Patents by Inventor Peter Volovec
Peter Volovec 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).
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Patent number: 10982784Abstract: An actuator for controlling a valve having a valve rod is provided. The actuator includes a manual override arrangement for manually moving the actuator spindle, the manual override arrangement including a locking element, an actuator spindle holder housing at least a portion of an actuator spindle. A guiding arrangement is adapted to guide the actuator spindle along the actuator spindle holder. In a normal operating mode the actuator spindle holder is locked to the locking element, and the actuator spindle is guidable along the actuator spindle holder via the guiding arrangement. In a manual override operating mode, the actuator spindle holder is unlocked from the locking element, and the actuator spindle holder is rotatable together with the actuator spindle via the guiding arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventor: Peter Volovec
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Patent number: 10619757Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve having a control function and a method for controlling a valve in a fluid conduit in order to adapt flow rates and/or differential pressure rates. The valve comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a valve closing member located inside a valve body. The valve closing member is operationally connected to a variable volume chamber, which is adapted to extract energy from the fluid in order to provide either an opening or a closing displacement of the valve closing member such that the degree of opening of the valve can be changed. The supply of fluid to and from the variable volume chambers may be regulated by electronically controlled valves.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Claus Thybo, Slavko Lah, Gregor Bozic, Peter Volovec
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Publication number: 20180283574Abstract: An actuator for controlling a valve having a valve rod is provided. The actuator includes a manual override arrangement for manually moving the actuator spindle, the manual override arrangement including a locking element, an actuator spindle holder housing at least a portion of an actuator spindle. A guiding arrangement is adapted to guide the actuator spindle along the actuator spindle holder. In a normal operating mode the actuator spindle holder is locked to the locking element, and the actuator spindle is guidable along the actuator spindle holder via the guiding arrangement. In a manual override operating mode, the actuator spindle holder is unlocked from the locking element, and the actuator spindle holder is rotatable together with the actuator spindle via the guiding arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventor: Peter VOLOVEC
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Patent number: 10082221Abstract: A pilot valve that includes a pilot valve body including a chamber, a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet for providing fluid to the chamber, and a fluid outlet for receiving fluid from the chamber. The pilot valve further includes a separating element and a valve rod, the valve rod is arranged to control fluid flow from the first or second fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the chamber. The separating element is connected to, and movable with the valve rod, and has a first fluid contacting area configured to be in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet, and a second fluid contacting area configured to be in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet and arranged on an opposite side to the first fluid contacting area. The pilot valve is at least partly controlled by a difference between a first force and a second forces acting on the first and second fluid contacting areas of the separating element.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter Volovec, Slave Lazov
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Patent number: 9841119Abstract: A pilot valve arrangement including a first and second pilot valve parts. The second pilot valve part including a second pilot valve body including a compartment, a low pressure fluid inlet for receiving fluid from the first pilot valve part, and a high pressure fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet for receiving fluid from the low pressure and high pressure inlets via said compartment and providing fluid to a piloted valve. In a first state, the second pilot valve of the pilot valve arrangement provides for a first fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the low pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the first fluid flow path. In a second state, a second fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the high pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the second fluid flow path.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter Volovec, Slave Lazov
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Patent number: 9766632Abstract: A device having pressure independent control and balancing valves, suitable for use in a hydronic system, comprises a seat, a plug having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, and a piston, wherein the seat, plug and piston are aligned coaxially, a controller determines the size of a first flow restriction between the upstream surface of the plug and the seat, the piston is operable to move in response to differential pressure across the first restriction and a predetermined force, the position of the piston relative to the downstream surface of the plug determining the size of a second flow restriction thereby in use maintaining a substantially constant differential pressure across the first restriction.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter Volovec, Slavko Lah, Gregor Bozic
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Patent number: 9551433Abstract: A combined balancing and control valve suitable for use in a hydronic system is provided, including a chamber enclosing a plug (6, 10, 16, 15), a seat (13) and a cam and pinion mechanism (20-28) for adjusting the separation of the plug (6, 10, 16, 15) and the seat (13). Pressure ports (42, 43) are included for monitoring the rate of fluid flow across the separation. The cam and pinion mechanism provides a motion transformation (20-27) operable by an actuator (28) to control the motion of the valve plug (6, 10, 16, 15). The valve plug motion provides a favorable change in conductance of the valve for a given change in the actuator position. The actuator (28) is calibrated in increments which correspond to incremental changes in the conductance.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: TA HYDRONICS S.A.Inventor: Peter Volovec
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Publication number: 20170016553Abstract: A pilot valve that includes a pilot valve body including a chamber, a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet for providing fluid to the chamber, and a fluid outlet for receiving fluid from the chamber. The pilot valve further includes a separating element and a valve rod, the valve rod is arranged to control fluid flow from the first or second fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the chamber. The separating element is connected to, and movable with the valve rod, and has a first fluid contacting area configured to be in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet, and a second fluid contacting area configured to be in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet and arranged on an opposite side to the first fluid contacting area. The pilot valve is at least partly controlled by a difference between a first force and a second forces acting on the first and second fluid contacting areas of the separating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter VOLOVEC, Slave LAZOV
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Publication number: 20170016554Abstract: A pilot valve arrangement including a first and second pilot valve parts. The second pilot valve part including a second pilot valve body including a compartment, a low pressure fluid inlet for receiving fluid from the first pilot valve part, and a high pressure fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet for receiving fluid from the low pressure and high pressure inlets via said compartment and providing fluid to a piloted valve. In a first state, the second pilot valve of the pilot valve arrangement provides for a first fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the low pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the first fluid flow path. In a second state, a second fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the high pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the second fluid flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter VOLOVEC, Slave LAZOV
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Publication number: 20160312913Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve having a control function and a method for controlling a valve in a fluid conduit in order to adapt flow rates and/or differential pressure rates. The valve comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a valve closing member located inside a valve body. The valve closing member is operationally connected to a variable volume chamber, which is adapted to extract energy from the fluid in order to provide either an opening or a closing displacement of the valve closing member such that the degree of opening of the valve can be changed. The supply of fluid to and from the variable volume chambers may be regulated by electronically controlled valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2014Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Claus THYBO, Slavko LAH, Gregor BOZIC, Peter VOLOVEC
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Patent number: 9442493Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system for regulating a pressure differential includes a plurality of valving elements and a valve activation system. Each of the plurality of valving elements are configured to selectively allow and restrict at least a portion of a flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet of a conduit through a respective opening and closing of each respective valving element. The valve activation system is configured to supply a common driving pressure to the plurality of valving elements. The common driving pressure is configured to initiate at least one of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements or to initiate the other of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING, INC.Inventors: John M. Trantham, Peter Volovec, Slavko Lah
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Publication number: 20160004256Abstract: A device having pressure independent control and balancing valves, suitable for use in a hydronic system, comprises a seat, a plug having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, and a piston, wherein the seat, plug and piston are aligned coaxially, a controller determines the size of a first flow restriction between the upstream surface of the plug and the seat, the piston is operable to move in response to differential pressure across the first restriction and a predetermined force, the position of the piston relative to the downstream surface of the plug determining the size of a second flow restriction thereby in use maintaining a substantially constant differential pressure across the first restriction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: IMI HYDRONIC ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL SAInventors: Peter VOLOVEC, Slavko LAH, Gregor BOZIC
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Patent number: 9121510Abstract: A control valve includes a wall defining a chamber having an inlet end, a middle portion and an outlet end in axial alignment. A valve seat and a valve plug are proportioned to fit the valve seat arranged in axial alignment within the chamber. At least one of the valve seat and valve plug is configured for axial movement towards the other. Relative movement between the valve plug and valve seat is enabled by a cam mechanism including a first shaft assembly extending axially along the chamber and fixed to one of the valve plug and valve seat. A cam is operable with the first shaft assembly to separate or draw together the valve seat and valve plug along the axis of the chamber. A second shaft assembly is coupled to the cam and extends through the middle portion of the chamber wall terminating in a free end attachable to a rotary actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: TA HYDRONICS S.A.Inventor: Peter Volovec
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Publication number: 20150075641Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system for regulating a pressure differential includes a plurality of valving elements and a valve activation system. Each of the plurality of valving elements are configured to selectively allow and restrict at least a portion of a flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet of a conduit through a respective opening and closing of each respective valving element. The valve activation system is configured to supply a common driving pressure to the plurality of valving elements. The common driving pressure is configured to initiate at least one of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements or to initiate the other of the opening or closing of the plurality of valving elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: John M. Trantham, Peter Volovec, Slavko Lah
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Publication number: 20130306172Abstract: A combined balancing and control valve suitable for use in a hydronic system is provided, including a chamber enclosing a plug (6, 10, 16, 15), a seat (13) and a cam and pinion mechanism (20-28) for adjusting the separation of the plug (6, 10, 16, 15) and the seat (13). Pressure ports (42, 43) are included for monitoring the rate of fluid flow across the separation. The cam and pinion mechanism provides a motion transformation (20-27) operable by an actuator (28) to control the motion of the valve plug (6, 10, 16, 15). The valve plug motion provides a favorable change in conductance of the valve for a given change in the actuator position. The actuator (28) is calibrated in increments which correspond to incremental changes in the conductance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: TA HYDRONICS S.A.Inventor: Peter Volovec
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Publication number: 20120043487Abstract: A control valve includes a wall defining a chamber having an inlet end, a middle portion and an outlet end in axial alignment. A valve seat and a valve plug are proportioned to fit the valve seat arranged in axial alignment within the chamber. At least one of the valve seat and valve plug is configured for axial movement towards the other. Relative movement between the valve plug and valve seat is enabled by a cam mechanism including a first shaft assembly extending axially along the chamber and fixed to one of the valve plug and valve seat. A cam is operable with the first shaft assembly to separate or draw together the valve seat and valve plug along the axis of the chamber. A second shaft assembly is coupled to the cam and extends through the middle portion of the chamber wall terminating in a free end attachable to a rotary actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: TA HYDRONICS S.A.Inventor: Peter Volovec