Patents by Inventor Jacques LaCroix

Jacques LaCroix 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: 20080092634
    Abstract: A leak monitoring and emergency venting apparatus for a double-walled tank includes a pipe for connecting a space between the walls of the tank to the atmosphere, a plug releasably closing an outer end of the pipe, and a pressure gauge in the plug in fluid communication with the interior of the pipe for monitoring the fluid pressure between the walls of the tank. If the pressure in the space between the walls of the tank rises above a predetermined level, the plug and gauge are discharged from the pipe allowing venting of the space to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Bourassa, Jacques LaCroix, Yves Legault, Sylvain Ruel
  • Patent number: 7040358
    Abstract: A pressurized fluid filling nozzle provided with a ring for fastening on an adaptor connected to a container and with a controlled valve adapted to selectively control flow of fluid through a conduit. A sensor detects the fastening of the nozzle on the adaptor and makes it possible to render a kinematic link between a control member and the valve active to displace the valve from a position where it obturates the conduit towards a position where it leaves a passage free for fluid flow. The control member is a trigger provided with at least one profiled guide which comprises two parts which cooperate with a guide element of a lever articulated on the valve. Depending on a position of the guide element, a transmission of force between the trigger and the valve is, or is not, possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Maurice Ravaz
  • Patent number: 6926312
    Abstract: A quick coupler for joining two pipes that includes a male element adapted to be fitted into a female element and maintained in position by a latch forming a stop and opposing withdrawal of the male element. A movable safety member maintains the latch in a blocked position, under the force of pressure of fluid in the coupler, by the cooperation of two surfaces provided, one on the latch and one on the safety member, that are forced into engagement with one another. The safety member releases the latch when a residual pressure in the coupler drops to a safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Olivier Pastore
  • Patent number: 6905151
    Abstract: A quick connect coupling for removably connecting two pipes which comprises a male element adapted to fit into a female element along a principal axis of the coupling. The Female element includes at least one ramp for receiving a radial projection of the male element to lock these elements together. The ramp is formed in a ring freely rotatably mounted in the female element, and fixed in translation along the principal axis, while the projection is fixed with respect to the male element. The ramp forms a seat for locking the radial projection. Locking is obtained by essentially axial movements of the male and female elements with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Antoine Chambaud
  • Patent number: 6877778
    Abstract: Linearly actuated quick connect pipe couplings which include a male element and a female element adapted to fit into each other along a principal axis. One of the elements includes at least one ramp for receiving a radial projection mounted to the other element which locks the elements together by axial movement of the elements relative to one another. One of the ramp or the projection is formed with a ring mounted to rotate but is fixed in translation along the principal axis of one of the male or female elements. The ramp forms a first seat for locking the projection when the coupling is in a configuration to permit fluid passage and a second seat, offset axially with respect to the first seat, for locking the projection when the coupling is in a configuration to permit decompression of fluid within the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Antoine Chambaud
  • Patent number: 6840548
    Abstract: A quick connect coupling for joining two pipes which includes a male and a female element adapted to fit axially in each other. A body of the female element is equipped with a resiliently urged bolt mounted to slide in the body and provided with a central opening for receiving the male element. A wall of the opening is equipped with three teeth offset with respect to one another along a median axis of the opening. The male element is provided with a shoulder adapted to rest selectively against one of the teeth. When the male element rests against an intermediate tooth, a the downstream pipe is placed in communication with ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Lacroix
  • Patent number: 6814341
    Abstract: A quick connect coupling for removably joining two pipes includes an upstream element and a downstream element adapted to be fitted axially with the upstream element thereby opening a valve movable between a position of opening and a position of closure. The upstream element is provided with at least one O-ring disposed to surround the valve and is adapted for connection to an upstream pipe for inlet of pressurized gas, particularly oxygen. A primary sealing zone is provided upstream of the O-ring which is dimensioned to induce a significant reduction in a flowrate of gas flowing in the direction of the O-ring in order to limit overheating of the O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, André Pavan
  • Publication number: 20040094739
    Abstract: The coupler according to the invention comprises a male element adapted to be fitted in a female element and maintained in this position by a latch forming stop and opposing a movement of withdrawal thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: STAUBLI FAVERGES
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Olivier Pastore
  • Publication number: 20040094956
    Abstract: The quick coupler according to the invention comprises a male element adapted to be fitted in a female element and maintained in this position by a latch forming stop and opposing a movement of withdrawal thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: STAUBLI FAVERGES
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Olivier Pastore
  • Patent number: 6626465
    Abstract: A female element of a quick connection for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid passes wherein the element includes a body defining a housing for receiving a portion of a male endpiece. A retaining device is operable to selectively retain the endpiece in fitted configuration in the female element and includes a push-button which carries a lock for selectively locking the endpiece in the housing or for preventing the introduction of the endpiece in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, René Chappaz
  • Publication number: 20030178096
    Abstract: The filling nozzle according to the invention is provided with a ring for fastening on an adaptor connected to a container and with a controlled valve adapted to selectively obturate a conduit for flow of a fluid. A sensor for detecting the fastening of the nozzle on an adaptor makes it possible, as a function of the fastening, to render a kinematic link between a control member and the valve active, this link making it possible, in active configuration, to displace the valve from a position where it obturates the conduit towards a position where it leaves a passage free for the fluid in the conduit. The control member is a trigger provided with a notch which comprises two parts in which may slide an element fast with a lever articulated on the valve. Depending on the part where this element slides, a transmission of effort between the trigger and the lever is, or is not, possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: STAUBLI FAVERGES
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Maurice Ravaz
  • Publication number: 20030146623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick connection which comprises two elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially in each other. The body of the female element is equipped with a loaded bolt, mounted to slide in this body and pierced with a central opening for fit of the male element, the wall of this opening being equipped with three teeth offset with respect to one another along a median axis of the opening. The male element is provided with a shoulder adapted to rest selectively against one of the teeth. Means allow the downstream pipe to be placed in communication with the ambient atmosphere when the male element rests by its shoulder against the intermediate tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Lacroix
  • Patent number: 6589293
    Abstract: The invention relates to the dehairing (depilating) of animal pelts, hides or skins, more specifically to depilatory paint and depilatory paint (depilation paint) thickener used in the depilation process in for example fellmongeries. The invention provides a depilatory paint thickener comprising a starch containing essentially only amylopectin molecules. Such thickener, is among other things, easily soluble in cold water; improves diffusion of chemicals (like sulfide or lime) throughout the skin; improves viscosity or resistance to shear of a paint, whereby less starch is needed to exert a similar effect; and increases the suspendability of a lime, allowing less time to be used which creates environmental advantages in waste disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Cooperatieve Verkoop-En Productievereniging Van Aardappelmeel En Derivaten Avebe B.A.
    Inventors: Jacobus Guns, Jacques Lacroix, Pieter Lykle Buwalda
  • Publication number: 20030085574
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick connection for the removable join of two pipes, which comprises a male element and a female element adapted to fit into each other along a principal axis of the connection, the female element comprising at least one ramp for receiving a radially projecting part of the male element with a view to locking these elements when the connection is in configuration of passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Antoine Chambaud
  • Publication number: 20030085572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick connection for the removable join of two pipes, which comprises a male element and a female element adapted to fit into each other along a principal axis of the connection, the female element comprising at least one ramp for receiving a radially projecting part of the male element with a view to locking these elements when the connection is in configuration of passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Antoine Chambaud
  • Publication number: 20020140228
    Abstract: This invention relates to a quick connection for removably joining two pipes, which comprises an upstream element and a downstream element adapted to be fitted in each other axially, provoking the opening of a valve mobile between a position of opening and a position of closure, said upstream element being provided with at least one O-ring made of elastomer or plastics material, disposed in the vicinity of said valve and comprising means for connection to an upstream pipe for inlet of pressurized gas, particularly oxygen. This connection comprises means for forming, both in the positions of opening and of closure, primary sealing zones which extend upstream of the or each O-ring, these zones presenting dimensions adapted to induce a significant reduction in the flowrate of gas flowing in the direction of the or each O-ring, in order to limit the overheating of the or each O-ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Andre Pavan
  • Publication number: 20020093194
    Abstract: This invention relates to a female element of a rapid connection for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid passes, said element comprising a body defining a housing for receiving a part of a male endpiece and means for locking said endpiece in fitted configuration in said female element. The locking means are controlled by a press-button which bears controlled means, such as a cylinder controlling a bolt, for selectively blocking the locking means in configuration of hold of said part of the endpiece in the housing and/or in a configuration opposing the introduction of a part of an endpiece in said housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Rene Chappaz
  • Patent number: 6412828
    Abstract: A quick safety connection for the removable joining of pipes, comprising a male connector and a female element adapted to fit and to be locked inside one another. A controlled locking mechanism is adapted to immobilized the male connector axially in a position of connection, while at least one retention member is provided to immobilize the male connector, after release of the connector by said locking mechanism, in an intermediate position of discharge of the pipe connection. The locking mechanism and retention member are controlled by a sleeve sliding around the female element. Vents and safety stops are provided to limit the movement of the sleeve under the effect of the pressure prevailing due to the discharge of the connection in the intermediate position between the female element and the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Antoine Chambaud
  • Patent number: 6261117
    Abstract: The device comprises a casing, with a passage for introduction of an end portion of the sheathed wires, a catch for receiving the said end portions in the casing, a clip (12) arranged to be introduced into the casing transversely to the sheathes, with at least two slots (13) to grip the sheathes of the wires and to draw them towards the inside and the bottom of the casing and arranged to cooperate with the catch in order to strip the wires. Spacing means (52, 53) are also provided between the catch and the gripping and drawing clip (12) to keep their spacing greater than a cutting threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Jacques LaCroix
  • Patent number: 6176263
    Abstract: This invention relates to a circuit breaker for an installation handling pressurized fluid comprising an internal valve, at least one joint of substanially toroidal shape being disposed in an accommodating housing around said valve and/or a member for maneuvering the valve, characterized in that the housing is connected, via at least one fluid-circulation channel, to a counter-pressure zone formed downstream of the joint around the valve or the maneuvering member. During a transitory phase of opening of the valve, a preferential flow circuit of the fluid is arranged between the housing and the counter-pressure zone through the channel. Thanks to the counter-pressure exerted on the seal, the latter does risk being dislocated with respect to its housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Staubi Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Lacroix, Andr{acute over (e)} Pavan