Patents Examined by Patrick Williams
  • Patent number: 10006555
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid flow valve including a housing including a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port including an outlet aperture and a valve seating bounding the outlet aperture; a sealing-member configured to be biased, under fluid pressure within the housing, against the valve seating so as to seal the outlet aperture; a sealing-member displacing mechanism secured to the sealing-member so that displacement of the displacing mechanism in a first sense detaches the sealing-member from the valve seating so as to open the outlet aperture, while displacement of the displacing mechanism in an opposite sense allows for the sealing-member to become sealingly biased against the valve seating; and a sealing-member opening mechanism configured for displacing the sealing-member against the biasing effect of the displacing mechanism so as to discharge the fluid flow valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MEKOROT WATER COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ilan Arazi, Levy Frenkel
  • Patent number: 9995401
    Abstract: Valve wedge for a slide valve including a rough cast metal wedge core encapsulated in a soft seal encapsulation and having two guide members projecting transversely in opposite directions, each of the guide members including a sideways projecting rib of the rough cast wedge core and a prefabricated wear and corrosion-resistant slide shoe arranged thereon, each rib having laterally opposite lateral surfaces and each shoe including two opposite lateral walls with inner surfaces, each shoe being fixedly vulcanized to the respective one of the ribs by means of soft seal encapsulation present between the rough cast wedge core and the shoe where the outer lateral surfaces of the ribs are finished surfaces and the opposite inner surfaces of each of the slide shoes is laterally rigidly supported by the corresponding outer lateral surfaces of the respective one of the ribs so that each rib laterally rigidly supports the respective one of the slide shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AVK HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Thomas Winther
  • Patent number: 9989167
    Abstract: A valve positioning system controls a valve and exchanges information related to the valve. The valve positioning system includes a valve positioner in operative association with the valve such that the valve positioner receives status information related to the valve. The valve positioner includes one or more lights that are selectively illuminated in a predetermined order based on the status information. By selectively illuminating the one or more lights in the predetermined order, the valve positioner is optically transmits the status information to a computing device that is in a line of sight with the one or more lights of the valve positioner. A method of exchanging information related to a valve in a valve positioning system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Podpaly, Justin Scott Shriver
  • Patent number: 9982602
    Abstract: In at least one aspect of this disclosure, a shut off valve for an ecology fuel return system can include an inlet for receiving a fluid, an outlet for effusing the fluid, and a valve member configured to move between an open position such that the valve member allows fluid to effuse from the outlet and a closed position such that the valve member prevents fluid from effusing from the outlet. The valve member can include a pressure deflector configured to prevent fluid flow from biasing the valve member toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Carpenter, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Lubomir A. Ribarov
  • Patent number: 9982785
    Abstract: A pressure control valve includes a main valve unit provided with a main valve element and a valve housing body having a main valve seat capable of seating the main valve element and having a pilot chamber for slidably housing the main valve element. A pilot valve unit is provided with a pilot valve element and a pilot valve seat member has a pilot valve seat capable of seating the pilot valve element and separating the pilot valve element from the pilot valve seat and opening when a pressure in the pilot chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure. The pressure control valve is configured with recessed (concaved) parts that form hydraulic fluid channels between the pilot valve seat member and the pilot valve element when the pilot valve unit is in an open-valve-state at three or more locations so as to be separated by equal angles. Each recess has the same shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Kakio, Junya Kuromusha
  • Patent number: 9971361
    Abstract: A pressure regulator including a housing including an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage; a plunger reciprocally mounted in the housing and including a plunger flow passage having an axis offset from an axis of the inlet flow passage, and a stationary valve seat fixed to the housing and positioned between the inlet flow passage and an inlet to the flow passage of the plunger, wherein the valve seat is configured to receive and abut the inlet to the flow passage of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: Riley D. Greenwood, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9958072
    Abstract: A blind assembly for use in a piping circuit that includes a blind element and an injection system. The blind element has a planar portion that is transversely mounted in the piping circuit to block flow through the piping circuit. When the blind element is installed, it has one or more flat surfaces that are in sealing contact with another component of the piping circuit, such as a flange face, to define a sealing interface. A primary seal is provided between the blind element and the other component of the piping circuit and which circumscribes at least a portion of the sealing interface. The injection system is in communication with the sealing interface, and selectively injects a sealant material into the sealing interface to form a redundant seal in the sealing interface and around the primary seal. An injection fitting can mount to the flange for injecting the sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Omar M. Al-Amri
  • Patent number: 9945495
    Abstract: A reprogrammable testing circuit for testing different types of valves may obtain a direction limit for a valve; obtain a test direction input for the valve; determine whether the direction limit of the valve has been reached or when there is an attempt to exceed it based on a current position of the valve, the test direction input, a valve test procedure; run a customized test on the valve in a direction of the direction input based on determining that the direction limit has not been reached; actively comparing the current position of the valve with the direction limit while running the customized test; and discontinue the customized test when the current position of the valve reaches the direction limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Tarek Abudawood, Mohammad Essam Bajowda, Saad Dhaffer Aldosary, Mohammad Hamed Alharbi
  • Patent number: 9903519
    Abstract: A fluid-connecting element with a first receiving space with a first connecting element and a first displaceable valve element, and a second receiving space with a second connecting element and a second displaceable valve element. A fluid connection between the first receiving space and the first connecting element being interrupted by the first valve element in the first position, and a fluid connection between the first receiving space and the first connecting element being opened by the first valve element in the second position. The second valve element is displaceable between two positions, wherein a fluid connection between the second receiving space and the second connecting element is interrupted by the second valve element in the first position, and a fluid connection between the second receiving space and the second connecting element is opened by the second valve element in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Germany GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tolga Aydin
  • Patent number: 9903496
    Abstract: A mechanical joint includes a main body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an inlet end, and an outlet end, the interior surface defining a fluid path from the inlet end to the outlet end, the interior surface defining a pipe seat proximate to a one of the inlet end and the outlet end, the pipe seat having a pipe seat stop surface facing towards the one of the inlet end and the outlet end; and a lining engaging the interior surface and covering at least a portion of the pipe seat stop surface of the pipe seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Purushottam Savalia
  • Patent number: 9890869
    Abstract: An electronic expansion valve is provided, a valve rod of which is provided with an axial through-hole in communication with a valve port, and a lateral wall of the axial through-hole of the valve seat is sealed with respect to the valve rod. An end surface of the valve rod includes a sealing surface in sealing contact with an end surface at the valve port, the sealing surface includes a first sealing surface to bear an action force of refrigerant at one connecting port and a second sealing surface to bear an action force of refrigerant at another connecting port, and the effective pressure-bearing area of the first sealing surface is equal to that of the second sealing surface. Further provided is an electronic expansion valve in line contact seal with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Climate and Appliance Controls Group Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ming Lv
  • Patent number: 9884550
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a tank. The flapper valve assembly includes a float assembly that is configured to be disposed within a valve housing. The float assembly may have a plurality of guide supports that extend from an end portion of the float assembly. A flapper member is movably supported on the float assembly. The flapper member may include a plurality of guide legs that correspond with the guide supports of the float assembly to maintain proper alignment of the flapper member relative to the float assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 9822892
    Abstract: A two-stage switch valve includes a valve body slidable in a flow passage of a fluid, and a spring urging the valve body upstream. The valve body includes a valve element slidable in the flow passage, an upstream guide having a ring shape and being slidable in the flow passage, and legs connecting the valve element and the upstream guide. The upstream guide is located upstream of the valve element. The legs are inclined from an axial direction of the upstream guide and extend from the upstream guide toward a center of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichiro Miura
  • Patent number: 9803775
    Abstract: The double action float valve is connected to a single pipe and a tank and controls both the filling and discharge of the tank. The double action float valve utilizes a valve body, an obturator positioned within the valve body, a unidirectional device, and a float connected to the obturator. When the inflow pressure from the pipe is greater than the outflow pressure of the tank, the tank is filled until the float reaches a predetermined level. When the outflow pressure of the tank is greater than the inflow pressure, the double action float valve is automatically reconfigured to discharge the fluid from the tank into the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Hugo Antonio Munoz Acosta
  • Patent number: 9797252
    Abstract: A fluid working machine has at least one working chamber of cyclically varying volume and low and high pressure valves to regulate the flow of working fluid into and out of the working chamber, from low and high pressure manifolds. The low and high pressure valves are actuated by electronically controlled valve actuation means which, when actuated, applies forces to the low and high pressure valve members to open and/or close the respective valves. The low and high pressure valve members are independently moveable and, although the low pressure valve member typically begins to move quickly in response to a shared valve control signal, the high pressure valve member typically moves only after a change in the pressure within the working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Uwe Stein, Fergus McIntyre, Jens Eilers, Gordon Voller
  • Patent number: 9791048
    Abstract: An installation assembly for installing and/or removing a ball into and/or from a valve body of a top entry ball valve includes a valve body having at least one blind bore disposed on an opposite side of the ball chamber from the entry opening and a ball installation tool adapted to interact with the blind bore so as to compress a spring disposed inside the ball chamber substantially axially. A top entry ball valve is arranged with such a valve body. The ball installation tool may be used to install and/or remove a ball from the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Trenton Frank Jackson
  • Patent number: 9790075
    Abstract: A tap group comprising a tap body provided with at least one dispensing exit, an operating lever or knob, a regulation member of the parameters of the flow of water to be dispensed (the parameters including the temperature and/or the flow of water and/or the direction of the flow), and a transmission including gears which operatively connect the operating lever or knob to said regulation member of the flow of water. Advantageously, the gears create a gear ratio between the operating lever or knob and a control rod of the regulation member of the parameters of the flow of water, so as to reduce the rotation of the control rod of the regulation member for the same rotation of the operating lever or knob. The tap group also includes a ring-nut provided with at least one indicator and/or a reference index of the parameters of the flow to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Huber Cisal Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cristian Menolotto, Roman Kalousek
  • Patent number: 9791104
    Abstract: A float type drain trap in which an inlet, a valve chamber, and an outlet are formed in a valve casing, a valve seat member, a discharge passage, a float, an operation member, a valve member that communicates between the periphery anterior to and the periphery posterior to the middle portion of the operation member when the operation member is in the advanced position and that blocks the periphery anterior to and the periphery posterior to the middle portion of the operation member from one another when the operation member is in the most retracted position is provided to the middle portion of the operation member, and a blow passage formed to communicate the periphery posterior to the valve member of the operation member with the outside distinct from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Oike
  • Patent number: 9777543
    Abstract: A vertical hydraulic tank includes an upper cylindrical section and a lower conical section, with an outlet in the lower conical section. A lower multi-path manifold is attached to the outlet, the manifold including a vertical conduit in fluid communication with the outlet and a plurality of horizontal conduits in fluid communication with the vertical conduit. An upper multi-path manifold can also be attached to the tank with a plurality of upper horizontal conduits and a vertical conduit in fluid communication with the upper cylindrical section of the tank. Valves may be provided along the vertical conduit and the horizontal conduits to regulate flow of material through the conduits. A pump may be connected to either the upper manifold or the lower manifold, or both by way of a pump conduit. Multiple tanks can be connected together by way of tubing between the manifolds of each tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Vertical Tank, Inc.
    Inventor: Stan Ellis
  • Patent number: 9772043
    Abstract: A non-pressure valve is provided, and includes a tubular housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a flow-through support mount disposed in the outlet. The non-pressure valve also includes a poppet slideably coupled with the flow-through support mount and extending towards the inlet, and an outlet fitting extending through the flow-through support mount and the first poppet, the outlet fitting forming a slide guide for first poppet. The non-pressure valve also includes a sliding bell disposed around a portion of the first poppet and configured to slide independently of the first poppet. The non-pressure valve functions to divert a portion of the fuel flow through a hose to the remote fuel vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FLOWMAX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Paul Ballard, Carl Paul Ballard, John Trent Kendrick