Patents Examined by Nicole Gardner
  • Patent number: 11541747
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a pressure vessel system includes at least a first pressure vessel arranged in a first region of the motor vehicle and at least one second pressure vessel arranged in a second region of the motor vehicle having a lower intrusion probability than the first region. Fuel is preferentially removed first primarily from the at least one first pressure vessel. When the lower limit of fuel level or fuel temperature is reached in the at least one first pressure vessel, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel. If the fuel supply rate from the at least one first pressure vessel is lower than an overall fuel supply rate for an energy converter, fuel is removed from the at least one second pressure vessel to meet the overall fuel supply rate needed by the energy converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lorenz Ehgartner, Andreas Pelger, Klaus Szoucsek
  • Patent number: 11536407
    Abstract: A fracturing manifold system including a first plurality of junctions mounted on a support structure and fluidly connected via conduit, individual ones of the first plurality of junctions configured to receive fracturing fluid from at least one fracturing pump and the first plurality of junctions including a first terminal junction. The fracturing manifold system further includes a fracturing head fluidly connected to the first plurality of junctions. The fracturing manifold system is configurable between a first configuration in which the fracturing head is mounted at a location proximate an end of the support structure and a second configuration in which an additional junction is mounted on the first support structure at the location, the additional junction is fluidly connected to the first plurality of junctions, a second plurality of junctions is fluidly connected to the additional junction, and the fracturing head is fluidly connected to the second plurality of junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Riedel, Jr., Solomon Austin Cong, Peter Allan Manos, Christian Joseph Murray
  • Patent number: 11517779
    Abstract: A test, drain and adjustable pressure relief module for a sprinkler system has a single body with three independent and fluidly connectable flow ports. A first port of the three flow ports is fluidly connectable at an inlet side thereof to the sprinkler system. A second port of the three flow ports has an adjustable pressure relief valve removably mounted to an outlet thereof. The valve is biased into a closed position and a threshold pressure is required to open the valve and discharge fluid is selectively adjustable. A third port of the three flow ports has an open outlet end configured to removably connect with a drainage pipe. The three ports form a Tee connection and have a flow valve therebetween to selectively direct flow between an outlet of the first port and at least one of the respective inlets of the second and third ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VICTAULIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen J. Meyer, Thomas Edwin Archibald, Kevin Desmond Maughan
  • Patent number: 11512791
    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: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Solero Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Morgan, Michael E. Jones
  • Patent number: 11506290
    Abstract: A valve device is capable of precisely adjusting a flow rate variation due to aging, aging, etc. without using an external sensor. An adjusting actuator includes a piezoelectric element for adjusting the position of the operating member positioned at the open position, and the drive circuit of the adjusting actuator includes a detecting unit for detecting an electric signal related to the amount of strain generated in the piezoelectric element, and a control unit for controlling the adjusting actuator so that the opening degree of the flow path by the valve element becomes the target opening degree based on the electric signal related to the amount of strain of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kenta Kondo, Toshihide Yoshida, Kenji Aikawa, Hidenobu Sato, Tomohiro Nakata, Tsutomu Shinohara, Masahiko Takimoto
  • Patent number: 11493371
    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: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, James A. Fogarty, Jon E. Froehlich, Eric C. Larson
  • Patent number: 11493147
    Abstract: A valve handle lockout device is configured to temporarily lock out a pull handle butterfly valve. The device includes an enclosure body, at least one lock hole, and a blocking wall. The enclosure body includes first and second enclosure portions having an opening at a proximal end of the enclosure body that is dimensioned to surround a base of the pull handle butterfly valve. The lock hole is configured to receive a locking member and thereby secure the device in a closed position on a handle of the pull handle butterfly valve. The blocking wall borders or is near to the opening and is configured to engage the pull handle butterfly valve when the enclosure body is secured in a locked position, thereby preventing removal of the device from the handle and the handle from being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew N. Enger, Mackenzie Carpenter, Gene Gladkov
  • Patent number: 11486504
    Abstract: Check valve inserts define a valve seat for an open position of a check valve and have an outer support seatable in an internal chamber of the check valve and have an inner annular ring spaced radially inward from the outer support by a rib that angles axially toward a central longitudinal axis to position an upper surface of the inner annular ring a distance axially beyond an upper surface of the outer support. Check valves have a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, have the check valve insert seated with the chamber, and have a seal disc moveable within the chamber between the open position defined by the inner annular ring of the check valve insert and a closed position. The seal disc is translatable in response to a pressure difference across the seal disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Fletcher, Matthew C. Gilmer, David Snow, Chester E. Duffield, III
  • Patent number: 11473728
    Abstract: A method for filling a high-pressure gas accumulator from a reservoir is provided, comprising: removing the gas from the reservoir, transporting the gas through a gas line to a jet pump coupled to the interior of the high-pressure gas accumulator, and generating a ring flow guided along the inside of the wall of the high-pressure gas accumulator. A high-pressure gas accumulator that is suitable for carrying out the method and has a casing having a heat-sensitive layer on the inside, and has an inlet opening that traverses the casing and the layer, wherein a jet pump coupled to the inlet opening is arranged within the casing, and wherein the jet pump is oriented to generate a guided flow to the wall of the casing opposite the jet pump with deflection therein into a ring flow flowing along the heat-sensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Maik Kraus, Florian Hennecke
  • Patent number: 11448329
    Abstract: A valve device includes a body having a gas flow path. When the gas is charged, the first flow path is located upstream of the intersecting portion, and the second flow path is located downstream of the intersecting portion. The gas flow path has a check valve mechanism and a drive mechanism. The check valve mechanism opens a valve when the gas is charged and closes the valve when the gas charge is completed, and the drive mechanism opens the valve of the check valve mechanism and holds the open state of the valve of the check valve mechanism when the gas is discharged from the tank. The check valve mechanism includes a valve seat, and the valve seat is disposed in the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushi Numazaki, Takeshi Takahashi, Kazuhiro Takabayashi, Tomohiro Ishihara, Natsuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11448312
    Abstract: A valve device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle, preferably for a motor or utility vehicle, is provided. According to the invention, the valve device is designed such that the valve device can achieve the establishment and separation of a fluid connection between an operating pressure side and an actuator pressure side, each in a state operated without pressure. Further, an automatic transmission having such a valve device and a corresponding method for controlling such a valve device are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Martin, Benjamin Kluge, Sebastian Liebert, Ulrich Ohnemus
  • Patent number: 11447160
    Abstract: An extraction device for discharging a mixed fluid, in particular containing feces, from a collecting tank of a rail vehicle comprises a housing having a mixed fluid inlet and a mixed fluid outlet, a flow passage which extends in the housing between the inlet and the outlet, a retaining latch mounted to the housing and adapted to cooperate with a corresponding recess on the collecting tank and is pivotably reciprocal between a locked position and an unlocked position, a shut-off member reciprocable between a release position and a blocking position, and a handling means or actuator mounted to the housing for actuation of the shut-off member. The handling means is operatively connected to the retaining latch in such a way that upon the movement of the retaining latch into the unlocked position the shut-off member is put into the blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: VOGELSANG GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Hermann Lucks, Michael Heitmann
  • Patent number: 11441695
    Abstract: A safety opening/closing valve for easy checking of an opened/closed state thereof includes: a ball valve part having a rotating shaft part configured to open and close a flow path of the ball valve part by rotating; a housing part having an upper surface and having a plurality of gear teeth vertically formed along the inner circumference of an inner space of the housing part; a rotating part arranged in the housing part such that the rotating part rotates relative to the central axis of the housing part; at least three satellite gear parts mounted rotatably to the upper portion of the rotating part while being in engagement with gear teeth formed at the inner circumference of the housing part; a driving part including a sun gear part provided as a bar shape and inserted through an open central area of a top surface of the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: POLYTEC Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Gu Seob Kwon, Jung Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 11441739
    Abstract: An system for emptying at least one reservoir containing a pressurized fluid, including, for each reservoir, a vent for discharging the fluid out of the reservoir and a discharge valve for connecting the reservoir to the vent, the emptying system additionally including, for each discharge valve, a return member for returning the discharge valve to its closed configuration, and a fluid control system for controlling the movement of each discharge valve to its open configuration by action of an operating fluid on the discharge valve, the control system including an operating station arranged outside a danger zone around each reservoir, and, for each discharge valve, a fluid pipe fluidically connecting the operating station to the discharge valve, the operating station including at least one reversible free connection for connecting to each fluid pipe of a device for supplying the control system with operating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: AREVA Stockage d'Energie
    Inventors: André Rakotondrainibe, Franck Verbecke, Jean-Claude Reybaud
  • Patent number: 11420082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure relief device (1) for a housing (2) which is protected against explosions, in particular is compression-proof and has a wall connecting piece (3) which can be at least partially inserted into a housing opening (4) of a housing wall (6) by its insertion connecting piece section (5), which can be in particular detachably fixed from an inner side of the housing and rests from the outside on an opening edge (8) of the housing opening (4) in its inserted and fixed position with a radially outwardly projecting support flange (7), wherein the insertion connecting piece section (5) furthermore comprises a projecting connecting piece section (9) which is opposite the insertion connecting piece section relative to the support flange (7) and comprises a longitudinal conduit (10) running through the wall connecting piece (3) into which conduit a flame-blocking body (11) is replaceably inserted, wherein a pressure nut (13) which loads the flame blocking body (11) with pressure in its in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Toni Christian Ott, Reiner Naumann, Dominik Herbold
  • Patent number: 11408522
    Abstract: An erosion resistant check valve includes a valve housing having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough; a valve seat extending within the fluid flow passage; a valve member slidingly engaged within the fluid flow passage; a spring engaged with the valve stem to contract upon pressure towards the stop; a housing positioned over the first end of the valve stem and past the stop, the housing creating a gap between a portion of the stem body and an inner surface of the housing; the spring contracts into the housing and the disk is seals the spring within the housing to prevent fluid contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Todd Stair
  • Patent number: 11408160
    Abstract: Described is a resilient fluid control valve assembly. The resilient fluid control valve assembly includes a cartridge housing having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is formed to reside above a drain opening, while the lower portion is formed to reside within the drain opening. The resilient fluid control valve assembly further includes a resilient fluid control valve positioned within the cartridge housing. The resilient fluid control valve has a valve body portion and a sealing portion. When positioned within the cartridge housing, a portion of the valve body portion resides above the drain opening, and a portion of the sealing portion resides within the drain opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Edward Michael Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 11391379
    Abstract: An offset butterfly valve comprising a butterfly disc which receives a splined valve stem is disclosed. The butterfly disc is positioned for sealing an annulus formed in the valve housing when the valve stem is rotated from an open position to closed position. Provision of the spline towards the center of the valve stem and the butterfly disc allows the butterfly disc to move along the valve stem. In a particular embodiment a valve seal is secured to the butterfly disc using a securing disc which is threaded into a threaded cylinder concentric with the butterfly disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stanley Isbitsky, Bob Waditschatka, François Jouan, Nicolas Hervé François Lourdel, Gordon Stovel
  • Patent number: 11391279
    Abstract: A compressor valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a guide having a cylindrical cup portion and a cylindrical stem portion that extends axially in a socket where the guide can be removably affixed to a stop plate. The disclosed valve assembly is conducive to user-friendly serviceability while realizing an increased flow area with operational capability at relatively higher pressures and practically no susceptibility to bending stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Joel T. Sanford, Edward Frazzini
  • Patent number: 11384847
    Abstract: A frictionless rotary valve comprising: a valve body to be connected within a gas meter, the valve body comprising: a seal, fixedly attached near an outlet of the valve body; and a valve disc, having a ball bearing attached to the valve body; and a gear mechanism comprising: a worm wheel engaged with a worm, wherein the worm wheel is attached to a second end of the valve disc; a drive gear connected to the worm, wherein a rotation of the drive gear in a clockwise direction rotates the worm wheel in an anti-clockwise and moves the valve disc in a closed position; a worm wheel stop, for restricting a movement of the worm wheel in the anti-clockwise direction and driving the worm wheel in a vertically upward direction; and a linear guide attached to the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: August Wallmeyer, Christian Lampe-Juergens