Patents by Inventor Ted J. Makowan

Ted J. Makowan 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: 7766044
    Abstract: A two-way damper is provided including a retaining member and a baffle. The baffle comprises a flexible member with a first portion secured and held in a fixed position by the retaining member and a second portion normally oriented in a first position, but free to move relative to said first position. The baffle also comprises a third portion, arranged between the first and second portions, being flexible and resilient and allowing the second portion to move to a second position relative to the first position upon the application of a pressure differential across the baffle above a threshold pressure and causing the second portion to return to the first position upon the application of a pressure differential across the baffle below the threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Ted J. Makowan, Timothy M. O'Shea
  • Patent number: 6152173
    Abstract: A device for visually indicating a position of a check valve disc within the check valve is provided. The indicating device has an exposed element extending outside of the valve body to provide a visual indication of a position of the valve disc, an engaging element, connected to the exposed element, positioned within the valve body to engage the valve disc, a movable seal member to provide an interface between an interior of the valve body and an exterior of the valve body, with the engaging element and the exposed element being connected to the seal member, and a mechanism to hold the engaging element in contact with the valve disc. An electrical switch may be provided for detecting the position of the exposed element and for transmitting an appropriate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Ted J. Makowan
  • Patent number: 6050294
    Abstract: A resilient disc check valve with a spring return mechanism is provided. The spring return mechanism is contained entirely within the valve body. The spring return mechanism is in the form of a leaf spring or similar structure which engages a back side of the disc and does not require any attachment to the disc by way of fasteners or other mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Ted J. Makowan
  • Patent number: 5769429
    Abstract: An improved seat for air valves and combination air release and air valves is provided. The improved seal for an air valve has a resilient member with a top surface and a bottom surface and a through hole therebetween; a circular raised bead positioned on the top surface having a diameter larger than that of the through hole and a circumferential slot arranged in the through hole; and having a diameter larger than that of the through hole so that a lip is formed between the bottom surface and the circumferential slot. In addition, a seal for an air valve having a resilient member with a top surface and a bottom surface and a through hole therebetween; a circular raised bead positioned on the bottom surface, the circular raised bead having a diameter larger than that of the through hole; and a notch circumscribing the through hole and having a diameter larger than that of the through hole so that contact surface is formed between the notch and the through holes is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Robert W. Smetters, Ted J. Makowan
  • Patent number: 5613513
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for controlling flow of air and preventing flow of liquid within vent lines connected to, for example, a pipe line or other like piping systems. A housing is provided with a float and a seat within the housing having an opening therethrough wherein the float is capable of sealing the opening of the seat during a flooding condition. The first housing with the float is connected to one end of a vent line. A second housing is connected to another end of the vent line having a float therein for sealing an outlet formed by a seat with an opening therethrough. Optionally, a screen may be provided to prevent articles from entering the housing upon a flooding condition exposing the housing to both liquid and extraneous particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve & Mfg. Corporation
    Inventor: Ted J. Makowan