Patents Examined by Paul Gray
  • Patent number: 9533135
    Abstract: System, apparatus and method for opening a heat-bonded connection formed between two hollow, flexible thermoplastic conduits. A pressure difference is created between the inside of at least one of the conduits and the ambient atmosphere sufficient to cause expansion of a wall of the tubing conduit in the vicinity of a frangible portion at least partially blocking the connection to disrupt the frangible portion and reduce the blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Kusters, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 9476432
    Abstract: An apparatus has a pilot-operated spool valve connecting first and second work passages selectively to a supply conduit and a tank conduit. A first check valve normally allows fluid flow only in one direction from the first work passage to a first workport and when pilot-operated allows bidirectional fluid flow. A second check valve normally allows fluid flow only from the second work passage to a second workport and when pilot-operated allows bidirectional fluid flow. A first pilot valve selectively applies pressure to one end of the spool and to pilot operate the first check valve. A second pilot valve selectively applies pressure to another end of the spool and to pilot operate the second check valve. When fluid drains from a workport to the tank conduit, the associated check valve operates to maintain a predefined pressure in the first or second work passage through which that fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HUSCO International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Greenwood, Matthew J. Rades, Susan Kelpin
  • Patent number: 9457694
    Abstract: A device for operating a plurality of containers fillable with a medium may include a plurality of container valves each connected to of one of the containers, and a filling channel arrangement connectable or connected at one end to a media pressure source and connected at the other end to the respective container valves. In order to simplify determination of the media pressure in the individual containers and, furthermore, to permit different filling speeds, an emptying channel arrangement is connected at one end to the container valves and connectable at the other end to an unpressurized media hollow via an emptying channel valve. The media pressure in one of the containers can be calculated using a mathematical model. A filling channel valve may be provided for selectively connecting the filling channel arrangement to the media pressure source either directly or via a throttle in order to permit different filling speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Ebel, Birgit Ferstl
  • Patent number: 9448565
    Abstract: Relevant specifications in the field of gas supply provide for different safety devices for installation in a gas-supply system, in particular, an acetylene-supply system. To provide such a safety device, which is characterized by a compact structure and a high level of operational reliability, this invention proposes that a valve body (1) incorporates an over-pressure valve (4; 104) of a quick-action shut-off device, a control valve (3; 103) of a pressure-limiting device, and a safety valve (2; 102), whereby the safety valve (2; 102) can be fluidically connected to the over-pressure valve (4; 104) and the control valve (3; 103), and closes either when the over-pressure valve (4; 104) opens due to an inlet pressure that is above the inlet-pressure limit value or when the control valve (3; 103) opens due to an outlet pressure that is above an outlet-pressure limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Spectron Gas Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Johan van der Klift, Andreas Roncka
  • Patent number: 9447715
    Abstract: A valve device includes a butterfly valve and a first link member each supported by a stay so as to be rotationally movable about a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis, respectively, a second link member supported by the butterfly valve so as to be rotationally movable about a third rotation axis, and a spring to bias the butterfly valve in a valve closed direction. The first link member and the second link member are connected to each other so as to be mutually rotationally movable about a fourth rotation axis. An angle formed by a first link line connecting the second rotation axis and the fourth rotation axis to each other and a second link line connecting the third rotation axis and the fourth rotation axis to each other is formed to be the largest when the butterfly valve is in a valve closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyomichi Kobori
  • Patent number: 9440324
    Abstract: In an angle valve, an externally threaded sleeve within the yoke surrounds the stem at an upper end of the stem. A yoke bushing fixed to the valve has internal threads matching with the external threading of the sleeve. A split collar assembly is located on the stem above the sleeve. The stem has a greater diameter itself, and/or via a nut, at a lower portion of the stem (below the sleeve) relative to the upper portion of stem. The plug stem is designed to pass through the yoke bushing making it possible to perform the normal open-close operation and grinding operation independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bray International, Inc.
    Inventors: Varadharajen Lakshmanan, Mathew Varghese, Karthikeyan Rajan, Laural Marshall
  • Patent number: 9403125
    Abstract: A valve is provided having an air gap to protect against backflow in a fluid system. The valve can also be used to control fluid flow while providing such backflow protection. The valve can be used with e.g., a reverse osmosis water filtration system and/or other systems. By incorporating both backflow protection and flow control into the same device, efficiencies in space, complexity, and/or installation time are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9395002
    Abstract: A gate valve includes a body with a flow passage intersected by a gate cavity and a gate with an axis, the gate being axially movable in the gate cavity between a gate closed position and a gate open position. A lifting device is in engagement with a stem of the gate to move the gate to the gate open position. A port extends from a first external surface of the gate to a second external surface of the gate. A seal member is mechanically connected to the lifting device, the seal member being moveable in response to axial movement of the lifting device between a seal open position where fluids can flow through the port and a seal closed position where the seal member blocks fluids from flowing through the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control LP
    Inventors: Travis Kyle McEvoy, David Daniel Comeaux, Lloyd Ray Cheatham, Edward York
  • Patent number: 9388747
    Abstract: An airtightness maintaining structure for a butterfly valve includes a valve element having a rotating shaft and a valve body, a rotation supporting portion having a pivotably supporting member that fits onto the rotating shaft and pivotably supports the rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft seal arranged to contact in a fitting state both an end surface of a member on an outer radial and a surface of a member on an inner side either the rotation shaft or the pivotably supporting member and has an annular portion. In a closed valve state of the valve element, the rotating shaft seal moves radially due to a pressure difference between a high fluid pressure acting on one side of the valve element and a low fluid pressure acting on the other side and contacts both the valve element and the rotation supporting portion on the high fluid pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Kato, Masato Ishii
  • Patent number: 9377116
    Abstract: A valve is provided. The valve includes a housing including an interior and a side wall at least partially delimiting the interior, a valve element within the interior of the housing and configured to be selectively operable between an open position and a closed position. The valve element includes an interior and a side wall at least partially delimiting the interior of the valve element. The valve also includes a series of pressure relief devices within the side walls of the housing and the valve element. The series of pressure relief devices include at least one check valve and are configured to provide flow communication from the interior of the housing to exterior of the housing upon actuation of the at least one check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Nnanna Adi, Paul Scott Truzzi
  • Patent number: 9341282
    Abstract: A flow control valve and a valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to the rotary position of the valve member. The system has an array of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement and in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve's housing. A magnetic-field source is fixed to and rotates with the valve member as a unit. The magnetic-field source includes magnetic members adjacent to and out of physical engagement with the transducers. The magnetic member moves along an arcuate path parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions. The magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine the rotational position of the magnetic-field source and/or the valve member, and the fluid flow rate through the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Flow Control Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Robson
  • Patent number: 9334969
    Abstract: Proposed is a pinch valve (1) which has a hose-like valve element (3), an actuating element (18) arranged on the outer circumference of the valve element (3), and at least one radially movable plunger (33a, 33b) arranged between the actuating element (18) and the valve element (3). On the inner side (39) of the actuating element (18) there is situated at least one actuating surface, which extends in the circumferential direction and at the same time axially and which bears against a plunger (33a, 33b). By way of guide means (28a, 28b), it is ensured that, in the event of rotation of the actuating element (18), the actuating surface slides on the at least one plunger (33a, 33b) and pushes the latter radially inward, because the spacing of the actuating surface to the valve element (3) varies over the longitudinal profile thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Berwanger, Martin Herrig
  • Patent number: 9322338
    Abstract: A throttle valve for preventing a sudden unintended acceleration, the throttle valve regulating an amount of air supplied to an engine mounted on a vehicle and including a valve main body, a flow path formed in the valve main body and having an inlet through which the air flows in and an outlet connected to the engine, and a flow rate regulating unit regulating an amount of the air in the flow path by opening or closing the flow path, in which, when a rapid pressure drop occurs at the outlet side connected to the engine, the flow rate regulating unit is pressed by a force generated due to a difference in pressure between the inlet and the outlet so as to close the flow path without use of an additional drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventors: Sang Yeoul Ma, Myong Im Yu
  • Patent number: 9309903
    Abstract: Vortex generators are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing including a surface. The example apparatus also includes a bimorph actuator disposed in the housing. The bimorph actuator includes a first bimorph beam having a first portion fixed relative to the surface. A blade is rotatably coupled to the bimorph actuator, and the bimorph actuator is to rotate the blade to extend a portion of the blade through the surface to generate a vortex in a fluid flowing past the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dan John Clingman, Esther Shifra Zidovetzki, Randy Lee Macaraeg Mallari
  • Patent number: 9228596
    Abstract: A rotary valve comprises a bushing and a cylindrical spool rotatably received by the bushing. The rotary valve avoids redundant control edge pairs by having exactly one first supply edge pair (P-C1) for controlling a first fluid supply path, exactly one second supply edge pair (P-C2) for controlling a second fluid supply path, exactly one first return edge pair (C2-R1) for controlling a first fluid return path, and exactly one second return edge pair (C1-R2) for controlling a second fluid return path. A first angle between the first supply edge pair and the first return edge pair, and a second angle between the second supply edge pair and the second return edge pair, are each greater than or equal to 120 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Geometric simplicity is achieved by tolerating a limited degree of force imbalance in valve operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: MOOG INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Bruce Weber