Patents Examined by Kevin R Barss
  • Patent number: 11812819
    Abstract: Bladder systems for footwear include: two inflation chambers; a valve body defining: (a) a bore, (b) a first fluid passage extending to the bore, (c) a second fluid passage extending between the bore and one inflation chamber, and (d) a third fluid passage extending between the bore and another inflation chamber; and a valve in the bore. The valve includes two orifices connected by a passage and rotates in the bore between two positions. In one position, a first orifice (of the “orifices”) is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and a second orifice is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage to allow fluid flow to one inflation chamber. In another position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the third fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage to allow fluid flow to the other inflation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, James Molyneux, Lee D. Peyton, Ty A. Ransom, Nicola J. Reynolds, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11817599
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an explosion-proof valve core, an explosion-proof valve, and a box body gas tightness detection clamp, including an explosion-proof valve core, a valve body, and sealing rings. The waterproof gas-permeable explosion-proof valve core of the present disclosure timely discharges high-temperature and high-pressure in a box body, which prevents explosion or reduces damage caused by explosion. An inner sealing ring in the explosion-proof valve is fixed through an inner sealing ring groove, so that a problem of poor sealing caused by easy falling and displacement of the inner sealing ring is solved. A metal protective shell is disposed on an outer side of an explosion-proof valve spring, a problem that the spring is blocked by battery core jets to weaken pressure relief performance when working is solved. The present disclosure further provides the box body gas tightness detection clamp, which is simple to use and operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DONGGUAN PUWEI WATERPROOF AND BREATHABLE MEMBRANE MATERIAL CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xiangmin Liu
  • Patent number: 11808374
    Abstract: A fluid management system includes a housing having a central manifold in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, a plurality of first ports in communication with the central manifold, a plurality of second ports in communication with the environment surrounding the housing, and a plurality of third ports each configured to be coupled to a vessel for containing the pressurized fluid. The fluid management system also includes a plurality of valves and a plurality of actuators, each actuator including a smart material and associated with one of the plurality of valves. In response to activation by an energy source, each actuator is configured to move the associated valve to one of a first position or a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co.
    Inventors: Stefano Nicola, Maxime Samain, Daniel Schmitz, Renato Colja, Robert J. McMillen
  • Patent number: 11808361
    Abstract: A water separator valve assembly is provided, including: a main body, including a chamber, first and second outlet pipe and an inlet pipe; a control assembly, including a valve member disposed in the main body and an elastic plug, the valve member including a base disposed in the chamber and a receiving portion disposed on the base, the base including inlet holes respectively in communication with an inlet channel in the main body, the receiving portion including a receiving hole and a through hole, the elastic plug being disposed in the receiving hole, the elastic plug being elastically abutted between a bottom wall of the receiving hole and an inner wall the chamber; wherein the valve member is rotatable relative to the main body to drive the elastic plug to seal the first outlet channel or an second outlet channel in the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Tsai-Chen Yang
  • Patent number: 11808362
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling fluid within an at least partially electrically driven vehicle, with a valve device including a valve housing. The valve housing includes at least three two radially arranged port openings and at least one axially arranged port opening for the inflow and/or outflow of fluid, and a valve body which is arranged inside the valve housing and is configured to be rotatable about an axial axis of rotation R. The valve body includes a first connecting channel of arcuate shape for connecting two radially arranged port openings and a second connecting channel of arcuate shape for connecting a radially arranged port opening with an axially arranged port opening. The at least two radially arranged port openings define a base plane B, which is configured orthogonally to the axial axis of rotation R, and the first arcuate connecting channel defines a first connecting channel plane V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ECO Holding 1 GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Dehrmann, Alexander Mudra, Johannes Krebs
  • Patent number: 11787261
    Abstract: A multiport rotary disc valve includes a valve housing having chamber walls that segregate an internal space of the housing into subchambers that each provide a portion of a fluid path through the valve housing. The valve includes a diverter assembly disposed in a cylindrical first subchamber, the diverter assembly controlling fluid flow through the valve housing. A second subchamber is disposed radially outward with respect to the first subchamber. In some rotational orientations of the diverter assembly, a fluid path between valve ports of the valve housing includes a first path portion that is disposed in the first subchamber and extends axially through the diverter assembly and a second path portion that is disposed in the second subchamber. The valve also includes seal assemblies disposed in housing so as to be aligned with the diverter assembly along a rotational axis of the diverter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Chapman
  • Patent number: 11788264
    Abstract: A double check valve is provided that includes an in-line inlet check valve and an outlet check valve that cooperate to prevent back flow of fluid through the valve. The check valve also includes at least one vent that allows for fluid trapped within the check valve to drain, thereby preventing freezing of the check valve and hydrant to which it is interconnected. The check valve provided omits many superfluous components and thus is smaller and easier to install than check valves of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Eric Pilarczyk
  • Patent number: 11788634
    Abstract: A housing has a housing main body and an outlet port. The housing main body includes a cylindrical housing inner wall that defines an internal space therein. The outlet port fluidly connects the internal space and an outside of the housing main body to each other. The valve has a valve body rotatable about an rotation axis along a rotation axis of the cylindrical housing inner wall. The valve is configured to selectively open and close the outlet port depending on a rotation position of the valve. The housing inner wall is formed such that a distance between the housing inner wall and the axis of the housing inner wall varies in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Sato, Yuto Sato, Masato Ichikawa, Akihiko Goto, Tadashi Ikemoto, Ryo Nomura, Ryuki Tsuji, Takahito Suzuki, Shogo Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 11781658
    Abstract: A control valve assembly includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow pathway therebetween. A ball valve is positioned within the fluid flow pathway and includes a rotatable ball having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a flow pathway therebetween, an upstream seat ring positioned at an inlet side of the ball, and a downstream seat ring positioned at a downstream side of the ball, the seat rings being configured to substantially seal off fluid flow between upstream and downstream sides of the ball except through the ball fluid flow pathway. At least one of the upstream and downstream seat rings is a dynamic sealing seat ring. A retainer ring is positioned between the dynamic sealing seat ring and a portion of the rotatable ball to substantially prevent deformation of a portion of the dynamic sealing seat ring in a direction toward the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: VICTAULIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yoram Ringer, Stephen J. Meyer, Gordon Farrell, Fang Huang
  • Patent number: 11781694
    Abstract: A clamp system for hot-tapping tubulars includes a saddle having a saddle body with an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, a metal protrusion extending from the inner surface of the saddle body to provide a metal seal, an elastomer seal coupled to the inner surface of the saddle body adjacent to the metal protrusion, and a nipple integrally formed with the saddle body and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the saddle body, the nipple positioned over the opening of the saddle body, and a clamp having a nipple opening configured to receive the nipple, the clamp formed separately from the saddle. A method includes positioning the saddle on a tubular and assembling the clamp around the saddle and the tubular including inserting the nipple through the nipple opening formed in the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Julio C. Guzman, Adib A. Al-Mumen, Hussein M. Haleimi
  • Patent number: 11781397
    Abstract: An inventive lock open device for use with a poppet type check valve is disclosed. The device permits bidirectional flow of fluid or gas by defeating the check valve sealing device which permits hydrostatic testing without the need for check valve disassembly or the need for additional tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: George Todd Lowry, Christopher Len Jackson
  • Patent number: 11774162
    Abstract: A drain pan utilizing an open front and a trench includes a bottom pan member, the trench, a drain hole, and a trench cover. The bottom pan member includes the open front. The trench is positioned below the bottom pan member adjacent the open front of the bottom pan member of the drain pan. The trench is configured to capture fluid flowing onto the bottom pan member of the drain pan and before the fluid flows out of the open front. The drain hole is in communication with the trench. The drain hole is configured to evacuate any fluid from the bottom pan member that flows into the trench. The trench cover is configured for providing a flat trench surface over the trench. The trench cover includes perforations to allow fluid to flow into the trench from the bottom pan member of the drain pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Short Run Pro
    Inventor: Scott Toal
  • Patent number: 11773990
    Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-port multi-mode valve are provided. The multi-port multi-plane valve includes a housing which defines an internal cavity. The housing further includes a plurality of ports, including two inlet ports and four outlet ports. Each of the plurality of ports is in communication with the internal cavity. A shell body is rotatably disposed within the internal cavity and provides selectable fluid communications between the ports. A seal member is also provided which has a plurality of openings and surrounds the shell body. Six modes of operation are provided by rotation of the shell body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERTSHAW CONTROLS COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Koch, Nishaj Attassery, Kyle William Svejcar, Eapen Chacko, Daniel Knapper
  • Patent number: 11767662
    Abstract: An anti-backflow plumbing fitting (10) includes an annular body (12) which bounds an interior area (20). The body includes a body outlet (28) and a plurality of cup portions (40) each of which includes an inlet opening (46). An annular body side wall (22) includes at least one radially extending side wall air gap (36). Each cup portion further includes a pair of angularly disposed cup air gaps (54). An inlet end wall (30) includes a plurality of body flow inlets (52) which are each associated with a respective cup portion. Each body flow inlet underlies a respective cup portion and is elongated in aligned relation with each cup air gap, to enable liquid to flow from the respective inlet opening of a cup portion into the interior area. The inlet end wall is sloped and includes a plurality of drain holes (66, 68) therein. A plurality of vanes (60) extend in the interior area intermediate of immediately adjacent body flow inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: VISTA WATER GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: James W. Chandler
  • Patent number: 11761552
    Abstract: A valve device includes a housing, a valve member, a valve seat member, a fixing member for fixing the valve seat member to the housing, and a housing-side seal portion. The housing has a valve chamber, and a housing-space inner wall forming a housing space communicating with the valve chamber. The housing-side seal portion blocks a flow of fluid between the valve seat member and the housing-space inner wall. The valve seat member has a tubular portion and a flange portion connected to the tubular portion. The flange portion is interposed between a facing surface of the housing-space inner wall and the fixing member in an axial direction. The fixing member is fixed to the housing-space inner wall in an airtight state. The housing-side seal portion is made of a rubber material and is interposed between the flange portion and the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Harada, Yuichiro Moritani, Takehiro Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11761461
    Abstract: A rotary servo valve comprising a housing portion (105) defining a cylindrical cavity (107) and a first layer of ports. The rotary servo valve further comprises two opposing indented sides and two opposing sides having an increased radius relative to the indented sides, each side of increased radius extending between the two indented sides. The spool portion (103) is mounted for rotation relative to the cylindrical cavity (107), from a neutral position so as to prevent fluid flow through the valve, to an open position in which a fluid flow path is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DOMIN FLUID POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Collins, Martin MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11762400
    Abstract: A fluid control device includes a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and outlet connectable in series to a fluid pipe. A fluid valve is coupled in series within the fluid pipe section separating a fluid inlet and outlet side and controlling a fluid flow. An electric motor is mechanically connected to the fluid valve. A temperature sensor is connected to the fluid pipe section monitoring a temperature of the fluid flow. A pressure sensor is connected to the fluid pipe section monitoring a pressure of the fluid flow. A flow rate sensor is connected to the fluid pipe section monitoring a flow rate of the fluid flow. A control device processor is electrically connected to the electric motor and electrically connected to the sensors. A communication device coupled to the control device processor is for wirelessly connecting to a remotely disposed fluid monitoring and control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: FORTUNE BRANDS WATER INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Henry M. Halimi
  • Patent number: 11746679
    Abstract: A system. The system includes a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a first port, a second port fluidically couplable with the first port upon application of negative pressure at the first port, a third port fluidically couplable with the first port upon application of positive pressure at the first port, and a first check valve positioned between the first port and the second port. The system also includes a second check valve fluidically couplable with the third port upon the application of the positive pressure at the first port. The second check valve is positioned external to the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: RPM Industries, LLC
    Inventor: John K. Apostolides
  • Patent number: 11746510
    Abstract: A fire hydrant system includes a fire hydrant (upper barrel and bonnet) that is separate from a first cover tube and a second cover tube that house a valve stem. To activate the system, a user opens a gate valve via the valve stem, thereby allowing water to enter the upper barrel of the fire hydrant. When the gate valve is closed, a drain valve allows water to exit the upper barrel, lower barrel, and shoe fitting, preventing damage during freezing temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Myron Ben Neilson, Lantz Neilson
  • Patent number: 11739875
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fluid introducer for a piping system that includes first and second piping sections. The fluid introducer provides a direct connection to the first piping section through a separator body configured to be positioned in an expansion gap between the first piping section and the second piping section such that a first end face of the separator body faces the first piping section and a second end face of the separator body faces the second piping section. The fluid introducer is configured to direct fluid from the fluid source through fluid introduction passaging into the first piping section and block the fluid from flowing into the second piping section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: James Robert Balman