Patents Examined by Umashankar Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 10851906
    Abstract: The invention refers to a valve, in which a valve housing is deformed and thereby a sliding sleeve pushes against a housing. The invention also refers to a method for manufacturing such a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SVM Schultz Verwaltungs-GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Mang, Florian Schreiber
  • Patent number: 10851921
    Abstract: A racking arm having a barrel arm, a tubular control valve mounted to a tank, a tubular barrel connected to the barrel arm and rotatably positioned in a valve body of the control valve and a handle attached to the barrel to rotate the barrel. Rotating the barrel rotates the barrel arm, the distal end of which is in the tank, to allow the user to selectively position an opening at the distal end of the barrel arm to place liquid in or take liquid out of the tank without disturbing solids at the bottom of the tank. Bearings and O-rings between the valve body and barrel allow sealed rotation of the barrel. The handle extends through a slot in the valve body. The slot defines the amount of allowed rotation. A pin through the valve body engages the barrel to position and hold the barrel inside the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: Shawn Michael Conour
  • Patent number: 10850143
    Abstract: An activator for a pilot type firefighting system for accelerating firefighting system activation is disclosed. The system comprises a control valve which acts to control firefighting fluid flow to a distribution system, and configured such that release of pressure to a control chamber would activate the control valve. The activator comprises a first chamber in fluid coupling to the pilot fluid and a second chamber in fluid coupling to the pilot line via a flow restrictor. A pressure sensing member is disposed such that pressure difference between the chambers would cause an activation of a switch. The release of the switch directly or indirectly causes activation of an electrical valve which vents the pressure in the control chamber. Several aspects of the invention include various firefighting arrangements, various optional features of the activator, firefighting system, and several methods of operation of a system utilizing the activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edwin Archibald, Yoram Ringer
  • Patent number: 10844972
    Abstract: By providing a mountain-shaped mountain portion (5a) protruded from a surface of a plunger (5) facing a valve seat to the inside of a rubber member (8), a dimensional change amount of a valve seat abutting portion (8a) in an opening and closing direction decreases, and thus it is possible to suppress change in characteristic. Also, it is possible to secure a rubber deformation amount sufficient for absorbing impact when the valve seat abutting portion (8a) collides with the valve seat, thereby suppressing an operation sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10830373
    Abstract: A dump handle locking device inhibits tampering with a dump handle of a tank dump valve assembly. A handle portion and a barrier portion interface with respective ends of the tank dump valve assembly. The handle portion and the barrier portion are releasably locked together through a lock mechanism, which restricts displacement of the dump handle that controls movement of a barrier covering the pipe opening. A key regulates fastening and unfastening of the lock mechanism. Consequently, the dump handle is restricted from axial displacement, remaining in a closed position. In some embodiments, handle portion is a valve handle box that encapsulates the dump handle, and barrier portion is a lock plate interfacing with pipe section in tank dump valve assembly. In other embodiments, handle portion is a valve handle cable that attaches to the dump handle, and barrier portion is a barrier cable that attaches to the pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventor: Kenneth Wayne Baker
  • Patent number: 10823307
    Abstract: A fluid pressure controlled spool valve minimizes abrasion or sticking caused by a tilted orientation of a pressure plate forcing lands of a spool shaft to abrade or stick internally facing surfaces of a cylindrical barrel supporting the spool shaft. A permanent magnet is mounted on the pressure plate. A round head composed of a ferromagnetic material is formed on an end of a spool shaft and configured to be magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet. A magnetic attraction force vector produced on the round head of the spool shaft remains coaxial with an axis of the spool shaft, when the pressure plate and the magnet are tilted with respect to the axis of the spool shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Dimitri Petronella, Antoine Paulus
  • Patent number: 10817002
    Abstract: A gas valve includes a valve seat, a valve stem, a valve body, and a valve diaphragm. The valve body acts together with the valve seat in such a way that the gas valve is in a closed state when the valve body is pressed against the valve seat and the gas valve is in an opened state when the valve body is lifted up from the valve seat. In a partially opened state, a connection between the valve stem and the valve body allows the valve body to tilt relative to the valve stem. The tilt may help provide more stable contact between the valve body and the valve seat when the gas valve is in the partially opened state. This can reduce wear on the gas valve by reducing, for example, valve body bounce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Gerrit J. Baarda, Erwin Kupers, Tieme de Jonge
  • Patent number: 10816105
    Abstract: A valve drive system for a pneumatic or hydraulic valve is provided, comprising a drive unit and at least two cup-shaped upper casing parts having different geometries, wherein the drive unit comprises a sleeve, a piston being movable in the sleeve in a linear way, a drive spindle mounted on the piston, and a mounting portion, wherein each of the cup-shaped upper casing parts is couplable by means of the mounting portion to the drive unit, to close the valve drive system to the upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: BUERKERT WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jan Westermann
  • Patent number: 10808860
    Abstract: A control valve having a valve body, seat member, valve member, and solenoid including a housing, bobbin, and coil. The valve member has a head portion disposed within the bobbin and a valve portion, disposed within the valve body, that has a seat engagement member operating to open and close ports in the valve body when the valve member slides between first and second positions. A permanent magnet, disposed within the bobbin, applies an attractive force of variable magnitude to the valve member in a direction opposing a biasing force created by a biasing component. Pulses of electric current applied to the coil change the variable magnitude. The permanent magnet pulls the valve member to the second position when the attractive force is greater than the biasing force and the valve member returns to the first position when the attractive force is less than the biasing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jamison, Eric P. Janssen, Kevin C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10808859
    Abstract: A safety valve (1) has a first valve, and a second valve, a magnetic armature (3) moved by voltage applied to a coil (2). Movement of the armature (3) acts against a spring force of the first valve spring (5) and loosens the first valve body (4) from the first valve seat (6). The movement of the armature (3) subsequently acts against a spring force of the second valve spring (8) and loosens the second valve body (7) from the second valve seat (9). This frees a valve opening for a flowthrough of the gas flow. The flowthrough amount of the gas flow through the valve opening can be continuously controlled as a function of the voltage applied to the coil (2) between a closed position and a fully open position even in partially open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: emb-papst Landshut GmbH
    Inventor: Enno Jan Vrolijk
  • Patent number: 10807110
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an applicator (RZ), in particular a rotary atomizer, for the application of a coating agent, in particular a two-component paint, comprising a first coating agent connection (SL) for feeding a first coating agent, in particular a basic resin of a two-component paint, a first coating agent strand (L1-L4), which extends in the applicator (RZ) from the first coating agent connection (SL) and carries the first coating agent, and a first valve (SLV1), which is arranged in the first coating agent strand (L1-L4) and controls the flow of the first coating agent, wherein the first valve (SLV1) can be controlled by a first control signal. It is proposed that a first pressure-relief valve (SLV1), which is actuated by its own medium, is arranged in the first coating agent strand (L1-L4) and, to avoid a problem being caused by excessive pressure, opens automatically when the pressure upstream of the first pressure-relief valve (SLV1) exceeds a certain maximum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Manfred Michelfelder, Michael Baumann, Sascha Hermann, Bernhard Seiz, Thomas Buck
  • Patent number: 10801287
    Abstract: A first cutter is provided on an edge region of a first surface of a gate valve member to be moveable across the flow path with the gate valve member along a first cutting plane. A first seal pocket is defined by a depression in the first surface of the gate valve, wherein a second peripheral seal surface is provided within the first seal pocket. The first valve seat and the gate valve member are axially moveable relative to each other to permit a portion of the first valve seat to become received into the first seal pocket of the gate valve member when said gate valve member is located within its second position to provide sealing engagement between the first and second peripheral seal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Interventek Subsea Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Gavin David Cowie, John David Sangster
  • Patent number: 10801292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blowout preventer stack having at least one blowout preventer, at least one kinetic energy storage device, at least one hydraulic pump, and at least one hydraulic actuator which is disposed outside the kinetic energy storage device and is connected to the hydraulic pump via a hydraulic line and is mechanically connected to the blowout preventer, wherein the kinetic energy storage device is coupled, or couplable, to the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic pump may be driven by the kinetic energy stored in the kinetic energy storage device in such a manner that in case of need the hydraulic pump will pump hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator and thus actuate the blowout preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Klaus Biester, Peter Kunow
  • Patent number: 10794512
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of fluid while application of a high pressure of the fluid to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor is suppressed. A flow rate control valve includes a casing, an elevation drive device, and a main valve body. When the sub valve body moves upward by the elevation drive device, oil in a back pressure chamber is discharged. Moreover, the oil in a first oil chamber flows into the back pressure chamber while the flow rate of the oil is regulated. A balance among pressures in the back pressure chamber, the first oil chamber, and the second oil chamber changes, and the main valve body opens. When the main valve body is closed, a direct application of the pressure of the back pressure chamber to the sub valve body is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Morita, Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa, Takayuki Igaue
  • Patent number: 10794514
    Abstract: A security blow-out-proof valve assembly is provided that includes a valve body, valve stem, and a head. The valve body contains a valve member movable between open and closed positions within the valve body. The valve stem extends from the valve body and moves the valve member between open and closed positions within the valve body. The head located on the valve stem is selectively movable relative to the valve stem and selectively moves the valve stem. When the head selectively moves the valve stem the head moves the valve member between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Huddleston
  • Patent number: 10773820
    Abstract: A liquid tank system comprises a main liquid tank, an outlet communicating between a fluid circuit and the main liquid tank, an inlet communicating between the fluid circuit and the main liquid tank, and an auxiliary cavity. First vent passage and second vent passage(s) communicate between the main liquid tank and the auxiliary cavity and allows liquid and gas to flow from the main liquid tank to the auxiliary cavity. The second vent passage has a flow control device regulating flow through the second vent passage and having a set point at which it allows liquid and gas to flow from the main liquid tank to the auxiliary cavity only when a pressure in the main liquid tank is beyond a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Pierre Gauvin, Johnny Vinski, Genevieve McMurray
  • Patent number: 10774944
    Abstract: In various implementations, an electronic actuator may be coupled to a valve to provide the ability to shut off anhydrous ammonia flow through the valve (e.g., in emergencies). The valve may be coupled to anhydrous ammonia tanks, such as nurse tanks and/or storage tanks. The electronic actuator may include a handle and a bracket. The handle and the bracket may include at least two attractive components that are magnetically attracted to each other upon application of an electric current and the valve may be open. When the electric current is cut, the attractive components of the handle and the bracket may not be magnetically attracted to each other and the valve may be shut off. A controller (e.g., a switch) may be coupled to the electronic actuator to allow control of the electric signal to the electronic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Squibb Taylor, Inc.
    Inventors: William Henry Sands, III, William Henry Sands, Jr., Brently Craig Wilkerson, Patrick Lee Hodges, William Browning Washington, IV, Jack Jay Potts
  • Patent number: 10767787
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing between two inlet/outlet ports, restraining a high pressure of the fluid from being applied to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor. The flow rate control valve has a casing, a raising/lowering drive device, a supply-switching valve, a main valve body, a valve-closing spring. When the electric motor of the raising/lowering drive device moves the sub valve body upward, oil of a back pressure chamber is discharged from a discharge oil passage through a sub valve body communication port and a sub valve body oil passage to open the main valve body. When the main valve body is closed, a pressure of the back pressure chamber is inhibited from being directly applied to a lower end face of the sub valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Morita, Naoki Sugano, Satoshi Maekawa, Takayuki Igaue
  • Patent number: 10767354
    Abstract: A faucet is provided that electronically controls the flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a faucet body and a faucet handle. In some embodiments, the faucet may include a faucet body and be voice controlled. The faucet illustratively includes an inertial motion unit sensor mounted in the faucet handle to sense spatial orientation of the faucet handle. The faucet illustratively includes an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a controller configured to receive signals from the inertial motion unit sensor and control the electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed based upon the position of the faucet handle. The faucet illustratively includes an acoustical array that produces a mid-air tactile interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Tracy
  • Patent number: 10758879
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems are disclosed for improved set-up of multi-ingredient compounders. An improved apparatus includes a manifold and a plurality of valve members disposed for movement relative to different corresponding ones of a plurality of inlet ports of the manifold. The valve members are moveable to open and close a corresponding fluid passageway between the corresponding inlet port and an internal passageway of the manifold. A plurality of caps are locatable on different corresponding ones of the inlet ports, with each of the caps being engageable with the corresponding valve member for co-movement from a locked position at which the cap is restricted from removal to an unlocked position at which the cap is removable, e.g. by manual, axial retraction of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: BAXTER CORPORATION ENGLEWOOD
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Dudar