Patents by Inventor Aaron M. Hicks

Aaron M. Hicks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Bi-directional disc-valve motor and improved valve-seating mechanism therefor
    Patent number: 7530801
    Abstract: A rotary fluid pressure device (11) has a stationary valve member (17), a rotatable valve member (51), and a valve seating mechanism (73). The valve seating mechanism (73) defines an outer balance ring member (75) having a valve-confronting surface (79) in engagement with an opposite surface (81) of the rotatable valve member (51) and an inner balance ring member (77) having a valve-confronting surface (111) in engagement with the opposite surface (81) of the rotatable valve member (51), with the outer balance ring member (75) and the inner balance ring member (77) being structurally independent from the other. The outer balance ring member (75) and the inner balance ring member (77) define a balance ring passage (71) which provides continuous fluid communication between a fluid inlet (53) or a fluid outlet (53) and the valve passages (61) in the rotatable valve member (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron M. Hicks
  • Bi-directional disc-valve motor and improved valve-seating mechanism therefor
    Publication number: 20070292296
    Abstract: A rotary fluid pressure device (11) has a stationary valve member (17), a rotatable valve member (51), and a valve seating mechanism (73). The valve seating mechanism (73) defines an outer balance ring member (75) having a valve-confronting surface (79) in engagement with an opposite surface (81) of the rotatable valve member (51) and an inner balance ring member (77) having a valve-confronting surface (111) in engagement with the opposite surface (81) of the rotatable valve member (51), with the outer balance ring member (75) and the inner balance ring member (77) being structurally independent from the other. The outer balance ring member (75) and the inner balance ring member (77) define a balance ring passage (71) which provides continuous fluid communication between a fluid inlet (53) or a fluid outlet (53) and the valve passages (61) in the rotatable valve member (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Aaron M. Hicks