Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Piotrowski

Thomas C. Piotrowski 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: 8317049
    Abstract: A vacuum breaker arrangement for use with a container includes body parts holding a resilient valve member captive. The valve member includes an intermediate body part, intermediate and enlarged head and a valve part. The valve part is made of resilient material which defines an internal passageway communicating with an opening in the body parts. The valve part includes an end portion defining a slit which is closed at a first pressure and which is automatically opened at a second, reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Protectoseal Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Piotrowski, Christian A. Mutzbauer
  • Patent number: 6629621
    Abstract: A gauge hatch is provided that has a cover structure that incorporates a pallet/diaphragm combination and that is cooperatively associated with a pressure responsive liquid seal subassembly. The gauge hatch also incorporates a vent neck and a radially adjacent wall that defines with the vent neck a circumferentially extending reservoir. An exterior preferably radially extending arm permits the cover structure to be opened and inclined at an angle relative to the vent neck. Optionally, the cover may be kept in a closed position. The diaphragm normally seats upon the vent neck. A sealing liquid in the reservoir has a closed chamber over the reservoir liquid. When the arm is not held in a cover closed position, and up until a set vent neck pressure is reached, the liquid seal subassembly eliminates low level fugitive vapor emissions escaping from the diaphragm/seat region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: The Protectoseal Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Piotrowski, Martin Clift, Baohai Liu
  • Patent number: 6244457
    Abstract: A gauge hatch has a cover structure that incorporates a pallet/diaphragm combination and that is cooperatively associated with a pressure responsive liquid seal subassembly. The gauge hatch also incorporates a vent neck and a radially adjacent wall that defines with the vent neck a circumferentially extending reservoir. An exterior preferably radially extending arm permits the cover structure to be opened and inclined at an angle relative to the vent neck. Optionally, the cover may be kept in a closed position. The diaphragm normally seats upon the vent neck. A sealing liquid in the reservoir has a closed chamber over the reservoir liquid. When the arm is not held in a cover closed position, and up until a set vent neck pressure is reached, the liquid seal subassembly eliminates low level fugitive vapor emissions escaping from the diaphragm/seat region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The Protectoseal Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Piotrowski, Martin Clift
  • Patent number: 6056005
    Abstract: A vent valve is provided wherein a pallet/diaphragm type valve is cooperatively and coactively associated with a pressure responsive liquid seal. The assembly eliminates low level fugitive vapor emissions escaping from the diaphragm/seat region up to a predeterminable liquid seal set pressure which preferably is less than or equal to the set pressure for diaphragm opening. A liquid reservoir with a sealed chamber is provided for the liquid seal subassembly. Fugitive emissions from a tank or the like that is associated with the vent valve enter the sealed chamber and are there contained until the pressure therein is sufficient to displace the sealing liquid to an extent sufficient to open the sealed chamber. The valve assembly can be used as a pressure vent, as a vacuum vent, and as a combination pressure and vacuum vent. Optional features, such as a constant liquid level controller, a sight glass, a signaling device, or the like can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: The Protectoseal Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Piotrowski, Martin Clift, Baohai Liu
  • Patent number: 5660204
    Abstract: An improved valve is provided for blanketing and maintaining the vapor space of a tank with inert gas at a set pressure. The valve is of the type that incorporates a pilot valve that operates in response to sensed tank vapor space gas pressure. The opening and closing of the pilot valve controls the opening and closing of an associated main valve which admits pressurized inert gas into the tank from an inert gas supply to maintain the tank set pressure. The valve permits one to externally adjust internal components of the pilot valve after valve assembly. Also, the valve provides for pressure balanced operation that achieves a consistent opening pressure over the allowable range of inlet gas supply pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: The Protectoseal Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Piotrowski, William Zehr, Scott R. Diaz