Patents Examined by Reinaldo Sanchez-Medina
  • Patent number: 11867644
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for serial femtosecond crystallography for reducing the vast amount of waste of injected crystals practiced with traditional continuous flow injections. A micrometer-scale 3-D printed water-in-oil droplet generator device includes an oil phase inlet channel, an aqueous phase inlet channel, a droplet flow outlet channel, and two embedded non-contact electrodes. The inlet and outlet channels are connected internally at a junction. The electrodes comprise gallium metal injected within the 3-D printed device. Voltage across the electrodes generates water-in-oil droplets, determines a rate for a series of droplets, or triggers a phase shift in the droplets. An external trigger generates the droplets based on the frequency of an XFEL utilized in droplet detection, thereby synchronizing a series of droplets with x-ray pulses for efficient crystal detection. The generated droplets can be coupled to an SFX with XFEL experiment compatible with common liquid injector such as a GDVN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alexandra Ros, Daihyun Kim, Austin Echelmeier, Jorvani Cruz Villarreal, Ana Egatz-Gomez, Sebastian Quintana
  • Patent number: 11851859
    Abstract: The present invention provides a valve element cover plate, comprising a cover plate body. The cover plate body is provided with a water mixing valve mounting position and at least one switching valve mounting position. A cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and water outlets connected to water mixing valve mounting position are arranged on the back of the cover plate body; a water diverting channel is arranged in the cover plate body. A mixed water channel is arranged in the water mixing valve mounting position; fixing parts are arranged on the side of the cover plate body. The present invention has good sealing effect, and can maintain good sealing performance even when the cover plate body is deformed. It also has good filtering effect, and can effectively reduce the wear of downstream switching valve elements, and avoid blockage at the downstream outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Shizhu Qian
  • Patent number: 11852169
    Abstract: Pistons and related methods may be configured to separate fluids and to at least partially prohibit one fluid from traveling to one side of the piston from another side of the piston. Pressure exchange devices and systems may include such pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FLOWSERVE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Norman R. Le Doux, Jr., Jason Bandi, Neil Havrilla, David Olexson, Andreas Dreiss
  • Patent number: 11852300
    Abstract: A hydrogen refueling station evaluation device includes a socket that is supplied with hydrogen, a hydrogen tank that stores the hydrogen supplied through the socket, and a discharge pipeline that discharges hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the atmosphere. A discharge valve adjusts open and closed states of the discharge pipeline. A tank protection valve achieves a state in which the socket and the hydrogen tank are connected to each other, a state in which the socket and the discharge pipeline are connected to each other and the hydrogen tank is closed, and a state in which all of the socket, the hydrogen tank, and the discharge pipe are connected to one another. A gas supplier supplies an inert gas to the socket and a controller operates the tank protection valve, the discharge valve, and the gas supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Aeun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11852267
    Abstract: A fluid conduit connector includes a monolithic body having a first opening at a first side and a second opening at a second side. A throughbore extends from the first opening to the second opening. A first array of holes in the first side is positioned around the first opening, each hole of the first array of holes terminating within the body. A second array of holes in the first side is positioned around the first array of holes, each hole of the second array of holes extending through the body to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAFOCO, INC.
    Inventors: David Lymberopoulos, Andrew Allen Kadavy
  • Patent number: 11834814
    Abstract: A water recirculating device, liter counter, and temperature regulator for showers, which allows the user to predetermine the water temperature required for any bathroom having cold water network and hot water network, whereby any water below the predetermined temperature is recirculated passing through the boiler of the house until it reaches the temperature preset in the device, wherein said device is composed of a housing, a temperature regulator, an LCD display, a LED ring, two water valves; a hot and cold water inlet; a three-way valve; a flowmeter connected to a pump; a thermostatic valve; a servomotor; and an integrated circuit board; and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ECO SHOWER SPA
    Inventors: Gustavo Alejandro Pallauta Pérez, Juan Ignacio Mancilla Valenzuela, Vladimir Antonio Escobar Espinoza
  • Patent number: 11828462
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a gas valve mounting assembly for mounting a gas valve for a gas cooktop burner to a control panel of the appliance. The gas valve mounting assembly includes a valve attachment plate that secures to and generally circumscribes the gas valve and extends generally transversely to an actuation axis of the gas valve, as well as multiple standoffs having respective first and second ends and extending generally parallel to the actuation axis of the gas valve to secure the valve attachment plate to the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Richard W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 11828389
    Abstract: Lined pipelines with different inner diameters are spooled successively onto a reel while their constituent pipe stalks are cyclically pressurised internally to combat wrinkling of the liner. A first, variable diameter pig is advanced to a trailing end of a first pipeline. A transition joint is attached to the trailing end of the first pipeline to effect a transition from the inner diameter of the first pipeline to the different inner diameter of a second pipeline. A leading end of the second pipeline, containing a second pig, is attached to the transition joint. The first pig is driven through the transition joint into the second pipeline. The diameter of the first pig changes to match the inner diameter of the second pipeline. The first and second pigs are then driven along the second pipeline when assembling the second pipeline from a succession of pipe stalks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Subsea 7 do Brasil Servicos LTDA
    Inventors: Daniel Sahonero Rodrigues, Irio Rodrigues Freire Neto
  • Patent number: 11821181
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved hot water flushing of a water supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Magarl, LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Eveleigh, Cameron West
  • Patent number: 11821560
    Abstract: A fluid manifold apparatus, in particular a water distribution apparatus, comprises a fluid chamber, at least one fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets, and a manifold unit, including a plurality of valve units for closing the fluid outlets and a camshaft supported to be rotatable about a rotary axis, comprising a plurality of lobes for operating the valve units, wherein each of the valve units has a cam follower and a sealing unit, and the lobes of the camshaft are provided to lift the cam followers of the valve units as a function of a rotary position of the camshaft. Each of the cam followers has a receiver for receiving one sealing unit, wherein the sealing units are arranged to be linearly moveable in the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Häuser, Christian Schmid, Robert Rottweiler, Vladimir Popov, Alexander Zwetkow
  • Patent number: 11821528
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a valve assembly having a ring gear, an array of first rotary valve bodies, an array of second rotary valve bodies, and a sealing plate. Each of the first rotary valve bodies includes at least one first flow path formed therethrough and each of the second rotary valve bodies includes at least one second flow path formed therethrough. The sealing plate includes a plurality of flow openings formed axially therethrough with each of the flow openings configured to provide fluid communication between one of the first flow paths of the array of first rotary valve bodies and one of the second flow paths of the array of second rotary valve bodies. Rotation of the ring gear causes selective rotation of the first and second rotary valve bodies to alter the flow configuration present between the arrays of the first and second rotary valve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Houssam Soubjaki
  • Patent number: 11815107
    Abstract: When a fluid control valve is opened and closed, the port pressure of fluid control valve is guided to a main relief valve through a first passage, and its maximum pressure is controlled by the main relief valve. At the same time, the port pressure of fluid control valve is guided to pressure compensation valves of the respective fluid control valves. As a result, even when functions having different load pressures are simultaneously operated in the fluid control valves, constant operability can be always secured without depending on the load pressures. In addition, when the fluid control valve, which drives a tilt cylinder for a function of tilting a fork, is opened and closed, the port pressure of the fluid control valve is guided to a secondary relief valve through a second passage, and is also guided to the main relief valve and the pressure compensation valves of the respective fluid control valves through the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michihiro Niwa
  • Patent number: 11814823
    Abstract: Apparatuses for a hydrant, as well as associated methods for installing the same, may be directed to a threaded stem for actuating a hydrant outlet valve at a first end of the stem. An attachment nut may define a bore for supporting the stem in the hydrant. The attachment nut defines a cavity configured to receive water from a barrel of the hydrant. The attachment nut also defines a water access passage extending through an outer wall of the attachment nut to the cavity. The apparatus also includes a sensor in fluid communication with the cavity to obtain sensor data for the water in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: McWane, Inc.
    Inventor: John Garcia
  • Patent number: 11814822
    Abstract: A plumbing fitting with a body having a flow path extending therethrough, and a receptacle disposed in the body is disclosed. The receptacle is arranged to releasably receive a mechanism is movable between a first operational position in which the flow path extends through the receptacle and the mechanism, and a second position in which the flow path bypasses the mechanism. In the second position, the mechanism can be released from the receptacle while a fluid flows through the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AALBERTS INTEGRATED PIPING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Samuel White
  • Patent number: 11817329
    Abstract: A chemical dispensing system is capable of simultaneously supplying a semiconductor processing chemical for production and testing through the use of independent chemical supply lines, which reduces production downtime of an associated semiconductor process, increases throughput and capability of the semiconductor process, and/or the like. Moreover, the capability to simultaneously supply the semiconductor processing chemical for production and testing allows for an increased quantity of semiconductor processing chemical batches to be tested with minimal impact to production, which increases quality control over the semiconductor processing chemical. In addition, the independent chemical supply lines may be used to supply the semiconductor processing chemical to production while independently filtering semiconductor processing chemical directly from a storage drum through a filtration loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Hsu, Yung-Long Chen, Fang-Pin Chiang, Feng-An Yang, Ching-Jung Hsu, Chi-Tung Lai
  • Patent number: 11808019
    Abstract: A valve manifold for a universal rough-in valve, the manifold comprising a first inlet; a second inlet; a first outlet; a second outlet; a cavity to receive a fluid mixing valve; a first transition in flow communication with the cavity and the first inlet; a second transition in flow communication with the cavity and the second inlet; a first channel in flow communication with the cavity and the first outlet; a second channel in flow communication with the cavity and the second outlet; wherein the manifold comprises a venturi tube extending from the second manifold outlet towards the first manifold outlet; and wherein the manifold is configured to be removably disposed in a rough-in valve chamber; and the manifold is configured to be removably coupled to the fluid mixing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AS America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao Chang Li, Walter Pitsch
  • Patent number: 11796075
    Abstract: A functional unit for sanitary facilities having a cold water and hot water inflow and one mixed water outlet that has a mixer, a distributor connected by a connection channel and an electronic control to which are connected sensors and electromotive actuators, the mixer and the distributor are designed as cartridges having electromotive actuators and the cartridges are designed as valves that can be flowed through axially, having axial and/or radial inlets and outlets that have disks arranged in the interior radially and on top of one another and each have at least one outlet opening, one of these disks being rotatable on a stator disk, the rotatable disk engages with an axially rotatable sleeve axially arranged in the respective valve and the cavity can be flowed through, and the outer circumference of the sleeve is operatively connected to the respective electromotive actuator, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: OBLAMATIK AG
    Inventors: Daniel Knupfer, Roland Obrist
  • Patent number: 11794153
    Abstract: Methods and systems of admixing hydrocarbon liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline thereof. The system may include two or more tanks positioned at a tank farm each containing a hydrocarbon liquid therein. The system may include two or more first main pipes, each connected to one of the tanks. The system may include two or more main valves, each connected to one of the first main pipes. The system may include two or more second main pipes each connected to a corresponding main valve. The system may include two or more mixing jumpers, each connected to a corresponding first main pipe, each mixing jumper to, when a corresponding main valve is closed, control hydrocarbon liquid. The system may include a mixing pipe, connected to the second main pipes and the mixing jumpers, configured to transport hydrocarbon liquid from one or more of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11788646
    Abstract: A three-way (3-way) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based micro-valve device and method of fabrication for the implementation of a three-way MEMS-based micro-valve which uses a single piezoelectric actuator. The present invention has a wide range of applications including medical, industrial control, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and products, as well as any application(s) requiring the use of three-way micro-valves for the control of fluids. The present invention allows for the implementation of a three-way microvalve device and method of fabrication that can be tailored to the requirements of a wide range of applications and fluid types. The microvalve may employ a novel pressure-balancing scheme wherein the fluid pressure balances the actuator mechanism so that only a small amount of actuation pressure (or force) is needed to switch the state of the actuator and device from open to closed, or closed to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Corporation for National Research Initiatives
    Inventor: Michael Huff
  • Patent number: 11781657
    Abstract: A valve (1) is introduced for a heat pump system in a motor vehicle, with at least one inlet (3), at least two outlets (2, 4) and a valve element (7) which comprises at least one throughlet (8) and at least one expansion recess (9) that can be brought into fluidic connection with at least one outlet (2, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Daniel Zens, Toni Spies, Marc Graaf, Dominik Wiechard, Markus Herzog, Corinne Le Pellec