Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Collins

Dennis E. Collins 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: 5983919
    Abstract: An automatic drain valve for discharging accumulations of fluids and foreign materials from a fluid handling system. The drain valve (10) comprises a reservoir (14) defining a reservoir volume (15) and a thru-port (28), in fluid communication with the reservoir volume (15), that defines an inlet (30) and terminates in a drainage valve (82) for flowthrough communications with a fluid handling system. An actuating mechanism selectively actuates a valve operator. In the preferred embodiment, a pilot valve (41) is mounted in the reservoir (14) for selectively communicating pressurized air to a valve operator (57), such that the valve operator selectively opens and closes the drainage valve (82) communicating with the outlet (88) of the reservoir (14) for selectively draining the reservoir. The pilot valve (41) includes a sensor tube (42) which defines a valve seat (44) and includes a magnetized valve plug (46) for selectively engaging the valve seat (44), the valve plug (46) having a selected magnetic polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Drain-All, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester V. Ottinger, Dennis E. Collins