Patents Examined by Stephen M. Hepperle
  • Patent number: 8567433
    Abstract: A pressure regulator includes a housing assembly defining a fluid flow path from an inlet end to an outlet end; a plunger having a tubular plunger body supported within the housing assembly for linear movement toward and away from a valve seat in response to fluid pressure at the outlet end. A sleeve is supported within the housing assembly and is engageable with the tubular plunger body, and an actuator collar is supported externally of the housing assembly and operatively attached to the sleeve such that rotation of the actuator collar in one direction from an open position to a closed position produces linear movement of the tubular plunger body, independent of the pressure at the outlet end, into engagement with the valve seat to thereby shut off the flow path within the regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: Cliff P. Ungerecht, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8561657
    Abstract: A ullage system for a marine fuel tank that maintains an exact ullage space in all marine refueling situations including refueling in moving or pitching and rolling situations. The invention includes two ball valve assemblies that are inserted into a fuel tank at approximately the same level. The two assemblies typically are at opposite ends of the tank. One of the ball valves is smaller than the other in diameter. The smaller valve is coupled to an air vent; the larger valve is coupled to the filler tube. An important feature of the present invention is that it can typically be made to fit any marine fuel tank simply by changing the length of a vent tube to reach the correct ullage level for the tank at hand. The components of the present invention can be made from standard fuel valve materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bluskies International, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Brown, Marvin Peplow
  • Patent number: 8561637
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing configured to interengage with a container, a first and second poppets axially movable between open and closed positions, a first seal between the first poppet and the housing, a second seal between the first poppet and the second poppet, and first and second resilient members disposed within the housing and urging the first and second poppets toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Girard Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Petrarca, Chris Lynch, Tim Girard, Michael Fernandez
  • Patent number: 8561644
    Abstract: A pulsator comprises a valve chamber and an armature arranged in the valve chamber. An electrically powered coil at least partially surrounds the valve chamber and generates a magnetic flux. A magnetic pole piece is arranged in the valve chamber and has a metal surface. The armature has a first end nearest the magnetic pole piece and a second end. The first end of the armature has a metal surface and the second end has a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Schultz, Gary C. Steingraber, Leon Cramer
  • Patent number: 8561638
    Abstract: A check valve includes a main-casing, a sub-casing, a positive-pressure valve and a negative-pressure valve. The positive-pressure valve has through holes and a negative-pressure valve seat. The negative-pressure valve has leg portions. A cap is disposed within the positive-pressure valve. A positive-pressure spring is disposed between the positive-pressure valve and the sub-casing, and a negative-pressure spring is disposed between the positive-pressure valve and the cap. A positive-pressure flow path for releasing fuel vapor is formed between an outer circumference of the positive-pressure valve and an inner circumference of the main-casing, at further outward position than the positive-pressure spring. A negative-pressure flow path for introducing outside air is formed between an inner circumference of the positive-pressure valve and the leg portions and an outer circumference of the cap and between the through holes and the leg portions, at further outward position than the negative-pressure spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Kosei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8555918
    Abstract: Flow rate control valve includes: a target probe formed of a magnetically-responsive substance and mounted to one end of a spool; a sensor housing mounted to the one end of the sleeve and having a cylinder section defining an inner space to permit entry therein of the target probe; and first and second coils provided around the cylinder section and axially spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The probe is constructed so that magnetic response of the coils gradually varies in one direction in response to a linear position of the target probe. The first coil responds to the target probe, while the second coil does not respond to the target probe. Impedance of the first coil varies with a linear position of the probe (31), and the linear position of the probe is detected through differential synthesis performed between outputs of the first and second coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Amiteq Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Goto
  • Patent number: 8556225
    Abstract: The present invention involves, in some embodiments, pump chambers are configured to prevent contact of at least a portion of a membrane movable within the pump chamber to effect pumping from contacting an inner wall of the pump chamber, which can, in some embodiments, be useful to prevent any gas in the pump chamber from being pumped from the pump chamber during pumping. The pump chambers and pumping cartridges may form part of a pumping system further comprising valve(s) and a controller configured to detect and purge gas from the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Larry B. Gray
  • Patent number: 8544494
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a fuel tank selection module, a fuel depletion determination module, and a fuel pressure balancing module. The fuel tank selection module closes (N?M) of N shutoff valves of N compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tanks, respectively, when an enable condition is met and the N shutoff valves have been open for a first predetermined period, wherein N is an integer greater than one and M is an integer less than N. The fuel depletion determination module determines whether the M CNG fuel tanks have provided a predetermined amount of fuel based a fuel parameter. The fuel pressure balancing module opens the N shutoff valves for the first predetermined period when the M CNG fuel tanks have provided the predetermined amount of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Grant Meade
  • Patent number: 8539980
    Abstract: A device for operation of a surgical or dental drive unit includes a control valve attached to a drive unit to control a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source to the drive unit. The control valve includes (a) a first control arrangement controlling a rate of flow of the compressed fluid through the control valve; (b) a control switch; and (c) a control sleeve controlled by the control switch to axially move along a longitudinal axis of the drive unit between a first configuration in which the control valve is locked and closed to fluid flow and a second configuration in which the control valve is unlocked and the first control arrangement controls the rate of flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Tanner, Arthur Meili
  • Patent number: 8539975
    Abstract: Method and drill string valve for closing a conduit through which a high pressure fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hydril USA Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Derryl Schroeder, Michael Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 8534310
    Abstract: A two-way check/bypass valve is connected between the hot and cold water supply lines at hot and cold water faucets located most distantly from the water heater in a building. The valve establishes and maintains convective hot water circulation at a low flow rate from the heater to the most distant hot water faucet, through the cold water supply line, and back to the heater, during the period of time when the hot and cold water faucets are closed. When the hot water faucet is opened, hot water is nearly instantly available. Convective hot water circulation is stopped by the valve when either the hot or cold faucet is opened. The valve also prevents mixing of hot and cold water when either the hot or cold faucet is open and includes provision for dampening any water hammer effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Raymond G. Ziehm
  • Patent number: 8534306
    Abstract: A subsea hot-tapping system, comprising an existing pipeline; a hot-tap body fitted around the pipeline; and a fluid injected between the pipeline and the body. In some embodiments, the system also includes a radial arm cutter, adapted to cut a hole in the existing pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ray Rolland Ayers, Michael Hosokawa Dupre, Michael Lee Eckstein, Jack Everett Miller
  • Patent number: 8528588
    Abstract: A safety valve drive system is operated such that a safety valve of a nuclear power plant is opened by supplying a driving gas by using a pilot valve at an occurrence of an accident or a transient state to thereby protect a reactor against pressure application. The safety valve drive system is provided with a safety valve drive unit, as a function of actuating the safety valve, and cables. The safety valve drive unit actuates in a manner that the safety valve is opened in response to respective auto-depressurization system actuating signals for two or more segments among respective auto-depressurization system actuating signals for four segments, and is closed if an auto-depressurization system actuating signal for one or less segment among the auto-depressurization system actuating signals for the four segments is received. The cables are connected to the safety valve drive unit and used to transfer the auto-depressurization system actuating signals for the four segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Takeo Shimizu, Yuka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8517043
    Abstract: An adjustable economizer valve is disclosed that does not overlap the pressure build function, which allows a single valve to be used for both high and low gas use applications. The valve will economize well and reduces system pressure when needed in low use applications. The valve also provides maximum pressure build capacity when needed in high gas use applications. The valve seals off the pressure build outlet from the economizer connection with a seal around a pusher post disposed in the valve body. The pusher post has an internal flow path that is sealed by a floating device that can create a seal from diaphragm pressure and can open when diaphragm pressure is removed. In exemplary, non-limiting, embodiments, the floating device can be a ball or a disc plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Pentair Valves & Controls US LP
    Inventor: Mark K Hamm
  • Patent number: 8511333
    Abstract: A double pipe apparatus that includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe inserted into the outer pipe, and regulates a flow of a gas flowing through the double pipe apparatus. The double pipe apparatus includes a flow regulating valve, a valve stem which which penetrates the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and fluid leakage preventing parts including a bellows which is provided between the outer pipe and the inner pipe and which prevents the gas from leaking outside the outer pipe. One end of the bellows is attached to an inner wall of the outer pipe, and the other end of the bellows is attached to a flange formed on the valve stem, so that the gas flowing through the inner pipe is prevented from leaking outside the outer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Takeda, Shoichi Doi
  • Patent number: 8511340
    Abstract: Suction jet pumps include a driving line which leads via a jet outlet into a suction chamber, where the suction chamber has a suction opening which interacts with a valve element and through which fluid is sucked into the suction chamber. The valve element together with the suction opening forms a suction valve. The suction jet pump is driven by a driving stream flowing via the driving line. The suction jet pump is arranged in a storage tank and sucks fuel out of a fuel tank into the storage tank. The driving line has a bypass opening which leads into the suction chamber and is arranged in such a manner that the bypass stream thereof acts on the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Pavel Smid, Radek Malec, Karsten Scholz, Jiri Kadlec
  • Patent number: 8511095
    Abstract: A flow discharge device, such as a bleed assembly in a gas turbine engine, comprises a discharge outlet member having a skirt which is accommodated telescopically in a housing so as to be displaceable with respect to wall of a duct from a retracted position in which slots in the skirt lie outside the duct, and an extended position in which the slots open into the duct for the discharge of a secondary fluid into the flow in the duct. The discharge outlet member is moved to the extended position by the pressure of the secondary fluid acting on a silencer element. A spring returns the discharge outlet member to the retracted position when the flow of the secondary fluid is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Mullender, Brian A. Handley, Zahid M. Hussain
  • Patent number: 8505569
    Abstract: A residue collector for collecting residual fluid from a low pressurized hose, which runs perpendicularly or at an incline, includes two pipe nozzles that are joined together, the interior spaces of which are connected to each other and form a hollow space, which can be connected to an upwardly extending portion of the low pressurized hose by way of an upper orifice and can be connected to a downwardly extending portion of the low pressurized hose by way of a lower orifice. The front end of the pipe nozzle that is connected to the lower orifice is closed and a protuberance is provided into the front end of the pipe nozzle that is connected to the upper orifice. The protuberance is directed outwardly and with the material thereof being flexible and having a wall thickness that is permits folding, at least partially, into the hollow space due to low pressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Greger
  • Patent number: 8485213
    Abstract: An example loading regulator having an internal relief valve apparatus includes a body having a loading diaphragm disposed between a first casing and a second casing. The first casing and a first side of the loading diaphragm define a first chamber and the second casing and a second side of the loading diaphragm define a second chamber. A relief valve assembly is coupled to the loading diaphragm. The relief valve assembly includes a relief valve seat having an aperture that forms a passageway to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber and a relief valve plug movably coupled to the relief valve seat. The relief valve seat is to move relative to the relief valve plug to a bleed position to allow the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber in response to an outlet pressure substantially greater than a pressure at which the loading regulator enters a lock-up condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Chester Hawkins, David Edward Woollums, Tung Kim Nguyen, Gregory Lawrence Foust
  • Patent number: 8479765
    Abstract: A water faucet assembly includes a water conduit that has a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. The water conduit has a channel therein extending through the first and second ends. The water conduit is comprised of a translucent material to allow light to be transmitted through the water conduit. A temperature sensor is mounted in the water conduit and is in thermal communication with the channel to detect a temperature of water within the channel. A temperature indicator mounted on the water conduit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor to visually indicate a temperature of water within the channel. A power source is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature indicator to supply electric power to the temperature sensor and the temperature indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Timothy Wren