Patents Examined by Sheri M. Novack
  • Patent number: 4667696
    Abstract: An adjustable nonreturn ball valve for connection in a pipeline includes an elongate unobstructed main housing arranged to be connected at each end to flow pipes. There is an auxiliary housing located intermediate the ends of the main housing which has a longitudinal axis obtuse to the longitudinal axis of the main housing. There is a removable circular valve seat extending across the main housing at an obtuse angle relative thereto. The main housing is formed in two sections which are joined together at the plane of the valve seat. A ball is positioned to close upon the valve seat and is loosely entrapped in the auxiliary housing to allow flow in only one direction through the main housing, in which event and in use the ball automatically rides up in the auxiliary housing and away from the valve seat. The ball and the auxiliary housing have diameters greater than the diameter of the main housing, thereby preventing the ball from moving through the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Inventor: Gert N. J. van Rensburg
  • Patent number: 4667926
    Abstract: A ball valve in which, even when a connecting sleeve is removed by loosening the associated union nut, the ball and annular seals of the valve will not blow out of the valve body under fluid pressure. A ball with an integral spindle is arranged in the valve body in such a manner as to be able to open and close a fluid passage therein. A seat is formed in the valve body and a part of the surface of the ball on the side thereof opposite the side where the spindle is provided and around a rotational axis of the spindle is in surface contact with the seat to thereby pivotally support the ball. Annular seals are provided in the fluid passage abutting against the ball from both sides to pivotally support the ball with the annular seals being urged towards the ball by seal carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Takeda, Teruyoshi Asano, Yoshiaki Bando
  • Patent number: 4666126
    Abstract: A control valve in which a surface of a valve seat closer to a valve body is formed so as to be flat. A valve head corresponding to an annularly formed fluid-communication passage is provided with an annular inner convex projection and an annular outer convex projection. These projections engage with the flat surface of the valve seat on the inner side and the outer side of the fluid-communicating passage, respectively. The valve head is provided with a communicating passage for providing communication between a valve body-driving portion side thereof and a valve seat surface side containing the inner convex projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: STEC Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoharu Tujimura, Hiroshi Ohsasa
  • Patent number: 4662883
    Abstract: An improved self-sealing valve for use in a fluid fillable device includes a main body portion and a channel within the main body portion for receiving a fill tube. The improvement includes a sealing portion with the channel extending therethrough and movable from a fluid flowable position with the fill tube inserted in the channel to a curled, fluid sealing position when the fill tube is removed from the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Mentor Corporation
    Inventors: Julie D. Bell, Ray H. Dormandy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4662599
    Abstract: A novel roller clamp is described for controlling flow of fluids in flexible tubing used for intravenous fluid administration to a patient. The roller clamp includes a unique placement means to enhance placement of a roller within a clamp body or frame. The novel placement means includes angular portions disposed in an infeed section of the frame. The angular portions form an angle greater than 90 degrees with a side wall portion of the frame to encourage upward movement of the roller during insertion onto guide surfaces in the frame of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt R. Attermeier
  • Patent number: 4662400
    Abstract: For precision dispensing of fluids particularly for medical applications, a face valve has a valve member mounted for linear sliding movement across the face of a valve body, which has fluid passages therethrough, between positions in which respectively the valve member seals the ends of the fluid passages at the valve body face and a channel in the valve member connects the ends of the fluid passages. The valve body is of a hard corrosion resistant metal and the valve member is of bearing plastic material, both materials being inert to the fluids being dispensed. The valve is pressed against the face of the valve body by a spring which is oriented in a particular way to optimize valve life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond L. Hecker
  • Patent number: 4660594
    Abstract: A portable collapsible tank for storing and insulating hot water or other liquid is contained by an elongate flexible and foldable outer sleeve which defines the outer perimeter of the tank and is formed with sufficient tensile strength to support the tank and stored water. A side wall of insulating material is contained within the sleeve extending around the inside circumference of the sleeve from the top to the bottom of the tank. The outer sleeve and side wall layer overlap and frictionally engage the edge of a floor or base disk of rigid insulating foam material for stability of the tank without tilting and to prevent ballooning of an inner liner from the bottom of the tank. An inner liner of impervious flexible material suitable for contacting hot water, for example, for consumptive use is removeably seated within the side wall and base and extends over the top of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Inventor: Thomas E. Gocze
  • Patent number: 4660593
    Abstract: A hot-blast valve for use between a regenerative heating stove on and a blast furnace downstream therefrom in the direction of flow from the stove to the furnace according to the invention has a valve housing made of metal plate and having a lateral gate pocket. Annular upstream and downstream seats define a flow passage and the upstream seat is made of metal and the downstream seat of solid refractory material. A gate is displaceable between the seats between a closed position engaging same and blocking the passage and an open position clear of same in the pocket with the passage open. A coolant is circulated through the upstream seat only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Sidmar S/A
    Inventor: Heli De Langhe
  • Patent number: 4660802
    Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a liquid medium passed therethrough comprises a cup-shaped plastic body member having a bottom end wall with a bore opening and a side wall forming with the bottom end wall a chamber through which the liquid medium is passed. A plastic stem member is journaled in the bore opening of the body member to rotatably mount the stem member thereon. The stem member overlies and closes off the open top end of the chamber and has a flow control element located within the chamber for controlling the flow rate of the liquid medium therethrough, as determined by the selected relative rotative position of the member. The stem member is snap-locked in assembled relation with the body member, and the two members are provided with actuating arm means including a radially outward projecting lever arm on the stem member for rotating the members relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: RAO Medical Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Rolf A. Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 4658856
    Abstract: A unidirectional valve (7) forms a reduced meatus which extends in the direction of the obturator (23) movement, which meatus is to be passed through by possible microleaks in case of losses in the actuator branch (3); a considerable run of the obturator (23) in the presence of microleaks and of consequent pressure losses is thus obtained; a sensor (47) detects the obturator displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventor: Mario Gonzi
  • Patent number: 4655431
    Abstract: An improved blowout preventer having a body with a central bore and aligned opposed passages extending out from the central bore, a ram assembly in each of the passsages and including a ram body with a face seal, a rear slot, a first passage through the body from above the face seal into the slot, a second passage through said body from below the face seal into the slot, a pressure responsive actuator, a connector extending from the actuator to the ram body and having a disc end positioned in and movable axially in said slot to close and open flow through said ram body passages, a third passage through said ram body from above said face seal to the rear of the ram body, a fourth passage through said ram body from below said face seal to the rear of the ram body and means coacting with said third and fourth passages to allow fluid flow to the rear of said ram body and to prevent fluid flow to the front of said ram body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Inventors: Paul E. Helfer, Marvin R. Jones
  • Patent number: 4653719
    Abstract: A molded flexible fluid conduit and a make/before break pinch valve including a slidably movable pressure member spring biased normally against said conduit in closed condition of the valve, said conduit including a pair of elongate longitudinal unitary purchase formations capable of cooperating with slots carried by the valve whereby the conduit forcibly is pulled or stretched in diametrically opposed directions upon actuation of the valve subsequent to periods of closure so as to force the conduit open to permit flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Coulter Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro P. Cabrera, Glenn D. Talbot
  • Patent number: 4653725
    Abstract: A butterfly valve has a housing formed from two stamped sheet parts. The shaft of the valve flap is located in shaped-out parts of the housing halves. The two flanges of the housing halves are held together by a clamp, which has an inwardly open, U or V-shaped cross-section and can be secured in articulated manner by two semicircular parts and presses by chamfered inner faces on tori on the flanges. Thus, the valve can be assembled and disassembled by loosening a single screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventors: Dieter Nanz, Wolfgang Doersam
  • Patent number: 4653724
    Abstract: The invention concerns a butterfly valve of a type wherein the elastomer sleeve lines the body bore, and has cheeks which fit into circular recesses provided in the two parallel radial faces of the valve, the shape of the cheeks and of the circular recesses being such that when the valve is assembled between flanges, the elastomer of the cheeks is pressed into a spare volume in the circular recesses and precludes any creep of the elastomer towards the core of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Applications Mecaniques et Robinetterie Industrielle
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Garrigues, Patrick Guiroy
  • Patent number: 4653723
    Abstract: A control valve for a fuel injector, especially of an air-compressing, spontaneous-ignition, internal combustion engine. The control valve includes a valve body in the form of a piston valve which is axially movable in a housing chamber into a closure position and an open position, with the closure position being determined by a valve seat on the housing, and a seating surface edge on the piston valve. The housing chamber includes at least one high pressure connection, and a low pressure connection. The basic problem with a control valve of this general type is that when the piston valve strikes the valve seat, rebound movements are carried out by the piston valve, so that the closure position can only be reliably assumed after a certain time delay, thus negatively influencing the injection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reda Rizk, Hans-Gottfried Michels
  • Patent number: 4653539
    Abstract: A self-sealing check valve is disclosed for use in the inflation of a catheter cuff. The valve includes a valve housing and a valve element sealingly positioned within the housing. The valve housing has a transversely located fitting for receiving a Luer tip device. A valve element is cylindrical and preferably hollow. A circumferential rim at each end of the element is maintained in a state of compression so that it presses against the inner wall of the housing to form a seal. The element also includes a circumferential channel which is aligned with the Luer fitting. Insertion of the Luer tip device into the fitting depresses the valve element and breaks the seal between the rims and the valve housing wall. This allows fluid flow in either direction through the valve. Resiliency of the valve element causes resealment at the rims when the Luer tip device is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig J. Bell
  • Patent number: 4647002
    Abstract: A top seal, ram assembly, blowout preventer, and housing for a blowout preventer are disclosed according to the invention in which outer anti-extrusion plates are provided at the ends of the top seal which are adapted for bearing against a surface of the blowout preventer housing. The housing of the blowout preventer is provided with a horizontal bore having a generally rectangular cross-section with thickened vertical wall sections in the proximity of the vertical bore through the housing. The thickened wall sections are adapted to cooperate with the outer anti-extrusion plates of the top seal in order to support the pressure created in the packer and the top seal when the rams are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Mark K. Crutchfield
  • Patent number: 4643217
    Abstract: An automatic valve is disclosed for controlling the direction of fluid flow. The valve is particularly suited for use with automatic pool cleaning systems to alternately direct fluid flow to the filtration system of an automatic pool cleaner. The valve includes a primary conduit and a branch segment to define an alternate path for fluid flow. A reciprocating piston is mounted within the branch segment. Indexing is provided by a first cammed surface, formed at one end of the piston which includes a plurality of slots. The slots are selectively engaged with a stop pin. The condition of the valve is determined by the length of the particular slot engaged with the stop pin. A spring is provided for biasing the piston out of engagement with the stop pin when the fluid flow is interrupted. In one embodiment of the subject valve, the volume and pressure of the fluid flow are automatically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Arneson Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman E. Frentzel
  • Patent number: 4643218
    Abstract: A cleaner device for cleaning the valve box or cistern which provides remote access to a valve control body of a valve in an underground pipe line, the device having achieving the cleaning by compressed air passing through a tubular body member, and having an upwardly-open basket for catching the debris stirred up by the moving air. A downwardly-opening socket member at the foot of the device, the socket member being slightly oversize as to the valve's control body, both guides the air stream to give a cleaning impingement of the walls of the valve's control body and provides the mechanical component by which the valve-operating torque is applied to the valve's control body; and at the upper end of the tubular body member a deflector disc baffles moving debris back into the valve box or cistern for causing such debris to be collected in the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Robert L. Reed, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE32409
    Abstract: A wafer-type valve for securing between two flange fittings comprises a valve body having a flowway therethrough, connection formations integrally adjoining the valve body and extending radially therefrom, a valve element mounted in the flowway, and adapter means adjoining the valve body and extending outwardly therefrom. First longitudinally extending connectors cooperate between the connection formations of the valve body and the adapters to connect the adapters to the valve body, while second longitudinally extending connectors cooperate between the adapters and the flanges of the flange fittings to connect the adapters to the flange fittings. The valve also includes a seat lining its flowway and a seat retainer axially abutting the seat and one end of the valve body. The adapter overlaps the seat retainer so as to mount it to the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Keystone International, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward G. Holtgraver