Patents Examined by Ramyar Farid
  • Patent number: 5954089
    Abstract: A pair of serially connected electrically operated computer controlled gas valves combine with a pressure sensor to output pressure regulated low pressure gas dispensed from a high pressure gas source and define a pressure regulation system of relatively simple construction, great versatility and of heretofore unknown flexibility, well suited to remote control. The computer controlled valve controller selectively operates the valves in any and all of three operational modes, including the familiar Bang-Bang mode in which both valves operate simultaneously, a Bang-Wait mode in which both valves operate simultaneously for a precise time interval and thereafter close while the outlet gas pressure is checked, and a newly defined Burp mode. In the novel Burp mode, the valve closest to the high pressure gas source is first opened and closed to admit and capture a small volume of gas within inter-valve piping. Thereafter only the outlet valve is opened and closed to release that small volume of captured gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Nathanael F. Seymour
  • Patent number: 5950671
    Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a fluid sensor against excess fluid pressure that includes a manifold having an internal fluid passage and a fluid inlet for connecting the passage to a fluid system. A piston is disposed within the passage adjacent to one end of the passage, and a rod extends from the piston through the passage. A valve is coupled to the rod at a position spaced from the piston, and is cooperable with the passage for selectively terminating fluid flow through the passage. A fluid sensor may be mounted on the manifold for communicating with fluid in the passage at an end thereof adjacent to the valve and remote from the piston. A spring resiliently engages the piston and urges the piston, rod and valve toward the end of the passage to open the valve. Fluid pressure at the inlet sufficient to overcome forces applied to the piston by the spring functions to close the valve and thereby to isolate the sensor from the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventors: Anthony J. Manz, Kenneth W. Manz
  • Patent number: 5950657
    Abstract: A non-flowing pilot operated relief valve system having modulating action includes a relief valve and a pilot valve. The pilot valve includes a body forming a channel, an inlet port, a control port, and a vent port. A portion of the channel forms an inlet chamber in communication with the inlet port. A piston is axially movable within the channel and has a vent-valve seat communicating the control port and the vent port. A spool extends through the sleeve and is substantially coaxial with the piston. The spool is axially movable within the channel in response to fluid pressure within the inlet chamber. The spool has an inlet-valve seal member closable on the inlet-valve seat and a vent-valve seal member closable on the vent-valve seat. The spool is adapted such that the inlet-valve seal member is seated on the inlet-valve seat when the a vent-valve seal member is unseated from the vent-valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Lai, Erwin Cortez
  • Patent number: 5950675
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and feeding plural gases flowing at different mass flow rates and having different molecular weights includes a plurality of gas feed lines connected to a mixing region having an outlet for feeding a mixture of the gases to a semiconductor production apparatus. The gas feed line carrying the lowest-flow-rate gas is connected to the mixing region at a location farther from the outlet than where any other feed line is connected to the mixing region. Feed lines carrying gases other than the lowest-flow-rate gas are connected to the mixing region according to (1) the relative mass flow rates of the gases carried by the lines (2) the relative molecular weights of the gases carried by the lines or (3) the product of the respective gas flow rates and molecular weights of the gases. At least the line carrying the lowest-flow-rate gas is provided with an apparatus for increasing the velocity of the gas flowing therein prior to entry of the gas into the mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignees: Fujikin Incorporated, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yukio Minami, Nobukazu Ikeda, Manohar L. Shrestha, Satoshi Kagatsume
  • Patent number: 5950656
    Abstract: The invention concerns a thermal safety fitting in which the closure motion of the obturator is longitudinal with respect to the obturator seat. The aim is to avoid lateral excursions of the obturator, while keeping manufacturing costs and structural size as low as possible. The obturator (12) is held in the open position in the housing (1) on the longitudinal axis of the obturator seat (28) by means of a generally U-shaped element (30). The two arms (9) of the U-shaped element (30) are located in the vicinity of a reduced-diameter section (17) of the obturator (12). The part (13) of the U-shaped element (30) joining the two arms (9) rests against a thermosolder (14). If the thermosolder (14) melts, the arms (9) no longer remain in the reduced-diameter section (17) owing to the change in the position of the U-shaped element (30), and the obturator (12) thus moves into the closed position under the action of a closing spring (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Mertik Maxitrol GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Klaus Schulze
  • Patent number: 5950669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure valve for installation in a supply line between a pump work chamber of a fuel injection pump and an injection site in an internal combustion engine to be supplied thereby. A valve body is provided with a valve seat and has a through conduit in which a pressure valve closing member is guided. A check valve is disposed in a work chamber, wherein the check valve and the pressure valve closing member are movable relative to one another, in the through conduit. A restoring spring on the injection side causes the check valve to rest in the through bore and on the pump chamber side disposes the pressure valve closing member to the valve seat of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fehlmann, Ruben-Sebstian Henning, Walter Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5950667
    Abstract: An apparatus detects an opening in a fluid flow passageway such as occurs when a resistance welding cap which is cooled by the fluid flow becomes accidently detached from a welding machine. Upon detection of an opening, an air-actuated pinch lever is activated to quickly pinch shut flexible fluid inlet and outlet hoses and thereby shut off the fluid flow. Inlet and outlet flow rate sensors provide periodic outputs to a digital computer which determines directions of inlet and outlet flow acceleration. If either the inlet or outlet acceleration changes direction, a baseline inlet or outlet flow rate is set equal to the corresponding current flow rate value to prevent erroneous opening detection due to normal flow fluctuations. If the inlet and outlet accelerations are in the same direction, the baseline values are similarly updated. If the inlet acceleration is positive and the outlet acceleration is negative, it indicates a probable opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Proteus Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Nicewonger, John W. Clove
  • Patent number: 5947142
    Abstract: Improved breakaway coupling 10, 10B includes an upstream housing 24, 24B and a downstream housing 26, 26B. A poppet 40, 40A, 40B, 40C is positioned within each respective upstream and downstream housing, and is biased by a spring 44, 44A, 44B, 44C for sealing engagement with a seating surface fixed to the respective housing. A push rod 58 maintains the upstream housing 40, 40B open when the coupling is mated. A spiral ring 72, 72B fits within a groove in both the upstream housing and the downstream housing when the coupling is mated, and is radially modified by sliding up a respective ramp surface 86, 86B when an axial pull is exerted on one of the flow lines connected to the coupling. The coupling may be easily reconnected by pressing the male housing into the female housing while the spiral ring is maintained in the groove in the female housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: PGI International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Spencer M. Nimberger, Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 5947152
    Abstract: A check valve or backflow preventer has a valve mechanism mounted to a valve cover for removal and replacement as a unit. The valve clapper is resiliently supported to accommodate variations in tolerance. The valve seat is removably secured within the valve body by compression of a resilient seal ring to engage opposed walls of the seat and body. A spring pretensioning member facilitates safe replacement and removal of the valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Grinnell Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Martin, Leo W. Fleury, Gregory Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5944043
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing a source of ultra-purified water from being contaminated with chemicals includes a source of ultra-purified water and a reservoir containing a chemical source. The reservoir has a chemical delivery valve and a chemical outlet pipe coupled to a chemical delivery line for supplying chemicals to a process chamber during a chemical delivery mode of operation. A first controllable inlet valve has its outlet coupled to the chemical delivery line and the source of ultra-purified water for supplying the ultra-purified water from the source of ultra-purified water to the process chamber during a flushing mode of operation. A second controllable inlet valve has an outlet coupled to the inlet of the first controllable inlet valve and an inlet coupled to the source of ultra-purified water. A source of gas under pressure is coupled between the outlet of the second controllable inlet valve and the inlet of said first controllable inlet valve for creating a virtual air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Glick, Randolph M. Fox
  • Patent number: 5937903
    Abstract: A diverter valve having a valve body with five ports. A valve assembly is disposed in the valve body and is rotatable between first and second positions. When the valve assembly is in the first position, fluid flows between aligned first and second ports by travelling axially through a cylindrical diverter gate, and fluid flows between aligned third and fourth ports by travelling axially through a generally cylindrical blocking gate. A fifth port is blocked by a waste seal. When the diverter valve is in the second position, the fifth port is open and a blocking projection on the blocking gate closes the fourth port. The blocking gate and the diverter gate direct fluid from the first port to the third port, and from the second port to the fifth port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Pac-Fab, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Afshar, Afshin Bazargan
  • Patent number: 5937886
    Abstract: A method of delivering a pure gas charged with a predetermined quantity of at least one gaseous impurity to an apparatus, comprising the steps of mixing at least two different auxiliary gases, including the impurity to form a mixture, diluting a sampled quantity of the mixture in the pure gas in a predetermined manner, delivering the pure gas charged with the impurity to the apparatus, wherein the auxiliary gases are stored in a reservoir in the form of a mixture of known composition, most of the auxiliary gases in the mixture having volume concentrations substantially of the same order of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Girard, Alain Mail, Yves Marot
  • Patent number: 5934318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve system for a space (1) which is under vacuum in relation to its surroundings (3), which valve system comprises a valve unit (7) which is intended to be arranged in association with a wall (2) which delimits the said space and has a wall opening (4) through the said wall, which valve unit comprises a valve (8) which is normally shut and closes the said wall opening but is arranged to be opened and allow air from the surroundings into the said space if the vacuum, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping aktiebolag
    Inventors: Ulf Jansson, Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 5934305
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor includes a compression chamber in which a piston compresses gas, the gas being discharged through a discharge hole that is normally closed by a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve plate on which one end of a discharge valve is anchored. The discharge valve includes an elastically flexible portion for covering the discharge hole. A stopper valve is positioned behind the discharge valve for limiting the extent of movement of the discharge valve. A keeper member is disposed behind the stopper valve to retain the stopper valve and discharge valve in place. One end of the keeper member is fixed to the valve plate by a pin, and the other end of the keeper member is fixed to the valve plate solely by a pressing force of a cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Chang Cho
  • Patent number: 5931181
    Abstract: A faucet system includes a cold water control valve and a hot water control valve. These control valves are in communication with each other through a cold water supply conduit and a mixed water conduit. The hot water control valve includes a needle valve and a valve seat. The needle valve is adjustable with respect to the valve seat to adjust the maximum temperature of hot water being supplied by the hot water control valve to the mixed water conduit. In one embodiment, the hot water control valve of the faucet system further includes a pressure balancer disposed between the hot and cold water supply and the hot and cold control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: William David Cook, Yuhung Edward Yeh
  • Patent number: 5931187
    Abstract: A valve system for starting/restarting an oscillating controller of the type that uses a source of pressurized gas to provide controlled pulses of the pressurized gas to a pump, such as a chemical injector pump. The start/restart valve includes a valve element that is closed by a valve spring when the pressure of the pressurized gas source drops below a predetermined minimum and is opened upon the pressure increasing to a second predetermined pressure higher than the predetermined minimum pressure to thereby provide a higher pressure for starting or restarting the oscillating movement of the controller. The start/restart valve includes a detent mechanism for maintaining the valve element in either the open or closed position until the gas pressure reaches the appropriate pressure level for switching to the opposite position. The opening of the valve element may be caused by the gas pressure being applied directly to the valve element or indirectly through a diaphragm in alternate embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Williams Instrument Incorporated
    Inventor: James F. Williams
  • Patent number: 5931191
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a piston moveable in a cylindrical chamber between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The piston head has a maximum diameter smaller than the wall of the chamber to define a fixed orifice. The opposite end of the piston has a sleeve which partially blocks the outlet opening depending upon the position of the piston in the chamber which in turn depends upon the pressure differential across the fixed orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventors: Frank A. Taube, John D. Taube, Peter H. Greverath
  • Patent number: 5927314
    Abstract: An safety shut off valve automatically shuts off in response to seismic or other shock wave forces of a predetermined magnitude and thereafter automatically reset when there is no discernible excess gas flow due a downstream broken or leaking pipe. The shut off valve generally includes a housing having a mass spring system mounted therein for translating lateral seismic and other shock forces exerted against the housing to an axially movable magnet for decoupling a valve member plate attracted thereto allowing it to block the downstream fluid communication path. A small bypass flow permits the valve member plate to be automatically reset in engagement with the magnet when the atmospheric pressure upstream of the plate is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure downstream of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Mallard Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace W. Velie, deceased, Neil Velie
  • Patent number: 5927321
    Abstract: A system for measuring and controlling the mass flow of a gas of variable characteristics within a pipe by a metering valve, wherein a Coriolis mass flow meter mounted in the pipe is connected to the valve processor unit to calculate a correction factor for the flow rate calculated by the valve and represented by the ratio of the values originating from the Coriolis meter to those originating from the valve, this factor being updated periodically when the operating conditions do not introduce an error into the Coriolis meter. A multi-valve system for different flow rates is also described comprising a single Coriolis meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Bergamini
  • Patent number: 5927322
    Abstract: A quantity regulation valve for controlling liquids in which a valve member can be moved by an electromagnet, permitting different through flow cross sections to be set so that a high pressure pump that is supplied with fuel via the quantity regulation valve can feed a variable quantity of high pressure fuel. At the same time, the valve member of the quantity regulation valve is equipped with a sealing face that cooperates with a valve seat for the purpose of absolutely preventing the high pressure fuel delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Rosenau