Patents by Inventor Don J. Atkins
Don J. Atkins 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).
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Patent number: 7527069Abstract: A pressure relief check valve system includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet, an electromagnet, and a pressure sensor circuit. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The magnet is coupled to the flapper, and the electromagnet is coupled to the valve body. The pressure sensor circuit is adapted to sense one or more fluid pressures and is operable, based on the one or more sensed fluid pressures, to selectively supply or interrupt the electrical current to the electromagnet. The electromagnet is coupled to receive the electrical current and, upon receipt of the electrical current, either magnetically attracts or does not magnetically attract the magnet, to thereby hold the flapper in the closed position or allow flapper rotation to the open position, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Stuart K. Denike, G. Stephen McGonigle, Robert D. Sleeper, Craig T. Dorste, Don J. Atkins, Joseph J. Jira
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Publication number: 20090078828Abstract: Anti-ice valve components are provided that include a servo housing, a valve body, and a transfer tube. The servo housing includes a surface having a cavity formed therein. The valve body is spaced apart from the servo housing and includes a surface having a cavity formed therein. The transfer tube has a first end, a second end, and a length, where the first end is disposed in the servo housing cavity, the second end is disposed in the valve body cavity, and the length extends between the first end and the second end and has a portion forming a bend of at least 180 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Maureen Sugai, Don J. Atkins, William H. Reed, Joel E. LaBenz, Steve L. Patterson, Dan E. Hitzler
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Publication number: 20090056818Abstract: A check valve includes a valve body, a flapper, and a seat region. The valve body has an upstream side, a downstream side, and a first valve flow channel that extends between the upstream and downstream sides. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body, and is movable between a closed position and an open position. When in the closed position, the flapper at least substantially closes the first valve flow channel. When in the open position, the flapper at least substantially opens the first valve flow channel. The seat region is formed in the valve body, and is configured to seat the flapper and make contact therewith when the flapper is in the closed position. The seat region comprises an elastomer material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Gerald S. McGonigle, Don J. Atkins, Stuart K. Denike
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Publication number: 20090032118Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for retaining a hinge shaft of a check valve with a bushing. The check valve includes a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough; a hinge shaft; a bushing coupling the hinge shaft to the valve body; a pin secured to the valve body and engaging the bushing; and a closure element pivotally mounted on the hinge shaft for opening and closing the flow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: RALPH L. DULAY, MICHAEL KOLIC, MAUREEN SUGAI, DAVID B. TORNQUIST, DON J. ATKINS
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Publication number: 20080315143Abstract: Butterfly valves are provided that include a flowbody, a butterfly plate, and a coating. The flowbody has an inner surface defining a channel. The butterfly plate is disposed in the channel, is rotationally mounted to the flowbody, and has an outer periphery. The coating is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the flowbody inner surface and the butterfly plate outer periphery and is made of a material formulated to abrade upon friction contact with an adjacent surface and to maintain structural integrity when subjected to pneumatic forces of at least 600 psi.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Anthony W. Mendoza, Don J. Atkins, Joel E. LaBenz
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Patent number: 7387291Abstract: The present invention provides a collapsible shaft and control assembly that is useful for transferring rotational control valve movements to a control surface. The invention includes a housing, shaft, and actuator arm. The housing defines a hollow cylinder. The shaft has a resilient end with a plurality of flexible strips capable of radial bending so as to transition between an expanded position and a compressed position. The shaft is positioned in the hollow cylinder, in the expanded position, so that the shaft can rotate. The actuator arm is positioned within the resilient end of the shaft so as to maintain the resilient end of the shaft in the expanded position. Both the actuator arm and shaft include reciprocal engagement means, and the actuator arm and shaft are positioned so as to engage the reciprocal engagement means. A rotational movement of the actuator arm thus causes a rotational movement of the shaft. A flapper affixed to the shaft can direct air depending on the radial position of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Joseph J. Jira, Robert D. Sleeper, Mark W. Williams, Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins
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Publication number: 20080128033Abstract: A pressure relief check valve includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet coupled to the flapper, and an adjustment mechanism. The valve body has an upstream side, a downstream side, and a flow channel that extends therebetween. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body, and is movable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least substantially seals the flow channel, and an open position, in which the flapper unseals the flow channel. The adjustment mechanism comprises a magnetically permeable material, and is movably coupled to the valve body at a position in which the adjustment mechanism is magnetically attracted to the magnet with a magnetic closing force at least when the flapper is in the closed position, to thereby at least substantially inhibit flapper movement from the closed position. Movement of the adjustment mechanism varies the magnetic closing force.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: G. Stephen McGonigle, Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins, Joseph J. Jira, Robert D. Sleeper
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Publication number: 20080116413Abstract: A valve assembly is provided including at least one pneumatic component and a pneumatic tube assembly fixedly coupled to the at least one pneumatic component. The pneumatic tube assembly includes a pneumatic tube and at least one tube retaining plate. The at least one tube retaining is fixedly coupled about the pneumatic tube by a weld or brazing process. The at least one tube retaining plate further includes a portion positioned in bonding engagement with a bonding surface of the at least one pneumatic component. A retaining bolt mechanically retains the at least one tube retaining plate to the bonding surface. The retaining bolt and the at least one tube retaining plate provide a bonding path between the pneumatic tube and the at least one pneumatic component.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Don J. Atkins, David B. Tornquist, Jay W. Lombardi, Stuart K. Denike, Scott Robb, Mitchell A. McGinty, Larry R. Kelly
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Publication number: 20080053536Abstract: A check valve is provided for use in a low pressure differential system. The check valve includes a valve body, a support bar, stop supports, a shaft, a stop mechanism, and flappers. The valve body has a first and a second flow channel extending therethrough that each has an inlet and a corresponding outlet. The inlets have a cross sectional flow area that is greater than a cross sectional flow area of the corresponding outlet. The support bar extends radially across and axially along the valve body to separate flow channels and has a tapered upstream edge extending along a radial length thereof. The shaft is coupled to and extends between stop supports. The stop mechanism is coupled to and extends between the stop supports downstream from the shaft. Flappers are rotationally mounted to the valve body, moveable between a closed position and an open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2006Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins, Robert D. Sleeper, Joseph J. Jira
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Publication number: 20080047610Abstract: A pressure relief check valve system includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet, an electromagnet, and a pressure sensor circuit. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The magnet is coupled to the flapper, and the electromagnet is coupled to the valve body. The pressure sensor circuit is adapted to sense one or more fluid pressures and is operable, based on the one or more sensed fluid pressures, to selectively supply or interrupt the electrical current to the electromagnet. The electromagnet is coupled to receive the electrical current and, upon receipt of the electrical current, either magnetically attracts or does not magnetically attract the magnet, to thereby hold the flapper in the closed position or allow flapper rotation to the open position, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2006Publication date: February 28, 2008Inventors: Stuart K. Denike, G. Stephen McGonigle, Robert D. Sleeper, Craig T. Dorste, Don J. Atkins, Joseph J. Jira
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Publication number: 20080006328Abstract: A relief plate is provided for coupling a housing of an electro-mechanical actuator assembly to a valve housing of a valve assembly. The relief plate includes a first side, a second side, an opening, an annular collection channel, and a plurality of grooves. The first side is configured to couple to the actuator housing. The second side is configured to couple to the valve housing. The opening extends between the first and the second sides. The annular collection channel is formed in the second side concentric to and in communication with the opening. The plurality of grooves is formed in the second side in communication with and extending radially outwardly from the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2006Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventors: Stuart K. Denike, Joseph J. Jira, Maureen Sugai, Don J. Atkins, Robert D. Sleeper
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Publication number: 20080000531Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a regulator valve comprising a duct, a valve element, a regulator unit, and a fluid pressure sensor. The duct has an inner surface that defines a flow passage. The valve element is movably disposed within the duct flow passage. The regulator unit is coupled to the valve element, and is further coupled to receive fluid at a feedback pressure magnitude. The regulator unit is configured to controllably position the valve element based at least in part on the feedback pressure magnitude, to thereby regulate fluid pressure downstream of the valve element to a regulated pressure magnitude that results in a static pressure magnitude at least proximate the duct inner surface. The fluid pressure sensor is disposed downstream of the valve element, and is configured to supply the fluid at the feedback pressure magnitude, with the feedback pressure magnitude being less than the static pressure magnitude.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Scott Robb, Don J. Atkins, Paul W. Banta
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Patent number: 7311740Abstract: A filter bypass valve is disposed in parallel with an aircraft cabin air filtration system air filter. During normal operation, air is filtered through the air filter at an air flow that meets air flow requirements of the system. The bypass valve is designed to remain closed during normal use, and to open if the differential pressure across the air filter reaches a predetermined opening differential pressure to allow airflow to be partially or fully diverted around the air filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Williams, Robert D. Sleeper, Don J. Atkins, Stuart K. Denike
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Patent number: 7264017Abstract: A regulator valve includes dual actuators that operate according to different principles to position a valve element to either an open or a closed position. One actuator, which is an electromechanical actuator, operates in response to electrical command signals. The other actuator, which is a pneumatic actuator, operates in response to a fluid pressure. The electromechanical actuator is responsive to the electrical command signals to rotate in either a valve open or a valve close direction, to move the valve element to either the open or closed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins, Robert D. Sleeper, Mark W. Williams, Jay W. Lombardi
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Patent number: 7093618Abstract: The present invention provides a lounge valve mounting housing and assembly. The housing and assembly are useful for directing air through ducts, and particularly the assembly is useful for directing air, or other fluid, through Y-shaped junctions. The housing comprises in part a plate and a supported platform. The plate mounts to a duct. An actuator assembly can be affixed to the platform. The housing further includes a cylinder; a shaft is disposed within the cylinder and extends into the duct. A flapper affixed to the shaft can direct air depending on the radial position of the shaft. The housing and assembly offers weight and capital advantages over dual valve assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Williams, Robert D. Sleeper, Stuart K. Denike, Don J. Atkins