Patents by Inventor Bruce James

Bruce James 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).

  • Patent number: 8037900
    Abstract: A bi-directional adjustable energy dissipating near zero leakage head loss valve comprising a valve body including and actuation shaft housing and a guide shaft mount disposed in opposition along the transverse valve actuation axis; a fixed plate having downstream orifices parallel to the flow axis; a mobile plate having upstream orifices parallel to the flow axis adapted to move along the transverse valve actuation axis: from a fully open position, wherein the upstream and downstream orifices are aligned to allow flow communication to a fully closed position, wherein the orifices are blocked by the mobile plate; a self adjusting taper ring located about the upstream inner perimeter of the valve body, the self adjusting taper ring having an inner surface engagingly biased against and parallel to the upstream side of the mobile plate, and having an outer surface engagingly biased against an upstream pipe gasket flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Bruce James
  • Publication number: 20090065080
    Abstract: A bi-directional adjustable energy dissipating near zero leakage head loss valve comprising a valve body including and actuation shaft housing and a guide shaft mount disposed in opposition along the transverse valve actuation axis; a fixed plate having downstream orifices parallel to the flow axis; a mobile plate having upstream orifices parallel to the flow axis adapted to move along the transverse valve actuation axis: from a fully open position, wherein the upstream and downstream orifices are aligned to allow flow communication to a fully closed position, wherein the orifices are blocked by the mobile plate; a self adjusting taper ring located about the upstream inner perimeter of the valve body, the self adjusting taper ring having an inner surface engagingly biased against and parallel to the upstream side of the mobile plate, and having an outer surface engagingly biased against an upstream pipe gasket flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce James
  • Patent number: 6886595
    Abstract: A bi-directional head loss valve with a valve body having a flow path along a flow axis and a transverse valve actuation axis, an actuation shaft housing and a guide shaft mount disposed in opposition along the transverse valve actuation axis. A fixed plate is housed within the valve body transverse the flow axis, with downstream orifices parallel to the flow axis and a mobile plate is housed within the valve body upstream of and parallel to the fixed plate, with upstream orifices parallel to the flow axis. The mobile plate is adapted to move along the transverse valve actuation axis: from a fully open position, wherein the upstream and downstream orifices are in flow communication; to a fully closed position, wherein the downstream orifices are blocked by the mobile plate. An actuation shaft along the transverse actuation axis is slidably housed within the actuation shaft housing, and has an inner end engaging the mobile plate and an outer end adapted to engage a valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Stealth International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce James, Amzad Ali
  • Publication number: 20040065372
    Abstract: A bi-directional head loss valve with a valve body having a flow path along a flow axis and a transverse valve actuation axis, an actuation shaft housing and a guide shaft mount disposed in opposition along the transverse valve actuation axis. A fixed plate is housed within the valve body transverse the flow axis, with downstream orifices parallel to the flow axis and a mobile plate is housed within the valve body upstream of and parallel to the fixed plate, with upstream orifices parallel to the flow axis. The mobile plate is adapted to move along the transverse valve actuation axis: from a fully open position, wherein the upstream and downstream orifices are in flow communication; to a fully closed position, wherein the downstream orifices are blocked by the mobile plate. An actuation shaft along the transverse actuation axis is slidably housed within the actuation shaft housing, and has an inner end engaging the mobile plate and an outer end adapted to engage a valve actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Bruce James, Amzad Ali
  • Patent number: 6561517
    Abstract: A packing device, for sealing a longitudinal shaft against leakage of a pressurized fluid, having an elongate valve housing with an annular internal chamber about a coaxial rotatable shaft. The chamber has an inner end with an annular stationary packing support shoulder exposed to pressurized fluid and an outer end with an annular packing access opening exposed to ambient air pressure. Annular self travelling pressure energized retained chevron packing is disposed within the chamber, an inner end thereof engaging the stationary packing support shoulder. An axially slidable ring engages an outer end of the packing, and gland housing engages an outer end of the slidable ring. The gland housing includes compression mountings for loading the packing. For limiting the axial movement of the ring within the chamber when the gland housing is removed, the valve housing includes an annular groove within which a floating retaining clip is slidably disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Stealth International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce James
  • Publication number: 20030011138
    Abstract: A packing device, for sealing a longitudinal shaft against leakage of a pressurized fluid, having an elongate housing with an annular internal chamber about a coaxial rotatable shaft. The chamber has an inner end with an annular stationary packing support shoulder exposed to pressurized fluid and an outer end with an annular packing access opening exposed to ambient air pressure. Annular self travelling pressure energized retained chevron packing is disposed within the chamber, an inner end thereof engaging the stationary packing support shoulder. An axially slidable ring engages an outer end of the packing, and gland bearings engage an outer end of the slidable ring. The bearings include compression mountings for loading the packing. For limiting the axial movement of the ring within the chamber when the gland bearings are removed, the housing includes an annular groove within which a floating retaining clip is slidably disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Bruce James
  • Patent number: 4815693
    Abstract: A valve has a housing to which a 360 degree notch plate is integrally connected. A valve member mounted within the housing control fluid flows and rotates though substantially 90 degrees between maximally open and closed positions. A valve stem extends upwardly from the valve and through an opening formed in the notch plate. A handle is releasably secured to the valve stem immediately above the notch plate and has a spring-biased pivoting arm which cooperates with the notches to permit the angular position of the handle and consequently the valve member to be incrementally adjusted and locked. The upper surface of the notch plate has four distinct quadrants, and a number of holes formed at predetermined locations, a different pair of holes being associated with and positioned to either side of each quadrant. The valve stem is shaped to receive the handle in only predetermined angular orientations relative to the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Lunkenheimer Tubecraft Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce James, Leslie Calder
  • Patent number: 4736808
    Abstract: In a percussive tool in which a very high pressure and preferably cavitating water jet is directed through an opening in the working surface of the tool, the jet is formed by a nozzle positioned in a cavity behind the opening and decoupled from the tool by a bearing layer of water from the jet. A supply pipe extends rearwardly of the nozzle without contacting the tool, and is supported externally of the tool, on a machine which operates the tool, by a support which allows the fluid bearing to center the nozzle within the cavity while restraining movement of the nozzle axially of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Limited/Societe Canadienne des Brevets et d'Exploitation Limitee
    Inventors: Bruce James, John P. Dorscht