Patents by Inventor John D. Eckel

John D. Eckel 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: 5102098
    Abstract: A tamperproof rotary valve which includes a valve body having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough. The passage is intersected by an actuator opening in the body and defining a valve chamber thereat. A rotary valve is disposed in the chamber for opening and closing the fluid flow passage. An actuator is journaled in the actuator opening and is coupled to the rotary valve for rotating the valve. A groove is formed about the actuator, and a contractible/expandable locking ring is disposed in the groove and projects outwardly of the groove beyond the bounds of the actuator when in a free, expanded condition. The locking ring is contractible into the groove to allow assembly of the actuator into the actuator opening. A locking groove is formed in the actuator opening in the valve body and into which the locking ring expands when the actuator is in a proper assembled position in the actuator opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph L. Daghe, John D. Eckel, Walter G. Heidbrier
  • Patent number: 5076541
    Abstract: A tamperproof rotary valve which includes a valve body having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough. The passage is intersescted by an actuator opening in the body and defining a valve chamber thereat. A rotary valve is disposed in the chamber for opening and closing the fluid flow passage. An actuator is journaled in the actuator opening and is coupled to the rotary valve for rotating the valve. A groove is formed about the actuator, and a contractible/expandable locking ring is disposed in the groove and projects outwardly of the groove beyound the bounds of the actuator when in a free, expanded condition. The locking ring is contractible into the groove to allow assembly of the actuator into the actuator opening. A locking groove is formed in the actuator opening in the valve body and into which the locking ring expands when the actuator is in a proper assembled position in the actuator opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joe L. Daghe, John D. Eckel, Warren G. Heidbrier
  • Patent number: 4984767
    Abstract: A tamperproof rotary valve which includes a valve body having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough. The passage is intersected by an actuator opening in the body and defining a valve chamber thereat. A rotary valve is disposed in the chamber for opening and closing the fluid flow passage. An actuator is journaled in the actuator opening and is coupled to the rotary valve for rotating the valve. A groove is formed about the actuator, and a contractible/expandable locking ring is disposed in the groove and projects outwardly of the groove beyond the bounds of the actuator when in a free, expanded condition. The locking ring is contractible into the groove to allow assembly of the actuator into the actuator opening. A locking groove is formed in the actuator opening in the valve body and into which the locking ring expands when the actuator is in a proper assembled position in the actuator opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Joe L. Daghe, John D. Eckel, Warren G. Heidbrier
  • Patent number: 4303833
    Abstract: A well water retrieval system for deep shaft wells including an electrical generator of limited generating capacity of the type that operates upon input of naturally occurring energy in wave or kinetic form as, for example, a photovoltaic generator. The system includes a plurality of electrically operated pumps each having an electrical energy demand not in excess of the generating capacity of the generator and a plurality of water reservoirs each sized to be disposed in a well shaft, there being a reservoir for most of the pumps. A conduit system supports the pumps and the reservoirs in a well shaft with the pumps and reservoirs stacked substantially vertically with the outlet of each pump connected to a reservoir higher in the stack and the inlet of each pump connected to an adjacent reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John D. Eckel, Amos M. Einerson
  • Patent number: 4218042
    Abstract: A ball valve including a valve housing having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough and terminating in ports for connection to a fluid conduit, the passage being intersected by an actuator opening in the housing a defining a valve chamber thereat, the opening having a shoulder intermediate its ends. An actuator is journalled in the opening and has a shaft including a threaded portion extending past the shoulder toward the chamber and terminating in a keyed-type end within the chamber and a nut of smaller size than one of the ports is threaded on the threaded portion after introduction into the chamber through the one port to retain the actuator on the housing. The nut bears against the shoulder. A valve ball has a bore extending therethrough and a keyway type groove in a side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: John D. Eckel
  • Patent number: 4131142
    Abstract: A safety valve for use in fuel dispensing systems including a vapor recovery system and having a valve body, first and second inlets in the body, first and second outlets in the body, first and second, separate, fluid flow passages in the body and extending between respective ones of the first and second inlets and outlets, two valve seats in the body, one in each of the passages, a shaft extending through and rotatable in the body adjacent the valve seats, first and second clapper valves in the body, one in each passage, each clapper valve having a limited lost motion connection to the shaft to be rotatable therewith, with limited lost motion, between positions seated against and spaced from the associated valve seat, a pair of springs, one for each valve, biasing the associated valve towards its associated seat, and a holding device for holding the shaft in a position of rotation within the body wherein the valves are spaced from their associated seats, and for sensing an unsafe condition in the vicinity of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: A. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Robert H. Barr, John D. Eckel