Patents by Inventor Douglas P. Niebell

Douglas P. Niebell 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: 20170146170
    Abstract: A combination valve and coupling has a retainer in the form of a ring which engages a seal. The seal engages the valve closing member and is captured within a pocket in the valve housing by the ring. The ring has tabs in spaced relation about its outer perimeter which engage dogs on the valve housing to retain the ring in contact with the seal. The stiffness of the tabs may be tuned to provide flexibility to the ring and permit the seal to deform when the valve is opened and closed. The tabs have angularly oriented surfaces which engage the dogs and cause axial motion of the ring upon its rotation to adjust the preload between the ring and seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Yang Bae Park, Michael Trapani, Louis Zsilavetz, Douglas P. Niebell
  • Publication number: 20080087334
    Abstract: A device for converting a valve to a supervised valve is disclosed. The device includes a housing in which a coupling member is movably mounted. The coupling member is engageable with the actuating member of the valve when the device is mounted on the valve. A sensor is also mounted within the housing. A movable carriage is mounted on the coupling member. The carriage moves between different positions depending upon the state of the valve as open or closed. The carriage interacts with the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the state of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: William J. Reilly, Douglas P. Niebell, Stephen R. Ide