Patents Examined by Marina Tietjen
  • Patent number: 10488232
    Abstract: A rotameter includes a rotameter body including an inlet, an outlet, and a flow channel that provides fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. A valve for controlling fluid flow through the inlet includes an actuator rotatable about a first axis. The actuator includes worm gear threads. The valve also includes a valve drive element rotatable about a second axis that extends transverse to the first axis. The valve drive element includes worm gear teeth that mate with the worm gear threads on the actuator so that rotation of the actuator about the first axis imparts rotation of the valve drive element about the second axis. The valve drive element further includes first screw threads that rotate with the valve drive element about the second axis. The first screw threads are configured and arranged to mate with and engage second screw threads to cause linear movement of a valve component along the second axis in response to rotation of the valve drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: DWYER INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Austin Moss, Marcus A. Thoreson
  • Patent number: 10274101
    Abstract: A handle assembly is provided for an outlet valve of a tank car wherein the outlet valve has a valve stem rotatable about an axis and is operative to open and close the outlet valve. The handle assembly includes a valve handle for manually opening the outlet valve, a rotatable shaft coupled to the handle, and a coupling coupled to the outlet valve and selectively coupleable to the shaft. A valve rotation control structure includes a first movement control component on one of the coupling and the shaft. The valve rotation control structure is configured to permit the coupling or shaft to move parallel to the axis of the valve stem between a first locked position and a second rotatable position and to rotate about the axis of the valve stem between a first valve closed position and a second valve open position at the second rotatable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SALCO PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Vedran Dzolovic, David Clugg, Lawrence McMullin, James McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 10273789
    Abstract: A bypass plunger combines a unitary or one-piece hollow body-and-valve cage, retains a dart valve within the valve cage portion of the hollow body using a threaded retaining nut secured by crimple detents. A series of helical grooves surround the central portion of the outer surface of the hollow body of the plunger to control spin during descent. A canted-coil-spring disposed within the retaining nut functions as a clutch. The valve cage includes ports that may be configured to control flow through the plunger during ascent. Other embodiments include clutch assemblies using canted-coil springs with split bobbins, and valve stems surfaced to achieve specific functions. Combinations of these features provide enhanced performance, durability and reliability at reduced manufacturing cost, due primarily to the simplicity of its design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: FlowCo Production Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Garrett S. Boyd, Mitchell A. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10269600
    Abstract: Methods and gas flow control assemblies configured to deliver gas to process chamber zones in desired flow ratios. In some embodiments, assemblies include one or more MFCs and a back pressure controller (BPC). Assemblies includes a controller, a process gas supply, a distribution manifold, a pressure sensor coupled to the distribution manifold and configured to sense back pressure of the distribution manifold, a process chamber, a one or more mass flow controllers connected between the distribution manifold and process chamber to control gas flow there between, and a back pressure controller provided in fluid parallel relationship to the one or more mass flow controllers, wherein precise flow ratio control is achieved. Alternate embodiment include an upstream pressure controller configured to control flow of carrier gas to control back pressure. Further methods and assemblies for controlling zonal gas flow ratios are described, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Brashear, Ashley M. Okada, Dennis L. Demars, Zhiyuan Ye, Jaidev Rajaram, Marcel E. Josephson
  • Patent number: 10247312
    Abstract: A disposable device for the sterile transfer of fluids, such as liquids or gases, includes a body, a bore formed through at least a portion of the interior of the body, and a linearly moveable plunger contained within the bore. The body is formed from a rotating section and a stationary section. Partial rotation of the rotating section around a portion of the stationary section and the plunger drives the plunger linearly within the bore, opening and closing the device. The plunger includes at least a first and a second opening, and a fluid channel in the interior of the plunger connecting the first and second openings forming a fluid pathway to downstream components when the device is open. A termination component at one end of the plunger connects to a downstream component. A flange at one end of the body attaches to an upstream component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Hartnett, Alf Lofving, Lars Hultquist, Jan Davidsson, Lennart Myhrberg
  • Patent number: 10234050
    Abstract: A check valve is provided which comprises a casing having a fluid passage, a valve seat member disposed in the fluid passage, and a valve element housing with a valve element disposed therein. The valve seat member has a valve seat surface on an end surface facing downstream. The valve element housing is a discrete member separate from the valve seat member and detachably secured to a downstream end portion of the same. The valve element is displaceable between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: NITTO KOHKI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Nishio, Hidetoshi Nohara, Hirofumi Onishi
  • Patent number: 10227144
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle for supplying pressurized air to an aircraft, the vehicle being configured to tow the aircraft during its movements on the ground and including a pneumatic supply system configured to supply pressurized air to the aircraft, the pneumatic supply system being manually connectable to a high-pressure connector of the aircraft and remotely disconnectable from the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Didier Gendre, Kevin Goburdhun, Alexandre Fouillot
  • Patent number: 10228072
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve stem having a shaft and including first and second poppet members with a seal portion extending radially outward from the shaft and disposed on the shaft between the poppet members. The valve further includes a valve body having a valve bore within which the valve stem is disposed for reciprocating axial movement and includes first and second ports that defining passageways through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of the valve bore. The valve body further includes first and second valve seats against which the first and second poppet members selectively seal with the seal portion being in sealing engagement with the valve bore between the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Humphrey Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tinholt, Marc R. Larson
  • Patent number: 10228063
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a valve including a body, a valve element arranged within the body to selectively inhibit flow through the body, and a seal assembly that includes a gasket, a cutter seat, and a retaining ring. The cutter seat includes a cutter that is arranged to cut the body gasket during installation. A two-plane seal is formed by cutting the body gasket between the retaining ring and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Heidt Matthews, III, Kevin Lewis Swicegood
  • Patent number: 10228073
    Abstract: A rotary spring-return actuator operator is provided with a multi-slot shaft and a clock type spring retained by a retaining band which encircles the spring in such a manner as to insure that the potential energy within the spring is safely contained during all operations requiring disassembly of the actuator assembly, and wherein the retaining band facilitates the in-field reversal of the spring direction or the adjustment of the spring preload by securing the spring to one or more of the slots on the multi-slot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick Rand Underwood, Jr., Frederick Rand Underwood, III, Kenneth Earl Price
  • Patent number: 10220395
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a water stop device, wherein comprising: a main body, a transmitting element and a sealing element; the main body is disposed with an inlet passage, a diversion passage and a confluence passage in the axial direction in order; the diversion passage is connected to the confluence passage by a normal-open hole; one end of the sealing element is coupled to the transmitting element in transmitting way, such that the sealing element moves between a first position and a second position along the axial direction of the confluence passage; the diversion passage is connected to the confluence passage when the sealing element is situated in the first position; the sealing element closes the confluence passage when the sealing element is situated in the second position. The present invention can occupy small space such to decrease the diameter of the inlet pipe efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengde Lin, Hailang Gong, Mingfu Zhang, Wenxing Chen
  • Patent number: 10221814
    Abstract: A valve device for a motor vehicle includes: a housing; a flow duct situated in the housing; and a flap arranged in the flow duct to close off the flow duct, the flap having regions in which a shaft penetrating the flap is fastened. The shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing and a valve seat is arranged in the flow duct, the valve seat being in contact with the flap in the closed position thereof. At least one portion of the flow duct adjacent to the valve seat has a cross section smaller than the inside diameter of the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sybille Montigny, Joachim von Willich, Peter Kohlen
  • Patent number: 10215140
    Abstract: A fuel control valve assembly that includes a ball bearing assembly and retainer assembly for a mixture control valve assembly and idle control valve assembly in use with general aviation fuel injector servos is disclosed. The assembly desirably reduces friction and wear on the components of the fuel control valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Turn and Bank Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen, Timothy Henderson
  • Patent number: 10203061
    Abstract: Installing a fluid regulator in a fluid distribution system by: determining the position and orientation of the fluid regulator in the fluid distribution system; determining if a first opening and/or a second opening in the body of the regulator, are accessible with the fluid regulator in the determined position and orientation; installing the slam-shut device in the first opening, if accessible, and securing a plate over the second opening; and installing the fluid regulator in the fluid distribution system. The first and second openings are dimensioned such that the slam-shut device can be secured at least partially within the first opening in a first configuration and can be secured at least partially within the second opening in a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: G. Glynn Crutsinger, Chun Lin, Horatiu P. Tripon
  • Patent number: 10197183
    Abstract: Example valve stem and plug connections and example staking tools are described herein. An example apparatus includes a valve plug having a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a bore extending from the first side to the second side. A first portion of the bore is tapered from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A valve stem is disposed within the bore of the valve plug. The valve stem includes a first section, a second section and a third section between the first and second sections. The third section is tapered from a third diameter to a fourth diameter smaller than the third diameter. The tapers of the first portion of the valve plug and the third section of the valve stem, when engaged, create a frictional force that resists movement of the valve stem out of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Paul Taylor Alman
  • Patent number: 10197045
    Abstract: A safety device that is useful to release load on a spring found in an actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can have a housing comprising a pair of housing members and a fastening device coupling the pair of housing members to one another. The embodiment can also have an output shaft extending longitudinally in the housing, the output shaft having an end configured to couple with a process device. The embodiment may also have a spring coupled with the output shaft. The embodiment can further have a safety device coupled to the spring and configured to operate to reduce loading of the spring from a first load to a second load. In one example, the safety device is in position to prevent access to the fastening device at the first load and to allow access to the fastening device at the second load so that the pair of housing members can separate to allow access to the spring in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt Douglas Regenbrecht
  • Patent number: 10190295
    Abstract: The faucet includes a detector including: a frequency analyzer to convert a sensor signal into a frequency domain signal, and extract, by use of a group of individual filter banks with different frequency bands, signals of the individual filter banks from the frequency domain signal; a recognizer; and a database device, for storing sample data. The recognizer performs a recognition process of detecting a detection object based on detection data containing a frequency distribution of signals based on the signals of the individual filter banks. The recognizer performs the recognition process based on comparison between the detection data and the sample data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugino
  • Patent number: 10190432
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly is operable to seal a gap between a diaphragm and a rotor of a turbine. A brush seal assembly includes: a brush configured to have one end inserted into one side of a diaphragm and the other end protruding toward a rotor; a support strip configured to support one side of the brush; and a back plate configured to support one side of the support strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Mahmut Faruk Aksit
  • Patent number: 10184576
    Abstract: A pressure control valve has a housing including a valve seat and defining a fluid path therein, a valve body including a support member and a valve member, and a spring biasing the valve body toward the valve seat in a valve closing direction. The valve member is an integrated molding including a seal member and a reinforcement member that reinforces the seal member. The seal member is made from a rubber-like elastic material and includes a seal portion that is configured to be seated on the valve seat. The reinforcement member is engaged with the support member without using a separate member such as adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiaki Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 10184567
    Abstract: A butterfly valve has a housing that has an annular valve seat and a butterfly disk that has an annular valve seat. At least one of the valve seats is a spring seat that has an annular mounting portion and an axially opposite annular engagement portion. The engagement portion is configured to contact the other valve seat and resiliently deform radially under hoop stress caused by the contact as the butterfly disk moves to the closed position. The engagement portion is connected to the main body of the respective one of housing or the butterfly disk by the mounting portion. The mounting portion is attached to the main body of the respective one of housing or the butterfly disk in a manner such that the mounting portion can articulate relative to the main body of the respective one of housing or the butterfly disk as the engagement portion resiliently deforms radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas A. Hartman