Patents by Inventor Walter J. Baron

Walter J. Baron 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: 5213129
    Abstract: A fluid mixing valve has a canister which defines a chamber divided into an upper additive subchamber and a lower carrier subchamber by a plunger and diaphragm. A pressurized carrier liquid enters the carrier subchamber through an inlet and exits the carrier subchamber through a restriction, which produces a pressure differential across the plunger piston to pressurize a supply of additive liquid held within the additive subchamber above the piston. The pressurized additive liquid is injected past an adjustable metering valve into the flow stream of carrier liquid downstream of the restriction. As the additive liquid is depleted, the volume of the additive subchamber diminishes and the extension of the plunger out of the canister increases, to provide an indication of the amount of additive left in the additive subchamber. When the supply of additive liquid is exhausted, the plunger can be manually returned so as to enlarge the additive subchamber to prepare it to receive a new supply of additive liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: CSB Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kaveh Someah, Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 5129730
    Abstract: A fluid mixing valve has a canister which defines a piston chamber divided into an upper additive subchamber and a lower carrier subchamber by a piston. A pressurized carrier liquid enters the carrier subchamber through an inlet and exits the carrier subchamber through a restriction, which produces a pressure differential across the piston to pressurize a supply of additive liquid held within the additive subchamber above the piston. The pressurized additive liquid is injected past an adjustable metering valve into the flow stream of carrier liquid downstream of the restriction. As the additive liquid is depleted, the volume of the additive subchamber diminishes and the volume of the carrier subchamber increases as the piston moves upwardly. When the supply of additive liquid is exhausted, in one embodiment a screw plug is used to return the piston to a refill position, thereby enlarging the additive subchamber to prepare it to receive a new supply of additive liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: CSB Limited Partnership, A Wisconsin Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kaveh Someah, Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4627486
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having end head elements has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheet elements. Cleaning devices are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by basket elements. A basket retaining plate is disposed outwardly of and parallel to a tube sheet element. A longitudinally compressible device is disposed between the retaining plate and at least one of the elements to compensate for misalignment of a tube sheet relative to the heat exchanger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4607686
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, outwardly of the tube sheet in an adjacent or proximate, generally parallel relationship to the outer face of the tube sheet. The retaining plate may be mounted either in spaced relationship from or in abutting relationship with the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which terminate within the tube sheet openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4595049
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4595050
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A removable cleaning element retainer (28) is adapted to be snap fit into the end of each basket via flexible clip legs (30) terminating in radially outwardly extending prongs (31). A notch (39) formed in the outer slot end receives a retainer prong and thereby holds the retainer against basket-wearing rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4592417
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated slotted baskets (17). A cleaning element retaining device includes inwardly extending pairs of projections (30, 31) integral with the basket and with the respective pairs being offset longitudinally along the basket axis. A cleaning element can be tiltingly manipulated past the pairs of projections for insertion or removal into or out of the basket without substantial damage to the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4561495
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a housing (2) containing a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) through which tube cleaning elements (18) are propelled between elongated baskets (17) mounted in communication with the tube ends. The baskets include longitudinally extending slots (22). A removable retainer (28) is adapted for mounting to each outer basket end. The retainer includes a central body portion (29) of molded plastic and a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips (30) for latching onto the basket. Each clip includes a first longitudinally outwardly extending leg (31), a second longitudinally inwardly extending leg (33), and a reverse bend loop (32) joining the legs. A radially extending rib (38) is formed in the reverse bend loop and is connected at its ends to the first and second legs. The ribs on circumferentially spaced clips are of such a length as to normally hold all of the legs in parallelism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Water Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4552207
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. A basket retaining plate is fixedly mounted, as by bolts or the like, in spaced relationship outwardly from the outer tube sheet face. The plate and its mount cooperate with the tube sheet to hold the baskets in fixed position relative to the tube sheet and tube ends. The outer capturing and holding portions of the baskets extend outwardly from the retaining plate. The baskets include central or intermediate portions which extend through openings in the plate and inner portions which extend through the space between the plate and tube sheet and which terminate within the tube sheet openings. The baskets are fixedly secured against transverse shifting by a two-point support, one at the inner basket ends and one intermediate their ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4544026
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of fluid flow tubes (5) secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets (6, 7). Cleaning elements (18) are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by elongated molded plastic slotted baskets (17). The generally uninterrupted basket chamber (25) terminates in an outer end portion defined by the basket body to which is integrally mounted a cleaning element retainer in the form of a closure (26). The closure is pivotally mounted to one side of the end of the basket body by a living hinge (27) which permits swinging of the closure between a fully open position wherein the open-ended basket chamber is unobstructed for cleaning element installation and removal, and a fully closed position which retains the cleaning element within the basket during outward fluid flow. The closure is held in closed position by an integral latch (28, 29) on the side of the basket diametrically opposite the living hinge (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4543996
    Abstract: A four-way diverter valve (1) is constructed with a rotatable butterfly valve element (20) within the cylindrical valve housing (10) and with said element having a pair of end heads (21, 22) joined by a generally planular central tapered plug (23) of longitudinal extent. The valve plug is modified by having mounted thereon between its ends a tubular diverter means (28) which comprises a pair of transversely extending pipe segments (25, 26), one mounted on each side of the plug, which forms a baffle. The valve housing (10) is connected to two pair of in-line ports (16-19) and stub pipes (31, 32) are fixedly mounted to the housing wall, communicate with a pair of diagonally opposed ports (16, 19), and extend inwardly from the housing wall toward the modified butterfly valve element (20) and the tubular diverter means (28). In normal valve position (FIG. 4), a generally straight-through fluid flow is provided. In reverse valve position (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4520847
    Abstract: A longitudinally extending housing (21) is provided with a generally cylindrical side wall (22) closed by opposed end walls (23,24). The housing side wall is ported, to connect with supply and return lines (17,18) from a source of pressurized fluid (15), and also to connect with the input and discharge lines (19,20) of a process loop. The housing contains a longitudinally extending rotary axle (33) which forms a part of a valve rotator assembly (42). The assembly includes a plurality of segmental discs (43-46) mounted for rotation with the axle. Axially aligned alternate disc edges are joined by radial longitudinally extending partitions (52,53) to form a plurality of alternating axially oppositely facing rotary chambers (I-IV) adapted to communicate with the housing ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4508164
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Brushes are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be captured by baskets. The brushes comprise an elongated wire twist stem having fine wire bristles looped through the twist along the stem length. End caps are secured to the stem ends. The brush basket is provided with a dash pot at its outer end which not only serves as a brush stop but which also creates a hydraulic cushion to slowly decelerate the brush before it engages the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4506703
    Abstract: A four-way diverter valve has a cylindrical housing wall (10) and two pair of in-line ports (16-19) for connection to a heat exchanger condenser (3). A diverter element (20) is mounted for rotation on a transverse axis (25). The diverter element has a baffle (22) which forms fluid flow passages (23, 24). Radial ribs (35, 36) are disposed on the outer wall of the diverter element. End closure plates (11, 13) for the valve have a first stop device (37, 40) for engagement by the ribs for properly positioning the diverter element in a normal position. A second stop means (43) is provided for rib engagement to position the diverter element in rotated position when the fluid flow downstream of the valve is to be reversed. Diagonally opposed ports (18, 17) are surrounded by concave seats (44, 45) which are inclined at an acute angle to the cylindrical housing wall. The end edges (51) of the diverter element wall and baffle ends (52) are slanted transversely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4489776
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements, such as brushes, are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes. Cleaning element capturing cages or baskets are mounted to the tube ends. When the tube ends are of varying diameters along the plane of a tube sheet, some baskets are press fit into the larger diameter tube ends and an adhesive used to rigidly secure the members together, as heretofore. In addition, other baskets are loosely slipped over the smaller diameter tube ends. However, an adhesive is not necessary to rigidly fix these latter baskets in place. Instead, a connector device joins baskets which are not rigidly fixed against axial movement to those that are, so that the latter support the former in rigid interconnecting relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron
  • Patent number: 4445540
    Abstract: A fluid flow diverter includes a housing and a rotatable sleeve mounted for rotation on an axle and spaced inwardly from the housing walls. The sleeve and housing include ports which are selectively positioned in registered or unregistered relationship, depending upon which of two operative positions the sleeve assumes. The sleeve forms a single internal chamber through which fluid always flows in the same direction in both operative positions of the sleeve. The space between the sleeve and housing also forms a single chamber through which fluid always flows in the same direction in both operative positions of the sleeve. The unidirectional fluid flow through the sleeve itself is opposite to the unidirectional fluid flow through the external chamber between the housing and sleeve. The supporting connection between the cylindrical sleeve and housing walls occurs adjacent the registered sleeve and housing ports by means of mating peripheral supporting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4418747
    Abstract: A shuttle assembly is provided which includes a spring cleaning element secured at each end to mounting members which are freely slideable on a longitudinal axial rod. The rod is longer than the cleaning element in its normal extended position so that the cleaning element can shuttle back and forth on the rod. Stop members are secured to the end portions of the rod. When either rod end engages a capturing device at the end of a heat exchanger tube, inertia causes the cleaning element to slide forwardly until the adjacent mounting member tappingly engages the adjacent stop member of the assembly, causng undesirable material on the cleaning element to drop off. The mounting members are of a lesser O.D. (Outside Diameter) than the I.D. (Inside Diameter) of the pipe and are also of a lesser O.D. than the O.D. of the normally extended cleaning element. The O.D. of the cleaning element is such as to allow for transverse rattling engagement with the inner tube wall during shuttling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4415022
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes secured adjacent their ends by tube sheets. Cleaning elements are adapted to shuttle back and forth in the tubes and are adapted to be received by capturing cages. The inner ends of the cleaning element capturing cages are provided with enlarged collars having generally semi-circular flanges providing inclined undercut seats. The heat exchanger tube ends extend fully through the openings in the tube sheets and are provided with annular flared lips extending outwardly from the outer tube sheet faces. The cages are mounted directly to the tubes by bringing the collar seats down into hanging engagement with the tube lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: 4402360
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluid flow tubes through which shuttle type cleaning elements are carried by the fluid, the direction of which is reversable. The cleaning elements are captured adjacent the tube ends by a transverse plate having cleaning element receiving openings therein. The plate is adapted to be mounted so that the openings register with the tube ends, and the plate openings are of sufficient length to contain the cleaning elements. At least some of the plate openings are connected by fluid flow slots which also communicate with the end chamber of the heat exchanger. A cleaning element stop device is disposed at the outer ends of the plate openings so that the cleaning elements are retained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Baron, Laird C. Cleaver
  • Patent number: D292309
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Water Services of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Baron