Patents by Inventor Lawrence M. Dulac

Lawrence M. Dulac 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: 20110168277
    Abstract: A safety discharge system comprises a pressure relief valve having an inlet, designed to mate with an outlet of a heating appliance, and a relief outlet, wherein at least the inlet of the pressure relief valve and the outlet of the heating appliance include a threaded region, and wherein the threaded region is threaded with a reverse or left handed thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Larco LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Publication number: 20100139789
    Abstract: A relief valve comprises a housing having a supply line inlet, for allowing fluid to enter the housing and a fluid supply outlet configured for allowing fluid to exit the housing. The fluid exiting the housing flows proximate and against a valve seat, thereby, flushing the valve seat. The relief valve also includes a relief outlet having an inlet region and an outlet region and a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a valve seat configured for operation between a first, closed position closing the inlet region of the relief outlet inlet region thereby preventing fluid from exiting the relief outlet, and a second, open position opening the inlet region of the relief outlet inlet region, thereby allowing fluid to exit from the housing through the relief outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Patent number: 7117887
    Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to be secured to a pressure regulator, relief valve, or any other valve and allows the user to control the position of the valve. According to one embodiment, the pressure regulator remains fully open until a desired maximum fill pressure within a boiler is reached. Upon reaching the maximum fill pressure, the valve is automatically and substantially instantly closed. Consequently, the pressure within the boiler never exceeds the maximum allowable pressure of the pressure relief valve, thereby preventing the accidental discharge of hot, high-pressure water from the boiler. Moreover, because the valve remains fully open until the maximum fill pressure is achieved, the amount of time to fill the boiler is substantially reduced. According to another embodiment, a relief valve remains fully closed until a maximum pressure is exceeded, whereby the valve is substantially instantly fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Patent number: 6823887
    Abstract: A water supply shut off system includes a water pressure delay device which delays the transmission of any apparent change in water pressure between the input and the output side of the valve to the control input of the valve. This delay allows the input and output pressures to have a chance to generally equalize without falsely tripping the device. The water supply shut off system can also include a thermal expansion/contraction device that allows thermal expansion and contraction of a fluid medium, such as water, when the shut off device is used with a device to be protected such as a hot water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Patent number: 6698714
    Abstract: A fluid safety discharge system for a relief valve having an inlet and an outlet includes a bushing frictionally engaging the relief valve outlet. The relief valve outlet is internally threaded for engaging with a threaded device, such as a discharge line. The bushing may contain a separate body and engagement region for use with hard-plumbed discharge lines. Optionally, an adapter may be used for retrofitting the bushing to an existing relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Publication number: 20030015677
    Abstract: A fluid safety discharge system for a relief valve having an inlet and an outlet includes a bushing frictionally engaging the relief valve outlet. The relief valve outlet is internally threaded for engaging with a threaded device, such as a discharge line. The bushing may contain a separate body and engagement region for use with hard-plumbed discharge lines. Optionally, an adapter may be used for retrofitting the bushing to an existing relief valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Publication number: 20020104564
    Abstract: A water supply shut off system includes a water pressure delay device which delays the transmission of any apparent change in water pressure between the input and the output side of the valve to the control input of the valve. This delay allows the input and output pressures to have a chance to generally equalize without falsely tripping the device. The water supply shut off system can also include a thermal expansion/contraction device that allows thermal expansion and contraction of a fluid medium, such as water, when the shut off device is used with a device to be protected such as a hot water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac
  • Patent number: 6021808
    Abstract: A water supply shut off valve system is used with a fluid storage tank, such as a hot water heater, to automatically shut off a fluid supply to the storage tank as a result of a pressure drop in the storage tank caused, for example, by a leak or rupture. A fluid supply shut off valve system comprises a shut off valve, such as a normally closed diaphragm valve, coupled to a supply inlet, for controlling the supply of fluid through the supply line to the storage tank. The shut off valve system further comprises a fluid monitoring device (FMD) fluidly coupled to the supply line and to the shut off valve, for monitoring the tank pressure and causing the shut off valve to remain closed when the tank pressure drops to ambient pressure. The FMD generally includes a body portion having a passageway and an actuation mechanism disposed in the passageway for opening and closing a fluid path through the FMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Dulac