Patents Examined by Minh Q Le
  • Patent number: 10794264
    Abstract: A coolant tank includes: a tank main body configured to store a coolant discharged from a processing machine; a vortex flow generator that creates a vortex flow of the coolant in the tank main body; and a float configured to float on a liquid surface of the coolant stored in the tank main body. An outer peripheral portion of the float has a shape conforming to a shape of an inner peripheral wall surface of the tank main body and forming a gap between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10794498
    Abstract: An igniter 40 activated blocking device 10 blocks a fluid line 4 adapted to carry fluid. The blocking device 10 has a housing 30 disposed about the fluid line, a piston 20 housed in the housing, and an igniter 40 that when activated propels the piston 20 to block the fluid line 4. The igniter 40 generates a shock wave to move the piston 20 to block the line. The piston 20 crushes or squeezes a portion of the line 4 to close the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Volkmann, Martin Pieruch, Heiko Struss
  • Patent number: 10794511
    Abstract: A flow control valve including a main valve and a pilot valve for controlling a piston of the main valve. The valve maybe controlled through a control system based o{circumflex over (?)}pn measured pressures or temperatures in a system supplied or controlled by the valve. The valve may be operated as a pressure independent control valve, using pressure measurement from a supply line and exit line or return line of a hydronic HVAC system as inputs to the control system, which is operable to maintain a constant pressure drop across the system, or the valve may be operated as a temperature independent control valve, using temperature measurements from a supply line and exit line or return line of a hydronic HVAC system as inputs to the control system which is operable to maintain a constant temperature drop across the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Griswold Controls, LLC
    Inventor: Stefan I. Tuineag
  • Patent number: 10788062
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards electro-fluid transducers that may influence the flow of a fluid in and around a channel. In one such embodiment, a system comprises a first electrode at least partially encapsulated by a first dielectric; a second electrode at least partially encapsulated by a second dielectric, wherein a portion of a channel exists between the first dielectric and the second dielectric; a third electrode positioned in the channel; and a fourth electrode positioned in the channel, wherein the electrodes influence a flow of a fluid in the channel upon the electrodes being energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Subrata Roy, Nicholas S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 10788846
    Abstract: An active surge chamber for use in a paint supply system comprising a paint channel, a fluid chamber connected to a pressurised fluid supply, a diaphragm, a spring, and means responsive to movement of the diaphragm for effecting connection and disconnection of the pressurised fluid supply to the fluid chamber and for relieving pressure of fluid in the chamber. The paint channel is sealingly separated from the fluid chamber by the diaphragm. The spring has a spring rate such that the force exerted on the diaphragm by the spring restricts movement of the diaphragm over a selected range of pump outlet pressures in order to attenuate the movement of the diaphragm and reduce the susceptibility of the system to unwanted oscillation. Pressure fluctuations in a paint flow induced by usage of a reciprocating pump upstream of the active surge chamber are minimised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Anthony Rogers
  • Patent number: 10787231
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses are provided for the reduction of hydrodynamic frictional drag. These systems, methods and apparatuses can include a vessel surface having an external layer and a plurality of dimples, wherein the external layer comprises a hydrophilic material, and wherein each of the dimples includes an inner surface having a superhydrophobic coating. The dimples can be configured to maintain an air-water interface as one or more fluids flow over the vessel surface. In some embodiments, a pressure reservoir can be coupled with the dimples, and can include an acoustic speaker to vibrate the air-water interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Cong Wang, David Jeon, Morgane Grivel, Francisco Pereira, Morteza Gharib
  • Patent number: 10781938
    Abstract: The application relates to a valve for a line system, comprising a valve body which forms a valve seat, a line system with a supply line for supplying a fluid to the valve seat and with a discharge line for discharging the fluid from the valve seat, which fluid is under a supply pressure in the supply line and under a working pressure in the discharge line, a closing element which interacts with the valve seat for opening and closing the line system, which closing element releases a throttle cross section between the valve seat and the closing element, a restoring element which applies a restoring force on the closing element, which restoring force presses the closing element against the valve seat in order to close the line system, and a pressure chamber in which the fluid is under a closing pressure to close the line system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Kendrion (Villingen) GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ohnmacht, Wolfram Maiwald, Wolfgang Burk, Stefan Barth
  • Patent number: 10774848
    Abstract: A neutral valve includes a spool inserted in a housing so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, the spool configured to move to a neutral position set such that a first and second port are connected to each other through a valve passage, a first offset position located at neutral position's first side in the predetermined direction and set such that second port and valve passage are disconnected from each other, and a second offset position located at neutral position's second side in the predetermined direction and set such that first port and valve passage are disconnected from each other. The spool's outer peripheral portion includes a first pressure receiving surface receiving first port's fluid pressure to be pushed toward the first side in the predetermined direction and a second pressure receiving surface receiving second port's fluid pressure to be pushed toward second side in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 10767778
    Abstract: A servo valve comprising first and second nozzles and first and second piezoelectric actuators arranged to control fluid flow through the first and second nozzles respectively. A first fluid flow path is defined between the first nozzle and the first piezoelectric actuator and a second fluid flow path is defined between the second nozzle and the second piezoelectric actuator. The first and second piezoelectric actuators are arranged such that applying a voltage to the first and second piezoelectric actuators causes a change in dimension thereof, which acts to open or restrict said first and second fluid flow paths respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zbigniew Jaśkiewicz
  • Patent number: 10767779
    Abstract: A valve controller for electrically actuating at least one valve drive, with a control circuit, which is designed to influence an electric energy flow between an electric source and the valve drive and which includes a bus interface for communication with a superordinate control arrangement (2) as well as a sensor means, which is designed to determine physical variable of the energy flow changeable by electrically actuating the valve drive as well as for providing a sensor signal dependent upon the determined physical variable to the control circuit wherein the control circuit is designed to determine a status value for the valve drive based on the sensor signal and at least one characteristic value of a physical variable from the group: energy flow duration, energy flow voltage, energy flow current, fluid pressure and is designed to provide the status value to the bus interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FESTO SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Maichl, Michael Berner
  • Patent number: 10765855
    Abstract: A breaker device (1) for acting onto a closure element (40) of a medical tubing (4) comprises a drive arrangement (2) having an electric drive device (20) and a drive element (23) driven by the drive device (20), and a breaker module (3) which is arrangeable on the drive arrangement (2). The breaker module (3) comprises a housing (30), a movable part (31) movably arranged on the housing (30) and a breaking element (315) for acting onto the closure element (40) of the tubing (4), wherein the breaker module (3) in an attached state is placed on the drive arrangement (2), the drive element (23) being in operative connection with the movable part (31) in the attached state such that a movement of the drive element (23) causes the movable part (31) to move for actuating the breaking element (315). A control device (5) serves for controlling the electric drive device (20) for driving the drive element (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Brückner, Christian Hennecke
  • Patent number: 10761545
    Abstract: A passive, self-regulating valve includes a static pressure chamber and an elastically collapsible tube supported within the static pressure chamber. The elastically collapsible tube is defined by a geometry that determines an activation pressure of the valve. The passive, self-regulating valve also includes a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the elastically collapsible tube inside the static pressure chamber, as well as piping connecting a source of pressurized liquid both to the flow restrictor and to an opening into the static pressure chamber. The piping enables the flow restrictor to control flow rate of the pressurized liquid through the valve independent of the activation pressure of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the flow restrictor is a needle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Ruo-Qian Wang, Amos G. Winter, Abhijit Bhaskar Joshi, Pawel Jerzy Zimoch
  • Patent number: 10753226
    Abstract: A flat reverse vortex ring is sized and shaped to either attach to or be formed as part of a distal end of a sleeve bearing or seal. The ring has a series of evenly spaced radial channels that extend from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the ring. The channels have a depth. The ring has an upper surface with an alternating series of planar surfaces and openings located at an upper end of the channels. The ring may have an interior diameter equal to an interior diameter of the sleeve bearing or seal. The ring may have an exterior diameter equal to an exterior diameter the sleeve bearing or seal. The channels may be semi-cylindrical. The channels have a diameter and the depth is a predetermined portion of the diameter. The channels may be rectangular in cross-section with a height-to-width ratio of between 0.5 and 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Eric M. Earhart, J. Mark Darden
  • Patent number: 10753075
    Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve that has a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening, and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow. A disc contacts a diaphragm valve seat to form a seal between the disc and the diaphragm valve seat when the diaphragm assembly is in the closed position and with the relief valve closed. When the flush valve is activated, the relief valve is opened to permit a flow of water from the chamber into the fluid outlet. The opening of the relief valve relieves fluid pressure in the chamber and causes diaphragm assembly to move from the closed position to the opened position. The disc is unseated from the valve seat which permits water to pass from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the diaphragm assembly is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
  • Patent number: 10737676
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid valve which is installed in a bore of a modulator block having a first hydraulic port and a second hydraulic port to control a flow of a braking fluid. The solenoid valve can reduce the number of components by integrating the components and implement a check valve function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chung Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 10731883
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for ventilating are described. Generally, the described methods, systems, and devices may support generating subsonic air pressure waves for enhancing air ventilation, heating, and cooling applications. Specifically, a transducer device may be configured to provide air ventilation, heating, and cooling based on a generated waveform. For example, the transducer device may be coupled to a waveform generator that may generate a repeating asymmetric waveform having an attack and decay profile for generating pulses (e.g., pressure waves) that propagate outward. In some implementations, multiple transducer devices may be configured to operate synchronously with each other to further enhance the air ventilation, heating, and cooling application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Laurence Richardson, Mayank Batra, Christopher Church, Magnus Sommansson, Jonathan Tanner
  • Patent number: 10732650
    Abstract: A vacuum large-capacity electrically controlled proportional valve includes a main body having a valve bottom seat, a middle valve seat, and a guide seat and has a vacuum pressure chamber, in which a main diaphragm is arranged with an elastic element provided thereon to connect with the guide seat. A pilot discharge straight rod is fit to a center of the main diaphragm. The main body includes a master channel connected to a guide channel and a feedback channel Provided above the guide seat are a vacuum pressure electromagnetic valve, an atmospheric pressure electromagnetic valve, and a sensor. The guide seat includes a regulation channel connected to the vacuum pressure chamber. A pilot atmosphere channel is connected to a space under the main diaphragm. A first and a second vacuum destruction valve gates are provided and driven by an external atmospheric pressure for speeding up decrease of interior vacuum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN CHELIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ping-Cheng Yu, Chih-Sheng Cheng, Yu-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 10724652
    Abstract: A shut-off valve comprising a valve member received in a fluid passageway and rotatable about a rotation axis between open and closed positions, a casing mounted on the valve body and comprising a chamber, a valve actuating assembly mounted on the valve member for rotating the valve member between the open and closed positions and comprising a stem mounted on the valve member about the rotation axis, a blocking member mounted on the stem and a first biasing member configured to bias the valve actuating assembly in the closed position. The shut-off valve further comprising a biasing assembly comprising a second biasing member and a protrusion member, the protrusion member adapted for mating with the mating element of the blocking member for maintaining the valve member in the open position as pressure increases in the chamber. The valve member configured to close when pressure decreases in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Bishoff, Guy Thomas Bishoff
  • Patent number: 10718362
    Abstract: A vortex control device for modifying a vortex in a fluid stemming from a wall is disclosed. The device includes a rotatable hub disposed within an opening in the wall. The device also includes an inlet port and an outlet port in the rotatable hub. The inlet port forms a suction port to suction fluid from or about the vortex, and the outlet port forms an injection port to inject fluid into or about the vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Taira, Qiong Liu, Byungjin An, Motohiko Nohmi, Masashi Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10711908
    Abstract: A motor vehicle quick coupling for a fluid connection in a motor vehicle includes a coupling body in which a fluid line is formed through which a fluid can flow. The quick coupling has a first fluid interface which is designed such that the quick coupling can be connected directly to a fluid-conducting component of the motor vehicle, in particular to a radiator, such that the component supports the quick coupling. The quick coupling has a second fluid interface which is fluidically connected to the first fluid interface via the fluid line. The quick coupling includes a valve which has a valve closure element that extends into the fluid line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Danner