Patents by Inventor Rick Van Wetten

Rick Van Wetten 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: 6000677
    Abstract: A valve assembly (14) has an internal main flow passage through a valve body (24) between a first port (25) and a second port (26), an electric actuator (30), and a valve (86) operated by an armature (58) of the actuator to selectively open and close the passage. A force-balancing mechanism (92) applies to the valve (86) a force that opposes force created by pressure differential between the first and second ports. This mechanism includes an internal chamber (126) bounded in part by a fluid-impermeable movable wall (94) that extends between and is sealed to both the body (24) and the valve (86), and a communication passage (110, 112) that communicates one of the ports (26) to the chamber space when the valve is closing the passage. The valve (86) has a head part (88) and a seal part (90) joined together. The seal part seals the head part to the valve seat (29) when the valve is closing the passage. A retainer part (116) holds the inner margin of the movable wall sealed on the head part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventors: John E. Cook, Murray F. Busato, David W. Balsdon, Gerry Bruneel, Rick Van Wetten, Robert Faulkner, Derek Hime
  • Patent number: 5967487
    Abstract: A valve assembly (14) has an internal main flow passage through a valve body (24) between a first port (25) and a second port (26), an electric actuator (30), and a valve (86) operated by an armature (58) of the actuator to selectively open and close the passage. A force-balancing mechanism (92) applies to the valve (86) a force that opposes force created by pressure differential between the first and second ports. The valve has cushion media (76, 80, 142) that cushions impact of lateral displacements of the armature and cushion media (76) for cushioning axial impact between the armature and stator. An overmold (32) encloses internal parts, and one of the ports contains sonic nozzle structure (28). the valve exhibits improved noise attenuation, durability, and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: John E. Cook, Murray F. Busato, David W. Balsdon, Gerry Bruneel, Rick Van Wetten, Robert Faulkner, Derek Hime