Patents by Inventor Daniel Lee Pifer

Daniel Lee Pifer 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: 8944100
    Abstract: An isolation valve includes a flow restrictor disposed in a passage and having a piston with a first orifice and a depressurization valve with a second orifice. The valve also includes a solenoid valve assembly having a coil that is selectively energized by a signal from a controller and an armature that is moveable between first and second positions to open and close the first orifice and/or the second orifice. When the coil is energized, the armature moves to the second position to allow vapor to flow through the first orifice, the depressurization valve selectively opens to allow vapor to flow through the first orifice, the second orifice, or both. The two orifices work together to provide controlled vapor flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: 8844561
    Abstract: An isolation valve has an electrically-actuated solenoid valve, at least one port having a port extension, and a sensor assembly coupled to the port extension. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit disposed on the circuit board, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to the port extension to measure a vapor pressure in the port extension. In one embodiment, a single sensor assembly can monitor pressure at two or more ports. By integrating the sensor assembly into the isolation valve, the valve has a compact assembly that is easy to install in a vapor control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20140158216
    Abstract: A vent valve assembly includes a first housing component, a second housing component, and a third housing component, as well as a first valve and a second valve. The first, second, and third housing components are configured to assemble together along one directional axis with the second housing component, the first valve and the second valve between the first and third housing components and with the second valve laterally-spaced from the first valve. A vapor flow path directs vapor from the first valve to the second valve, thereby reducing an overall height of the vent valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Christy N. Roadknight, Jim James
  • Patent number: 8689816
    Abstract: A vent valve assembly includes a first housing component, a second housing component, and a third housing component, as well as a first valve and a second valve. The first, second, and third housing components are configured to assemble together along one directional axis with the second housing component, the first valve and the second valve between the first and third housing components and with the second valve laterally-spaced from the first valve. The assembled first, second, and third housing components define a nonlinear vapor flow path that redirects vapor from the first valve to the second valve, thereby reducing an overall height of the vent valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20140041737
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton
  • Publication number: 20140020663
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton
  • Patent number: 8584704
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton
  • Publication number: 20130298880
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a high-pressure fluid reservoir includes an isolation valve having a selectively energizable coil, an armature that is moveable between a first position when the coil is energized and a second position when the coil is de-energized, and an isolation valve seal coupled to the armature. The assembly also includes a float valve having a float with a passage at a bottom portion and an orifice at a top portion of the float, wherein the isolation valve seal is aligned to open and close the passage and wherein vapor flows through the passage and the orifice when the coil is energized during a high pressure condition. A housing houses both the isolation valve and the float valve and has a port that is opened and closed by the float valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn K. Mills
  • Patent number: 8573255
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton
  • Publication number: 20130160869
    Abstract: A vent valve assembly includes a first housing component, a second housing component, and a third housing component, as well as a first valve and a second valve. The first, second, and third housing components are configured to assemble together along one directional axis with the second housing component, the first valve and the second valve between the first and third housing components and with the second valve laterally-spaced from the first valve. The assembled first, second, and third housing components define a nonlinear vapor flow path that redirects vapor from the first valve to the second valve, thereby reducing an overall height of the vent valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20110284781
    Abstract: An isolation valve has an electrically-actuated solenoid valve, at least one port having a port extension, and a sensor assembly coupled to the port extension. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit disposed on the circuit board, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to the port extension to measure a vapor pressure in the port extension. In one embodiment, a single sensor assembly can monitor pressure at two or more ports. By integrating the sensor assembly into the isolation valve, the valve has a compact assembly that is easy to install in a vapor control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20110240145
    Abstract: An isolation valve includes a flow restrictor disposed in a passage and having a piston with a first orifice and a depressurization valve with a second orifice. The valve also includes a solenoid valve assembly having a coil that is selectively energized by a signal from a controller and an armature that is moveable between first and second positions to open and close the first orifice and/or the second orifice. When the coil is energized, the armature moves to the second position to allow vapor to flow through the first orifice, the depressurization valve selectively opens to allow vapor to flow through the first orifice, the second orifice, or both. The two orifices work together to provide controlled vapor flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20110162728
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton
  • Patent number: 7891371
    Abstract: A vent valve comprising an outer sleeve including a vent window; a housing disposed within the outer sleeve, the housing including a vent slot; a baffle disposed in front of the vent slot. Embodiments of the invention may include a float disposed within the outer sleeve, a flapper disposed within the outer sleeve, an end cap, and/or a venting orifice. In an embodiment the vent window and the vent slot may oppose one another and can, for instance, be positioned approximately 180° apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Publication number: 20110005614
    Abstract: A vent valve assembly at least partially disposed within an interior of a fuel tank is provided. The vent valve assembly comprises a housing, a first venting orifice, a float configured to close the first venting orifice when the level of fuel in the housing reaches a predetermined level, a second venting orifice, and a stop configured to close the second venting orifice to facilitate a pressure differential between the housing and the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Pifer, Charles Joseph Martin, Robert P. Benjey, Andrew McIntosh
  • Patent number: D702320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D706389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D706390
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D721390
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Walter, Vaughn Mills, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D721788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Lee Pifer