Patents Examined by Paul Coryea
  • Patent number: 6050289
    Abstract: A valve for feeding abrasive particulate material to, and removal of particulate material from a pressurized vessel, adapted to operate at temperatures above 500.degree. C., comprises a valve structure wherein a single shutoff member of generally spherical shape performs both functions of shutoff the particulate material and the gas-tight sealing by means of a resilient inflatable circular seal element which engages the convex side of said shutoff member. Said seal element is inflated and cooled by a pressure regulated and continuously flowing stream of liquid water. The seal element is protected from being damaged at high temperatures by contacting it with the cooled shutoff member when the valve is closed and with a cooled circular extension of the shutoff member when the valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventors: Marco Aurelio Flores-Verdugo, Ernesto Narvaez-de-Leon, Cesar Humberto Valdez-Chapa, Luis Lauro Alanis-Santos
  • Patent number: 6035887
    Abstract: A valve housing assembly for use with permanent watering systems for yards, gardens, etc. The watering system includes underground substantially rigid conduits for supplying water to the system and delivering water to the delivery units. The valve assembly interconnects the supply and delivery conduits. The valve assembly includes a housing supporting a control valve and having outlet and inlet pipes which interconnect with the valve and the inlet and outlet conduits. The inlet and outlet pipes are flexible which allows connection with conduits which are slightly misaligned. The pipes also have quick release connectors which provides quick connect and disconnect with the valve and inlet and outlet conduits. The valve mount is interchangeable between other valve mounts to accommodate a plurality of value case structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Steven H. Cato
  • Patent number: 5954090
    Abstract: An indicator mechanism symbolizing an operating condition of a valve. The indicator includes a body member attached to the valve and having a window opening. A guide is positioned in the body member to be visible through the window opening. A flower is also disposed within the body member and is movable between a first position retracted from and exposing the guide in the window opening, and a second position extending over and obscuring the guide from the window opening. The flower may be moved by a pressurized fluid acting directly or indirectly on the flower or by mechanical contact with another moving component such as a valve spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: AMOT Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 5934315
    Abstract: A molded, polyethylene wastewater chamber assemblage to be assembled and placed below ground level to receive, collect, and transfer wastewater to a treatment plant. The chamber has pipe spigots extending horizontally from its opposing bottom ends that receive input or output pipes of commercially available pipe design, and a riser base on top of the chamber with riser spigot attached thereto that receives a riser of conventional design, and a molded polyethylene lid to seal the riser to be watertight. Two chamber spigot extensions for attachment to the chamber extend the capability of the chamber to accept input and output pipes of various outside diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventors: C. Richard Braswell, Don T. Yonts
  • Patent number: 5934313
    Abstract: A fluid flow control valve suitable for fitting to the fuel line (16, 18) of an internal combustion engine has a valve member (12) and a spring (14) urging the valve member (12) to a closed position where the valve member seals against a valve seat (13). A key-actuated setting mechanism (20, 21) allows the valve member (12) to be moved away from its closed position to an open position and a latch (31, 32) then holds the valve member in that open position. An electrically operated release (33) moves the latch (31) to free the valve member and permits the valve to close under the action of the spring (14). When fitted to a vehicle, energy may be provided to the release (33) automatically whenever the vehicle is left unattended so as to immobilise the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Brothers, David John Horton
  • Patent number: 5927313
    Abstract: A valve locking device has a rigid covering member with an axial bore extending inside it. The bottom of the covering member has an annular skirt, and an annular groove is formed in the interior wall of the skirt. A resilient retaining ring with opposite terminal ends resides in the groove. The groove has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the retaining ring so that the ring can be expanded radially within the groove to the extent that the interior diameter of the retaining ring is larger than the diameter of the axial bore. The skirt portion of the covering member has a cut out for accessing the terminal ends of the retaining ring with retaining ring pliers. The terminal ends of the ring have bores for receiving tines on the pliers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Douglas R. Hart
  • Patent number: 5924445
    Abstract: A fuel intake device (20) for a fuel system (10) having a fuel tank (14) for containing a supply of fuel (16) and an internal fuel feed line (18) which is disposed internally of the fuel tank (14). The fuel intake device (20) is operative to provide uninterrupted fuel flow in icing conditions and is characterized by a flexible fuel filter (40) having a plurality of primary flow apertures (42) apertures therein for facilitating a primary flow P.sub.F of fuel therethrough, a bypass means (50) for providing a secondary flow S.sub.F of fuel to the internal fuel feed line (18) when an accumulation of ice (80) restricts the primary flow P.sub.F of fuel through the primary flow apertures (42), and force bias means (60) for rapidly reconfiguring the flexible fuel filter (40) for forcibly shedding the accumulation of ice (80), thereby restoring the primary flow P.sub.F of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg J. Ambrose, John A. Roncallo
  • Patent number: 5915402
    Abstract: A refrigeration isolation valve including an integral pair of ball valves closed coupled by a custom union for disconnecting and replacing charged refrigeration components. The annular bore through the valve bodies and coupling are consistent with the ball valve aperture. The external diameter of the valve body and coupling are also consistent. The isolation valve is further fitted with a vent for purging trapped air and refrigerant. A method is taught for isolating and disconnecting essential refrigerant components from a system and replacing such components with a precharged component without disturbing the system integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: William G. Mitchell, II