Patents by Inventor Richard D. Fortino
Richard D. Fortino 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: 7798468Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (180) operated by a motor (58) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (180) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (180) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (180) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, Jr.
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Patent number: 7793916Abstract: A valve closure system (30) for operating a valve (32) of a fluid-holding cylinder (CYL) between an open and a closed position to allow and disallow communication of the interior of the cylinder through the valve. A coupler (118) engages and rotates a stem (40) of the valve. An electric motor (92) rotates the coupler. A square tube (102) on the motor housing surrounds the coupler. A bracket (50) mounts on the valve body. The parts (50, 102) have respective walls shaped to mutually telescopically engage when, with bracket (50) mounted on the valve, the motor housing has been properly circumferentially and axially aligned with the bracket and then advanced to move the coupler toward engagement with the valve stem. The parts (50, 102) may be pinned together by a hitch pin (54).Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventor: Richard D. Fortino
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Publication number: 20090321673Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (180) operated by a motor (58) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (180) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (180) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (180) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, JR.
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Patent number: 7207547Abstract: An assembly for swinging an external handle of a tank dome valve on a tank dome about a generally horizontal axis has a gearbox and an air motor. In a preferred embodiment, a housing is cooperatively formed by the gearbox casing and the motor cover. The gearbox contains a worm that meshes with a gear that turns within the casing. The air motor turns the worm, thereby turning the gear. An adapter that is external to the casing has a spline that passes through an aperture in the casing to mesh with an internal spline of the gear. The adapter is shaped for engagement with the handle of the tank dome valve. The housing and adapter are arranged such that, when the adapter is in engagement with the valve handle and the motor is operated to turn the gear via the worm, the far end of the motor cover is forced to bear against the tank dome and consequently force the adapter to swing the handle.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventor: Richard D. Fortino
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Patent number: 6957802Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (90) operated by a motor (58) acting through a torque limiter (88) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (90) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (90) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (90) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, Jr.
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Patent number: 6908068Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing railway tank car valves (V1, V2, V3, V4) characterized by a series of novel adapters (180, 240, 242, 244, 252, 254) for enabling one valve closure assembly to turn the handles of various different valves, including soft-seat valves and hard-seat valves.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, Jr.
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Patent number: 6871834Abstract: A circuit (10) for operating a bi-directional air motor (12) of a valve closure system for enabling a tank valve to be discretionally operated to either open or closed condition either at the tank by attending personnel or from a remote location, with the capability of closing the tank valve in the event of emergency from a remote location in the absence of attending personnel. The circuit can be constructed using two commercially available valve assemblies ((24, 26).Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2003Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, Jr.
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Patent number: 6840503Abstract: An air motor (34) is arranged at a right angle to the valve stem (54), through a right angle gear drive (36) that provides torque amplification. A bracket (40) associates the motor with the valve body (48), having a flat ring (68) that fits over the valve body and has clearance notches (94) providing circumferential indexing. Semi-circular locking plates (66) are axially adjacent the ring and pivoted for swinging between a locking position where they fit in a groove (59) in the valve body and an unlocking position where they are free of the groove. Each locking plate has several through-holes through any of which a locking pin (42) can pass to lock the locking plate in locking position. Each locking pin protrudes axially beyond the ring to present interference with the valve body preventing the bracket from turning when the motor operates.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Powell Technologies LLCInventor: Richard D. Fortino
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Publication number: 20040108478Abstract: A circuit (10) for operating a bi-directional air motor (12) of a valve closure system for enabling a tank valve to be discretionally operated to either open or closed condition either at the tank by attending personnel or from a remote location, with the capability of closing the tank valve in the event of emergency from a remote location in the absence of attending personnel. The circuit can be constructed using two commercially available valve assemblies ((24, 26).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Applicant: Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez
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Publication number: 20040099834Abstract: An air motor (34) is arranged at a right angle to the valve stem (54), through a right angle gear drive (36) that provides torque amplification. A bracket (40) associates the motor with the valve body (48), having a flat ring (68) that fits over the valve body and has clearance notches (94) providing circumferential indexing. Semi-circular locking plates (66) are axially adjacent the ring and pivoted for swinging between a locking position where they fit in a groove (59) in the valve body and an unlocking position where they are free of the groove. Each locking plate has several through-holes through any of which a locking pin (42) can pass to lock the locking plate in locking position. Each locking pin protrudes axially beyond the ring to present interference with the valve body preventing the bracket from turning when the motor operates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Richard D. Fortino
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Publication number: 20030197145Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (90) operated by a motor (58) acting through a torque limiter (88) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (90) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (90) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (90) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez
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Publication number: 20030197147Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing railway tank car valves (V1, V2, V3, V4) characterized by a series of novel adapters (180, 240, 242, 244, 252, 254) for enabling one valve closure assembly to turn the handles of various different valves, including soft-seat valves and hard-seat valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez
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Publication number: 20030197146Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (180) operated by a motor (58) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (180) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (180) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (180) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: Powell Fabrication & manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez