Patents Examined by Paul J Gray
  • Patent number: 11125217
    Abstract: A choke for fluid connection between a manifold and a pump. The choke includes a fluid passage having an inlet, a contraction portion, a throat, an expansion portion, and an outlet. The inlet has a first diameter and the outlet has a second diameter. The throat is substantially cylindrical, having a third diameter that is substantially less than the first and second diameters. The contraction portion connects the inlet and the throat and gradually decreases from the first diameter to the third diameter along a longitudinal axis of the fluid passage. The expansion portion connects the throat and the outlet and includes a substantially cylindrical chamber having the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gustavo Plaza, Kim A. Hodgson, Gocha Chochua, Walter Taylor, Donald E. Hensley, John Starr, Jijo Oommen Joseph
  • Patent number: 11123588
    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 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: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: James O. Williams, Roger S. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 11125346
    Abstract: A gas migration prevention module can include a housing, control line connections configured to connect the housing between control line sections, spaced apart pistons sealingly received in the housing, and a fluid volume defined between the pistons. A control line system can include an upper control line section, a lower control line section in fluid communication with a downhole tool, and a gas migration prevention module connected between the upper and lower control line sections, the lower control line section providing fluid communication between the gas migration prevention module and the downhole tool, and the gas migration prevention module comprising spaced apart pistons and a fluid volume defined between the pistons, the fluid volume being in fluid communication with an exterior of the gas migration prevention module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Otavio Maffud Cilli, Don A. Hopmann
  • Patent number: 11111130
    Abstract: A fuel storage and supply arrangement serves as a source of fuel to be dispensed via at least one fuel dispenser in a fuel dispensing environment. The arrangement comprises a storage tank for containing a quantity of the fuel, fuel piping configured to convey fuel from the fuel storage tank to a fuel dispenser, and a fuel conditioning and filtration assembly having an inlet in fluid communication with the fuel piping and an outlet in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank to return the fuel. A fuel conditioning and filtration element is interposed between the inlet and the outlet, the fuel conditioning and filtration element being configured to remove water from the fuel passing through the filter element. A flow valve allows and prevents flow of fuel through the filter element. Processing circuitry is operative to control the flow valve based on predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Veeder-Root Company
    Inventors: James T. Bevins, Thomas Scott Menke, Diane Marie Sinosky, Kent Deloy Reid, Nicholas Robert Peterson, Kyle Stephen Gibson
  • Patent number: 11111126
    Abstract: A method of delivering a fluid to a fluid consuming asset having a fluid tank is disclosed. A first tank is filled with the fluid and is fluidically coupled to a second tank which may be pressurized by a compressor. The second tank is fluidically coupled to a manifold which is in turn coupled to a fluid transporting mechanism. The fluid transporting mechanism is fluidically coupled to a hydraulic connector of a fill cap which is coupled to an opening of the fluid tank. The fluid is directed from the first tank to the second tank, the manifold, the fluid transporting mechanism, the hydraulic connector and into the fluid tank through an outlet of a probe of the fill cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Fueling Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mason Duncan, Hanan Tuchshnieder
  • Patent number: 11090670
    Abstract: Disclosed is a holder device with waterway switching function. Water flows out of the first outlet waterway when the handle matter is pulled out of the socket, after the handle matter is inserted to the socket, water can flow out of the first outlet waterway, the second outlet waterway or the two outlet waterways by the second switch mechanism, the automatic switch and the practical need are elegantly combined, the present invention has compact structure and occupies small space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qihua Fan, Fengde Lin, Tianming Wang, Wenxing Chen
  • Patent number: 11092254
    Abstract: A self-sealing valve for an inflatable body such as a toy balloon is disclosed. The valve comprises a hollow tube element of an elastomeric material with a proximal end, a distal end, a cylindrical portion at the proximal end, a flat portion at the distal end having two flat sides, and a transition portion between the cylindrical portion and the flat portion. The cylindrical portion is open at the proximal end and the flat portion is closed at the distal end with an opening on at least one of its flat sides. The valve is inserted in an inflatable body with the flat and transition portions of the hollow tube element located inside the inflatable body and the cylindrical portion of the hollow tube element located at least partially inside the inlet portion of the inflatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Jose Luis Rueda Calvet
  • Patent number: 11085554
    Abstract: A micro fluid actuator includes a first substrate, a chamber layer, a vibration layer, a first metal layer, a piezoelectric actuation layer, a second metal layer, a second substrate, an inlet layer, a resonance layer and an aperture array plate. The first substrate includes a plurality of first outflow apertures and a plurality of second outflow apertures. The chamber layer includes a storage chamber. The second metal layer includes an upper electrode pad and a lower electrode pad. While driving power having different phase charges is provided to the upper electrode pad and the lower electrode pad to drive and control the vibration layer to displace in a reciprocating manner, the fluid is inhaled from the exterior through the inlet layer, converged to the storage chamber, compressed and pushes out the aperture array plate, and then is discharged out from the micro fluid actuator to achieve fluid transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao-Jan Mou, Rong-Ho Yu, Cheng-Ming Chang, Hsien-Chung Tai, Wen-Hsiung Liao, Chi-Feng Huang, Yung-Lung Han, Hsuan-Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 11085551
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve body forming a channel defining a fluid flow path extending from an inlet port to an outlet port of the valve body via a gallery disposed therebetween, an opening disposed in communication with the gallery, a valve assembly at least partially disposed through the opening and in the gallery, and a set pin having a central longitudinal axis. A valve disc of the valve assembly moves between a first position spaced from a valve seat of the valve body and a second position in contact with the valve seat. The set pin is coupled to and at least partly supported by the valve assembly to maintain the valve assembly in the first position. The fluid flow path allows a fluid to flow through the valve body in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The set pin is adapted to disengage a portion of the valve assembly when contacted by a fluid traversing the fluid flow path in the second direction, allowing the valve disc to move to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Michnevitz, Nathan A. Quinn, Travis Ellison, James Myers
  • Patent number: 11085550
    Abstract: An e-liquid cartridge or other form of parent reservoir designed to supply e-liquid to an electronic cigarette vaporiser, in which the cartridge includes an air pressure valve. The air pressure valve is designed so that as the fluid level inside the cartridge/reservoir falls, atmospheric pressure enables the air pressure valve to allow air to flow into the cartridge/reservoir and ensure equalisation of the air pressure. The valve is an air-porous e-liquid impermeable PTFE or PTFE-coated layer or membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: AYR LTD.
    Inventor: Stephen Marsh
  • Patent number: 11073220
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve device including armature means (12, 14), which are movable along an axial direction for actuating a valve gate assembly group (28) in reaction to energizing stationary spool means (16), and which are accommodated in an actuator housing (17, 19, 20, 22) preferably as a component unit and/or module in conjunction with the spool means and stationary core means and take up an inserted and/or retracted armature position (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GMBH
    Inventors: Andrzej Pyza, Marcin Nieweglowski, Michael Feindler
  • Patent number: 11073221
    Abstract: Example electro-pneumatic converters and related methods are disclosed herein. An example electro-pneumatic converter includes an axial passageway defined in a body between a first opening and a second opening. A supply port is formed by the first opening. The supply port is to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure supply source. The electro-pneumatic converter further includes an output port fluidly coupled to the axial passageway and a solenoid including a coil and an armature. The armature is disposed in and movable in the axial passageway. The armature is movable between a first position blocking the pressurized fluid from flowing through the axial passageway between the supply port and the output port and a second position allowing the pressurized fluid to flow through the axial passageway between the supply port and the output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Michael Fontaine
  • Patent number: 11053670
    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: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam William Tracy, Oscar Romero, Evan Benstead, Jan Van Leyen
  • Patent number: 11047403
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo valve comprising a pair of opposing receiving ports, a piston disposed between the pair of opposing receiving ports and an actuator in contact with the piston. The actuator is configured to provide axial movement of the piston in response to being actuated. The piston comprises a pair of opposed openings that are in operable fluid communication with a respective one of each of the receiving ports, and the axial movement of the piston is configured to vary the amount of a fluid pressure communicated between a respective one of the openings and receiving ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zbigniew Jaśkiewicz, Sebastian Szymański
  • Patent number: 11035398
    Abstract: A vent, preferably made of metal, comprises a body (10) having an aperture (24) for the passage of a fluid and a sealing surface (11) surrounding the aperture. A porous membrane (50) lies against the sealing surface (11) and covers the aperture (24). A clamp arrangement may comprise a spring (30) pressing the membrane against the sealing surface (11) to prevent liquid from passing through between the sealing surface (11) and the membrane (50), e.g. by means of a cap (40) secured to the body (10) of the vent. The clamp arrangement is such that upon a reduction of the membrane thickness by 50% in the clamping area the compressive force per unit area does not change by more than 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Treffert, Peter Kroker, Johannes Stangl, Björn Roth
  • Patent number: 11028934
    Abstract: Provided is a pressure control apparatus in which workability in assembly of a body, a spool valve, a retainer, and an elastic member is improved and a high degree of freedom in a design of installation of the spool valve is obtained. A pressure control apparatus includes: a body having an opening portion penetrating a wall portion which demarcates a spool hole; a spool valve that is disposed displaceably in the spool hole; a plate-shaped retainer disposed at one end side of the spool valve in an axial direction in the spool hole; and an elastic member 6 disposed between the spool valve in the spool hole and the retainer. The retainer has a wide portion and a narrow portion. The opening portion has a first opening portion that allows the retainer to pass through and a second opening portion that inhibits the retainer from passing through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC TOSOK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 11015325
    Abstract: A faucet configured for single-hole installation includes a center body within which a connector body defining hot and cold water inlets and an outlet is supported. A pair of side bodies are attached to the center body about opposite sides of the center body. Bridges including flow paths extend between and connect each side body to the center body. A valve supported within the first side body fluidly couples the hot water inlet with the outlet via the flow path of the first bridge responsive to rotation of a handle supported by the first side body. A valve supported within the second side body fluidly couples the cold water inlet with the outlet via the flow path of the second bridge responsive to rotation of a handle supported by the second side body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: William Robert Bares, Jacob R. Frye, Brian J. Mooren
  • Patent number: 11016512
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and valve assembly that can be used to promote the laminar flow of a variety of fluids and gases. In one embodiment, the valve assembly can be used to remove entrained water bubbles from a water supply. This, in turn, increases the density of water running through an associated water meter. This ensures that the water meter is not inaccurately including entrained air as metered water. The result is more accurate water readings and reduced utility bills. The assembly can be externally adjusted using an adjustment tool so as to increase or decrease the tension on an interior spring which, in turn, increases or decreases the rate at which the interior block oscillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Flow Dynamics, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Chalfin
  • Patent number: 11009188
    Abstract: A valve for a pressurized fluid, including a body housing a fluid circuit including an upstream end configured to be placed in communication with a reserve of pressurized fluid and a downstream end configured to be placed in communication with a user apparatus, the circuit including a control valve controlling the flow rate in the circuit, the control valve being operated by a mobile actuating member to command the opening or the closing thereof, the valve including a first wireless remote communications electronic member using electromagnetic data waves, wherein the first electronic communication member is secured to a support component mounted to move on the body of the valve between at least a first position and a second position with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Antoine Frenal, Renaud Ligonesche
  • Patent number: 11009147
    Abstract: There is provided a valve device for a fuel tank. A housing is provided with a valve chamber and a vent chamber defined via a partition wall. The partition wall is provided with an opening. A float valve is received in the valve chamber to be movable up and down. The float valve includes a lower member and an upper member. The upper member includes a top portion, an outside wall extending from the top portion, and an elastic engaging piece configured to engage with an engaged portion of the lower member. The elastic engaging piece extends from a location on the back surface of the top portion, which is located inward from the outside wall, and is configured to elastically return after being bent in an outward radial direction of the upper member and thus to engage with the engaged portion of the lower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Kenta Mihara