Patents by Inventor Der-Fan Shen

Der-Fan Shen 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).

  • Publication number: 20050279413
    Abstract: A flow control switch comprises a base, having a passageway and a chamber; a valve body, placed between said passageway and said chamber; an inner cover, fastened to said base on an upper side thereof and having a central hole; a central pole, attached to said valve body and passing through said inner cover, defining a vertical direction; an outer cover, mounted on said inner cover at an adjustable vertical position; and a switch assembly, having a contact ring which is mounted on said central pole and a conducting surface which is mounted on said outer cover; wherein flow of liquid pushes said central pole upward, causing said switch assembly to establish electrical contact, so that a signal indicating flow of liquid is generated, allowing for application of the flow control switch to various environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6814099
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a left piston, a right piston, a connecting rod, a spring, and a conduit. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, having a passageway in a vertical direction and a left tube and a right tube in a horizontal direction, respectively enclosing a left chamber and a right chamber. The left and right pistons are glidingly movable inside the left and right tubes, respectively, being connected by the connecting rod. The spring is inserted between the right piston and a right cap on the right tube. The conduit is placed inside a side wall of the left tube, transmitting water pressure from the passageway to the left chamber. The control element is by water pressure pushed towards the passageway, narrowing the passageway. This is countered by an elastic force of the spring, so that controlled water flow and pressure are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6631731
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a control element, a tube, a spring, and a connecting pipe. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, enclosing a first chamber and a second chamber in a vertical direction and having a passageway in a horizontal direction. The control element is glidingly movable in the vertical direction in the first chamber. The tube is placed in said second chamber. The spring is inserted between the control element and the tube and pushes the control element to perform a vertical movement. The connecting pipe is connected with the first tube, transmitting water pressure from a supply pipe to the first tube. The piston block is pushed inward by the water pressure, narrowing the passageway, while being pressed outward by the elastic force, so that controlled water flow and pressure in the supply pipe are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6564826
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a piston block, a spring, a connecting pipe, and a rod. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, having a passageway in a vertical direction and a first tube and a second tube in a horizontal direction. The piston block is glidingly movable in the horizontal direction in the first tube. The spring is disposed in the second tube, having ends that are fastened to inner and outer holding plates. The connecting pipe is connected with the first tube, transmitting water pressure from a supply pipe to the first tube. The rod connects the inner holding plate and the piston block to allow the water pressure and the elastic force to balance each other. The piston block is pushed inward by the water pressure, narrowing the passageway, while being pressed outward by the elastic force, so that controlled water flow and pressure in the supply pipe are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Publication number: 20030072655
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a control valve, mounted on an inlet pipe of a water pump. The control valve further comprises a passageway, a chamber, a conduit, and a control element. The passageway allows water to flow through the inlet pipe. The chamber reaches across the passageway. The conduit connects to an outlet pipe of the water pump and transmits water pressure from there through a top end of the control valve into the chamber. The control element is inserted in the chamber, having two ends, at least one of which has an opening connected with the conduit, so that water pressure is applied inside the control element. The control element is further made of elastic material and thus expanded to a varying degree according to the water pressure, causing an effective width of the passageway and consequently water flow through the water pump to vary. This allows to adjust supply of water, as delivered by the water pump, to demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Publication number: 20030019524
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a control element, a tube, a spring, and a connecting pipe. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, enclosing a first chamber and a second chamber in a vertical direction and having a passageway in a horizontal direction. The control element is glidingly movable in the vertical direction in the first chamber. The tube is placed in said second chamber. The spring is inserted between the control element and the tube and pushes the control element to perform a vertical movement. The connecting pipe is connected with the first tube, transmitting water pressure from a supply pipe to the first tube. The piston block is pushed inward by the water pressure, narrowing the passageway, while being pressed outward by the elastic force, so that control led water flow and pressure in the supply pipe are achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Publication number: 20030019525
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a piston block, a spring, a connecting pipe, and a rod. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, having a passageway in a vertical direction and a first tube and a second tube in a horizontal direction. The piston block is glidingly movable in the horizontal direction in the first tube. The spring is disposed in the second tube, having ends that are fastened to inner and outer holding plates. The connecting pipe is connected with the first tube, transmitting water pressure from a supply pipe to the first tube. The rod connects the inner holding plate and the piston block to allow the water pressure and the elastic force to balance each other. The piston block is pushed inward by the water pressure, narrowing the passageway, while being pressed outward by the elastic force, so that controlled water flow and pressure in the supply pipe are achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Publication number: 20030019526
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a valve body, a left piston, a right piston, a connecting rod, a spring, and a conduit. The valve body is roughly shaped like a cross, having a passageway in a vertical direction and a left tube and a right tube in a horizontal direction, respectively enclosing a left chamber and a right chamber. The left and right pistons are glidingly movable inside the left and right tubes, respectively, being connected by the connecting rod. The spring is inserted between the right piston and a right cap on the right tube. The conduit is placed inside a side wall of the left tube, transmitting water pressure from the passageway to the left chamber. The control element is by water pressure pushed towards the passageway, narrowing the passageway. This is countered by an elastic force of the spring, so that controlled water flow and pressure are achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6461104
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, comprising a control valve. The control valve is mounted on an inlet pipe of a water pump and has a chamber, housing a flat-shaped control plate, the upper part of which forms a piston plate, vertically gliding in an upper chamber. The upper chamber is connected with an outlet pipe. The control valve is exposed to water pressure in the outlet pipe, with the control plate driven downward by the water pressure, countered by two springs at two lateral sides of the control plate. The control plate thus has a varying vertical position according to the water pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6309185
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, working in conjunction with a water pump, having a pump, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe with a water pressure, and a container. The flow regulator comprises: a main body, installed at the inlet pipe and having a passageway for water flowing through the inlet pipe; a chamber inside the main body; an entrance to the chamber on the main body; a control element, mounted inside the chamber and glidingly movable therein back and forth; a connecting pipe, conducting the water pressure in the outlet pipe to the chamber; and a spring. The water pressure causes the control element to move within the chamber, resulting in the passageway to be narrowed. The spring counters the water pressure, such that when the water pressure decreases the passageway is widened. Thereby the water pressure controls the flow of water, according to demand, such that start-stop cycles of the water pump are lengthened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6273126
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, working in conjunction with a water pump, having a pump, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe with a water pressure, and a container. The flow regulator comprises: a main body, installed at the inlet pipe and having a passageway for water flowing through the inlet pipe; a chamber inside the main body; an entrance on the main body, conducting the water pressure in the outlet pipe to the chamber; a control element, mounted inside the chamber and glidingly movable therein back and forth; a spring; and an adjustable cover, mounted on the main body and connected to the spring. The water pressure causes the control element to move within the chamber, resulting in the passageway to be narrowed. The spring counters the water pressure, such that when the water pressure decreases the passageway is widened. By varying the position of the adjustable cover, the elastic force of the spring is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6192925
    Abstract: A flow regulator for a water pump, working in conjunction with a water pump, having a pump, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe with a water pressure, and a container. The flow regulator comprises: a main body, installed at the inlet pipe and having a passageway for water flowing through the inlet pipe; a chamber inside the main body; a connecting pipe, conducting the water pressure in the outlet pipe through an entrance on the main body to the chamber; and a control element, mounted inside the chamber and glidingly movable therein back and forth. The water pressure causes the control element to move within the chamber, adjusting the width of the passageway and controlling the flow of water through the water pump. This allows to extend start-stop cycles of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen
  • Patent number: 6176257
    Abstract: A regulated air suction valve, used in conjunction with a water pump with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe and a container with an air volume, installed at the water inlet pipe for replenishing the air volume and comprising: a main body, having a submerged end which reaches into the water inlet pipe and a free end; a chamber inside the main body, leading air from the free end to the submerged end; and inlet control valve, located in the chamber at the free end for letting a limited amount of air into the chamber and; a first one-way valve located in the chamber at the submerged end, allowing air to proceed from the chamber into the water inlet pipe, while blocking water from the water inlet pipe from entering the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Der-Fan Shen