Patents by Inventor Gary C. Block

Gary C. Block 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: 5203370
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a rotary actuator, having a rotary drive bushing, to a valve stem of a rotary controlled valve having first and second primary seals and a fugitive fluid collection chamber therebetween. The apparatus includes a mounting member disposed between the actuator and the valve which is removably fastened thereto to permit the valve stem to coaxially engage the rotary drive bushing provided in the rotary actuator. O-rings are affixed to flanges that extend from the ends of the mounting member for creating a fluid-tight seal between the mounting member and the actuator and between the mounting member and the valve. The fluid-tight mounting member serves to provide a secondary fugitive fluid collection chamber outboard of the secondary stem seals that is adapted to collect the fugitive fluid that passes the secondary stem seals. A fluid detection device may be attached to the secondary fugitive fluid collection chamber via a port provided in the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventors: Gary C. Block, Gary W. Friedline
  • Patent number: 5104092
    Abstract: A ball valve adapted to be used in applications where the temperature of the liquid medium is subjected to various swings in temperature. The valve includes a valve body which is retained between a pair of end connectors to create a valve chamber therebetween. A flow control member having a passage therethrough is rotationally supported within the valve chamber. A valve stem extends into the valve body and is operatively connected to the flow control member. O-rings are affixed in annular fashion to a neck portion of each end connector for creating a fluid-tight seal between the valve body and the end connectors. Flanged packing seals extend around the valve stem within the valve body and are spring biased to provide axial support to the valve stem while creating a fluid-tight seal between the valve body and the stem. A handle member is connected to the valve stem for rotating the flow control member within the valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: PBM, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C. Block, Gary W. Friedline
  • Patent number: 4650157
    Abstract: A ball valve for controlling upstream to downstream fluid flow, for example, from an apertured tank bottom, has a housing body for bolted-on mounting. The housing has a flow passageway therethrough that angles between its upstream and downstream portions and that is controlled by a valve ball rotatably positioned in and sealed-off within its upstream portion. A resilient, L or ladle-shaped annular gasket is positioned upstream at the joint between the valve housing and the tank bottom and in engagement with the ball adjacent an upstream end portion of its open-end flow passage and, in such a manner as to maintain the flow area of such passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Pittsburgh Brass Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Sillaman, Gary C. Block