Patents Examined by Stephen M. Hepperle
  • Patent number: 8408231
    Abstract: A temperature controlling valve contains a body including a cylindrical chamber, a first opening, a second opening, a first inflow channel, and a second inflow channel; a sleeve member retained in the chamber and including at least one first orifice and second orifice; a first cover to close the first opening; a second cover applied to close the second opening; a valve core fitted into the sleeve member, wherein the first cover includes a first projected portion with a first guide tunnel; the first guide tunnel includes a first axial flowing section and a first longitudinal flowing section; the first projected portion includes a first circular back pressure fence; the second cover includes a second projected portion with a second guide tunnel; the second guide tunnel includes a second axial flowing section and a second longitudinal flowing section; the second projected portion includes a second circular back pressure fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Tsungyi Lo, Mingchia Wu, Weilong Chen
  • Patent number: 8402993
    Abstract: A system for providing a constant flow of cooled hydraulic fluid to a dual clutch assembly of a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a hydraulic fluid cooler, a pressure control valve and a logic valve. The system is also capable of providing additional hydraulic fluid to the dual clutch assembly. The hydraulic fluid cooler provides hydraulic fluid to each clutch of a dual clutch assembly and to a logic valve. The logic valve is operable to divert additional fluid flow to either of the clutches of the dual clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Philip C. Lundberg, Bret M. Olson
  • Patent number: 8397743
    Abstract: An example internal relief valve disclosed herein includes a relief valve seat coupled to a first end of the relief valve stem and to engage a first side of a sensing apparatus to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and a second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in a closed position. A bleed hole within a surface of the sensing apparatus and separate from the opening of the sensing apparatus is dimensioned to provide a controlled flow rate between the first side and the second side of the sensing apparatus when the internal relief valve is in an open position. A seal is disposed along a body of the relief valve stem upstream from the bleed hole and the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the first side of the sensing apparatus and the second side of the sensing apparatus via the opening of the sensing apparatus when the relief valve is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Hawkins, Stanley D. Hall
  • Patent number: 8381751
    Abstract: A self service automated dump station is provided using a control mechanism for the collection of money that releases a latching mechanism located on a removable lockable cap that sits upon the dump station's drain line. In one embodiment provided, the removable lockable cap is lifted from the dump station inlet line by a remote foot pedal—this allows for a cleaner and more efficient means for inserting the hose from the waste tank of a vehicle into the dump station inlet line. Money payment can be either made by cash or by credit or debit cards. The operation of the dump station is made more efficient and requires fewer interactions between those who need to transfer waste from their vehicle waste tanks, such as operators of campers or recreational vehicles, and the dump station operator. Remote sensors can also be deployed to minimize the possibility of spillage or over-fill of the dump station if the dump station is not hooked up to a sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Vito Ignatius Bartolotta
  • Patent number: 8381763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas filling and dispensing device that comprises a body to be positioned in the opening of a pressurized gas storage tank, a gas-tapping circuit extending between a first upstream end to be connected to the inside of the tank and a second downstream end to be connected to a gas user, wherein the tapping circuit includes a first insulation valve, the device further including a safety valve subjected to the tank pressure for blocking or selectively opening a passage for the gas from the tank towards a discharge area based on the temperature and/or pressure of the gas in the tank relative to at least one predetermined threshold, characterized in that the discharge area of the safety valve is located upstream from the first insulation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, SociétéAnonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alessandro Moretti, Philippe Pisot
  • Patent number: 8375984
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve having a plurality of selectable, preset relief pressure settings for use in connection with hydraulic equipment. The pressure relief valve includes a manifold and a barrel fastened to the manifold. The manifold includes a chamber that houses a relief valve cartridge assembly, which includes a poppet valve. The barrel includes, a plurality of chambers, each of which houses a separate and distinct relief pressure load adjustment assembly, which includes a spring-loaded ball that engages the poppet valve. Each of the assemblies may be independently adjusted and preset to a desirable relief pressure load setting, which may be different from one another. The barrel is rotated relative to the manifold until the chamber housing the assembly that has the desired preset relief pressure load aligns with the chamber of the manifold, and, in turn, with the poppet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8375970
    Abstract: A valve system enables use of a standard single line faucet with a water treatment system, protects water treatment systems and other fluid flow devices from unnecessary fluid pressure, and regulates or prevents fluid flow to a dispenser or outlet in response to a particular event, such as a leak. The valve system includes a housing having ports for: (1) receiving a supply fluid, (2) supplying the fluid to a device, such as a water treatment system, (3) receiving the fluid from the device and (4) supplying fluid to a dispenser. The valve system also includes an automatic shutoff device within the housing that prevents water from flowing into the housing and the water treatment system when the dispensing outlet is closed and that allows water to flow through the housing and into the water treatment system when the outlet is open. The valve system may also include a second actuator connected to the automatic shutoff that is capable of moving the automatic shutoff to a partially or fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Lautzenheiser, David O. Godfrey, Michael E. Miles, Steve O. Mork, Richard B. Bylsma
  • Patent number: 8375985
    Abstract: A solenoid valve for a brake system capable of being easily manufactured with reduced manufacturing costs is disclosed. A valve seat member has an inner passage formed through the valve seat member in a longitudinal direction thereof, an outer passage formed on an outer surface of the valve seat member in the longitudinal direction, and a seat portion formed with a first orifice above the inner passage. The seat portion is formed unitarily with the valve seat member. A sleeve is coupled on the outer surface of the valve seat member. The sleeve has a flange portion to be fixed to a modulator block. A valve core is coupled to a portion of the sleeve, opposite to the flange portion. An armature is slidably mounted in the sleeve. The armature has an opening/closing portion to open or close the first orifice. A restoring spring presses the armature toward the first orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Jae Lee, Dong Il Seo, Sang Cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 8375979
    Abstract: On a valve body of a selector valve mounted on a base member, a bolt insertion hole extending across a valve hole within a width of the valve body is formed, a mounting bolt is inserted into the bolt insertion hole so as to cross the valve hole and a valve member. A distal end of the mounting bolt is screwed into a screw hole of the base member so as to fix the selector valve to the base member, while on the valve member, in order to avoid contact between the valve member and the mounting bolt, a hole-shaped or recess-shaped escape portion extending longer in an operating direction of the valve member is formed, and the mounting bolt is inserted through the escape portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8371323
    Abstract: Fluidizing transport apparatus comprises a hopper, a pressure vessel and a valve element which controls a port between the hopper and the vessel. The valve element is retained closed against the port under pressure within the vessel. A fluidizing nozzle receives transport fluid, such as water from a fluid line. Water supplied through the fluid line thus fluidizes solids in the vessel and raises the pressure to maintain the valve element in the closed position. The fluidized solids material is then supplied to a transport pipeline from the vessel. Solids material loaded into the hopper depress the valve element when pressure within the vessel is relieved, so allowing a fresh charge of the solids material to enter the vessel for a subsequent cycle. The position of the valve element within the vessel is influenced by a float which responds to the water level within the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: DPS Bristol (Holdings) Ltd
    Inventor: James Edward Delves
  • Patent number: 8371553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve device comprising a valve body defining a fluid flow duct having a throttle element disposed therein and turned about its axis by actuator means via a drive shaft, the throttle element having an internal cavity defined by a circular wall that is open in its bottom portion. The circular wall also presents, over a portion of its periphery, an opening of varying shape so as to define a fluid flow passage in the duct that is variable between a fully-open position in which the opening co-operates in full with the duct, and a fully-closed position in which said circular wall closes the duct. The device further includes an annular sealing gasket disposed in the flow duct, said gasket being in contact with the wall of the internal cavity in the throttle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier Faye, William Barre
  • Patent number: 8371555
    Abstract: The present invention is a splittable multi-piece hemostasis valve that is held together in an assembled condition via a binder formed about the assembled valve. The binder may be a sleeve of thin polymer material shrink-wrapped about the valve. When the valve needs to be split in order to clear a medical device such as a pacemaker lead, the sleeve is split and the valve is disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Rickerd, Kirk Honour, Daniel J. Potter
  • Patent number: 8365769
    Abstract: A ball valve is provided for threaded connection to a separable component 72 having male threads 74. A housing 10 contains a ball 12 selectively rotatable for passing fluid through the housing, and a flange member 20 threadably secured to the valve housing. A stop ring 16 is positioned outward of the valve housing and engages the flange member. A coupling 20 is threadably secured to the stop ring and includes female threads for engagement with male threads on the separable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: PGI International, Ltd.
    Inventor: Spencer Nimberger
  • Patent number: 8365764
    Abstract: Minimum pressure valve having a housing (13) with an inlet (14) and an outlet (15) and in which has been provided a valve body (21) which is pushed against a seating (30) round the inlet (14) in a closed position, and whereby the valve body (21) is situated at a distance from the above-mentioned seating (30) in an open position, such that the inlet (14) is connected to the outlet (15), whereby the valve body (21) is provided in a sliding manner in a valve casing (17) confining, together with the valve body (21) an inner space (36) that is connected to the inlet (14) via a duct (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Kristof Adrien Laura Martens
  • Patent number: 8360276
    Abstract: A manual inflator having a status indicator that indicates whether a fully-charged, unspent gas cylinder has been installed on the inflator. The status indicator comprises a “single point” indicator having an indicator window that displays the color “green” when the automatic inflator is fully operational or the color “red” when the inflator is at least partially inoperable automatically due to the removal of the gas cylinder or due to the firing of the inflator resulting in a spent gas cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Halkey-Roberts Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rogier, Lyman W. Fawcett, Jr., Alan D. King
  • Patent number: 8356624
    Abstract: A self-operated pressure transmission type of pressure reducing valve with corrugated pipe has an upper cover, a cylinder, a lower cover, a sealing board, a sealing sleeve, a first and second nut, and an upper valve rod. The pressure reducing valve needs no external driving force. It only needs a power-saving product which can automatically adjust the pressure according to the pressure change of the adjusted object. It has multiple functions such as measuring, implementing and controlling pressure, and it solves the problems in the operation process of the conventional pressure reducing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Baochun Chen
  • Patent number: 8353307
    Abstract: A hose wagon wherein the hose wagon frame assembly is structured to rotatably support a hose reel so that the hose reel may rotate freely about a generally vertical axis and a generally horizontal axis. This is accomplished by providing a water supply assembly having two rotational interfaces; one allowing rotation about a vertical axis, the other allowing rotation about a horizontal axis. Further, the hose wagon is free of frame members that extend vertically into the possible path of travel of a hose disposed on the hose reel. The frame assembly includes a handle member that is structured to move between an upper, first position, wherein the handle is disposed on the upper side of the hose wagon, and a second position, wherein the handle is disposed at a location lower than the path of travel of the hose coming off the hose reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ames True Temper, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Blaszczak, Peter Arcati
  • Patent number: 8336574
    Abstract: A regulator comprises a regulator valve and an actuator. The actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and comprises a control element for controlling the flow of fluid through the regulator valve. The actuator is additionally equipped with a pressure averaging sense tube to sense the actual pressure at the outlet of the regulator valve. The actual pressure is then supplied to a sensing element such as a diaphragm of the actuator to adjust the position of the control element. The pressure averaging sense tube includes an open sensing end and an elongated slot. The elongated slot advantageously senses and averages the pressure across the length of the sense tube to maximize the accuracy of the pressure signal supplied to the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Seth Kranz, Joseph Losh
  • Patent number: 8316887
    Abstract: The water tap has a tap stand, an outlet section and a storage frame. The tap stand is hollow and has a bottom end, an inlet and a flowing channel. The inlet is formed through the bottom end of the tap stand. The flowing channel is formed through the tap stand and communicating with the inlet of the tap stand. The outlet section is mounted on the tap stand and has an outfall communicating with the flowing channels. The storage frame is mounted on the tap stand and has a storage plank and a storage hole to hold the a rinsing cup or put on the other toiletries like a toothpaste, a toothbrush or a hand washing cream in order to keep the sink clean and use convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Chen-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 8307843
    Abstract: Temperature-controlled pressure regulators are described. An example temperature-controlled pressure regulator described herein includes a regulator body having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet via a first passageway. A heat block is disposed within the regulator body and receives at least a portion of the first passageway. The heat block is to provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the heat block via the first passageway, which separates the process fluid from the heat block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tescom Corporation
    Inventors: Daryll Duane Patterson, Eric Jacob Burgett, Jonathan Elliot Berg, Keith Duwayne Monson, Sheila Snitker McKee