Patents by Inventor James L. Houston

James L. Houston 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: 5722636
    Abstract: A valve gate for sealing the inlet from the outlet of a block and bleed type valve consists of two independent disk-like members which are interconnected by a slide mechanism allowing the disk-like members to be moved simultaneously forwardly in a first configuration, to be moved simultaneously rearwardly in a second configuration and to float and, in a specially preferred embodiment, to pivot with respect to each other between the first and second configurations so as to facilitate release of the disk-like members from the valve seat on withdrawal. An upper disk-like member to seal the inlet and a lower disk-like member to seal the outlet are connected by one or more members engaging mounting frames fixed thereto. One of the mounting frames is connected to the valve stem for horizontal movement of one of the disk-like members into and out of substantial registration with either the inlet or the outlet in response to operation of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 5679886
    Abstract: A test head assembly for heat exchanger tube bundles consists of a structural frame to support the bundle, test heads, sealing devices between the test heads and the tube sheets, clamps securing the test heads to the bundle with the sealing devices therebetween, a supply reservoir for the test fluid, a collection reservoir to receive the test fluids after testing to permit proper environmental disposal, a control station, pumping assemblies and related equipment. The structural frame is suitable for holding various common arrays of tube bundles for heat exchangers in a test configuration. The sealing devices include two sealing plates, preferably fiat discs, mounted on opposite ends of the assembly and biased toward each other either hydraulically or mechanically, hydraulics being the most desirable biasing force, and two sealing rings, each typically a short cylinder of the proper outer diameter to fit the gasket surface of the bundle between the seal plates and the ends of the bundle to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 5356157
    Abstract: Live loading is applied on each end of both the secondary and the primary packing of a packing gland. After installing the primary packing assembly and a lantern ring, the primary packing is compressed to proper specifications. While the primary gland is so compressed, it is locked into place using lantern ring lock bolts. The secondary packing assembly and a follower are then installed. The secondary gland is also compressed to proper specifications and the follower secured in place. The lantern ring lock bolts are then removed, both internally and externally live loading the packing gland. A single assembly of the present live loaded packing can also be installed in the gland from the process side, eliminating the need for purging and resulting in a most efficient purgeless gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 5290046
    Abstract: Live loading is applied on each end of both the secondary and the primary packing of a packing gland. After installing the primary packing assembly and a lantern ring, the primary packing is compressed to proper specifications. While the primary gland is so compressed, it is locked into place using lantern ring lock bolts. The secondary packing assembly and a follower are then installed. The secondary gland is also compressed to proper specifications and the follower secured in place. The lantern ring lock bolts are then removed, both internally and externally live loading the packing gland. A single assembly of the present live loaded packing can also be installed in the gland from the process side, eliminating the need for purging and resulting in a most efficient purgeless gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 5123440
    Abstract: A slide valve for use in applications where gated fluid temperatures may exceed approximately 1600.degree. F. and exterior valve wall temperatures may be less than approxiamtely 600.degree. F. connects the valve bed plate to the valve body by use of a ring of conical cross section which is resiliently flexible in a response to thermal expansion or contraction of the ring so as to maintain the valve bed plate in a fixed relationship with respect to the valve body over a preselected temperature range. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve orifice is propped against the valve bed plate by supports mounted on gussets that have grooves alternately spaced in their opposite faces so as to provide a heat sink between the orifice and the valve body. In another preferred embodiment intended for use in applications where the gated fluid temperature ranges from approximately 1000.degree. F. or less to an exterior valve body temperature of 600.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventors: James L. Houston, Kenneth E. Pope
  • Patent number: 4954402
    Abstract: A retarder prevents the erosion of refractory material at a refractory corner over which fluid flows. The retarder is formed from an integral, flat piece of metal bent to form an elongated, horizontal leg and an elongated upright leg faced in parallel planes and connected by an elongated, rectangular baffle. The horizontal leg has a forward edge which tapers upwardly and forwardly to an acute angle. The upright leg has an upper edge which tapers upwardly and forwardly to an angle which complements the acute angle on the forward edge of the horizontal leg. The two legs are integrally connected by an elongated rectangular baffle with one end extending from the tapered edge of the horizontal leg and the other end extending from the tapered edge of the upright leg. The baffle is perpendicular to the legs. Each of the legs has at least two ears, one extending integrally away from each side of its leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 4671313
    Abstract: This is a new slide valve arrangement, it includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and a disc valve or gate movable by external hydraulic or mechanical actuator. The gate slides along a first surface of a guide member. There is a throat member through which the material to be regulated is directed. The throat and housing support a fixed plate. The guide member is held in position by a column support between the housing and the upper side of the guide. The guide member is held on the underside by a securing bar supported by gusset supported from the housing. The guide member is held against lateral movement by bolt extending through the guide member and screwed into a removable bolting bar which is positioned by a stop block which is secured to the gusset. Shim means are provided to adjust the vertical clearance between the throat and the gate and horizontal clearance between the gate and the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 4615506
    Abstract: This is a new slide valve arrangement. It includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and a disc valve or gate movable by an external hydraulic or mechanical actuator. The gate slides along a first surface of a guide member. There is a throat member through which the material to be regulated is directed. The throat supports a fixed wedge which is thin on the exterior and has a greater thickness on the interior. A movable wedge having an inclined surface mating with the incline surface of the fixed wedge is provided. Means are provided to position the movable wedge between the guide member and the inclined surface of the fixed wedge such that as the temperature of the valve increases, the movable wedge is forced tighter and tighter between the fixed wedge and the guide member. This give additional compressive strength to the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Inventor: James L. Houston
  • Patent number: 4378817
    Abstract: A slide valve for high temperature, high pressure use provides for easy access to internal components for replacement or repair, and also provides for easy and secure adjustment of the valve components from the exterior of the valve even while the valve is in position in its process line. The slide valve includes a body having a throat providing for fluid passage through the body, a shoulder within the body including passage means communicating with the throat, a side portion extending transversely from the body and having an interior space communicating with the throat, a valve seat removably positionable upon the shoulder, a guide member removably positionable within the body adjacent the shoulder and extending into the side portion, a closure member positionable slidably upon the guide member for opening and closing the passage means, and a wedge member positionable adjustably between the shoulder and the guide member. The wedge member is adjustable exteriorly of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Superior Valve Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Houston