Patents by Inventor Thomas A Cates

Thomas A Cates 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: 11326716
    Abstract: A subplate mounted valve is disclosed having an open position and a closed position. The valve includes at least one pilot pressure intake port, a plurality of functional fluid ports, a spool movable between the open position and the closed position, and spring biasing the spool to either the open position or the closed position. To reduce water hammer due to quickly opening or quickly closing the valve, a flow regulation assembly is positioned at the pilot pressure intake port and has a chamber with a larger inlet channel at the intake position and transitioning to a smaller channel at the outlet position such that fluid flow at the intake port is reduced, thereby slowing the transition between the open position and the closed position and the transition between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventors: Barry J McMiles, Thomas A Cates
  • Publication number: 20210310583
    Abstract: A subplate mounted valve is disclosed having an open position and a closed position. The valve includes at least one pilot pressure intake port, a plurality of functional fluid ports, a spool movable between the open position and the closed position, and spring biasing the spool to either the open position or the closed position. To reduce water hammer due to quickly opening or quickly closing the valve, a flow regulation assembly is positioned at the pilot pressure intake port and has a chamber with a larger inlet channel at the intake position and transitioning to a smaller channel at the outlet position such that fluid flow at the intake port is reduced, thereby slowing the transition between the open position and the closed position and the transition between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Barry J McMiles, Thomas A Cates