Patents Examined by Nicole Gardner
  • Patent number: 10578224
    Abstract: A valve housing for a check valve comprises a housing body for mounting a pair of flapper elements and a pair of valve openings extending through said valve body. The valve openings are separated by a web which extends from one side of the valve body to an opposed side of the valve body. The valve body and web define sealing surfaces around the valve openings on one face of the valve housing. The web comprises a slot extending into the web from a face thereof on said one face of said valve housing and extending along a length of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Modest Reszewicz, Pawel Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 10570590
    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: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Eric Pilarczyk
  • Patent number: 10550958
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for monitoring and indicating the sealing of a pneumatic valve. A method may comprise detecting a position of a first magnet, wherein the first magnet is fixed to a housing cover of the pneumatic valve; comparing the detected position of the first magnet with a predetermined optimum position of the first magnet, wherein the optimum position is the position of the first magnet when there is a sufficient seal between the housing cover and a housing base of the pneumatic valve; when the detected position of the first magnet is not within a threshold of the optimum position of the first magnet, indicating an insufficient seal between the housing cover and the housing base; and when the detected position of the first magnet is within a threshold of the optimum position of the first magnet, continuing normal operation of the pneumatic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Christophe Le Moing
  • Patent number: 10539244
    Abstract: A check valve comprises a valve housing defining a pair of valve openings, a pair of mounting posts arranged on opposed sides of the valve housing, a hinge pin mounted between said mounting posts, a pair of flapper elements pivotably mounted to the one or more hinge pins for rotation relative to the housing between an open position in which they permit fluid flow through the respective valve openings and a closed position in which they prevent fluid flow through the valve openings. A pair of elastically deformable leaf spring stop elements, each of which comprise respective end portions that are mounted to, and extend upwardly from, said mounting posts and a stop portion arching upwardly from, and extending between said end portions, such that each flapper element will engage a respective surface of said stop portion when in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bartosz Solarz, Mariusz Fiedziuk
  • Patent number: 10520137
    Abstract: A flow channel structure includes a member including a flow channel. The flow channel includes a first part, second parts, and connections. The first part extends in a first direction. The connections connect the first part and the second parts. The connections include a first bend and a second bend. The first bend arcuately extends with a first curvature and a central angle of greater than 90 degrees. The first bend has a first end connected to the second parts, and a second end. The second bend arcuately extends with a second curvature. The second bend has a third end connected to the second end. A tangent to the first end extends in a same direction as the second parts extend. A tangent to the second end is equal to a tangent to the third end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Tanaka, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 10503178
    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 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Junhua Ding
  • Patent number: 10502342
    Abstract: A check valve for a fluid system includes: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity; a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet; and a buffer mounted on the valve body, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Milroy, Stephen J. Smick
  • Patent number: 10487961
    Abstract: A control valve has a trim assembly to condition the flow of fluid through the control valve and, in some applications, to provide guidance for a valve plug. The trim assembly has a lattice structure formed of a plurality of triply periodic surfaces that form a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the circumferential wall and an outer surface of the circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Eilers, Kyle Thomas McNulty
  • Patent number: 10490423
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fume removal apparatus for a semiconductor manufacturing chamber. The disclosed fume removal apparatus for a semiconductor manufacturing chamber comprises: a fume exhaust pipe; a fume exhaust pipe opening-and-closing valve; a vacuum pump; and a control member, wherein the control member opens the fume exhaust pipe by opening the fume exhaust pipe opening-and-closing valve and forms a vacuum inside the fume exhaust pipe by operating the vacuum pump, so that fumes within the semiconductor manufacturing chamber can flow in along the fume exhaust pipe and be discharged to the outside. The disclosed fume removal apparatus for a semiconductor manufacturing chamber enables fumes to be rapidly, conveniently, and reliably removed from the semiconductor manufacturing chamber, and thus has an advantage of enabling a worker who should approach the inside of the semiconductor manufacturing chamber to safely perform work without coming into contact with the fumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Tae Wha Kim
  • Patent number: 10472926
    Abstract: A pressurized seat check valve including a flexible frustoconical seat having a back surface configured for exposure to upstream pressure, a closure member in sealable communication with the seat, the closure member being biased into contact with the seat and, in use, the seat being deflected toward the closure member by the exposure to upstream pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Do Seo Park, Marc Samuelson, Zhi Yong He, Gregory Armstrong, Donavan Holland Brown
  • Patent number: 10457384
    Abstract: An emission-capturing apparatus includes a tank having an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus further includes a muffler fluidly coupled with the outlet to intercept fluid exiting the outlet, permit passage of gas through the muffler, and inhibit passage of liquid through the muffler. The apparatus further includes a hose having a tank end and a coupler end. The tank end is coupled to the inlet. The apparatus further includes a coupler coupled to the coupler end of the hose. The coupler has a drain hole. The coupler is configured to be coupled to a surface having an ejection port, to completely cover the ejection port when the coupler is coupled to the surface and to support the coupler end of the hose in a position to receive an emission when the drain hole is aligned with the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: James Perdue, Jeffrey Slump, Bartley Beasley, Bret Bell
  • Patent number: 10450833
    Abstract: A self-regulating flow control device for controlling the flow of injected fluid into a subsea well or flowline via a tree, manifold, or other access point on the subsea infrastructure by responding to the injection pressure being applied to prevent the conduit from collapsing. An embodiment of the self-regulating flow control device includes a housing having a first and second through bore, a piston moveable in the through bore, and a biasing member. When in an unactuated position, the biasing member biases the piston isolating the first through bore from the second through bore, and when in an actuated position, a pressure overcomes the biasing member to move the piston and expose the first through bore to the second through bore. The self-regulating control flow device prevents a vacuum from being drawn into the conduit system below during sudden decreases in uphole pressure by blocking or closing flow paths in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Graham Hall, Robert Large
  • Patent number: 10436334
    Abstract: A check valve includes a plate-shaped valve seat member provided with a fluid discharge port, a plate-shaped valve member provided on a downstream side of the valve seat member and configured to open/close the discharge port, a coil spring provided on a downstream side of the valve member and configured to bias the valve member toward the discharge port, a spring receiving member provided for the coil spring on a downstream side thereof, and a plurality of guide rods provided at the periphery of the valve member and formed to extend in an upstream-to-downstream flow direction, each having a downstream end portion attached to the spring receiving member, and configured to guide the valve member in the upstream-to-downstream flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TLV CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahisa Hirotani
  • Patent number: 10431128
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for installing in a fluid flow system. The pressure regulator comprises a body and an identification device coupled to the body. The identification device has a first portion with first identification information and a second portion with second identification information. The second portion of the identification device is separated from the pressure regulator while the first portion of the identification device remains coupled to the pressure regulator. The second portion of the identification device is then affixed to a surface, such as a form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MARSHALL EXCELSIOR CO.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10400904
    Abstract: A first relief valve chamber (3) of a main relief valve (10) and a second relief valve chamber (7) of an auxiliary relief valve (11) are provided in series in a valve case 1. The first relief valve chamber (3) includes a valve seat chamber (4) at the right and a valve chamber (5) at the left. A first valve member (30) in the valve chamber (5) is biased toward a valve seat member (18) in the valve seat chamber (4) by a first relief spring (40). A second valve member (48) in the second relief valve chamber (7) is biased toward a second valve seat (47) by a second relief spring (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KOSMEK LTD
    Inventor: Akira Arisato
  • Patent number: 10400775
    Abstract: A vacuum valve attached to a vacuum pump configured to generate regenerative power to perform a stop operation upon blackout, comprises: a first power input section to which power is input from a commercial power source; a second power input section to which the regenerative power generated at the vacuum pump is input; and a valve source circuit to which the power input to each of the first and second power input sections is supplied. When the power from the commercial power source is supplied to the first power input section, the vacuum valve is operated by the supplied power, and when the power from the commercial power source is stopped, the vacuum valve is operated by the regenerative power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Nakamura, Junichiro Kozaki, Atsuo Nakatani, Nobuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 10393286
    Abstract: A valve shutter including an indicating unit configured to indicate opening angles of a valve of gas tank, the value coupled to the indicating unit, a first rotating unit configured to rotate the indicating unit up to a maximum opening angle of the valve, a second rotating unit configured to selectively interlock with the first rotating unit, a holding pin configured to be rotated by the second rotating unit, a shutting unit configured to prevent a rotation of the holding pin, a limit plate configured to be selectively rotated by the first rotating unit in a closing direction and an opening direction of the valve, and a stopper configured to restrict a rotation of the limit plate in the closing direction of the valve may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Suk Lee, Sang-Won An, Duk-Chun Jang
  • Patent number: 10385991
    Abstract: Valve systems 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 at least a portion of the conductive material. The valve system is configured to determine at least one force applied to a portion of the valve system based at least partially on the position of the at least a portion of the conductive material. Methods of determining a force associated with a valve system include wirelessly sensing a position of at least a portion of the conductive material with the at least one inductance-to-digital converter (LDC) sensor and determining a force applied to a portion of the valve system based at least partially on the position of the at least a portion of the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: William T. Dolenti
  • Patent number: 10371272
    Abstract: A shuttle valve has a housing with a plurality of inlet ports, an outlet port for fluid flow, and a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of the inlet ports to the outlet port. Each Inlet port has an associated plunger configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of the inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing into any other inlet port. The plungers include male and female mating portions with a radial seal between them. A biasing spring allows one of the plungers to allow backward fluid flow through the associated inlet port when not under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J McMiles
  • Patent number: 10344879
    Abstract: A flap valve apparatus includes a main body; a valve body; and a spring member. The main body includes support shafts, and the valve body includes bearing portions. When viewed from the axial direction of the support shaft, the bearing portions has a bearing hole with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the support shaft; and an introduction groove being in communication with the bearing hole from the seal surface side of the valve body. A width of the introduction groove is smaller than the outer diameter of the support shaft, but is expandable to receive the support shaft. When viewed from the axial direction of the support shaft, an opening portion of the introduction grove is positioned near the axial center of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Tomotaka Masaki