Patents Examined by Trevor E. McGraw
  • Patent number: 8844642
    Abstract: An automatic flow restrictor includes a movement sensor that detects undesired movement of a firefighting apparatus relative to a support surface and automatically reduces the flow of fluid through the apparatus to thereby reduce reaction forces acting upon the apparatus. The sensor may be a slidable member or an actuatable lever, for example, that detects movement of the apparatus along or away from a support surface, and actuates an adjuster to restrict the flow of fluid until the forces are balanced and the apparatus stops moving relative to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric N. Combs
  • Patent number: 8622319
    Abstract: A coating material dispensing device includes a first component providing a connection to a source of coating material to be dispensed and a filter for filtering coating material to be dispensed. The first component includes a housing for housing the filter and a closure for selectively closing the housing to permit removal and replacement of the filter. The coating material dispensing device further includes a second component providing a nozzle through which the coating material is dispensed. The first and second components include first and second passageways, respectively. The first and second passageways communicate when the first and second components are assembled together to provide a flow of filtered coating material from the filter to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventor: Eric F. Reetz, III
  • Patent number: 8573509
    Abstract: A sprinkler tap connects optionally to either a fitting of underground piping or an existing sprinkler head of an automatic sprinkler system and includes a generally T-shaped body having a fluid flow passage extending between an open bottom end and a first output port at a top end. A second output port communicates with the fluid flow passage between the bottom end and the first output port. The first output port is adapted for receiving either a male or female sprinkler head nozzle or, alternatively, a plug. A quick connect fitting on the second output port allows for easy connection and disconnection of a hose. The opposite end of the hose may be attached to a portable sprinkler device, a hand held spray nozzle or other water dispensing device. The quick connect fitting has an internal stop valve that closes when the hose is disconnected from the device, thereby preventing wasteful discharge of water from the second output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: David L. Cole
  • Patent number: 8403236
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a nozzle connector and nozzle filter engaged together. The nozzle connector is engaged with a tote connector of a tote which contains a paint component. A hose connector can be sealingly engaged with the tote connector if they are matched. The hose connector is restricted from being sealingly engaged with the nozzle connector if they do not match. Matching hose and nozzle connectors have the same color to indicate that they match each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: MicroBlend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Hughes, Andrew B. Titus, Danny P. Boyle, Michael Mowen
  • Patent number: 8376060
    Abstract: An adjustable escutcheon assembly as provided for mounting a sprinkler in a sloped ceiling so that the sprinkler can be mounted parallel to the ceiling and with a refined appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn G. Orr, David VanEerden
  • Patent number: 8360345
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, may include a spray coating device having a handle, a fluid head comprising a fluid valve and a trigger coupled to the fluid valve, and a quick disconnect fastener coupling the fluid head with the handle. A system, in other embodiments, may include a spray coating device having a body, a pivot joint coupled to the body, and a trigger having a lever coupled to the pivot joint. The trigger may be configured to move in a first direction. The system also may include a valve disposed in the body and movable in a second direction crosswise to the first direction, wherein the lever is configured to bias the valve in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Paul R. Micheli
  • Patent number: 8336789
    Abstract: A spraying device includes a control handle, a first hollow barrel, a second hollow barrel, a driving unit, a spraying tube, and a liquid ejection tube. With the driving unit that is driven by high pressure air to rotate received inside the second hollow barrel, when the control handle is operated to supply high pressure air to drive the driving unit to rotate in high speed, the spraying tube is caused to rotate with a high speed, making high pressure rotating air ejected from the spraying tube inducing repeated and rotating impacts on a surface to be cleaned to thereby improve the effect of dust removal. Further, the liquid ejection tube is located within the spraying tube and ejects a stream of water (or cleaning agent), which is mixed with the high pressure air to generate a high speed rotating impact to also realize surface rinsing of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Grain Point Enterprise Limited
    Inventor: Chao-Ming Kuo
  • Patent number: 8302887
    Abstract: A flow path is provided for a drip emitter to reduce the supply pressure in a manner reducing the potential for the flow path to become obstructed and clogged. The path employs a central path with a predetermined size and a series of baffles with predetermined spacing. The flow path further includes a metering chamber and a diaphragm to compensate for changes in supply pressure and an outlet that facilitates self-flushing in conjunction with the operation of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Park, Thomas Antonucci, Josh St. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 8286719
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a structure from fire includes a foam generation system by mixing compressed air, water from a pump and a foaming agent from a metered supply together with a series of motor driven nozzles and a control device which is programable to provide a program of operation to control the motors of the nozzles so as to pre-determine a pattern by which a building is repeatedly covered by a layer of the foam. The control device can include plurality of different programs of operation of the nozzles with different times for different fire conditions. A remote control allows the apparatus to be activated from a safe remote location. An arrangement is provided to automatically start the foam generation system including an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Tuffbuilt Products Inc
    Inventor: Jan Vetesnik
  • Patent number: 8282022
    Abstract: A sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle plate having at least one orifice formed therein. A stream deflector is rotatably mounted adjacent the nozzle plate and has a plurality of flutes formed therein that face the nozzle plate. Each flute has an inner portion that can momentarily align with water flowing through the orifice in the nozzle plate during rotation of the stream deflector relative to the nozzle plate. Water flowing through the orifice will be channeled in a generally radial direction by the flute to form a stream of water that is ejected from the stream deflector. The flutes have a plurality of different tangential trajectories relative to the orifice in the nozzle plate so that in combination the streams of water successively ejected from the stream deflector establish a predetermined shape of coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: LaMonte D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8282024
    Abstract: A system, nozzle assembly, and method for coating a stent with a solvent and polymer are provided. The polymer can include a therapeutic substance or a drug. The polymer and solvent can be discharged from separate tubes disposed within another tube carrying moving air. The polymer and the solvent mix together when they are discharged and are atomized by the air. The ends of the tubes can be concentric with each other. The ends of the tubes can also be positioned relative to each other to prevent accumulation of polymer at the ends of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Dirk Pacetti
  • Patent number: 8262004
    Abstract: A hopper spreader apparatus adapted for mounting to a vehicle, to be towed by a vehicle or to be pushed by hand, includes a sprayer apparatus for spraying liquid material as well as dispensing dry free-flow material. The hopper spreader apparatus includes a variable discharge mechanism, allowing adjustment of both the flow rate and the distribution pattern of the dry free-flow material particulate material being dispensed. The operation of the hopper spreader apparatus can be controlled remotely using radio frequency (RF) signaling. The hopper spreader apparatus obtains electrical power from an on-board battery and includes a battery charger to allow the battery to be charged when the hopper spreader apparatus is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert N. Gamble, II, Lynn W. Schultz, Terry C. Wendorff
  • Patent number: 8256525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inerting method for reducing a risk of fire outbreak in an enclosed space as well as a device therefor. A continuous inerting of the enclosed space to spatially-separated zones of the enclosed space is performed as necessary without needing structural separations. At least one inert gas having a gas density (?Gas) which differs from the mean gas density (?Gas) of the ambient atmosphere of the space is introduced into the enclosed space such that a gas stratification including a first gas layer (A) and a second gas layer (B) forms in the enclosed space, wherein the oxygen content in the first gas layer (A) corresponds substantially to the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere, and wherein the oxygen content in the second gas layer (B) corresponds to a specific, definable oxygen content which is lower than the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Amrona AG
    Inventor: Ernst-Werner Wagner
  • Patent number: 8231069
    Abstract: In a fuel injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine, a first cavity is disposed downstream of a valve seat in a direction in which fuel flows. A second cavity is disposed downstream of the first cavity in the direction in which the fuel flows. A fuel passage connects the first cavity to the second cavity. Fuel injection holes (24) lead to the second cavity. With this configuration, when the fuel flows through the first fuel passage, cavitation is induced. Cavitation bubbles flow into the second cavity along with the fuel. When the fuel is retained in the second cavity, the cavitation bubbles are uniformly mixed into the fuel. The fuel, which has been sufficiently mixed with the cavitation bubbles, is injected from the fuel injection holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eriko Matsumura, Tomojiro Sugimoto, Motonari Yarino
  • Patent number: 8230939
    Abstract: An improved fire protection system that is of fail safe design for kitchen stoves with or without a range hood and other applications utilizing electrical power for generating heat and in which a fire condition such as a skillet of grease becomes ignited. Said system is activated thermally to release a quantity of fire suppressant material while simultaneously cutting off the electrical power. The system utilizes a reservoir containing the fire suppressant under pressure with a hose or pipe connected to one or a plurality of thermally activated nozzles. A second hose or pipe is connected to a pneumatically operated electrical interruption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Joe Dale Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8220723
    Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a nozzle, a turbine and a gear train reduction. The gear train reduction has an output stage that is coupled to the nozzle. The turbine is located between the nozzle and the gear train reduction and is coupled to an input stage of the gear train reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Clark
  • Patent number: 8210454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, which fuel injector comprises an injection valve element, for opening and closing at least one injection opening and a pressure booster, by way of which fuel which is at system pressure is compressed to injection pressure. The pressure booster is actuated via a first control valve and the injection valve element is actuated via a second control valve. The pressure booster comprises a pressure booster piston which is assigned a spring element which is supported by way of one side on the injector housing and by way of the other side on the pressure booster piston. The pressure booster piston delimits a compression chamber, a differential pressure chamber and a control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Frasch, Stephan Wehr
  • Patent number: 8196844
    Abstract: Three-way valves having reduced leakage and fuel injectors using the same. Three-way spool poppet valves are disclosed having a spool with a poppet valve thereon cooperating with a seat on the valve housing to provide a substantially leak free valve closing in one direction characteristic of a poppet valve while preserving the advantages of a spool valve. Three-way ball valves are also disclosed having substantially leak free valves closing in both directions, but further including reduced short circuit losses due to direct flow from a high pressure supply to a low pressure vent during transition of the ball from one position to the opposite position. Fuel injectors with direct needle control using the three-way valves of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tibor Kiss, Randall James Strauss, James A. Peña, John Mathew Quinlan
  • Patent number: 8196847
    Abstract: A fluid spray head comprising an expulsion channel (5) provided with a spray orifice (1) and a spray profile (10) formed in an end wall of said spray head, said spray profile (10) comprising preferably non-radial spray channels (11) opening out to a central spray chamber (12) disposed directly upstream from said spray orifice (1), an insert (20) being disposed in said expulsion channel (5) so as to form a cover for said spray profile (10), the central axis (X) of said insert (20) being substantially identical to the central axis (Y) of said expulsion channel (5), and said spray head including centering means for centering said insert (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Valois SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud Helie, Wilfrid Beaujour
  • Patent number: 8191647
    Abstract: A dry sprinkler installation and sealing device for a cold environment is disclosed. The dry sprinkler installation includes a supply conduit having a first end adapted to communicate with a fire retardant fluid source and a second end supporting a sprinkler head. The supply conduit is dimensioned to extend through an opening in a wall of a cold environment, e.g., a freezer ceiling. A flexible sealing device is positioned about the supply conduit adjacent an exterior surface of the cold environment. A first end of the sealing device is secured about the supply conduit and a second end of the sealing device is secured to an exterior surface of the cold environment. The flexible sealing device allows for radial and axial adjustments to the supply conduit and sprinkler head without comprising the integrity of the sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Robert M. Cordell, Manuel R. Silva, Jr., David Stevens