Patents by Inventor Thomas Honzelka

Thomas Honzelka 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: 7610933
    Abstract: Operation of a water softener is controlled by a set of valves within a body that has water inlet, water outlet, a regenerant connector and a drain outlet. Openings are provided in an exterior wall of the body through which a plurality of valve elements are received. The body has opposing exterior side walls through which a seam diagonally extends, thereby separating the body into two parts sealed together at that seam. The diagonal seam divides internal fluid chambers between each part and facilitates molding the parts so that the entire body can be fabricated by only two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Honzelka, Ken Sieth
  • Patent number: 7610931
    Abstract: A bypass valve includes a body with first and second chambers connected by a bridge passage, an untreated water inlet and an untreated water outlet both open into the first chamber, and a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet both open into the second chamber. A first valve element is rotatably received in the first chamber alternately to connect the inlet to the untreated water outlet or the bridge passage. A second valve element is rotatably received in the second chamber alternately to connect the outlet to the treated water outlet or the bridge passage. A manually operable mechanism rotates the first valve element in the first chamber and the second valve element in the second chamber. A flow sensor is received within either the first or second valve element to measure the amount of water flowing through the bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Wittig, Kenneth Sieth, Thomas Honzelka
  • Patent number: 7568501
    Abstract: A bypass valve has a body with an inlet for receiving untreated water, an untreated water outlet for connection to a water treatment apparatus, a treated water inlet and an outlet through which treated water flows. The body includes a first valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a second valve seat between the treated water inlet and the outlet, and a third valve seat in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A set of first, second and third flapper valve elements selectively engage and disengage the first, second and third valve seats respectively. The three flapper valve elements are preferably connected to a common manually operable actuator which can be latched to hold the valve elements in different functional positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: GE Osmonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Honzelka, Ken Sieth
  • Publication number: 20070181191
    Abstract: A bypass valve includes a body with first and second chambers connected by a bridge passage, an untreated water inlet and an untreated water outlet both open into the first chamber, and a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet both open into the second chamber. A first valve element is rotatably received in the first chamber alternately to connect the inlet to the untreated water outlet or the bridge passage. A second valve element is rotatably received in the second chamber alternately to connect the outlet to the treated water outlet or the bridge passage. A manually operable mechanism rotates the first valve element in the first chamber and the second valve element in the second chamber. A flow sensor is received within either the first or second valve element to measure the amount of water flowing through the bypass valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Wittig, Kenneth Sieth, Thomas Honzelka
  • Publication number: 20070181193
    Abstract: Operation of a water softener is controlled by a set of valves within a body that has water inlet, water outlet, a regenerant connector and a drain outlet. Openings are provided in an exterior wall of the body through which a plurality of valve elements are received. The body has opposing exterior side walls through which a seam diagonally extends, thereby separating the body into two parts sealed together at that seam. The diagonal seam divides internal fluid chambers between each part and facilitates molding the parts so that the entire body can be fabricated by only two parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Honzelka, Kenneth Sieth
  • Publication number: 20070181194
    Abstract: A bypass valve has a body with an inlet for receiving untreated water, an untreated water outlet for connection to a water treatment apparatus, a treated water inlet and an outlet through which treated water flows. The body includes a first valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a second valve seat between the treated water inlet and the outlet, and a third valve seat in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A set of first, second and third flapper valve elements selectively engage and disengage the first, second and third valve seats respectively. The three flapper valve elements are preferably connected to a common manually operable actuator which can be latched to hold the valve elements in different functional positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Honzelka, Ken Sieth