Patents Examined by Paul J Gray
  • Patent number: 11932411
    Abstract: An aircraft engine oil filler apparatus includes a filler tube configured to be connected to an oil tank such that a bottom portion of the filler tube is disposed inside the oil tank, a valve received in the bottom portion of the filler tube movable between an open position in which the valve hydraulically connects the filler tube to the oil tank, and a closed position in which the valve hydraulically disconnects the filler tube from the oil tank, and a float disposed above the valve and operatively connected to the valve to move the valve from the open position to the closed position when oil inside the oil tank rises to a threshold level. The valve is movable independently from the float when pressure in the oil tank is greater than pressure in the filler tube. A method of operation of an oil filler apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Rose-Elizabeth Banville, Simon Cartier
  • Patent number: 11933422
    Abstract: A steam control valve including a valve seat, a valve disc that is abuttable on the valve seat, a valve lifting rod that is linked to the valve disc and extends in a vertical direction, a bushing that supports the valve lifting rod slidably, a lever linked to an upper end of the valve lifting rod, and an actuator that causes the lever to pivot, in which a box section having a downward-facing opening is provided on one end side of the lever, and the box section of the lever loosely fits an overhang section on a side of the valve lifting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Igawa
  • Patent number: 11933146
    Abstract: A method of raising the pressure of a natural gas stream (9) on an oil or gas producing installation (1) comprises using an existing high pressure gas stream (13) at the installation to drive the turbine (12) of a turbo-compressor unit (10). It is common on oil and gas producing installations to require the pressure of a gas stream to be increased by a small amount, e.g. to allow flare gas to be fed to the production gas train thereby avoiding flaring. This system may replace the current practice of using ejectors for this purpose since ejectors are very inefficient. However, it can be advantageous to feed the output of the turbine side (12) of the turbo-compressor (10) to an ejector which can give a small pre-boost to the low pressure natural gas (9) before it enters the compressor side (11) of the turbo-compressor (10). (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventor: Carl Jonas Rydland
  • Patent number: 11923221
    Abstract: A master controller determines a first flow setpoint for a process flow gas and/or a carrier gas flow through a first mass flow controller. The master controller obtains a back pressure setpoint of a distribution manifold and determines a second flow setpoint for the process gas flow and/or the carrier gas flow through a second mass flow controller or a back pressure controller based on the determined first flow setpoint and the obtained back pressure setpoint. The master controller controls the process gas flow and/or the carrier gas flow through the first mass flow controller to the first flow setpoint and the second mass flow controller and/or the back pressure controller to the second flow setpoint. The master controller controls the back pressure of the distribution manifold to the back pressure set point in view of a back pressure reading from a back pressure sensor of the distribution manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Brashear, Ashley M. Okada, Dennis L. Demars, Zhiyuan Ye, Jaidev Rajaram, Marcel E. Josephson
  • Patent number: 11920465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus, a system, and a method for detecting and indicating the operational position of a valve of wellsite equipment. The apparatus comprises a mount portion and a housing portion. The mount is operatively coupled to a non-moving part of the valve and the housing portion is configured to receive a sensor therewithin. The sensor is configured to detect the position of a moving part of the valve and to provide an output signal indicative of the position of the moving part of the valve. The position of the moving part of the valve is indicative of the operational position of the valve. The system comprises one or more such apparatus for detecting and indicating the operational position of one or more valves on a wellsite or well pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Intelligent Wellhead Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Duncan, Murad Mohammad, Lindsey William Harper
  • Patent number: 11913559
    Abstract: A spool valve includes a sleeve and a spool arranged on an inside of a sleeve to be movable in a longitudinal direction, the sleeve being provided with an inflow port into which fluid is supplied from an external fluid supply hole, and an outflow port through which the fluid is flown to an outside of the sleeve, wherein a supply groove is formed on an outer periphery of the sleeve, and the supply groove includes an inlet space into which the fluid flows from the fluid supply hole and an outlet space formed on a side of the inflow port with respect to the inlet space in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Nishimura, Tadanobu Kawato, Masaki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 11898655
    Abstract: A tank valve system comprises a main valve body, an overfill protection device (OPD), a gauge drive apparatus and a fuel level indicator. The OPD and gauge drive apparatus are configured to both be inserted through a narrow neck of a fuel storage tank prior to connecting the valve body to the neck. The valve body includes a primary fuel channel and a shuttle interface channel. The OPD includes an overfill float driving an overfill shutoff valve for controlling fluid flow from the primary channel into the tank. The gauge drive apparatus includes a gauge float, a shuttle, and an elongated extension body. The gauge float is movable with respect to the extension body between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, thereby driving the shuttle. The shuttle has a gauge actuation portion transportable within the shuttle interface channel to thereby actuate the fuel level indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: YSN Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Dovid Newman, Chin-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11892093
    Abstract: A device for generating pressure pulses includes a valve member disposed in a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway including a restriction, the valve member movable by an actuator relative to the restriction to generate a pressure pulse in a fluid in the fluid passageway based on varying a relative position between the valve member and the restriction and creating a differential pressure across the fluid passageway, the differential pressure applying a first force on the valve member. The device also includes a piston member in hydraulic communication with the differential pressure, the differential pressure applying a second force on the piston member, the piston member having a locomotive mechanical connection to the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 11884129
    Abstract: A device for regulating a throughflow and distributing a fluid in a fluid circuit, in particular a refrigerant. The device has a housing with ports for connecting to fluid lines which are connected to at least one inner volume of the housing designed as a valve chamber via a respective through opening, and at least one valve element arranged in the valve chamber with a drive element for moving the valve element relative to the housing. The at least one valve element is mounted such that it can be displaced in a linear manner in the axial direction along a longitudinal axis such that a passage for the fluid is opened between a first port designed as an inlet and a second port designed as a first outlet and/or a third port designed as a second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Daniel Zens, Nils Michael Schlattmann, Dominik Wiechard, Björn Bergmann, Deny Laforge, Jerome Görres, Johannes Müller
  • Patent number: 11885433
    Abstract: An actuator (1) having two detent devices (2) which include in each case at least one terminal detent element (3) for a part (27) of a drive train, and at least one adjustment element (4, 19) which is operatively connected to the terminal detent element (3) and is specified for setting a position of the terminal detent element (3). The at least one gear unit (5, 18) is disposed between the at least one terminal detent element (3) and the at least one adjustment element (4, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11879580
    Abstract: Quick disconnect devices for high pressure fluid transfer, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative quick disconnect system includes a first connector and a second connector. The second connector can have an opening sized and shaped to receive a first end of the first connector. The second connector can include a poppet positioned to open the first connector when the first connector is connected to the second connector. The second connector can include an inner sleeve moveable between a first position wherein the poppet head forms a fluid-tight seal with the annular seat of the inner sleeve, and a second position wherein the second end portion is open to permit fluid flow through the end portion of the inner sleeve. In some embodiments, the inner sleeve is pressure balanced in every direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BLUE ORIGIN, LLC
    Inventors: Randall J. Strauss, William Goettler
  • Patent number: 11865387
    Abstract: Automatic fluid control assemblies and methods for fire protection include an arrangement of electrically operated control points, a valve body and a controller to operate the fluid control assembly. The automatic fluid control assembly has an inlet, an outlet and a valve body to control flow between the inlet and the outlet. An electric latch includes a first electrically operated control point and a second electrically operated control point in fluid communication with a control line to control the flow of fluid from the inlet to the valve body and outlet. The methods of fluid control include controlling a plurality of electrically operated control points to perform any one of: a leak test, a trip test, a flow test, a water delivery test, and a validation test of a non-trip condition and a trip condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: James O. Williams, Roger S. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 11859374
    Abstract: A faucet includes a faucet body and a faucet spray head being movable from a retracted position adjacent the faucet body, and an extended position away from the faucet body. In the retracted position, the faucet spray head has at least one aligned position with the faucet body. The faucet includes an alignment coupling. The alignment coupling includes first and second alignment elements connected to the faucet body and the faucet spray head, respectively, to align the spray head with the faucet body. The faucet includes a retention coupling that is configured to retain the faucet body and the faucet spray head immediately adjacent one another. The retention coupling includes first and second retention elements connected to the faucet body and the faucet spray head, respectively. The retention coupling is separate from the alignment coupling, and at least one of the first or second retention elements is a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Tracy, Oscar Romero, Evan Benstead, Jan Van Leyen
  • Patent number: 11860024
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for a guided wave radar level gauge including a valve housing holding a movable valve element having a through-opening, the movable valve element being configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position. A probe section arranged in the through-opening of the movable valve element. Upper and lower probe sections are located on respective sides of the movable valve element. A spring-loaded connection assembly is configured to form an electrical connection between the upper and the lower probe section via the probe section in the movable valve element when the movable valve element is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Håkan Fredriksson, Mikael Eriksson, Christoffer Widahl
  • Patent number: 11852260
    Abstract: A time delay valve includes a switching valve that switches between a first position and a second position; an urging member that urges the switching valve toward the first position; a driving mechanism that urges the switching valve toward the second position located opposite the first position in the presence of the pressure of a pilot fluid being supplied; a pilot flow channel that introduces the pilot fluid to the driving mechanism; and a delaying mechanism that delays the switching timing of the switching valve. The delaying mechanism includes a first throttle valve provided on the pilot flow channel, a compensation mechanism that urges the switching valve toward the first position in the presence of the pressure of the pilot fluid being supplied, and a compensation flow channel that is branched from the pilot flow channel to introduce a portion of the pilot fluid to the compensation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiho Nishimura, Akira Tadano
  • Patent number: 11852299
    Abstract: Preloading a containment vessel with Low Vapor Pressure (LVP) liquid; partially evacuating the containment vessel to generate a vacuum in a headspace above the LVP liquid; and relieving material from a process vessel into the containment vessel during a process relief event in the process vessel. The containment vessel pressure may be equalized with ambient conditions prior to preloading the LVP liquid. The containment vessel size and quantity of LVP liquid may be determined to absorb the energy and mass of relieving fluids from the maximum anticipated relief scenario, permitting the gases to condense to liquid form to be recovered in liquid state instead of atmospherically venting or combusting the gases. The containment vessel headspace may be partially occupied with High Vapor Pressure (HVP) liquid comprising C5-C10 hydrocarbons configured to flash during the evacuation step to create and occupy a headspace, providing additional head space volume and heat rejection capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CARBOVATE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
    Inventors: Edward John Brost, Gary Stewart Locke
  • Patent number: 11851031
    Abstract: A manifold assembly for a camera wash system of an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The manifold assembly includes a fluid inlet; a plurality of fluid injectors, each fluid injector configured to switch between an open state in which fluid passes through the fluid injector and a closed state in which fluid does not pass through the fluid injector; a block member configured to hold the fluid injectors in a fixed position; and a rail member including a fluid passage in fluid communication between the fluid inlet and each fluid injector for providing a cleaning fluid to each of the fluid injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J Hornby, Steven Paul Nowinski, Michael J Zaitz
  • Patent number: 11846391
    Abstract: A gas supply apparatus includes: a mounting portion installed on a cabinet; a gas supply portion installed on the mounting portion so as to be raisable and lowerable; and a gas container fixing portion fixing a gas container to the gas supply portion, wherein the gas supply portion includes a compressed gas association (CGA) fastening module that is installed on the mounting portion and is detachable from the gas container, and the CGA fastening module includes: a case; an end cap housing rotatably installed on the case; a CGA connector housing installed on the case so as to be disposed adjacent to the end cap housing; a gasket detection sensor installed on a sensor installation mount of the case and disposed under the CGA connector housing; and a power transmission portion spaced apart from the end cap housing and connected to the end cap housing and the CGA connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Beomsoo Hwang, Jongkyu Kim, Hyunsik Kim, Kyeongsup Byeon, Byungjun An, Byeongchan Jeong, Kimoon Lee, Hyungho Choi
  • Patent number: 11846360
    Abstract: A P/V valve that can be positioned at a working height above grade (i.e., a height reachable by a service technician positioned at grade) while still providing appropriate resistance to fire and explosion by venting to atmosphere at an appropriate height above grade (e.g., 12 feet) is disclosed. In certain exemplifications of the present disclosure, the P/V valve features a diaphragm actuated two-way poppet valve actuatable by a valve piston. In alternative exemplifications of the present disclosure, the P/V valve is positioned intermediate grade and the distal end of a P/V valve riser pipe and is contained in a vault fluidly connected to the P/V valve riser pipe, the P/V valve locally venting in the vault, which is hermetically sealed to the P/V valve riser pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Franklin Fueling Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Justin F. Kuehn
  • Patent number: 11839970
    Abstract: A system for preventing debris buildup in vacuum sensor lines includes: a manifold, including a positive air pressure source and a controller; and one or more positive air pressure lines. Each positive air pressure line is in fluid communication with the manifold and can be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum sensor line. The controller is operably connected to and selectively activates the positive air pressure source to emit a positive flow of air, which can be directed into the one or more positive air pressure lines, and then into and through the associated vacuum sensor lines to evacuate debris. In some embodiments, a positive flow of air can also be directed through one or more vacuum lines of the end effector to promote the release of a parcel engaged with the end effector and/or clear the vacuum lines of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah Douglas, Paul Receveur