Patents Examined by Marina A Tietjen
  • Patent number: 12229340
    Abstract: A method includes separately exposing selected portions of a first rigid substrate and a second rigid substrate to laser radiation, selectively etching the exposed portions of the first rigid substrate and the second rigid substrate using a chemical etchant and bonding the first rigid substrate to the second rigid substrate along a common interface to form a fluidic valve. The fluidic valve may be coupled to a fluidic haptics device, for example, which may be integrated into an artificial reality system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Serol Turkyilmaz, Daniel Myers
  • Patent number: 12227403
    Abstract: A gas stem assembly is disclosed including a vent tube having at least one protrusion extending radially from the vent tube and a receiver having a non-circular opening and an attachment surface at an end of the non-circular opening. The vent tube is at least partially insertable through the non-circular opening of the receiver when the vent tube and the at least one protrusion are aligned with the non-circular opening. The attachment surface of the receiver contacts the at least one protrusion to inhibit the at least one protrusion from passing back through the non-circular opening when the at least one protrusion is misaligned with the non-circular opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: M&M Machinery Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Alton W. Mowdy
  • Patent number: 12215795
    Abstract: An inflator valve connector includes a body, a guiding member and a lever. The body has a connecting end, an operating end and a guiding hole. The guiding member is rotatably and movably inserted through the guiding hole and is movable relative to the guiding hole between a first position and a second position. The guiding member has a pushing end, an inlet end and an air passage extending from the pushing end to the inlet end and communicating with the guiding hole. The lever is pivotally mounted to the operating end to selectively abut against the guiding member in a unlock position and a lock position, and the lever is configured to actuate the guiding member to move relative to the guiding hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Scott Wu
  • Patent number: 12209671
    Abstract: A valve device includes a housing, a stationary valve and a drive valve. The stationary valve is placed in a fluid passage of the housing. The stationary valve forms a first passage, which conducts fluid, and a penetrating chamber which penetrates through the stationary valve in the axial direction. The drive valve is placed on one axial side of the stationary valve in the fluid passage and forms a second passage which conducts the fluid. The drive valve communicates the second passage to the first passage through rotation of the drive valve. The housing has a bottom portion that covers the penetrating chamber from another axial side. An upstream passage of the fluid passage, which is located on an upstream side of the drive valve and the stationary valve in a flow direction of the fluid, is communicated with the penetrating chamber through a communication passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Asano, Ryo Sano, Atsushi Tanaka, Takehito Mizunuma, Takuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 12203559
    Abstract: A gate valve comprises a valve body including a cavity and a flow bore with a flow axis. A gate in the cavity is movable along a stem axis between an open and closed position. A first seat is in a first pocket of the body on one side of the gate. An upstream seal is disposed between upstream opposing faces of the first seat and the first pocket, these upstream opposing faces being parallel to the bore axis, and the upstream seal is configured to prevent fluid moving axially from the flow bore toward the gate. A downstream seal is disposed between downstream opposing faces of the first seat and the first pocket, these downstream opposing faces being perpendicular to the bore axis, and the downstream seal is configured to prevent fluid moving from the cavity toward the flow bore in a direction perpendicular to the bore axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Sayatva, LLC
    Inventors: Gayathri Srinivasa Ragavan, S. Hari Vignesh
  • Patent number: 12194268
    Abstract: In one aspect, a valve includes an interior channel for permitting a fluid to flow through the valve and an opening to the interior channel, the opening including a circular portion and a tapered portion adjacent the circular portion, the tapered portion having a maximum width that is less than a diameter of the circular portion, wherein the valve is rotatable about a central axis of the valve to adjust a position of a cross-sectional area of the opening with respect to a cross-sectional area of an inlet fluid line positioned to deliver the fluid to the rotary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon F. Moss, Bert D. Egley
  • Patent number: 12180058
    Abstract: Extraction valve 100 includes main body section 10, first inflow port portion 11a, second inflow port portion 12a, extraction section 12, first flow path 11b, second flow path 12b, first valve body 13 and second valve body 14, push-in bar 15, and cock 18 connected to an end of push-in bar 15 and used to rotate push-in bar 15. One or both of first valve body 13 and second valve body 14 are moved back and forth on the basis of the rotation of push-in bar 15, and first flow path 11b is opened and closed by the back-and-forth movement of first valve body 13 and second flow path 12b is opened and closed by the back-and-forth movement of second valve body 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: NITTOKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisaaki Gomi
  • Patent number: 12181063
    Abstract: A two-piece valve shell (body and bolted-on top bonnet) structure reduces possible leakage paths while also providing a top-side ball/stem installation/removal path (when the bonnet piece is not present) to facilitate initial valve assembly as well as subsequent inspection/removal of the ball/stem and other valve internals for conducting valve maintenance without requiring the valve body to be removed from its process connections. Internal wetted valve surfaces are coated with tantalum to provide a tantalum ball valve suitable for use as a sulfuric acid feed valve in severe high-temperature high-pressure industrial processes such as HPAL processes. Sealing cavities created by spaced-apart body-to-bonnet and/or stem-to-bonnet sealing structures can be inertly pressurized to hermetically isolate the sealing structures from ingress/leakage of corrosive process materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: VELAN INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Hervé François Lourdel, Michel Sylvain Mario Paquin, Fadila Khelfaoui, Luc David Vernhes, Vinh Van Nguyen, Duc Thanh Tran
  • Patent number: 12161071
    Abstract: A pressure regulator valve for regulating pressures within a portion of an irrigation system, can also be used to shut off downstream flow into the portion of the irrigation system in response to an incoming command arriving via an incoming port into the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: NETAFIM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bar Gazit, Gad Peleg
  • Patent number: 12140238
    Abstract: A valve assembly structured to reduce the volume of water along a path of fluid flow of a water supply line, including a valve body having a stabilizing chamber, a receiving chamber, and a valve member disposed therein. The valve member is disposable between an open orientation and a closed orientation relative to fluid flow between the stabilizing and receiving chambers. A biasing structure is disposed to normally bias said valve member into the closed orientation and is configured to exert a predetermined biasing force on said valve member. A transfer passage is disposed in fluid communication with and between the stabilizing and receiving chambers and is configured to define and direct a decreased volume of fluid flow, at an increased water pressure, on said valve member, wherein the increased water pressure is greater than the predetermined biasing force and sufficient to dispose the valve member in the open orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Bocos, Juan Carlos Bocos Vilar
  • Patent number: 12134943
    Abstract: A kelly valve for placement in a tubular drillstring has an inner cage, which holds a valve ball, lower valve ball seat and other valve components. A valve stem connected to the valve ball extends through a valve stem sleeve, positioned in an opening in the wall of the main body of the kelly valve. A thrust bearing of a low friction material, preferably of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), is positioned between the valve stem and the valve stem sleeve. A port in the valve ball seat permits pressure below the kelly valve to bypass a seal and act on the inside of the valve ball. A circumferential notch in the valve ball seat accommodates a circular spring, and prevents complete compression of the spring when the valve ball seat contacts an interior shoulder in the inner cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: M&M INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Tripp Cappel Staples, Shaun Paul Montet, Juan Carlos Hincapie
  • Patent number: 12098775
    Abstract: A valve assembly with a valve body, which has a fluid passage designed as a fluid inlet and at least one fluid passage designed as a fluid outlet, is disclosed. A fluid chamber connecting the fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet is formed in the valve body. A movably mounted closing body is positioned in the fluid chamber. The closing body is guided axially and/or radially by at least one guide ball. The at least one guide ball is arranged between the closing body and a lateral delimitation of the fluid chamber. A fluid passage is formed in the radial direction of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lechler, Jens Norberg, Patrick Schellnegger
  • Patent number: 12066118
    Abstract: A check valve assembly includes a body, a valve assembly configured to engage a port of the check valve assembly, and a handle integrally formed with the body and extending from a substantially cylindrical exterior surface thereof. The handle includes a first vertical support member having a first interior surface, a second vertical support member having a second interior surface, and a horizontal support member that has a third interior surface and extends between the first and second vertical support members. The first, second, and third internal surfaces, and the exterior surface of the body member, define a handle aperture. The first and second interior surfaces of the handle aperture are configured to accommodate first and second bolts of a pipe flange fitting extending through the handle aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Moncur, Paul M. Gutmann, Jon T. Stone
  • Patent number: 12055231
    Abstract: A blast gate has a branch dust connector, a main duct connector, and a gate. The branch duct connector has a first tubular portion. The main duct connector is stably connected with the branch duct connector and has a second tubular portion, an inside surface, and a leak-proof protrusion. The inside surface faces the branch duct connector, and the leak-proof protrusion protrudes from the inside surface of the main duct connector and has a protrusion opening communicating with an interior of the second tubular portion. The gate is configured to slide in contact with the leak-proof protrusion to make an interior of the first tubular portion and the protrusion opening isolated from or communicate with each other. The blast gate reduces possibility of formation of gaps between the gate and the main duct connector and thus reduces possibility of air loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventor: Hui-Chuan Liao
  • Patent number: 12055232
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the driven shaft in torque transfer engagement, the insulating layer providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lukasz Turek, Piotr Zajac, Modest Adam Reszewicz
  • Patent number: 12044334
    Abstract: A step-adjustment mechanism for use in a hydraulic pressure adjustment block of a transmission, the step-adjustment mechanism including at least one opening. The opening is in fluid communication with the transmission and a torque converter. The step-adjustment mechanism has a first and second position to selectively restrict fluid flow between the transmission and the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventor: Carl W. Rossler
  • Patent number: 12044338
    Abstract: This coupling element has a body and a nozzle. The body delimits a housing for partially receiving the nozzle. The nozzle has a tubular part and a flange received in the housing. Two sealing barriers formed by at least one sealing joint are interposed between a rear surface of the flange and a front face of the body, between a front surface of the flange and a rear face of the body, respectively. A plug caps an inner conduit. Portions of the inner conduit communicate through at least one passage opening into an inner volume of the nozzle, forward of the plug, and on an outer peripheral surface of the flange. An inner chamber is separated from the inner conduit by the body, the flange, the plug and the first sealing barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: STAUBLI FAVERGES
    Inventors: Christophe Durieux, Serafim Marques Barroca
  • Patent number: 12038091
    Abstract: A rotary valve includes a stator member with a planar stator face, the stator member having a plurality of stator channels for conducting a fluid; and a rotor member with a planar rotor face facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member having a rotor channel; wherein the rotor member is rotatable with respect to the stator member about a rotation axis, such that in a conducting position, the rotor channel interconnects two of the stator channels and the two stator channels are in fluid communication; wherein at least one of the stator channels has a transverse channel section opening into the stator face and running transversely with respect to the rotation axis; wherein the rotor channel has a bottom, which at an intersection end of the rotor channel is inclined with respect to the rotation axis, such that the rotor channel elongates an inner surface of the stator channel, when the rotor member is in the conducting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Anthony Donetz, Michael Kennedy
  • Patent number: 12038095
    Abstract: A backwater gate valve assembly having a gate valve movable between a closed position where the gate occludes an outlet opening and an open position where the gate valve does not occlude the outlet opening. The gate valve is coupled to a motorized actuator that is configured to move the gate valve between the open and closed positions upon sensing of a predetermined level of water in the body of the backwater gate valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Smith Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Anthony Stanaland, Stephen Jerald McDanal
  • Patent number: 12018766
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modular linear actuated valve having a lower body module that can interface with an interchangeable upper linear actuator module being at least one of a mechanical linear actuator module and a fluid linear actuator module. The invention includes a quick disconnect between the body module and any of the actuator modules. An actuator assembly on the selected actuator module can be coupled to the valve stem on the lower body module using a quick disconnect segment on the actuator module and a reciprocal quick disconnect segment on the body module. A valve can be quickly converted into a mechanical linear actuated valve or a fluid linear actuator valve, simplifying manufacturing and stocking, and providing a faster response to customer orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: FALCONVIEW ENERGY PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Hernani G. Deocampo, Dean Madell