Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Smick
Stephen J. Smick 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: 11047484Abstract: Example aspects of a dual seating system, a fixed cone valve, and a method for using a dual seating system are disclosed. The dual seating system can comprise a gate comprising a gate metal seat; and a cone seat assembly comprising a cone metal seat and a cone rubber seat; wherein the gate metal seat is configured to seat with the cone metal seat to define a metal-to-metal seating and the gate metal seat is configured to seat with the cone rubber seat to define a metal-to-rubber seating.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventors: Stephen J. Smick, Sergio Alejandro Diaz
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Publication number: 20210054940Abstract: Example aspects of a dual seating system, a fixed cone valve, and a method for using a dual seating system are disclosed. The dual seating system can comprise a gate comprising a gate metal seat; and a cone seat assembly comprising a cone metal seat and a cone rubber seat; wherein the gate metal seat is configured to seat with the cone metal seat to define a metal-to-metal seating and the gate metal seat is configured to seat with the cone rubber seat to define a metal-to-rubber seating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Stephen J. Smick, Sergio Alejandro Diaz
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Patent number: 10502342Abstract: A check valve for a fluid system includes: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity; a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet; and a buffer mounted on the valve body, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventors: Jeff Milroy, Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 10180198Abstract: A check valve for a fluid system includes: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity; a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet; and a buffer mounted on the closing member, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventors: Jeff Milroy, Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20180356001Abstract: A check valve for a fluid system includes: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity; a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet; and a buffer mounted on the closing member, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Jeff Milroy, Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20180356002Abstract: A check valve for a fluid system includes: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity; a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet; and a buffer mounted on the valve body, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Jeff Milroy, Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 9581269Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of a fluid in a pipe system includes controlling a sleeve valve in the pipe system, the sleeve valve includes a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet, a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet, a gate proximate to the sleeve, and a drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line including a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam on the first drive line movably positioned between the front stop and the back stop, and moving the gate to uncover the at least one opening to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 9568118Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of a fluid in a pipe system includes controlling a valve in the pipe system, the valve including a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity, a gate moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop, and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and positioned relative to the cam stop, moving the sync cam in a first direction to a front stop position; and moving the gate in the first direction to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 9500295Abstract: Sleeve valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet; a gate proximate to the sleeve and movable over a portion of the sleeve including the at least one opening, the gate including a front stop and a back stop; and a drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line having a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and between the front stop and the back stop.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 9494250Abstract: Valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a gate movably coupled to the valve body and moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop; and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line having a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and positioned relative to the cam stop.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20160195197Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of a fluid in a pipe system includes controlling a sleeve valve in the pipe system, the sleeve valve includes a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet, a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet, a gate proximate to the sleeve, and a drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line including a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam on the first drive line movably positioned between the front stop and the back stop, and moving the gate to uncover the at least one opening to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20160195198Abstract: A method of controlling the flow of a fluid in a pipe system includes controlling a valve in the pipe system, the valve including a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity, a gate moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop, and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and positioned relative to the cam stop, moving the sync cam in a first direction to a front stop position; and moving the gate in the first direction to allow fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20150102249Abstract: Valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a gate movably coupled to the valve body and moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop; and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line having a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and positioned relative to the cam stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20150102248Abstract: Sleeve valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet; a gate proximate to the sleeve and movable over a portion of the sleeve including the at least one opening, the gate including a front stop and a back stop; and a drive assembly including a pair of drive lines, each drive line having a drive shaft, a first drive line of the pair of drive lines including a sync cam, the sync cam of the first drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft of the first drive line and between the front stop and the back stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 8960229Abstract: Sleeve valves include a valve body having an inner surface and outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet; a gate proximate to the sleeve and movable over a portion of the sleeve including the at least one opening, the gate including at least one front stop and at least one back stop connected to the gate; and a drive assembly including at least one drive line having a drive shaft and a sync cam, the sync cam of each at least one drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft and between one of the at least one front stop and one of the at least one back stop.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 8944085Abstract: Valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a gate movably coupled to the valve body and moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop; and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a drive shaft and a sync cam, the sync cam of the drive assembly movably positioned on the drive shaft and slidably positioned relative to the cam stop.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20140197347Abstract: Valves include a valve body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a gate movably coupled to the valve body and moveable over a portion of the valve body at least partially between the inlet and the outlet, the gate including a cam stop; and a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a drive shaft and a sync cam, the sync cam of the drive assembly movably positioned on the drive shaft and slidably positioned relative to the cam stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Publication number: 20140196789Abstract: Sleeve valves include a valve body having an inner surface and outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface defining an inlet, an outlet, and a body cavity between the inlet and the outlet; a sleeve disposed at least partially within the body cavity, the sleeve including at least one opening fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet; a gate proximate to the sleeve and movable over a portion of the sleeve including the at least one opening, the gate including at least one front stop and at least one back stop connected to the gate; and a drive assembly including at least one drive line having a drive shaft and a sync cam, the sync cam of each at least one drive line movably positioned on the drive shaft and between one of the at least one front stop and one of the at least one back stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Mueller International, LLCInventor: Stephen J. Smick
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Patent number: 5478047Abstract: A rotary valve has a valve housing with a wall defining a flow passageway, a closure member journalled within the valve housing and mounted for movement between a first position for permitting flow of fluid within the flow passageway and a second position for ceasing flow of fluid within the flow passageway, and a flexible seating ring disposed at least partially within the flow passageway in a position for sealing engagement with the closure member in second position. The flexible seating ring has a flow-through section sized to fit within the flow passageway with a clearance fit, and a flanged seating section extending outwardly from the flow-through section and positioned for sealing contact with the closure member to seal the valve. A seating ring support member is positioned to support the seating ring in a manner to permit the seating ring to move axially and radially within the flow passageway to provide improved tolerance to dimensional variation in manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1995Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignee: Watts Investment CompanyInventors: William J. Best, Joseph W. Hoff, Stephen J. Smick, James A. Skurka