Patents Examined by Tuongminh N Pham
  • Patent number: 11964287
    Abstract: A multi-function shower head including an upper housing, a lower housing, a base plate, the base plate having at least water passages and direct spray holes there-through for selectively enabling water outflow from the upper housing through the base plate, a sliding ring held by the lower housing against the base plate and having at least a second spray pattern, and at least one actuator to selectively align the second spray pattern in the sliding ring with the water passage in the base plate and to adjust from a first spray pattern to the second spray pattern. The base plate and the sliding ring are arranged and disposed with an operating mechanism to automatically adjust the water flow from the second spray pattern to the first spray pattern upon interrupting water flow through, and pressure to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Robert William Bruce
  • Patent number: 11938358
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a pipe fitting through which a gas is configured to flow. The inlet of the pipe fitting is configured to connect to an open port of a fire suppression sprinkler system so that gas flows from the fire suppression sprinkler system into the pipe fitting. The valve assembly also includes a vent valve. The inlet of the vent valve is connected to the outlet of the pipe fitting. The vent valve is operable to move between an open position and a shut position. The valve assembly includes an inert gas analyzer and at least one vent port upstream of the inert gas analyzer. The inert gas analyzer is positioned to measure the inert gas content of gas flowing in front of the inert gas analyzer and through the vent port to an outside environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: AGF MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: George J. McHugh, IV, James P. McHugh, Bentley F. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 11931759
    Abstract: A portable dispensing system for dispensing a solution of a fluid and a solid product includes a fluid line, a dispenser, and a cartridge. The fluid line includes a first and second fluid line ends and a fluid source connection at the first fluid line end. The dispenser is at the second fluid line end. The dispenser includes a body and a fluid outlet. The cartridge houses the solid product and includes a fluid inlet and a solution outlet. The cartridge is removably connected at the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the dispenser. The cartridge is configured to receive fluid from the fluid outlet of the dispenser such that fluid contacts the solid product housed in the cartridge and dissolves at least a portion of the solid product forming the solution. The cartridge is also configured to output the solution at the solution outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sarnstrom, Matthew D. Lausted, Karl A. Heinbuch, Peter T. Swenson
  • Patent number: 11925177
    Abstract: A continuously variable nozzle system includes a nozzle body (5) with an inlet and an outlet. A conduit is defined between the inlet and the outlet by a series connection of components which includes a flow meter (10). The flow meter (10) has a chamber (83) with internal helical splines (82) that are configured to interact with a spray liquid passing through the chamber (83) and create a cyclone-like effect. A sphere (52) is located inside the chamber (83) for free movement along a circular path (106). A sensor is located outside of the chamber (83) and configured to detect motion of the sphere (52) and generate an output (9) signal in response to detected motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Marshall T. Bremer, Nicholas Butts, Todd A. Meidinger, Benjamin J. Wolbaum, Daniel R. Wood, Jr., Michael D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11919017
    Abstract: A water spray gun includes a main body, an operating member and a switch part. The main body includes a handle portion and a tube portion extended from the handle portion and provided with a spray head. A control assembly is enclosed in the main body for control of water outflow and adjustment of the amount of the water outflow. The operating member is pivotally connected to the position where the handle portion meets the tube portion. The switch part is arranged at the operating member and is engaged with the control assembly. The amount of water outflow is controlled by relative movement between the switch part and the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: YUAN MEI CORP.
    Inventor: Chi-Han Cheng
  • Patent number: 11885424
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for equalizing airflow in lines delivering product-conveying air to boom sections of an agricultural machine by controlling valves, such as electronically, in each air distribution line to induce additional pressure drops in lines which would cause imbalance in the system. Such valves can include, but are not limited to: ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, globe valves, diaphragm valves, pinch valves and/or plug valves. With the proposed system, the lines of least pressure drop can be induced with additional pressure drop by particular valves in order to bring the lines back to a balanced state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rex Ruppert, Martin J. Roberge, Joel Denis
  • Patent number: 11877544
    Abstract: An irrigation system is configured with a sprinkler module resting on at least two guide rails supported in a parallel arrangement by a plurality of legs, with the legs forming a rack used to provide a guideway for a sprinkler module along the guide rails, with the guide rails and cross supports arranged to form a plane. An adjustment is provided for positioning the plane of the guide rails and cross supports at tilt or angular adjustment of the plane to provide a selected alignment of the plane with a terrain location of the irrigation system. The sprinkler module is connectable to a water source capable of providing a water supply for discharge through the sprinkler modules; and at least one tracking wheel drive motor, such as a water powered drive motor or an electric motor, is provided for driving the sprinkler module along the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Sajid, Nazeer Muhammad
  • Patent number: 11872573
    Abstract: An aperture plate is manufactured by plating metal around a mask of resist columns having a desired size, pitch, and profile, which yields a wafer about 60 ?m thickness. This is approximately the full desired target aperture plate thickness. The plating is continued so that the metal overlies the top surfaces of the columns until the desired apertures are achieved. This needs only one masking/plating cycle to achieve the desired plate thickness. Also, the plate has passageways formed beneath the apertures, formed as an integral part of the method, by mask material removal. These are suitable for entrainment of aerosolized droplets exiting the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
    Inventors: Brendan Hogan, Hong Xu
  • Patent number: 11865554
    Abstract: A method for colouring turf and a turf colouring system. The method and system comprise delivering liquid colourant at a hydraulic pressure greater than 1000 psi to sprayers having a high pressure, high impact, fine spray nozzle with a spray pattern having feathered edges for even coverage with overlapping nozzles. Alternatively, the method and system comprise delivering liquid colourant at a pneumatic pressure greater than 60 psi to sprayers having a high pressure, high impact, fine spray nozzle with a spray pattern having feathered edges for even coverage with overlapping nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Lawn & Turf Company Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Patrick Muscat
  • Patent number: 11865386
    Abstract: An automatic self-extinguishing fire device including an extinguishing substance, and a hose closed on both ends by pressed endings. The extinguishing substance is inside the hose. At least one of the endings of the hose has a closing screw. A pressure valve for filling by the extinguishing substance inside the hose is located on one of the endings of the hose. The extinguishing substance in the hose is under pressure and the hose is at least partially transparent in order to observe an inner content of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Roman Malovec
  • Patent number: 11865557
    Abstract: An illustrated view of an exemplary shower head is presented. The shower head is useful for spraying a shower water in different directions during the same shower without having to readjust the entire shower head. The shower head is further useful for directing the water flowing from the shower head in different directions as desired without further intervention. The shower head has two pipes, each flexible coupled to a valve and the pipes have nozzles. The shower head has a main pipe coupled to a main valve and is coupled to a splitter connector pipe. The connector pipe is coupled to each of the pipes via the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Benoit Poirier
  • Patent number: 11857992
    Abstract: A device, comprising: an electroacoustic transducer on a substrate; a power supply to supply electromagnetic wave energy to the electroacoustic transducer; and a source of a substance that is movable to the substrate; wherein the electroacoustic transducer and the substrate are configured to generate acoustic wave energy that is used to move the substance from the source to the substrate, and to manipulate the substance on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James Tan, Amgad Rezk, Heba Ahmed, Leslie Yeo
  • Patent number: 11857994
    Abstract: A crossover prevention valve for use in a multi-component fluid mixing and dispensing system includes a valve body defining at least two fluid passageways having respective one-way check valves at their outlet ends. A forward end of the valve body cooperates with an interior surface of a dispensing nozzle to define a mixing chamber for chemically reactive fluids prior to discharging the mixed fluids out of the dispensing nozzle. The crossover prevention valve does not permit reverse flow, thereby preventing clogs due to undesired intrusion of one reactant into the flow path of another reactant. Solidified reactants left in the mixing chamber are easily removed from the valve body, permitting the valve body to be reused even after sitting for extended periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Gary M. Hammerlund
  • Patent number: 11858018
    Abstract: An in-situ remediation method for a lead-zinc slag dump is provided, belonging to the technical field of prevention and control of soil pollution, including: step 1, providing a curing agent layer, a clay barrier layer and a planting soil layer on a surface of the lead-zinc slag dump in sequence, and providing an interceptor ditch and a retaining wall at a highest position and a lowest position of the lead-zinc slag dump respectively; step 2, planting ground covers and/or shrubs in the planting soil layer; and step 3, providing baffle plates and a plurality of regulating assemblies in lead-zinc slag, wherein each of the regulating assemblies comprises a water tank, a blind ditch and a first isolation plate, and a water outlet end of the water tank and a water outlet end of the blind ditch are connected with a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GUIZHOU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pan Wu, Han Tu, Shui Zhang, Youfa Luo, Manzhi Chen
  • Patent number: 11856943
    Abstract: A control system for an agricultural utility vehicle includes a distributor linkage for applying fertilizer, plant protection agents, or seed, the distributor linkage having a center part and two lateral extension arms. The center part is arranged so that it can be moved along a vertical axis to adjust the height of the distributor linkage. At least three sensors for determining the distance between the center part and a respective extension arm to the ground are assigned to the distributor linkage, and the system includes a data processing unit such that signals from the sensors are processed as actual values to generate an actuating signal for a hydraulic device is generated for adaptation to a target distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Timo Kiefer, Georg Komma, Frank Grosse Prues
  • Patent number: 11856942
    Abstract: A fluid spray apparatus includes at least one inlet and first and second outlets. A first actuator may communicate a first inlet with one of the outlets. A second actuator also may communicate a second inlet with a different one of the outlets. A passage network of the fluid spray apparatus communicates the first and second actuators with the first and second outlets. A diverter structure is disposed in the passage network. The diverter structure includes a first diverter structure arrangement. In the first diverter structure arrangement, the first actuator communicates the first inlet with the first outlet and the second actuator communicates the second inlet with the second outlet. The diverter structure also includes a second diverter structure arrangement. In the second diverter structure arrangement, the first actuator communicates the first inlet with the second outlet and the second actuator communicates the second inlet with the first outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 11850608
    Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and a plurality of outlets configured to pass water from the chamber. The chamber is unpressurized by a supply pressure of the water source. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure. The mounting system is configured to adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably coupled to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
  • Patent number: 11850812
    Abstract: The invention teaches an environmentally friendly straw and its manufacturing method. The straw includes a tubular body having a through channel inside connecting two openings respectively at two ends of the tubular body, an outer layer surrounding the tubular body between the two openings formed by a leveling machine, an inner layer, as an inner wall of the tubular body, surrounding the channel formed by a honing machine. The straw is manufactured by leveling the tubular body, and honing the channel by a honing machine. As such, a smooth layer between the channel and the tubular body is achieved so that the straw is convenient to clean and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Jia-Cheng Yeh
  • Patent number: 11844342
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronically controlled valve in each air distribution line for delivering product-conveying air to a boom section of an agricultural machine. The valves can be used to balance airflow between lines by controlling back pressure at the boom sections. In one aspect, an electronically controlled butterfly valve can be installed in each air line between a fan's plenum outlet and a dry product delivery meter. Each valve can be configured to allow some flow when in a closed position. This could be achieved, for example, by configuring a valve plate with a circular perimeter shape that has a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of the line or tube in which the valve plate is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Rex Ruppert, Randy Lindemeier, Jeffrey Scot Martin, Jeremy Amundson
  • Patent number: 11845102
    Abstract: Sprayer devices and related methods. The sprayer devices can be of a type that may be carried or worn on the back of a user. Each sprayer device has a tank, a spray outlet (e.g., a spray nozzle or spray wand) and either a manual or power pump. The sprayers may also incorporate one or more of the following: a) a brace member for deterring bending or deformation of a bottom bracket on the sprayer, b) a pump axle with redundant rotation-limiting stop members useable for either right-handed or left-handed operation, c) system for selective and/or controlled agitation or non-agitation of liquid within the sprayer tank and/or d) an information card holding niche with removable information card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Wirz Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Pedro Wirz Luchsinger