Patents Examined by Richard Gerard
  • Patent number: 4183372
    Abstract: An altitude compensation valve assembly comprising a housing structure having a bellows and a check valve unit. The check valve unit is supported for movement between a closed position, where communication between a fluid under pressure introduced into an inlet port of the valve assembly is discommunicated from the atmosphere, and an opened position where such communication is established. The check valve unit is normally biased towards the closed position and is moved towards the opened position when the pressure introduced through the inlet port exceeds a predetermined value determined in consideration with change in a altitude in which the valve assembly is operated to compensate for reduction in pressure resulting from change in altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatehito Ueda, Minoru Yamanaka, Shoji Ito
  • Patent number: 4183371
    Abstract: A thermal responsive valve including a housing in which a valve member is normally urged from a first to a second position but restrained from such movement by restraining means including a pair of pins adapted to engage a portion of the member and be laterally spread apart against the frictional action of retaining means. The retaining means are in turn supported by a portion of a fusible link so when the temperature reaches a predetermined level, the fusible link melts and no longer supports the retaining means so that the pins may fall from restraining contact with the member by gravity and thus permit the member to move to the second position. The above indicated frictional coaction enables a relatively lightweight or weak fusible link to restrain a member against a relatively strong urging force by the mechanical advantage brought about by the coaction of the pins against the retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: G. W. Dahl Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Slawson
  • Patent number: 4182359
    Abstract: A slide gate damper arrangement which works well in large ducts, which are conveying hot, dust laden gases, and which duct has an obstruction extending down through the middle of it, such as a concentric pipe. The slide gate arrangement comprises a pair of gates which traverse the large duct from opposite sides thereof, seating in the middle of the duct. The leading edges of the two gates have a configuration such that they match and seal around the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl K. Rickard
  • Patent number: 4182361
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a fire hydrant protection device which prevents unauthorized individuals from tampering with or operating fire hydrants. In one form the protection device provides an outlet cap member provided with a projection suitable for engagement by a special wrench such as for removal or installation of the cap and a cover member movably associated therewith which includes provisions preventing access to the cap member projection by conventional tools thus insuring that only authorized individuals will be able to remove the device. In another form, the device is designed to be installed over the valve actuating mechanism so as to similarly prevent access thereto by individuals not having the special wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Hydra-Guard Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin J. Oakey
  • Patent number: 4182356
    Abstract: A sill cock assembly is disclosed comprising a fluid outlet for location on the exterior of a wall, a fluid flow inlet adapted for location adjacent the interior of the wall, a conduit connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a selectively operable valve located adjacent the fluid flow inlet for alternatively opening and closing the fluid flow inlet, and a pressure release means located adjacent the valve to allow fluid communication in an inwardly direction from the conduit through the valve to the fluid inlet when the fluid pressure within the conduit due to freezing is greater than the fluid pressure of the inlet. A portion of the wall of the conduit is corrugated adjacent the valve to allow expansion of the conduit during freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Woodford Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Joseph C. Woodford, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4182302
    Abstract: This is a stove primarily for the burning of wood, but also capable of burning other combustible materials, which stove is characterized by a unique combustion chamber, together with a recirculating combustion chamber and baffle for more perfect combustion and characterized by a heat radiating chamber which may be closed so as to be used as an oven, and by a unique damper placement in combination with the exhaust flue pipe so adapted as to automatically activate in order to cool the flue pipe in the event it should exceed safe heat limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Ray F. Bruce
    Inventors: Ray F. Bruce, William W. Byrd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4181139
    Abstract: A compact fluid pressure regulation valve includes a valve body, the valve ody having a pair of passageways, one passageway being a fluid pressure regulating passageway and the other passageway being a high pressure fluid supplying passageway. The fluid supplying passageway extends substantially perpendicular to the pressure regulating passageway and has a downstream end which opens to an upstream portion of the pressure regulating passageway. The fluid supplying passageway has on and off modes for supplying high pressure fluid to the pressure regulating passageway. A device is provided for activating the fluid supplying passageway from an off mode to an on mode. Further, a device is provided within the pressure regulating passageway for utilizing pressure within this passageway as a back pressure to regulate the pressure of the fluid flowing therethrough. With this arrangement a very compact fluid pressure regulation valve is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard J. Martini
  • Patent number: 4181152
    Abstract: A manifold controls the venting of pressurized gas from an ordnance launc. A manifold block is provided with a number of passageways which communicate with a pair of recesses machined in the block. A high pressure gas valve is disposed in one of the recesses while a venting valve is rotatably positioned in the other recess. Ports are included in both of the valves so that when they are rotated a venting sequence of the launcher is effected. A specifically configured handle is secured to each of the valves and a spring biased pawl engages a number of teeth on the venting valve handle to allow only one direction of rotation. The configurations of the handles, the ratchet and pawl ensure a preestablished venting sequence and readying of the launcher for another shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Nicholas Nicoloff
  • Patent number: 4181140
    Abstract: Valve means in a flexible tube, for example, tubing for connecting blood bags, are provided, which comprises a tubular portion having a closed end, and an elongated, generally rigid member, carried on the exterior of the closed end and positioned within the flexible tube. Frangible means are provided to permit the opening of the closed end by manual manipulation of the elongated member from outside of the flexible tube. The elongated, rigid member is adapted to fit in sealing relationship within the tubular portion after opening of the closed end, to permit resealing of the valve. The elongated, generally rigid member carries longitudinal vanes to provide flow channels along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Bayham, Ronald A. Williams, David W. Ammann
  • Patent number: 4180087
    Abstract: A switching arrangement for the control of an adjustable member such as a valve includes a light sensitive switch. Detection of a particular light value enables a frequency divider to transmit an opening pulse to a valve control circuit a predetermined delay period after the detection of such light value. The frequency of an output signal of a pulse generator is varied in response to the opening pulse and the frequency divider transmits a closing pulse to the control circuit after a second predetermined time period of different duration from the delay period. In one disclosed embodiment, control of the frequency divider is responsive to moisture content of soil as well as ambient light level for application in automatic sprinkler systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Firma DIEHL
    Inventors: Alfred Meisner, Erich Gerum
  • Patent number: 4180235
    Abstract: A throttling device for fluids comprises a flexible tube in which the fluid is conveyed which has a compressible wall to vary the flow cross-section therethrough. The tube is received on a base plate which has a continuous channel of a size to receive the tube, and it is covered by a cover plate which has a projecting surface of a dimension and location to be positionable into the groove for compressing the tube therein, and which further includes control means for moving and the base plate relatively so as to vary the pressure acting on the tube and thus the flow cross-section therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Adalbert Pasternack
  • Patent number: 4180091
    Abstract: A system for purging the aperture and surrounding portions of a blood cell counter of dirt, debris, and previous sample liquid. A sample tube extends from a source of either sample liquid or cleansing solution to a small gap between the aperture and housing assembly. A purge line is connected between an annular portion surrounding the gap and a pump which supplies negative pressure. Due to the geometry of the sample tube, gap, annulus, and purge line, a high pressure drop occurs across the gap and the liquid flows at relatively high velocity past the aperture to facilitate cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: John P. Hanley, Pasquale M. Petrucci, Stanley Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 4177825
    Abstract: Improved self-grinding valve is provided with corrosion-protecting features and an improved floating coupling between the valve stem and valve disc whereby, when the valve disc is brought into contact with its seat, a selected rotation of the valve disc will produce a grinding of the seat, followed by a disengagement of the valve stem from the valve disc. When this disengagement takes place, the full torque load of the stem can be imposed upon the valve disc to obtain the desired seating of the same. The valve stem is advantageously comprised of improved telescoping and theadedly engaged sections that operate to relieve the forces used to hold the valve disc against the seat upon the initial opening of the valve whereby the amount of torque required to ultimately rotate and free the valve disc from its seat is materially reduced and seizing of the valve disc relative to its seat avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Millard B. Crawford
  • Patent number: 4177826
    Abstract: A fire hydrant having a generally elbow-shaped hydrant shoe with an improved interior bowl configuration and an improved hydrant valve for minimizing head or flow loss of the fire hydrant between the inlet opening of the shoe and the outlet nozzle positioned on the upper portion of the hydrant barrel. The interior bowl of the shoe, adjacent its inlet, is provided with a diverging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape and, adjacent its outlet, is provided with a converging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape, the transitional surfaces of rotation merging with the shoe's part spherical chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Mueller Co.
    Inventor: Lawrence F. Luckenbill
  • Patent number: 4177969
    Abstract: A flow control device for controlling the rate of flow of fluid passing through flexible tubing used in particular for intravenous administration sets. The device comprises a body member with a bottom and two side walls defining a tubing receiving channel. The side walls are provided with aligned bearings journalling pivot means pivotally supporting a lever having at one end a semi-circular cam-like clamping disk substantially concentric with the pivot means. One edge of the leading portion or initial tube engaging clamping surfaces of said disk is rounded with the radius of curvature of said edge decreasing continuously, forming thus a clamping surface which will, upon movement of the lever, first collapse and deform the tubing into a L-shaped cross-sectional configuration and then press together the horizontal and then continuously the vertical part of the tubing. This device provides for an easily adjustable and unvarying flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Inventor: Paul Sieber-Muller
  • Patent number: 4176689
    Abstract: A plug or ball valve is disclosed having a housing and plug or ball in the housing for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. A valve stem extends through the housing for rotation of the plug. The valve stem has a narrow peripheral shoulder which is held tightly against the housing by fluid pressure on the plug to prevent leakage past the seal when the valve is in a partially open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wrasman
  • Patent number: 4176673
    Abstract: A sliding gate valve comprising a housing; a sliding gate; an enclosed void space between the gate side edges and the wall of the housing when the gate is in the closed position; and a purge line for injecting pressurized fluid into the void space; improved by gate side edge sealing means comprising a downstream seat mounted on the interior wall of the housing and an upstream seat assembly comprised of a rigid, elongated channel on the interior wall of the housing, parallel to, and upstream of, the gate when in the valve-closed position, the channel having a back wall and at least one side wall, the back wall being substantially parallel to the gate; a rope positioned lengthwise in the channel; the channel having an elongated metal strip flexibly attached along the first of its two long edges to a side wall of the channel so as to sandwich the rope between the back wall of the channel and the rear surface of the metal strip; the seat assembly being positioned such that when the gate is closed the gate's upstr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Mosser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Connor
  • Patent number: 4175578
    Abstract: The invention contemplates a flow control valve that provides emergency sealing action upon inadvertent, thermally induced failure of the primary seal. The body of the valve includes an annular shoulder that is disposed adjacent an annular seat; and an annular collar of substantially incombustible corrosion resistant, nongalling material is specifically mounted on the shoulder, the collar including a first portion hermetically connected to the shoulder and a second, lip like portion free to move with respect to the shoulder and normally spaced from the selectively positionable valve element. This collar and more specifically the lip portion thereof is provided with prestressed regions normally situating the lip portion proximate the body shoulder and in position wherein said lip portion will not interface with the movable valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Hills-McCanna Company
    Inventor: Werner K. Priese
  • Patent number: 4174725
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for use in conjunction with an antitheft locking fuel line shutoff valve for automotive vehicles which prevents efforts at bypassing or tampering with the valve in attempts to circumvent the locking fuel line shutoff valve. The antitamper arrangement includes a spring-biased fuel line blocking plug disposed within the fuel line and positioned just behind the vehicle fuel pump inlet stem, the blocking plug being restrained from blocking engagement with the fuel pump by means of a flexible cable connected to a rod integral with the blocking plug, the cable passing down the length of the fuel line and anchored at the locking fuel line shutoff valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Assignee: Allen LaPere
    Inventor: Samuel LaPere
  • Patent number: 4174728
    Abstract: This invention is a novel valve of the slidable-gate type. The valve is designed especially for long-term use with highly abrasive slurries. The sealing surfaces of the gate are shielded by the valve seats when the valve is fully open or closed, and the gate-to-seat clearance is swept with an inflowing purge gas while the gate is in transit.A preferred form of the valve includes an annular valve body containing an annular seat assembly defining a flow channel. The seat assembly comprises a first seat ring which is slidably and sealably mounted in the body, and a second seat ring which is tightly fitted in the body. These rings cooperatively define an annular gap which, together with passages in the valve body, forms a guideway extending normal to the channel. A plate-type gate is mounted for reciprocation in the guideway between positions where a portion of the plate closes the channel and where a circular aperture in the gate is in register with the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: George B. Usnick, Gene T. Ward, Henry O. Blair, James W. Roberts, Terry N. Warner