Patents Examined by Robert G. Nilson
  • Patent number: 5375621
    Abstract: A diaphragm- and spring-less check valve for gaseous media comprising an inlet housing (41) having a sealing edge (51), an outlet housing (11) and a closure body (30) disposed in between the housings, which is guided so as to be axially (14) movable and capable of being impressed bilaterally in any desired position and/or state of the valve, wherein the closure body (30) is moveable exclusively on the basis of a differential pressure between inlet (41) and outlet housing (11) in the blocking position against the sealing edge (51) and in the through-put position the sealing edge (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: EMS-Inventa AG
    Inventor: Heinz U. Gaehwiler
  • Patent number: 5373865
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accumulator charging valve, which for the connection of an inlet P supplying a hydraulic system 10 to an outlet T when an adjustable upper charging pressure in the hydraulic system 10 is reached and for separating this connection when an adjustable lower charging pressure in the hydraulic system 10 is reached, is provided with a control piston 42, which in one of its two switching positions breaks the connection between the inlet P and outlet T and in the other switching position makes this connection. By means of a separating device, a control connection B connecting the hydraulic system 10 to the accumulator charging valve can be separated from the outlet T. On reaching the adjustable upper charging pressure, by means of at least one sealing part of the separating device, the connection forming a leakage point between the control connection B and the outlet T can be sealed hermetically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Flutec Fluidtechnische Gerate GmbH
    Inventors: Rudiger Jung, Harald Bar
  • Patent number: 5370152
    Abstract: A fail-safe, precision current-to-pressure converter for providing a regulated pneumatic output pressure proportional to an electrical control current includes a main valve member for regulating the pneumatic output pressure, operation of the valve member being controlled by the pressure of control fluid contained in a chamber. The control fluid pressure is controlled by admitting control fluid into the chamber via a continuously pulsed, electromagnetically actuated on/off reed valve and simultaneously allowing control fluid continuously to exhaust to atmosphere via a fixed bleed orifice, the rate of admittance of control fluid into the chamber relative to the exhaust rate from the orifice being variable so that the desired, substantially constant output pressure, as dictated by the electrical current input and as measured by a transducer that produces a feed-back signal, will be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Watson Smith Limited
    Inventors: David C. Carey, Stuart D. Stoney
  • Patent number: 5370356
    Abstract: The invention concerns a one-way fluid flow non-return valve, consisting of body (19) with shaft (2), onto which cover (15) with seal (16) is mounted. Into the blind hole (4) in shaft a helical spring (3) is inserted together with piston (1) in a sliding fit. Shaft (2), together with piston (1) is introduced into the central opening of bushing (9), having on its lower part a groove (10), into which wedge (5) engages. Bushing has two diametrically opposed cut-out grooves (13), while the valve body (19) carries a cover (15) with mutually rectangular molded grooves (18). A modified form of the invention includes telescoped external and internal envelopes to reduce the possibility of malfunction due to impurities in the liquid flowing through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventors: Predrag L. J. Pesovic, Nemanja P. Pesovic, Vojin P. Pesovic
  • Patent number: 5370150
    Abstract: A fitting (1) designed for example as a non-return valve (2) has an outer housing (3) having an inner lip seal (7) interacting with a closing element (5), and also an outer annular seal (8). Both the outer housing (3) and the seals (7, 8) are designed as injection moldings. The production of the outer housing with the seals takes place in an injection molding process in which, first of all, the outer housing and, in a second operation, the seals are injection molded. If appropriate, more than two operations, in particular in the case of more than two injection molding material components, can also be provided. By means of the injection molded seals, the latter are durably and closely bonded to the outer housing (3) resulting in simplifications regarding production technology and design (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Dieter Wildfang GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Nehm
  • Patent number: 5370155
    Abstract: A wedge type gate valve in which a pressure equalizing valve is located in a chamber in the wedge-shaped valve member which is vented to the downstream side of the gate to equalize system pressure prior to opening the valve by using a ball-valve rotationally mounted in chamber. The ball-shaped valve is operated by the stem which operates the gate-valve for limited rotational movement between two stops of a connecting member in such a way that the stem rotational movement is stopped at a predetermined point when the sealed internal ball-shaped valve is fully opened or fully closed, thereby opening or closing the wedge-shaped member pressure equalizing passage. The vent passage which opens from the pressure equalizing valve chamber to the downstream side of the gate also permits the evacuation of fluids from the annular space above the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Leslie L. Gyongyossy
  • Patent number: 5368059
    Abstract: This invention is useful in a plural component system which utilizes sequential metering of multiple fluids. In such a system for dispensing component fluids such as paint, the controller dispenses a given amount of a first fluid, and then part way through dispensing of the second fluid, calculates the amount of the second fluid required in view of the actual amount of the first fluid dispensed and then dispenses that amount. The desired tolerance maybe subtracted from the amount of second fluid dispensed so that the overrun which always takes place from the valves on the second fluid will place the mixture in the middle of the range for the dispensed fluid. During subsequent cycles, the ratio is checked in view of the actual amounts dispensed and an alarm set off if the actual ratio falls outside of tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Graco Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Box, Lawrence S. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5368068
    Abstract: A relief valve is built into the nozzle port of a fuel pump for an oil burner and opens to relieve pressure in the fuel supply line and prevent oil from dripping out of the burner nozzle when the pump is shut down. The relief valve comprises a ball which is normally held in a closed position by an arcuate leaf spring wrapped partially around the nozzle port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Suntec Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Dale L. Hunsberger, Frank L. Harwath
  • Patent number: 5368069
    Abstract: A conduit joint assembly having a pair of tubular flange members for rigidly coupling a pair of conduits together and for supporting a fluid engaging device. One of the tubular flange members has a pair of headed retaining pins for engaging a pair of retaining slots or cutouts formed in the fluid engaging device. In particular, the fluid engaging device has a radially extending flange with the retaining slots or cutouts spaced 180.degree. apart along its periphery for engaging complementing pins of one of the tubular flange members. Specifically, the fluid engaging device is coupled to one of the tubular flange member by passing the pins through a notched portion of slot and then axially rotating the fluid engaging device relative to the tubular flange member to a locked position. A second tubular flange member is then aligned with the fluid engaging device and coupled together by the coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: EG&G Pressure Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin R. Felber
  • Patent number: 5368274
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve comprising a housing having a fluid containing region and first and second ports in communication with the region, an electromagnet carried by the housing located external to the fluid containing region, and a thin diaphragm of fluid impermeable material which hermetically isolates the electromagnet from the fluid containing region. An armature is movably positioned in the region and has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet and has a plunger portion provided with a valve formation for opening and closing one of the ports to place both ports in fluid communication through the fluid containing region of the housing and to block fluid communication between the ports. The armature is moved from a rest position through a forward stroke when attracted by the electromagnet to change the control state of the valve, and the armature is moved by a biasing spring in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Falk, W. Richard Brown, Lawrence E. Morris, Norbert W. Franz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5365965
    Abstract: A hydraulic automatic shutdown valve system is described to minimize the cost and clean up associated with hydraulic fluid spills. The valve system senses a pressure drop in a fluid system and diverts fluid away from the failed area of a pressurized hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Cambria Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Dunn
  • Patent number: 5365974
    Abstract: A flow control valve having a housing in which an insert is positioned. Fluid flows around all sides of the insert. A guide cylinder is positioned within the housing on an inlet side of the housing. A shaft of a first spring-loaded control element is guided and axially displaceable in the guide cylinder. The first control element has a valve disk with a collar. The valve disk has at least one lateral bore. The collar is enclosed by a second control element which is formed as a spring-loaded control sleeve. The second control element is guided and axially displaceable in the housing. In a zero flow-through operating condition, a rim of the valve disk rests against a bottom of the second control element thereby blocking each lateral bore in the collar of the first control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Dusko Maravic
  • Patent number: 5363877
    Abstract: A suction pressure regulating valve automatically maintains the suction pressure of a swimming pool cleaning system to be consistent with the optimum range of water suction pressure when the valve is used with suction type automatic swimming pool cleaners. The valve is a water immersed device which permits water to bleed through an orifice, which orifice opens in proportion to suction pressure within the valve. The valve has a conical body which readily adapts in line with the flexible hose that connects the swimming pool filter system with the suction type automatic swimming pool cleaner. This type of pool cleaner moves about the sides and the bottom of a swimming pool, continuously cleaning those surfaces. The valve orifice is protected from air incursion by an anti-vortex plate when the valve is near the surface of the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventors: Herman E. Frentzel, Dieter J. Rief
  • Patent number: 5364070
    Abstract: A bi-directional flow valve for use in regulating flow of pressurized fluids in surgical instruments is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve body having an axial bore of variable radius, a plunger axially and slidably mounted within the bore of the valve body, a flange provided on the plunger for circumferentially engaging the bore at its narrowest point, a spring means for urging the flange against the bore at its narrowest point, and seal means to seal the gap between the plunger and the bore, and displacement means to move the plunger and flange out of contact with the bore so that fluid may pass through the bore and thus through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Transamerican Technologies International
    Inventor: Lowell Crow
  • Patent number: 5363878
    Abstract: This invention concerns a relief valve for use in a swimming pool cleaner hose and has a body with an outlet for connection into the nose. A tubular inlet to the body carries a spider supporting a clamping flange which secures the outer periphery of a resilient annular diaphragm to the end of the body. The diaphragm has its inner periphery in frictional engagement with the inlet. The inlet may be mounted for axial movement against a resilient bias to engage the diaphragm only while a predetermined minimum flow passes through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Zarina Holdings C.V.
    Inventor: David S. Atkins
  • Patent number: 5361797
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a plug flow of high viscosity material in a pipeline is disclosed. The system includes first and second pipes through which the plug flow of high viscosity material is pumped. The first pipe has a flange which is positioned adjacent a flange of the second pipe. A plurality of bolts, attached to the flange of the first pipe and to the flange of the second pipe, connect the first pipe to the second pipe. A lubrication spool is positionable in a first location between the flange of the first pipe and the flange of the second pipe for lubricating the plug flow of high viscosity material. The lubrication spool is removable from the first position without completely disconnecting the first and second pipes. The lubrication spool includes a first spool section which is located immediately adjacent the flange of the first pipe while in the first position and a second spool section immediately adjacent the first spool section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Schwing America, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Crow, Thomas M. Anderson, Scott Kelly, Terry Atherton, Larry Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5361796
    Abstract: A refuelling equipment (7) may be connected via an adjustable loading valve (30) to three groups of intermediate stores (4, 5, 6) in which natural gas is stored at different storage pressures. The loading valve (30) contains three inlets, each of which is connected via a feedline (13a, 14a or 15a respectively) to one of the intermediate stores (4, 5 or 6 respectively), and one outlet which is connected via an outlet line (24) to the refuelling equipment (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Sulzer Burckhardt AG
    Inventor: Heinz Mutter
  • Patent number: 5357996
    Abstract: A fluid pressure control system comprising a first chamber, the pressure in which is to be controlled, a second chamber and a valve means for controlling communication between the first and second chambers. A controller is arranged such that, if the pressure in the first chamber differs from a required pressure, the controller i) operates the valve means to close off communication between the first and second chambers, ii) varies the pressure in the second chamber, iii) opens communication between the first and second chambers to deliver a discrete pressure step to the first chamber, and, iv) repeats i) to iii) until the pressure in the first chamber reaches a required level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Oxford GlycoSystems Limited
    Inventors: Antonis C. Ioannides, Alan Pindar
  • Patent number: 5358006
    Abstract: An adjustable extension assembly for a downspout includes a fixed piece attachable to the lowermost end of a downpipe, a rotatable collar attached to the fixed piece, and at least one extension pivotably attached to the rotatable collar. Optionally additional slidably extendable members may be telescopingly attached to the extension. The extension members are channel-shaped in cross-section. The extension may be composed of a polymerized material or a metal. In addition to being easily attached to a downspout, the adjustable extension of the present invention may be selectively adjusted for fitting, for selective water deflection, and for proper lawn maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Ronald L. Sweers
  • Patent number: 5355906
    Abstract: A mixing valve comprising a modular cartridge non-rotatably mounted in a housing. The cartridge includes inlet passages in its bottom portion, outlet passages in its top portion, and a pressure balance valve intermediate and in communication with said inlet and outlet passages. The inlet passages are in communication at their downstream ends with supply ports in the housing. The outlet passages are in communication at their upstream ends with a volume and temperature control valve plate. The volume and temperature control valve plate is rotatable to align or misalign outlet apertures in said plate with the outlet passages in the cartridge. The rotation of the plate is controlled by a stem attached to a handle. Means are provided to adjust the maximum water temperature. The temperature adjustment means include an orienting stem ring having an opening shaped to receive a complementary shaped section of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Garry Marty, Diana Smolkin