Patents Examined by Nicole Gardner
  • Patent number: 11976788
    Abstract: A compressed air production facility that reduces an extension cost without stopping an operating air compressor in a case of increasing the number of air compressors to cope with an increase in demands for compressed air is provided. A compressed air system supplies compressed air to compressed air consuming devices connected to a compressed air distributions line, the compressed air system including a plurality of air compressor units connected to the compressed air distributions line via respective air tanks. Each of the air compressor units includes: an air compressor main body; an adjustor of pressure setpoint that adjusts a pressure setpoint of an air tank to which the air compressor unit including the adjustor of pressure setpoint is connected; and a controller of air compressor that operates a rotational frequency of the air compressor main body on the basis of the pressure setpoint adjusted by the adjustor of pressure setpoint and a pressure of the air tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Koizumi, Mitsuhiro Imai
  • Patent number: 11976733
    Abstract: A valve subassembly includes a body plug, a poppet, and a seat carrier. The body plug includes a tubular side wall defining a central cavity and one or more lateral flow apertures in the side wall. The poppet includes axially extending upper and lower stem portions and a radially extending poppet sealing portion between the upper and lower stem portions, with the lower stem portion and the poppet sealing portion being received in the central cavity of the body plug. The seat carrier is assembled with the body plug and includes a central bore receiving the upper stem portion of the poppet therethrough, the seat carrier retaining a seat seal in radial alignment with the poppet sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen James Franklin
  • Patent number: 11964811
    Abstract: A liquid storage tank includes a housing, a piston located in the housing, a cover, an elastic element, and an outlet pipe. The cover is attached to the housing and has a support post extending toward the piston. The piston, the housing, and the cover define a tank chamber. The tank chamber is filled with cooling liquid. The elastic element is connected with the tank hosing and the piston. The elastic element is free from contact with the cooling liquid. The outlet pipe communicates with the tank chamber. An extension direction of an opening of the outlet pipe is not parallel to a direction of movement of the elastic element. When the cooling liquid is decreased, the piston compressed the tank chamber such that the elastic element is released. The tank chamber is continuously compressed by pairing the elastic element and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Jei Huang, Wei-Fang Wu, Chia-Ying Hsu, Chih-Chieh Lu
  • Patent number: 11959556
    Abstract: A gas pressure relief valve assembly with a normally closed check valve received in a main body. An actuator pin slidably received in a guide body threadably carried by the main body may be advanced to open the check valve and retracted to permit the check valve to close. A knob connected to the actuator pin and threadably carried by the guide body may be manually rotated in opposite directions to advance and retract the actuator pin. Rotary loosening of the threaded knob and/or loosening of the threaded guide body will retract the actuator pin and prevent opening of the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: DADCO, Inc.
    Inventor: David John Gretka, II
  • Patent number: 11953118
    Abstract: Valve systems and related methods include at least one component comprising a conductive material and at least one inductance-to-digital converter (LDC) configured to wirelessly sense a position of the portion of the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Flowserve Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: William T. Dolenti
  • Patent number: 11940048
    Abstract: A valve device includes a body that defines a passage through which a fluid flows, a shaft that is movably supported with respect to the body and defines an axis, a valve element that is fixed to the shaft to open and close the passage; and a cylindrical bearing bush that movably supports the shaft with respect to the body, in which the bearing bush includes a mixed region in which a metal core material and expanded graphite are mixed with each other, and a first expanded graphite region made of only the expanded graphite such that the metal core material is not exposed in an inner circumferential side region in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ishii, Makoto Koyama, Daisuke Takayama
  • Patent number: 11933435
    Abstract: A high-pressure gas tank connection structure including: a tank main body; a tank side connector; a connection side connector; and a valve body, the valve body being provided further toward a deep side along the axial direction of the tank main body than the tank side connector, the valve body being urged toward the connection side connector, and, in a case in which the valve body is pushed by a distal end of the convex portion in a state in which the convex portion is joined with the concave portion, the valve body being opened from a closed state, and communicating the interior of the tank main body with the exterior to the tank main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Sawai
  • Patent number: 11898647
    Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly includes: a butterfly element configured to control fluid flow through a main conduit; and a butterfly controller configured to control the butterfly element. The controller includes a first chamber for receiving fluid at a first pressure, a second chamber for receiving fluid at a second pressure, and an actuator responsive to the first pressure and the second pressure. The assembly also includes a relief valve arranged to regulate the first pressure in the first chamber within a predetermined pressure range, wherein the relief valve comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the predetermined pressure range. The butterfly valve assembly may comprise a manual override operable to lock the butterfly element in a fully open position or a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giacomo Mezzino, Gianfranco Salvatoriello
  • Patent number: 11852169
    Abstract: Pistons and related methods may be configured to separate fluids and to at least partially prohibit one fluid from traveling to one side of the piston from another side of the piston. Pressure exchange devices and systems may include such pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FLOWSERVE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Norman R. Le Doux, Jr., Jason Bandi, Neil Havrilla, David Olexson, Andreas Dreiss
  • Patent number: 11852300
    Abstract: A hydrogen refueling station evaluation device includes a socket that is supplied with hydrogen, a hydrogen tank that stores the hydrogen supplied through the socket, and a discharge pipeline that discharges hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the atmosphere. A discharge valve adjusts open and closed states of the discharge pipeline. A tank protection valve achieves a state in which the socket and the hydrogen tank are connected to each other, a state in which the socket and the discharge pipeline are connected to each other and the hydrogen tank is closed, and a state in which all of the socket, the hydrogen tank, and the discharge pipe are connected to one another. A gas supplier supplies an inert gas to the socket and a controller operates the tank protection valve, the discharge valve, and the gas supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Aeun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11835181
    Abstract: A pressure evacuation device for a compressed gas cylinder having a fixed assembly that is semi-permanently attached to an opening in the cylinder and comprises a retractable bleed valve, and a detachable assembly that can be readily attached to and detached from the fixed assembly and comprises a valve stem to control the bleed valve and a valve tee to direct the flow of gas from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Westem Valve Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Hatfield, Steve K. Aderholt
  • Patent number: 11828382
    Abstract: A regulator includes a valve body and a control element movable between a closed position, in which the control element engages a valve seat, and an open position, in which the control element is spaced away from the valve seat. A stem is operatively coupled to the control element and is axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the valve body. An indicator assembly is at least partially disposed in the valve body and is operatively coupled to the stem. The indicator assembly includes a rod operatively coupled to the stem and an indicator operatively coupled to the rod. The indicator is arranged to display a position of the control element. The rod of the indicator assembly is movable by the stem between a first position when the control element is in the closed position, and a second position when the control element is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: FISHER JEON GAS EQUIPMENT (CHENGDU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Biao Zhou, Yanwei Lei, Dan Liu, Chongyang Xiao
  • Patent number: 11821560
    Abstract: A fluid manifold apparatus, in particular a water distribution apparatus, comprises a fluid chamber, at least one fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets, and a manifold unit, including a plurality of valve units for closing the fluid outlets and a camshaft supported to be rotatable about a rotary axis, comprising a plurality of lobes for operating the valve units, wherein each of the valve units has a cam follower and a sealing unit, and the lobes of the camshaft are provided to lift the cam followers of the valve units as a function of a rotary position of the camshaft. Each of the cam followers has a receiver for receiving one sealing unit, wherein the sealing units are arranged to be linearly moveable in the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Häuser, Christian Schmid, Robert Rottweiler, Vladimir Popov, Alexander Zwetkow
  • Patent number: 11821528
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a valve assembly having a ring gear, an array of first rotary valve bodies, an array of second rotary valve bodies, and a sealing plate. Each of the first rotary valve bodies includes at least one first flow path formed therethrough and each of the second rotary valve bodies includes at least one second flow path formed therethrough. The sealing plate includes a plurality of flow openings formed axially therethrough with each of the flow openings configured to provide fluid communication between one of the first flow paths of the array of first rotary valve bodies and one of the second flow paths of the array of second rotary valve bodies. Rotation of the ring gear causes selective rotation of the first and second rotary valve bodies to alter the flow configuration present between the arrays of the first and second rotary valve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Houssam Soubjaki
  • Patent number: 11817329
    Abstract: A chemical dispensing system is capable of simultaneously supplying a semiconductor processing chemical for production and testing through the use of independent chemical supply lines, which reduces production downtime of an associated semiconductor process, increases throughput and capability of the semiconductor process, and/or the like. Moreover, the capability to simultaneously supply the semiconductor processing chemical for production and testing allows for an increased quantity of semiconductor processing chemical batches to be tested with minimal impact to production, which increases quality control over the semiconductor processing chemical. In addition, the independent chemical supply lines may be used to supply the semiconductor processing chemical to production while independently filtering semiconductor processing chemical directly from a storage drum through a filtration loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Hsu, Yung-Long Chen, Fang-Pin Chiang, Feng-An Yang, Ching-Jung Hsu, Chi-Tung Lai
  • Patent number: 11788646
    Abstract: A three-way (3-way) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based micro-valve device and method of fabrication for the implementation of a three-way MEMS-based micro-valve which uses a single piezoelectric actuator. The present invention has a wide range of applications including medical, industrial control, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and products, as well as any application(s) requiring the use of three-way micro-valves for the control of fluids. The present invention allows for the implementation of a three-way microvalve device and method of fabrication that can be tailored to the requirements of a wide range of applications and fluid types. The microvalve may employ a novel pressure-balancing scheme wherein the fluid pressure balances the actuator mechanism so that only a small amount of actuation pressure (or force) is needed to switch the state of the actuator and device from open to closed, or closed to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Corporation for National Research Initiatives
    Inventor: Michael Huff
  • Patent number: 11781657
    Abstract: A valve (1) is introduced for a heat pump system in a motor vehicle, with at least one inlet (3), at least two outlets (2, 4) and a valve element (7) which comprises at least one throughlet (8) and at least one expansion recess (9) that can be brought into fluidic connection with at least one outlet (2, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Daniel Zens, Toni Spies, Marc Graaf, Dominik Wiechard, Markus Herzog, Corinne Le Pellec
  • Patent number: 11761546
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling flow of water to a shower head includes a tube, which is insertable between and attachable to an inlet pipe for a shower enclosure and a shower head. A valve positioned in the tube regulates a flow of water through the tube. A shaft is attached the valve and extends through a sidewall of the tube and a housing. A biaser positioned in the housing is operationally engaged to the shaft and biases the valve to an open configuration. A lever arm is attached to and extends from the shaft. A handle is attached to the lever arm distal from the shaft. The handle can be moved by a user from a first position to a second position, thus actuating the biaser to rotate the valve from a closed configuration to the open configuration so that water flows through the tube to the shower head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Peter Schmookler
  • Patent number: 11761178
    Abstract: Provided is an enclosure with an integrated hydrant. The enclosure includes a fluid flow conduit that transfers fluid from a fluid supply tube to a fluid outlet, which may be associated with the backflow preventer. The enclosure has a conduit that carries water from the fluid supply tube to the backflow preventer. Thus, a lower profile, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing enclosure is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Eric Pilarczyk
  • Patent number: 11746619
    Abstract: A traveling relief valve for down-hole use in a well. In one embodiment, the traveling relief valve comprises a seat, a screw, a seal, a carrier, a spring, and a ported tube, where the traveling relief valve is configured to include a first flow interface between the seat and the carrier for flow when the well is producing, and a second flow interface between the seal and the carrier for back-flow in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Jason Williams, Daniel Brewer, Patrick R. McCarthy