Patents Examined by Nicole Gardner
  • Patent number: 10043681
    Abstract: A fluid supply system includes a pressure tank configured to contain a pressurized gas and a fluid, a delivery point configured to be connected to a point of use, a recirculation piping connecting the pressure tank to the delivery point, and a return pump connected to the recirculation piping. The recirculation piping defines a circulation path for the fluid from the pressure tank through the delivery point and back to the pressure tank. The return pump is downstream of the delivery point and upstream of the pressure tank in the circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Jung Hsu, Yung-Ti Hung, Chun-Feng Hsu, Nan-Peng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10018269
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly is disposed in a bore of a valve body where the bore includes a plurality of ports. The solenoid assembly includes a bushing or sleeve disposed in the bore. The sleeve has at least one slot that is aligned with at least one of the plurality of ports. A valve is slidably disposed within the sleeve. A solenoid has a movable armature configured to move the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kelly E. Eber, Todd R. Berger, Christopher G. Benson
  • Patent number: 10000913
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout; a sprayhead that is moveable relative to the spout between a docked position and an undocked position; a magnet associated with the spout and having a bore; and a magnetically responsive collar associated with the sprayhead and moveable relative to the magnet in an axial direction as the sprayhead moves between the docked and undocked positions. In the docked position, magnetic forces between the magnet and the collar attract a center of the collar to align with a center of the magnet in the axial direction with the collar in the bore of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: John C. Esche, Perry D. Erickson, Roger W. Murphy, William R. Bares
  • Patent number: 9996088
    Abstract: A valve opening setpoint corrector and a correction table storage are provided in a flow rate controlling valve. A correction table indicating valve opening correction values corresponding to combinations of amounts of opening of a valve and front-back differential pressures across the valve is stored in the correction table storage. In the valve opening setpoint corrector a correction value acquirer acquires, from the correction table, the valve opening correction value ? that corresponds to the inputted measured value of the valve and front-back differential pressure across the valve and sends it to the setpoint corrector, as a correction value that takes into account the amount of twist in the valve rod. The setpoint corrector corrects, by the correction value taking into account the amount of twist in the valve rod, the valve opening setpoint from the air conditioning controller, sending this corrected valve opening setpoint to the valve opening controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomofumi Ohashi, Hideaki Someya
  • Patent number: 9989154
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to butterfly valves, generally including a body assembly and handle assembly. The body assembly generally includes a body, a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body, a cog, and a stem passing through the disc and the body. The handle assembly generally includes a handle body and a force ring. The stem can be rotationally interlocked relative to the disc and the handle assembly. The cog and the force ring can engage to rotationally secure the disc relative to the body. The handle assembly can include a lever and a grip, the force ring, the lever and the grip being pivotally secured relative to each other. The body can include a male radial protrusion and the body assembly can include a liner with a female radial groove. Methods of assembling and positioning a butterfly valve are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Gutmann, Joshua Lee Hoots, Gary A. Moren, Jon Terence Stone
  • Patent number: 9964964
    Abstract: An automatic balancing valve is described, wherein a flow controller device is provided and comprises at least translationally movable plug and a respective valve seat that cooperates with the plug in order to automatically adjust the fluid flow rate through the valve. A ring nut, combined with the flow controller device, is rotationally hand-operated to move a choking member placed inside the valve. The movement transmission from the ring nut to the choking member is achieved by a mechanism comprising a plurality of toothed gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FRATELLI PETTINAROLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giulio Pettinaroli, Liborio Spagnolo
  • Patent number: 9945592
    Abstract: Provided is a throttle device to decompress a refrigerant cooled by a condenser in a refrigerating cycle and to deliver the refrigerant to an evaporator, where a minimum space between a needle valve and a valve port can be accurately set. Inside a cylindrical main body case including a primary chamber connected to the condenser and a secondary chamber connected to the evaporator, a valve seat member formed with a valve port and a cylindrical guide member integral to the valve seat member are provided. A coil spring to energize the needle valve toward the valve port side is provided inside the guide member. A needle portion of the needle valve protrudes from the valve port toward the primary chamber. A tip portion of the needle portion abuts against a stopper member and the tip portion is thereby positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Saginomiya Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasumasa Takada, Yuichiro Toyama
  • Patent number: 9939299
    Abstract: By monitoring pressure transients in a liquid within a liquid distribution system using only a single sensor, events such as the opening and closing of valves at specific fixtures are readily detected. The sensor, which can readily be coupled to a faucet bib, transmits an output signal to a computing device. Each such event can be identified by the device based by comparing characteristic features of the pressure transient waveform with previously observed characteristic features for events in the system. These characteristic features, which can include the varying pressure, derivative, and real Cepstrum of the pressure transient waveform, can be used to select a specific fixture where a valve open or close event has occurred. Flow to each fixture and leaks in the system can also be determined from the pressure transient signal. A second sensor disposed at a point disparate from the first sensor provides further event information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, James A. Fogarty, Jon E. Froehlich, Eric C. Larson
  • Patent number: 9929417
    Abstract: A valve device includes a body, a solenoid valve accommodated in an accommodation hole of the body, and a joint member fixed to the body. The solenoid valve includes: a sleeve having a tubular shape and fitted in the accommodation hole, and including an introduction passage and a delivery passage; and a valve element configured to open and close the passages. A U-seal is disposed between an outer wall surface of the sleeve and an inner wall surface of the accommodation hole. The body has an attachment hole that is located downstream of the delivery passage of the sleeve and opens on an outer surface of the body. The joint member including a backflow reduction valve is fixed to the attachment hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akio Nakamura, Takuya Suzuki, Shusuke Inagi, Akira Yamashita, Masaaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 9927045
    Abstract: A valve having a metal insert with a fluid passage formed in the metal insert. A composite valve body is disposed at least partially around the metal insert and having at least one port in fluid communication with the fluid passage with the metal insert. A valve member is partially disposed in the metal insert and operable to control the fluid flow through the fluid passage of the metal insert and parts of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Morgan, Michael E. Jones
  • Patent number: 9915364
    Abstract: A drain valve has a housing defining a drain conduit for the passage of fluids to be drained, the drain conduit having a first rim defining an inlet to the drain conduit opposite a second rim defining an outlet from the drain conduit. One or more non-return valves are within the drain conduit between the first rim and the second rim and have a closed configuration and an open configuration adapted to allow fluids to flow through the outlet of the drain conduit. A vent conduit extends within the drain conduit and comprises internally a lower valve seat, an upper valve seat and a bypass valve positioned between the lower valve seat and the upper valve seat. The bypass valve is adapted to allow gas to bypass the one or more non-return valves and escape to atmosphere when the gas reaches a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NWS Europa GmbH
    Inventor: Giovanni Fima
  • Patent number: 9915355
    Abstract: A spool assembly is disclosed for use in a valve. The spool assembly may have a cylindrical body with a first end, a second end, and a bore passing from the first end through the second end. The spool assembly may also have a first insert with a first land slidably disposed inside the bore at the first end, and a second insert separate from the first insert. The second insert may have a second land slidably disposed inside the bore at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Mikhail A. Sorokin
  • Patent number: 9909686
    Abstract: A valve comprises a tappet and a sensor for detecting an adjustment stroke of the tappet, in particular an inductive sensor, wherein the sensor comprises a signal transmitter which comprises a coil, of which the coil axis (S) is substantially in parallel with the axis (A) of the tappet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Buerkert Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Feinauer, Christof Jacob, Sebastian Kundel
  • Patent number: 9890520
    Abstract: A water capture device for installing in an elevated location on a building. The water capture device comprises a plurality of exterior walls, an input opening, a main chamber, a release opening, an overflow channel, and an overflow opening. The plurality of exterior walls defines a cavity. The input opening allows for allowing water to enter the cavity. The main chamber is within the cavity configured to fill with water. The release opening is for selectively releasing water from the main chamber for use by a user. The overflow channel within the cavity is for receiving excess water from the main chamber that rises above a threshold associated with the overflow channel. The first overflow opening is for allowing excess water within the overflow channel to freely exit the water capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DrainCube LLC
    Inventor: David W. Brucker
  • Patent number: 9863582
    Abstract: A gas tank container having increased volume is disclosed. The gas tank container for storing and/or transporting gas and/or liquid, includes a tank vessel, a frame and at least one outlet valve. The end of the outlet valve is attached to a tank flange, which is sunk in a recess at the end of the tank vessel. By recessing at least one outlet valve of the gas tank container, the length of the tank vessel can be optimized within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: VAN HOOL NV
    Inventors: Eddy Mertens, Jan Van Haaren
  • Patent number: 9862539
    Abstract: A portable water tank assembly for a dust emitting construction machine, such as a machine for cutting concrete, stone, ceramic materials and the like may include a water container (1) and an electric pump (2) powered by a battery for pumping water from the container (1) through an outlet to the construction machine. To provide a portable water tank assembly which provides a long service life without changing battery, is easy to handle and carry and that is robust and reliable, the pump is a low pressure pump (2), of 0.1-1.5 bar, preferably of 0.3-1.2 bar, that is preferably submersible and placed inside the water container. The assembly has at least 5 liter capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Anders Reuterberg, Hans Petersson
  • Patent number: 9857017
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a fluid inlet that mitigates uptake of undesired debris into fluid transport system. A fluid inlet can direct fluid toward one or more fluid inlets, and debris entrained in the fluid may bypass the fluid inlet(s). The fluid inlet can be used to mitigate uptake of debris into a fluid transport system, when placed in the path of fluid flow. A shape of the fluid inlet can be configured to direct fluid flow into the fluid inlet(s), while the shape allows debris entrained in the fluid to flow past the fluid inlet(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Akron Brass Company
    Inventor: Layton Michael Broome
  • Patent number: 9850798
    Abstract: A fluid flow control unit, in a preferred embodiment, mounted on a section of pipe having a tubular wall forming a fluid flow passage with a flow axis, the unit having a gate section, and a gate pivot section, the pivot section having a body portion mounted on the pipe outer wall surface, a gate mounting cavity formed in the body portion and opening through the pipe wall and providing an access port for the gate section to the mounting cavity, a pivot shaft positioned in the cavity and mounted on bearing structure on the body portion, the diameter of the shaft being dimensioned to allow a laterally curved gate which is affixed to a surface portion of the shaft to pivot up against a ceiling of the pipe to thereby be out of the flow passage main stream at a full open, non-blocking position of the gate, and a gate position control structure on the unit for allowing predetermined degrees of rotation of the pivot shaft in response to the magnitude of fluid flow pressure forces directed against the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Alexander Borla
  • Patent number: 9851015
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing, in which a first valve body is accommodated so that it is moveable in a direction of a longitudinal axis, a first valve seat configured to be closed by the first valve body and arranged on the housing, a first fluid flow path extending from a first connection via the first valve seat to a second connection, a second valve seat closeable by a moveable second valve body, the second valve body formed separately from the first valve body, a second fluid flow path extending from the first connection via a bypass duct in the first valve body, onwards via the second valve seat to the second connection, so that pressure at the first connection is limited upwardly by the first and the second valve body in that hydraulic fluid is led to the second connection via the first fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Neubauer, Liebhart Zaiser, Thomas Hirsch, Ludmilla Graf, Harald Hahn, Konrad Schneider, Dominik Wolf
  • Patent number: 9846074
    Abstract: A mass flow controller comprises: a first flow meter constructed and arranged to measured flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a second flow meter constructed and arranged to measure flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a control valve constructed and arranged so as to control the flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller in response to a control signal generated as a function of the flow rate as measured by one of the flow meters; and a system controller constructed and arranged to generate the control signal, and to provide an indication when a difference between the flow rate of mass as measured by the first flow meter and the flow rate of mass as measured by the second flow meter exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Junhua Ding