Patents Examined by Reinaldo Sanchez-Medina
  • Patent number: 11313478
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking a sealing member of a valve in a piping system or an enclosed system comprises: (a) a locking mechanism housing having a upper end, a lower end opposed to the upper end, and a body between the upper end and the lower end; (b) at least a locking mechanism opening formed on the body; (c) at least a locking mechanism disposed in the locking mechanism opening; wherein the valve further comprises a valve housing and a sealing member; wherein the locking mechanism housing, the at least a locking mechanism opening, at least a locking mechanism, and the sealing member is disposed inside the valve housing; wherein a first pressure exists in the upper end of the locking mechanism housing; and wherein a second pressure exists in the lower end of the locking mechanism housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Anthony Dimonte
  • Patent number: 11313473
    Abstract: A valve member is mounted on a shaft to pivot within a fluid passage. A control selectively moves a piston in a linear direction to control a position of the valve member in the fluid passage. The piston causes a roller pin to move as the piston moves linearly. The roller pin is mounted in crank collars of a crank shaft such that movement of the roller pin causes the crank collars to rotate crank shaft rotating position, and the valve shaft. The roller pin is mounted within the crank collars by bearings. The bearings each have an outer race associated with a crank collar, an inner race associated with the roller pin, and bearing members separate the inner and outer race. There is a spring bias resisting movement of the inner races relative to said roller pin. An anti-ice system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Scott W. Simpson, Calvin R. Parent, David J. Zawilinski
  • Patent number: 11299876
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting including a measurement system. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting includes a user input module. The user input module includes a mechanism to receive from the user numerical value(s) of parameter(s) for water to be delivered through a discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting (e.g., volume or volume and temperature) and a mechanism to deliver to the user the numerical value(s) of the parameter(s) via the water delivered through the discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FB Global Plumbing Group LLC
    Inventors: George John Polly, Christopher R. Novick, Brian Patrick Frackelton
  • Patent number: 11299874
    Abstract: Provided is an enclosure with an integrated hydrant. The enclosure includes a fluid flow conduit that transfers fluid from a fluid supply tube to a fluid outlet, which may be associated with the backflow preventer. The enclosure has a conduit that carries water from the fluid supply tube to the backflow preventer. Thus, a lower profile, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing enclosure is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Eric Pilarczyk
  • Patent number: 11300113
    Abstract: A system for retaining a valve assembly in a cavity formed in a cylinder body of a compressor includes a ring having a through-hole positioned adjacent to the cavity and a cover partially inserted inside a through-hole of the ring. The cover and the ring can slide relative to each other. The position of the cover relative to the cylinder body can be adjusted by tightening a cover retainer. The cover applies a downward force on the valve assembly via a cage. The downward force is used to compress a seal located between the valve assembly and the cylinder body. A seal is positioned between the ring and the cover. The seal remains squeezed when the cover and the ring slide relative to each other. The system can be used to convert a jackbolt cage-cover assembly and may not require significant machining of the cavity to provide a surface-finish with a suitable roughness for a sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Zahroof Mohamed
  • Patent number: 11300217
    Abstract: A cartridge valve for a faucet that includes a housing; a stem adapter at least partially received in the housing and comprising a body defining a slotted hole, which extends in a longitudinal direction, and a threaded hole, which extends in a radial direction; a stem received in the slotted hole and having a central portion that defines a threaded hole; and a screw threaded to the threaded hole of the stem and the threaded hole of the stem adapter to rotatably couple the stem to the stem adapter at a first predetermined frictional resistance in response to rotation of the stem relative to the stem adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: David H. Ritter, Brian S. Core
  • Patent number: 11286958
    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: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Norman R. Le Doux, Jr., Jason Bandi, Neil Havrilla, David Olexson, Andreas Dreiss
  • Patent number: 11280417
    Abstract: Systems for chemical injection. An example system includes a pilot valve comprising: a hydraulic piston, a poppet, and a biasing device. The system further comprises a jay-selector comprising: a rotatable jay-piston having jay-slots, and a plurality of ports. The system additionally comprises a plurality of flow restrictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ibrahim El Mallawany, Paul Gregory James
  • Patent number: 11280068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a leveling differential-pressure diversion peak-shaving water tank with a function of preventing stagnant water and stale water, which comprises a water storage and distribution tank, a water inlet pipeline, a water outlet pipeline and a front tank. The water inlet pipeline is arranged at the upper portion of the water storage and distribution tank and used for feeding water into the water storage and distribution tank. The water outlet pipeline is arranged at the lower portion of the water storage and distribution tank and comprises a main water outlet pipe and a plurality of water outlet branch pipes. One end of each water outlet branch pipe is connected with the main water outlet pipe. The front tank comprises a front tank water box, a front tank water inlet pipeline and a front tank water outlet pipeline. The present invention further provides a water supply pumping station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Shandong Keyuan Water Supply and Drainage Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huiming Zhang, Lei Zhang, Yonghua Zhang, Jiandong Gao, Lianyong Wang, Yongqiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11281238
    Abstract: A hydraulic control unit (4) includes a valve bush (12), a valve cover (15) partially closing the valve bush (12) on an end face (S1), a valve slide (13) guided in a longitudinal direction (L) within the valve bush (12), and a housing part (6). The housing part (6) includes a recess (8) matching an external contour of the valve bush (12). An intermediate plate (7) is configured to partially cover the valve cover (15). A spring (14) is arranged within the valve bush (12) and preloads the valve slide (13) in a starting position. The valve bush (12) is inserted, together with the valve cover (15), the valve slide (13), and the spring (14), into the recess (8) of the housing part (6) and jointly form a hydraulic valve (9). The valve bush (12) forms an inlet (19), and the valve cover (15) forms an outlet (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Marcel Gutzeit, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11274783
    Abstract: Cleanout conduit valve assemblies for a cleanout conduit may include a vertically oriented valve housing. The valve housing may include a valve inlet end configured to be disposed in fluid communication with the cleanout conduit and a valve discharge end opposite to and generally above the valve inlet end. The valve discharge end may be oriented within a valve discharge plane disposed at a discharge angle of greater than 0 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. The valve discharge end may have an upper discharge opening side and a lower discharge opening side sloped downwardly from the upper discharge opening side. A valve body may be pivotally carried by the valve housing at the upper discharge opening side of the valve discharge end. Methods of preventing precipitation and runoff on a ground surface from entering a cleanout conduit connected to a sewer service line are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Putnam, Steve E. Moore
  • Patent number: 11274759
    Abstract: A one-way valve includes: a cylindrical section, one end of which is inserted into and fixed to an inside of a pipe, the cylindrical section including a through-hole through which oil is passed in an axial direction; and a columnar section housed inside the pipe and including, in another end thereof, a plurality of lateral holes through which oil is passed, flow of oil being blocked when the other end is inserted into a one-side opening section of the cylindrical section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Uchino
  • Patent number: 11261589
    Abstract: A check valve (10) for controlling a flow of fluid by fluid pressure, comprising a housing (11) and a resilient flexible valve element (12) inside the housing (11), wherein the valve element (12) is formed as a hollow and longitudinally tapered body (16) with an open wide end (18) and a closed narrow end (19), and wherein the wide end (18) of the valve element (12), in a default configuration, engages an inner surface of the housing (11) to close the check valve (10) and is deformable by a predetermined fluid pressure from the inlet (13) to open the check valve (10). The tapered body (16) comprises a radially outwardly projecting flange (17) at the wide end (18), which flange comprises a curved outer surface portion (20) having a degree of curvature of 85 to 95 degrees, wherein the housing (11) is formed with a protrusion (29) having a curved surface (30) for engaging the curved outer surface portion (20) of the flange (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Wapro AB
    Inventors: Pontus Magnusson, Mats Persson
  • Patent number: 11255478
    Abstract: An example shut-off device includes a valve body to surround a section of a pipe and form a chamber about the section of the pipe. The example shut-off device also includes a first flange bearing on a first side of the chamber. The first flange bearing in a closed position forming a first seal between the pipe and the chamber. The example shut-off device also includes a second flange bearing on a second side of the chamber. the second flange bearing in a closed position forming a second seal between the pipe and the chamber. The example shut-off device also includes a cutting blade in the chamber. The cutting blade tightens against the pipe to cut through the pipe and at least partially seals an opening in the cut pipe. The cutting blade is configured to operate as a gate valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Thad Paul Sundrla
  • Patent number: 11255451
    Abstract: A gas shut-off valve assembly designed to automatically close gas flow in a gas conduit in response to a seismic vibration comprises a door which may be parallel to a port in the conduit and a weight above the door. In some embodiments, the door may be mostly out of the conduit passageway and out of the gas flow allowing for improved gas flow efficiency in the normally open state. Upon sensing a seismic vibration, the weight falls from a platform onto the door causing the door to move into the conduit passageway sealing the passageway. In some embodiments, a port in the passageway is perpendicular to the door's default position in the open state. When the door closes the passageway, the door rotates ninety degrees about an axis into the second closed position to become parallel with the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: VANCE. LP
    Inventors: Tod Minato, Ezra Kent, Rafael Quintana
  • Patent number: 11255539
    Abstract: A control gas ball valve for high pressure gas cooking appliances provides a linear surface slot along its rotation direction. When turned by a control knob and enters a gas inlet, the said surface slot is able to channel gas input to a hole that connects said surface slot to the center of the valve ball. The gas in the center of the valve ball is directed away to a burner for cooking purposes. The said linear surface slot is able to provide constant flowrate slope for continuously variable power adjustment and a maximum power plateau. These are the most desirable features in residential cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Dongsheng Zhou, Bree Hao Peng, Gene Zhou
  • Patent number: 11247184
    Abstract: Methods and systems of admixing hydrocarbon liquids from two or more sets of tanks into a single pipeline to provide in-line mixing thereof. In an embodiment of the in-line mixing system, hydrocarbon liquids stored in at least one tank of each of two or more sets of tanks positioned at a tank farm are blended into a blend flow pipe via in-line mixing and the blended mixture is pumped through a single pipeline. In one or more embodiments, the in-line mixing system employs a separate spillback or recirculation loop that is fluidly connected to each set of the two or more sets of tanks to control the flow of the hydrocarbon fluid/liquid from each set of tanks to the blend flow pipe. Associated methods of operating one or more embodiments of the system include regulation of spillback or recirculation loop flow rate and/or pressure to drive the actual blend ratio towards a desired blend ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11246968
    Abstract: A dialysis machine, in particular for hemodialysis and/or hemofiltration, having a dialyzate system and having a water inlet via which the dialyzate system can be connected to an external water supply. The dialysis machine includes a constant flow regulator that is arranged between the water connection and the dialyzate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Wiktor
  • Patent number: 11242674
    Abstract: A fast installation mechanism for a faucet includes a locking inner core, a fixing core, and a base. The locking inner core is a tubular member. An external thread is formed on an outer wall of the locking inner core. An upper end of the locking inner core is fixedly connected to a faucet body. A lower portion of the locking inner core is screwed into the fixing core. The base is sleeved on a lower portion of the fixing core. At least two elastic pieces on the fixing core extend out of at least two windows of the base, respectively. The installation is quick and easy, and the operation is convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: XIAMEN DINGSHANG BATHROOM PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xianghua Chen, Dazhao Su
  • Patent number: 11243010
    Abstract: A water heater insert device positioned within an electrical showerhead or as a standalone liquids heating device. The water heater insert optimizes heat transfer by channeling water through a channel of a spiral or zigzag form where a deployed heating element supplies thermal energy. The channel maximizes water contact while minimizing the space. A temperature limiter adds protection against scalding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ECONOMICO, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Emery