Patents by Inventor Marc Serge FERERE

Marc Serge FERERE 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: 11980786
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a foam passage and a fluid passage. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate having an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The proportioner can further include a rod member connected to the restrictor disk and a clapper assembly connected to the rod member via a sliding interface. The clapper assembly can be configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage in proportion to a flow of the fire protection fluid through the fluid passage by moving the rod member to vary the distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The sliding interface can be disposed between a first guide and a second guide, and at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Derek John Scheffers, Marc Serge Ferere, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 11771936
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid and a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate. The foam concentrate mixes with the fire protection fluid to form a fire protection solution. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The restrictor disk and opening are configured to form an annulus between an outer surface of the restrictor disk and an inner surface of the opening when at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed within the opening and the restrictor disk is spaced from the orifice plate. The restrictor assembly is configured to maintain the annulus for a full travel range of the restrictor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Derek John Scheffers, Marc Serge Ferere, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20230264056
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a foam passage and a fluid passage. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate having an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The proportioner can further include a rod member connected to the restrictor disk and a clapper assembly connected to the rod member via a sliding interface. The clapper assembly can be configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage in proportion to a flow of the fire protection fluid through the fluid passage by moving the rod member to vary the distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The sliding interface can be disposed between a first guide and a second guide, and at least a portion of the restrictor disk is deposed in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Derek John SCHEFFERS, Marc Serge FERERE, Shawn J. FEENSTRA
  • Patent number: 11596821
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a foam passage and a fluid passage. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate having an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The proportioner can further include a rod member connected to the restrictor disk and a clapper assembly connected to the rod member via a sliding interface. The clapper assembly can be configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage in proportion to a flow of the fire protection fluid through the fluid passage by moving the rod member to vary the distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The sliding interface can be disposed between a first guide and a second guide, and at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Derek John Scheffers, Marc Serge Ferere, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 11358015
    Abstract: A pilot actuator for controlling the operation of a control valve. The control valve can be part of a thy-type fire suppression sprinkler system in which the sprinkler piping network is filled with pressurized gas such as, for example, air, nitrogen, or another gas. The pilot actuator is a differential valve that actuates the control valve when the gas pressure in the sprinkler piping network is at or below a value for tripping or actuating the pilot valve to the open position. The actuator assembly defines a neutral chamber that is at an intermediate pressure in comparison to pressures at the inlet port and the measuring port when the pilot actuator is in a stand-by state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Marc Serge Ferere
  • Patent number: 11247086
    Abstract: A pilot actuator for controlling the operation of a control valve. The control valve can be part of a dry-type fire suppression sprinkler system in which the sprinkler piping network is filled with pressurized gas such as, for example, air, nitrogen, or another gas. The pilot actuator is a differential valve that actuates the control valve when the gas pressure in the sprinkler piping network is at or below a value for tripping or actuating the pilot valve to the open position. The pilot actuator has a ratio of a change in a trip pressure set point to a change in an inlet pressure that is in a range of 0.007 to 0.045.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Marc Serge Ferere
  • Publication number: 20210299495
    Abstract: A pilot actuator for controlling the operation of a control valve. The control valve can be part of a thy-type fire suppression sprinkler system in which the sprinkler piping network is filled with pressurized gas such as, for example, air, nitrogen, or another gas. The pilot actuator is a differential valve that actuates the control valve when the gas pressure in the sprinkler piping network is at or below a value for tripping or actuating the pilot valve to the open position. The actuator assembly defines a neutral chamber that is at an intermediate pressure in comparison to pressures at the inlet port and the measuring port when the pilot actuator is in a stand-by state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA, Marc Serge FERERE
  • Publication number: 20200360746
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid, and a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate. The proportioner further includes a clapper assembly configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage by varying a distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The clapper assembly is configured to move the restrictor disk so as to maintain a foam concentrate percentage in the fire protection solution within a target concentration that provides effective fire protection for flows of the fire protection solution within a target flow ratio in a range of 10 to 70, for a foam concentrate viscosity that is greater than 1300 mPas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Derek John SCHEFFERS, Marc Serge FERERE, Shawn J. FEENSTRA
  • Publication number: 20200360745
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a foam passage and a fluid passage. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate having an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The proportioner can further include a rod member connected to the restrictor disk and a clapper assembly connected to the rod member via a sliding interface. The clapper assembly can be configured to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage in proportion to a flow of the fire protection fluid through the fluid passage by moving the rod member to vary the distance between the restrictor disk and the orifice plate. The sliding interface can be disposed between a first guide and a second guide, and at least a portion of the restrictor disk is deposed in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Derek John SCHEFFERS, Marc Serge FERERE, Shawn J. FEENSTRA
  • Publication number: 20200360744
    Abstract: A proportioner having a body portion that defines a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid and a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate. The foam concentrate mixes with the fire protection fluid to form a fire protection solution. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The restrictor disk and opening are configured to form an annulus between an outer surface of the restrictor disk and an inner surface of the opening when at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed within the opening and the restrictor disk is spaced from the orifice plate. The restrictor assembly is configured to maintain the annulus for a full travel range of the restrictor disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Derek John SCHEFFERS, Marc Serge FERERE, Shawn J. FEENSTRA