Patents by Inventor James A. Skurka

James A. Skurka 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: 5478047
    Abstract: A rotary valve has a valve housing with a wall defining a flow passageway, a closure member journalled within the valve housing and mounted for movement between a first position for permitting flow of fluid within the flow passageway and a second position for ceasing flow of fluid within the flow passageway, and a flexible seating ring disposed at least partially within the flow passageway in a position for sealing engagement with the closure member in second position. The flexible seating ring has a flow-through section sized to fit within the flow passageway with a clearance fit, and a flanged seating section extending outwardly from the flow-through section and positioned for sealing contact with the closure member to seal the valve. A seating ring support member is positioned to support the seating ring in a manner to permit the seating ring to move axially and radially within the flow passageway to provide improved tolerance to dimensional variation in manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Watts Investment Company
    Inventors: William J. Best, Joseph W. Hoff, Stephen J. Smick, James A. Skurka
  • Patent number: 4643279
    Abstract: A slack adjuster for vehicle brakes is adapted to be mounted between the vehicle brake chamber and the vehicle brake operating shaft and includes a body which positions a drive member movable relative thereto on the brake operating shaft. A lever arm is pivoted to the body and there is an adjustable connection between the lever arm and the drive member for adjusting the relationship between the drive member and the body in response to body movement required for a brake application. The improvement herein is specifically directed to a device for connecting a brake rod to the lever arm and more specifically to a bushing threaded upon the brake rod and rotatably positioned within the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: James A. Skurka
  • Patent number: 4621714
    Abstract: A slack adjuster for vehicle brakes is adapted to be mounted between the brake chamber and the brake operating shaft. The slack adjuster includes a body and a drive member movable relative to and positioned by the body on the brake operating shaft. A lever arm is pivoted to the body and there is an adjustable connection between the lever arm and drive member for the sensing and take up of slack during a brake application. The adjustable connection includes a clutch having facing and relatively rotatable clutch surfaces, each of which has opposing cooperating ratchet teeth. The teeth on one of said surfaces are separated into a plurality of radially spaced circumferential bands. The teeth in each band are positioned to independently engage the teeth on the opposing clutch face to provide increments of slack adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: James A. Skurka
  • Patent number: 4091837
    Abstract: A valve for controlling the pressure within a tank to prevent excessive above or below atmospheric pressure conditions, including a pressure responsive valve and a vacuum responsive valve, wherein each valve includes a pallet with seals and blowdown rings of polytetrafluorethylene material, which is commercially marketed under the trademark Teflon. The pressure pallet includes guide means having Teflon parts, while the vacuum responsive valve includes hinge means having coacting Teflon parts. The breather valve includes structure defining a vertically extending vent structure having an opening arranged alongside the tank in which the valve is mounted, which opening is positioned to avoid being sealed by any normal buildup of ice and snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Vapor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Edmunds, John R. Huebner, James A. Skurka, Francis B. Wilson