Patents Examined by Stephen M. Hepperle
  • Patent number: 8905059
    Abstract: A system for controlling leakage of diesel fuel into the natural gas side of a dual fuel injector during low pressure natural gas conditions comprises a leakage control valve that blocks the diesel fuel line during very low natural gas line pressure conditions, including start-up and limp-home mode conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Sommars, Hoisan Kim
  • Patent number: 8905077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic auxiliary valve device (1) adapted to be connected to a hydraulic main valve (20) on a work vehicle, which work vehicle comprises a hydraulic system comprising a pump and a tank, the auxiliary valve device (1) comprises: —a first motor port connection (4A) and a second motor port connection (4B) arranged to be connected to a first motor port and a second motor port, respectively, on a double acting hydraulic motor, in particular a double acting hydraulic cylinder, —a pump lead-through (2), which connects the pump input port connection (2A) of the auxiliary valve device (1) to the pump connection output port (2B); —a tank lead-through (3), which connects the tank input port connection (3A) of the auxiliary valve device (1) to the tank connection output port (3B); and —a control valve (IA) provided with two open positions, which control valve (1A) in the first open position connects the pump input port connection (2A) to the first motor port connection (4A) and the t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Bertil Lundgren
  • Patent number: 8905079
    Abstract: A venturi eductor comprising a flow passage for a first liquid, a dispensing passage with an opening into the flow passage to allow a second liquid to be drawn therethrough and into a first liquid flowing through the flow passage, and a flow restrictor in the dispensing passage, in which the flow restrictor comprises a body with a plurality of nozzles passing therethrough with varying sizes of orifice, which body is movable between a first position in which a first of said nozzles is disposed in the path of the second liquid, and further positions in each of which a further of said nozzles is disposed in the path of the second liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Limited
    Inventor: Vincent Etienne Bonoz
  • Patent number: 8899261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trap apparatus for condensate water and the drain apparatus for condensate water installed on the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a trap apparatus for condensate water, constructed such that acidic condensate water is passed through a neutralizing agent and trapped in the apparatus, and the drain apparatus for condensate water installed on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kiturami Boiler Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-min Choi, Dong-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8899257
    Abstract: A shutoff valve, e.g., an engine shutoff valve, is provided which includes a valve body having a fluid, e.g., air, passage and a disc assembly. The disc assembly is pivotable within the fluid passage from an open position to provide for free flow of fluid through the passage, to a closed position to provide a substantially closed off the fluid passage. The disc assembly includes a front disc, a rear disc, and a seal, e.g., a spring energized PTFE seal, disposed between the front disc and the rear disc. The front disc is permanently secured, e.g., welded, soldered or brazed, to the rear disc such that the seal is captured between the front disc and the rear disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Amot Controls Corp.
    Inventors: David Grimwade, Kamyar Molavi, Ken McClymonds
  • Patent number: 8887746
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electronic flow selector of a fluid flow control system may be used to select a flow rate of a fluid. When the system is in an electronic mode, an encoder may electronically encode the fluid flow selection. A controller may receive the electronically encoded flow selection and transmit a corresponding control signal to an electronic valve to allow the fluid to flow at the selected flow rate. When the system is in a manual mode, backup manual flow selectors may be used to directly control the flow rate of a fluid. When the system is in a manual mode, the mechanical backup flow selectors may be in a deployed position. When the system is in an electronic mode, the mechanical backup flow selectors may be in a retracted position. Particular applications to gases and anesthesia delivery are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mindray DS USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter B. Schon, Richard G. Cipolli, Geoffrey C. Jawidzik, Luo Jiancheng, Li An, Hu Min
  • Patent number: 8887549
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining leakby in a flow controller (100) comprising a flow sensor (102), a flow control valve (106) and electronics (104). The electronics are coupled to the flow sensor, the flow control valve and configured to adjust the flow control valve in response to the signal of the flow sensor indicating the flow rate of the material such that a set flow rate of material through the flow controller is maintained. The steps of the method comprise determining (302) a zero drift (Qdrift) value for the flow sensor (102). Determining (304) a flow rate (Qflow) through the flow controller (100) when the control valve (106) is in the fully closed position. And determining (306) the leakby through the flow controller (100) where the leakby is equal Qflow-Qdrift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brooks Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Jay J. Mendelson, Christopher A. Mazza, Scott Amsbaugh, Gary Francis Conner, Edward T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8881764
    Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft includes a fuel collector downstream of a boost pump and upstream of an engine fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Joe James Burg, Robert R. Rogstad
  • Patent number: 8882080
    Abstract: A connecting device adapted to transmit pressurized gaseous and/or liquid fluids, configured to be coupled with a connecting end provided with an engaging profile and wherein the connecting device includes a tubular body that extends along a longitudinal axis between a front side facing the connecting end in the coupled configuration and a rear side facing opposite the connecting end, a control member that slides relative to the tubular body along the longitudinal axis and at least one coupling member positioned between the tubular body and the control member and including an engaging profile complementary to the engaging profile of the connecting end, and elastically deformable means that push the control member back toward the front side in a maintenance position of the at least one coupling member locked on the connecting end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Alain-Christophe Tiberghien, Christophe Durieux
  • Patent number: 8875695
    Abstract: A built-in cooking appliance includes a main body, a top plate provided above the main body, a cabinet supporting the top plate, a support forming an airflow space between a side of the top plate and the cabinet and allowing the top plate to be supported by the cabinet even at the space, and an air outlet allowing internal air of the main body to be discharged through the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Soo Cheol Yi
  • Patent number: 8875694
    Abstract: A furnace unit that comprises a burner assembly having at least one burner located therein and a heat exchanger having at least one continuous combustion tube. One end of the combustion tube has a first opening that is coupled to the burner assembly. The combustion tube has at least three zones. A first surface of the first zone has a first non-straight angle with a second surface of the second zone. The second surface has a second non-straight angle with a third surface of the third zone. The first zone is nearest of the three zones to the burner assembly and the second zone is in-between the first zone and the third zone. The first, second and third zones are within a flame length configured to be emitted from the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Floyd E. Cherington, Shailesh S. Manohar, Hans J. Paller, John W. Whitesitt
  • Patent number: 8869816
    Abstract: A mixed water control valve for a faucet includes a valve housing, a control unit, and a balance unit. The valve housing has a mounting seat which has a receiving chamber and two water inlet holes. The balance unit includes a fixed sleeve secured in the receiving chamber, a pressure regulating sleeve movably mounted in the fixed sleeve, a balance baffle mounted in the pressure regulating sleeve, and two elastic members each mounted in the pressure regulating sleeve and each biased between the balance baffle and the mounting seat. Thus, the balance baffle is compressed between the elastic members which provide a buffering force to counteract a larger pressure applied on the balance baffle, so that the pressure regulating sleeve is moved smoothly and stably without producing resonant noise in the faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: HAIN YO Enterprise Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Po Chang
  • Patent number: 8869819
    Abstract: A bi-directional inflating device, comprising: a handle rod comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, an adapter tube communicating with the inner tube, two inflating fittings each having a passage communicating with the adapter tube, a bushing fixed with the outer tube and slidable in parallel to the passages, and two detent assemblies located between two step portions in the bushing and the adapter tube respectively. The inflating fittings each have two grooves formed with a through hole respectively. The detent assemblies each comprise two detents and an elastic piece. The detents each have a body disposed in a corresponding one of the grooves and two end portions extending outwards from the outer surface of the corresponding inflating fitting respectively. The body has an abutting portion that extends through the through hole of the corresponding inflating fitting and is located inside the corresponding passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Jin Dai Auto Supplies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Meng Huang, Yen-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 8869817
    Abstract: A sealing and drainage device for a motor vehicle transmission is located in a wall approximately near the bottom of the transmission housing and includes a ball and a plate that encloses the ball in a bore through the housing wall. The plate has an opening on which the ball sits under normal operating conditions. During unexpected flooding conditions, water flows through the opening into the bore. The ball floats on the water such that as the water rises in the bore, the ball rises as well to the top of the bore to seal the bore from the interior of the housing, preventing water from flowing into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Henryk Sowul, Kristopher Villegas
  • Patent number: 8869829
    Abstract: A pressure release valve assembly for a pressure cooker including a pressure intake unit provided inside of (or under) the lid of a pressure cooker and a pressure control unit connected to the pressure intake unit and provided outside of the lid. The pressure intake unit includes a pressure outlet tube, a connecting plug substantially in a truncated conical shape and connected to the pressure outlet tube with the connecting plug in between, a pressure intake tube connected to the pressure outlet tube, and a filtering cap attached to the pressure intake tube; and the pressure control unit includes a cylindrical pressure release casing, a tubular pressure control element threadedly connected to the inside of the pressure release casing, a valve plunger provided inside the tubular pressure control element, and a pressure spring installed between the pressure control element and an externally expanding supporting flange of the valve plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Tom Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8870159
    Abstract: This supersonic pulse flow device is intended to provide a technical solution in a number of fields where the injection of a flow must be pulsed as required by the process or in order to limit the power consumption and size of the pumping means. In the case of flows achieved by means of a Laval nozzle, it is possible to generate a uniform supersonic jet at very low temperature (currently up to 20 K), which is stable over hydrodynamic periods of time between 150 and 1000 microseconds. This device is aimed as solving problems relating to the use of aerodynamic tools in research and development and in industrial processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Universite Rennes 1
    Inventors: Bertrand Rowe, Sebastien Morales
  • Patent number: 8869823
    Abstract: A non-return valve mechanism comprises a tubular member (1) having a substantially constant external diameter whereby the tubular member can be inserted into a pipe (5) from an open end thereof. A pivotable closure member (9) is provided at one end of the tubular member for closing the end of the tubular member, the closure member being adapted to be positioned externally of the pipe. At least one seal (3) extends around the external periphery of the tubular member for sealing with an internal surface of the pipe into which the tubular member is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: UFPCC Services Limited
    Inventors: Peter Richard Mooney, Ian Edward Tilley
  • Patent number: 8869815
    Abstract: A pinch valve, a chip including the pinch valve, a peristaltic pump including the pinch valve and a method for manufacturing the pinch valve. The pinch valve includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate. The third substrate is formed from an elastic material and situated between the first and second substrates. The first substrate adjoins the third substrate and includes at least one first recess on the side adjacent to the third substrate. The second substrate adjoins the third substrate and includes at least one second recess on the side adjacent to the third substrate. The first recess and the second recess are situated at least partially opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manuela Schmidt, Jochen Rupp
  • Patent number: 8864103
    Abstract: The invention concerns a valve actuator (1) comprising a housing (2) and a nut and screw arrangement. A first portion (5) of the nut and screw arrangement is operated by an electric motor (7), which is fixed to the housing (2). A means (8) is in contact with a second portion (6) of the nut and screw arrangement, and a resilient means (9) is acting between the means (8) and the housing (2). A relative rotation between the threaded nut (3) and the threaded screw (4) leads to a translation of the means (8) and an energizing or de-energizing of the resilient means (9). A locking means (10) locks the resilient means (9) in an energized state by locking the relative rotation of the nut and screw arrangement. When the locking means (10) are released, the resilient means (9), when de-energizing, acts on the means (8), leading to a translation of the means (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Torbjörn Lövgren, Pontus Louis Claesson
  • Patent number: 8857454
    Abstract: A valving system includes, a plurality of flow control valves, and a plurality of chemical control valves in operable communication with a plurality of the plurality of flow control valves such that each of the plurality of chemical control valves is actuated between closed and open positions when the flow control valve it is in operable communication with is actuated between closed or open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Darrin L. Willauer, Jesse J. Constantine, Walter S. Going