Patents Examined by Ramesh Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 7077157
    Abstract: A spring-loaded pressure relief valve, particularly for containers of pressurized fluids, comprising a valve body that is associable with a container and forms a discharge port that is controlled by a main piston; an auxiliary valve is further provided, which controls a venting port and drives the intervention of the main piston, such main piston being accommodated in a cavity that is formed in the valve body and is open in an axial direction on the opposite side with respect to the venting port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Cavagna Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Cavagna
  • Patent number: 7077153
    Abstract: A side control faucet is provided with a separate diverter valve which is connected to a single outlet from the valve body. The diverter valve is connected to a spout and to an auxiliary water dispenser, such as a side spray or water filtration dispenser. The separate diverter assembly allows the use of a single valve body to be used for both side spray and non-side spray faucet models. The side control faucet design reduces the number of parts required for a side control valve body for a side control faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Donald J Segien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7069945
    Abstract: A cartridge relief valve uses a piston design. The piston replaces a tube used in prior art relief valves. The piston makes the inventive relief valve easier to manufacture and more stable than prior art relief valves. This is due to the fact that, for a given size valve, the diameter of the piston is smaller than the diameter of the tube that it replaces. Furthermore, the diameter of the pilot seat of the inventive relief valve is also smaller than the diameter of the pilot seat of many prior art valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Slawinski, Jianping Chen
  • Patent number: 7069946
    Abstract: A slow-release check valve for a pneumatic system including a compressed gas source and a pneumatic device includes a body with a proximal, supply end and a distal, power end. Supply and power couplings are mounted on the body supply and power ends respectively and are adapted for coupling with a compressed gas source and a pneumatic device respectively. The body includes a passage with a frusto-conical configuration with a minimum-diameter supply end adjacent to the supply coupling and a maximum-diameter power end adjacent to the power coupling. A ball is movably located within the passage and engages the body in a closed position. The ball is biased towards its closed position by a spring. For power operation the ball is in an open position whereby gas flows around same. Disconnecting the hose causes the ball to move to its closed position and allows compressed gas to slowly dissipate from the disconnected hose whereby fishtailing is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Edward I. Clare, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7069944
    Abstract: To control a flow rate ranging from an extremely-low rate to a high rate, particularly, to control an extremely-low flow rate accurately, the following processes are executed. A regulator, a flow rate adjustment valve connected in series downstream of the regulator and adjusting a valve opening of its valve provided to a passage, and a flow rate sensor are provided. A regulator controlled degree and a valve opening controlled degree of the flow rate adjustment are found in accordance with a detection value and a target flow rate value to control the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Morikawa, Hiroshi Kondou
  • Patent number: 7069951
    Abstract: A proportional solenoid valve or a camshaft adjusting device of motor vehicles has a valve housing and a piston movably arranged in the valve housing and provided with at least one pressure medium passage. A solenoid part is connected to the valve housing and acts on the piston. The valve housing has at least one working connector, a tank connector, and a pressure connector configured to supply a pressure medium into the piston. A leakage passage is provided that connects the pressure connector at all times to the at least one working connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventor: Marius Cornea
  • Patent number: 7063097
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for delivery of dilute active fluid, e.g., to a downstream active fluid-consuming process unit of a semiconductor manufacturing plant. The delivery system includes an active fluid source, a diluent fluid source, a fluid flow metering device for dispensing of the active fluid at a predetermined flow rate, a mixer arranged to mix active gas from the active fluid source that is dispensed at such predetermined flow rate by the fluid flow metering device, with diluent fluid to form a diluted active fluid mixture, and a monitor arranged to measure concentration of active fluid in the diluted active fluid mixture, and responsively adjust the fluid flow metering device, to control the dispensing rate of the active fluid, and maintain a predetermined concentration of active fluid in the diluted active fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose I. Arno, James A. Dietz
  • Patent number: 7051762
    Abstract: A one-way valve, intended particularly for use in food packages The valve, which is intended to be fitted on a package, is arranged to open in response to an excess pressure inside and is recloseable. An adhesive sheet is arranged on top of an aperture formed in the packaging material. The adhesive sheet being arranged to uncover the aperture when exposed to pressure loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Micvac AB
    Inventor: Joel Haamer
  • Patent number: 7051757
    Abstract: A flow system includes a proportional valve constructed of chemically inert materials (PTFE) to produce variable fluid flow rates of liquids including inert, and high purity, and even highly corrosive liquids. Gases of many varieties can also be flow controlled. The valve may be precisely set, either manually, or by use of an actuating motor, remotely or electronically, for various flow rates for the required fluid. The valve allows for specific proportional flow parameters to be programmed into valve structure and configuration to provide precise and repeatable highest resolution flow control for a wide variety of complex flow conditions (pressure, temperature and viscosity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: McMillan Company
    Inventors: Robert M. McMillan, Edwin L. Hankinson
  • Patent number: 7048005
    Abstract: A throttle valve device for a pneumatic power tool comprises a casing (10) with an air inlet passage (11), an air outlet passage (12), a valve chamber (13) with a main valve seat (14) and a main valve element (15), and a manually shiftable activating rod (21) which is sealingly guided in a lateral guide way (19) and arranged to engage and displace the main valve element (15) off the main seat (14), wherein the activating rod (21) has a valve portion (27,28) for co-operation with a secondary valve seat (24) in the guide way (19) for controlling a bypass passage (23,24,29) extending between the inlet passage (11) and the outlet passage (12) such that the activation rod valve portion (27,28) is separated from the secondary valve seat (24) and opens up the bypass passage (23,24,29) before the activation rod (21) engages and displaces the main valve element (15) off the main seat (14) when operating the activation rod (21) in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Anders Urban Jansson
  • Patent number: 7048251
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body and a valve actuator which is releasably engageable with the valve body. The valve body has an internal cavity within which a valve member is located, and a valve stem is interconnected with the valve body and is accessible from the exterior of the valve body. The valve body further includes a mounting member, and the valve actuator is selectively engageable with the mounting member. The valve actuator includes a latch member which is movable between a latching position and a release position. The mounting member includes a slot, and the latch member has a blocking member that is received within the slot when the latch member is in its latching position, to prevent removal of the valve actuator from the valve body. The latch member is manually movable to a release position, in which the blocking member is removed from the slot in the mounting member to enable the valve actuator to be disengaged from the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Caleffi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Michael R. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 7044164
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve (10) includes a housing (20) defining an air flow passage (34). A flap (90) overlies the air flow passage (34). At least a portion (92, 94) of the flap (90) is movable, in response to an air pressure differential acting on opposite portions of the flap, between an open condition venting air from one side (18) of the valve (10) to a closed condition blocking flow of air from a second side (19) of the valve. The flap (90) has a plurality of mounting openings (104, 106). The housing (20) has a plurality of generally T-shaped mounting posts (70, 72) projecting from the housing. A snap connection is provided between the flap (90) and the mounting posts (70, 72) to secure the flap to the housing (20) with the mounting posts extending through the openings (104, 106). The mounting posts (70, 72) are the only structure holding the flap (90) on the housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Daniel D. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7036525
    Abstract: A bleed-type proportional electromagnetic valve having an input port, output port, and ejection port is disclosed. Fluid force and pressing force, proportionate to an output pressure and a current flowing in a solenoid coil respectively, act on a bleed valve for controlling the output pressure, whereby the valve can obtain an output pressure commensurate to the flowing current by displacing the valve to a position that those forces counterbalance, wherein the valve is provided with a stop valve disposed so as to be in sliding contact with a passage between the input and output port, and in contact with or separated from a valve seat. This enable the stop valve to contact with the valve seat so as to close the input port and communicate the output port with the ejection port when controlling the output pressure to be minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Ichinose, Takuya Uryu, Kenji Nakao, Yoshihiko Onishi
  • Patent number: 7032609
    Abstract: A vacuum feed system for feeding liquid chemical into a stream of a second liquid flowing in a conduit includes a venturi connected in the conduit for supplying vacuum through first and second one-way check valves, a flow regulating valve, and a vacuum regulated flow control valve connected to a supply of liquid chemical to be fed. A pressure relief valve connected between the first and second check valves prevents back flow through the system. The components of the system, from the vacuum regulated flow control valve to the venturi, are arranged to provide a continuous upward flow path to thereby eliminate trapped gas in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Chemical Injection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard P. Specker
  • Patent number: 7032608
    Abstract: Embedded check-valve assembly (100, 600) for integration in a micro-fluidic system. The assembly can include a check-valve chamber (104, 604), an inlet port (106, 606) and an outlet port (108, 608) formed from at least one layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film to form a substrate (102, 602). A plug (114, 614) is disposed within the check-valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Koeneman, Terry M. Provo
  • Patent number: 7032620
    Abstract: Valves and methods for manufacturing the valves are disclosed. The valves are formed from a plurality of flexible polymer layers. A radio frequency bonding process, or the like, is utilized to form welds between the various layers. In general, a sub-assembly is formed that includes a valve layer bonded to a substrate layer. The sub-assembly is bonded to a second element such that a channel is formed between the valve layer and the second element. The channel includes an inlet, an outlet, and a pair of weld beads located in the inlet that place the inlet in an open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Klaas P. Hazenberg, Joel L. Passke
  • Patent number: 7028708
    Abstract: A combination check valve and pressure relief valve is provided for use in regulating the flow of fluid between a first fluid side and a second fluid side. The valve may include a valve body, a valve insert positioned within an aperture of the valve body, a check poppet attached to the valve insert, and a check spring positioned between the valve insert and the valve body. In addition, a relief spring and a relief poppet may be positioned within a cavity formed by the valve insert and secured in position by the check poppet. The combination of the valve insert and the check poppet is adapted to move relative to the valve body and against the force of the check spring to permit fluid to pass from the first fluid side to the second fluid side, and the relief poppet is adapted to move relative to the check poppet against the force of the relief spring to allow fluid to pass from the second fluid side to the first fluid side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Thomas J. Langenfeld, Matthew C. Roney, Robert E. Trimble
  • Patent number: 7028709
    Abstract: The valve includes a supply portion, a delivery portion and an intermediate fluid chamber; a poppet member is positioned within the fluid chamber and is adapted to move within the chamber, the poppet including a conical seating surface and a rim portion, the rim portion having openings therethrough into the open interior of the poppet, allowing for forward fluid flow through the poppet. A delivery poppet seat and a supply poppet seat are defined at opposite ends of the fluid chamber. The delivery poppet seat is configured so that when the rim portion of the poppet contacts the delivery seat, fluid flow in the forward direction is permitted. The supply poppet seat is configured such that when the conical seating surface of the poppet member contacts the supply poppet seat, backflow through the valve is substantially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Douglas S. Beck
  • Patent number: 7028706
    Abstract: A decompression valve incorporated in a gas decompression device valve of fuel cell system is divided into a measuring room and a back pressure room by a diaphragm. A valve seat and a valve body adjoining to the measuring room are arranged on the decompression valve. When gas pressure works on the diaphragm, the diaphragm is displaced to move in a direction for making the valve body closer to the valve seat. Pressure control springs arranged on the decompression valve urge the diaphragm in a direction to make the valve body separate from the valve seat. The diaphragm, pressure control springs and the like allow hydrogen gas to pass the valve seat, whereby hydrogen gas from an outlet is decompressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Ando
  • Patent number: 7028981
    Abstract: A non-return valve (10), typically of commonly called duckbill valve shape, comprising a valve body (12) and a valve membrane (14). The valve body (12) is generally tubular and includes an elongate passageway (16) with inlet (18) and outlet (20) at opposing ends. The valve membrane (14) is of a generally conical-shaped diaphragm formed integrally with the valve body (12). The diaphragm (14) has a collapsible opening or aperture (22) located at or adjacent the cones apex. The conical diaphragm (14) is oriented with its apex pointing downstream. The resiliently flexible material from which the diaphragm (14) is constructed, ensures that the diaphragm (14) in a collapsed condition obstructs or closes the aperture (22) to prevent fluid flowing in a reverse direction, i.e. backflow towards the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: IP.ONE PTY LTD
    Inventor: David R Horton