Patents by Inventor Michael F. Lancaster

Michael F. Lancaster 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: 7758014
    Abstract: A miniature needle valve having an improved internal body-to-bonnet metal-to-metal seal. The body seal incorporates a novel dovetail feature that improves the metal-to-metal contact forces as pressures increase. The space requirements of the seal are minimized in order to fit within a miniature valve body. The valve body can use dual outlet passageways to further minimize space requirements and improve the valve's flow characteristics. The body-to-bonnet seal improvements increase the pressure limits of the valve beyond similar-sized miniature needle valves of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Noshok, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Lancaster
  • Publication number: 20070290158
    Abstract: A miniature needle valve having an improved internal body-to-bonnet metal-to-metal seal. The body seal incorporates a novel dovetail feature that improves the metal-to-metal contact forces as pressures increase. The space requirements of the seal are minimized in order to fit within a miniature valve body. The valve body can use dual outlet passageways to further minimize space requirements and improve the valve's flow characteristics. The body-to-bonnet seal improvements increase the pressure limits of the valve beyond similar-sized miniature needle valves of the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Michael F. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 7231831
    Abstract: An assembly for measuring differential pressures includes a manifold valve and pressure transducer assembly including two pressure transducers. The manifold valve includes two pressure inlet ports and two pressure outlet ports that communicate through the manifold's isolation valves. An equalization valve connects the two pressure lines. Mating flanges on the manifold valve and pressure transducer assembly are bolted together to form a pressure tight seal between the manifold valve outlet ports and the pressure transducer assembly inlet ports. The pressure transducer assembly also includes a mounting plate for supporting the pressure transducers. The transducers generate an electrical signal corresponding to inlet pressure. Signals from pressure transducers and an optional thermistor for each are wired to an electrical connector mounted on the side of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Noshok, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 6820857
    Abstract: A needle valve having a soft tip adapted for sealing an annular valve seat of a body port. The soft tip may be defined as two dissimilar circular rod sections of ductile plastic with the larger diameter having a conical taper. The soft tip is pressed into a mating hole in the metal portion of stem up to its annular seat. A thin metal tubular section of the metal stem is cold formed over the soft tip to retain it in place. The metal retainer secures the soft tip in the axial direction and limits the radial expansion of the soft tip while it is cold formed over the annular valve seat of the body port. The metal retainer also limits the axial movement of the stem to its maximum operating position. Under high axial forces, the soft tip does not rotate relative to the valve seat. A resilient high-pressure seal is achieved with this arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Noshok, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Lancaster