat, and in the energized state of the electromagnet, a fluid flow from port P to port TNC occurs even in the case of a pressure difference less than ?pG if the force of the electromagnet together with the force of the pressure difference between the ports P and TNC overcomes the force of the spring, wherein the sum of the specified forces pushes the first sealing body out of the first sealing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Thomas Magnete GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Petri, Thomas Lütz, Stefan Pilz