Patents by Inventor William E. Hurst

William E. Hurst 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: 11713816
    Abstract: A valve comprises: a housing defining a chamber; a fluid outlet defined by a fluid outlet wall; and a first fluid outlet orifice and a second fluid outlet orifice comprising a rigid seat. The valve comprises a movable gate, that is flexible and/or compressible and impermeable. The moveable gate is more flexible than the rigid seat, has a planar surface, and is configured to slidably move in a first axis. The movable gate is configured to be positioned so that it is located between a fluid inlet orifice and the second fluid outlet orifice when the valve is in a closed position, wherein fluid pressure within the chamber causes the movable gate to seal the second fluid outlet orifice via the rigid seat, and not the fluid inlet orifice. The valve may employ gate shapes that generate and/or exploit Bernoulli effect forces when fluid passes though the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Colt Irrigation, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Hurst, James Walter Hurst
  • Patent number: 11313476
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a housing including a chamber, a fluid inlet comprising a fluid inlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a first conduit, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to communicate fluid from the first conduit to the chamber, a fluid outlet comprising a fluid outlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a second conduit, wherein the fluid outlet is configured to communicate fluid from the chamber to the second conduit, a rigid substrate and a stretchable, compressible and/or flexible membrane on a surface of the rigid substrate, wherein the rigid substrate is configured to be positioned so that the membrane is located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein a fluid pressure within the chamber causes the membrane to seal a first orifice of the fluid outlet passage when the valve is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Colt Irrigation, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Hurst, James Walter Hurst
  • Patent number: 10927962
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a housing including a chamber, a fluid inlet comprising a fluid inlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a first conduit, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to communicate fluid from the first conduit to the chamber, a fluid outlet comprising a fluid outlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a second conduit, wherein the fluid outlet is configured to communicate fluid from the chamber to the second conduit, a rigid substrate and a stretchable, compressible and/or flexible membrane on a surface of the rigid substrate, wherein the rigid substrate is configured to be positioned so that the membrane is located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein a fluid pressure within the chamber causes the membrane to seal a first orifice of the fluid outlet passage when the valve is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: William E. Hurst, James Walter Hurst
  • Patent number: 7905052
    Abstract: A system for radiating plants with photon radiation to induce photomorphogenic growth is described. The system includes a light assembly operable to transmit photon radiation, a light transmittive material located between the light assembly and a plant, a power supply connected to the light assembly, a failsafe switch connected to and located between the power supply and the light assembly and a photomorphogenic growth controller connected to the light assembly. The power supply is operable to energize the light assembly and the failsafe switch is operable to de-energize the light assembly when a safety signal is received by the failsafe switch. The photomorphogenic growth controller is operable to selectively energize the light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: William E. Hurst, Kenneth M. Morrow
  • Patent number: 7774979
    Abstract: A process for photomorphogenically enhancing plants is presented wherein a natural or artificial light source emits light through a transmittive material. The material is optionally borosilicate glass with a steep edge situation at or near 280 nm so as to selectively filter out light in the UVC or low UVB regions. The glass allows high transmissibility such that as much as 98% of all light at or above the edge situation passes thorough the material. The percent transmission and edge situation may be defined by glass thickness or by combining multiple types of glass. The light is then contacted with a plant whereby a photomorphogenic response is elicited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: William E. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20080298052
    Abstract: A system for radiating plants with photon radiation to induce photomorphogenic growth is described. The system includes a light assembly operable to transmit photon radiation, a light transmittive material located between the light assembly and a plant, a power supply connected to the light assembly, a failsafe switch connected to and located between the power supply and the light assembly and a photomorphogenic growth controller connected to the light assembly. The power supply is operable to energize the light assembly and the failsafe switch is operable to de-energize the light assembly when a safety signal is received by the failsafe switch. The photomorphogenic growth controller is operable to selectively energize the light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: William E. Hurst, Kenneth M. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20080120736
    Abstract: A process for photomorphogenically enhancing plants is presented wherein a natural or artificial light source emits light through a transmittive material. The material is optionally borosilicate glass with a steep edge situation at or near 280 nm so as to selectively filter out light in the UVC or low UVB regions. The glass allows high transmissibility such that as much as 98% of all light at or above the edge situation passes thorough the material. The percent transmission and edge situation may be defined by glass thickness or by combining multiple types of glass. The light is then contacted with a plant whereby a photomorphogenic response is elicited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: William E. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20040245124
    Abstract: A mixing bag having an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of substantially dry material and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the mixing bag is in the form of a bioprocess container having at least three sealable openings. Any one of the sealable openings is configured for at least one of injection of a process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form the solution, enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form the solution or enabling withdrawal of the solution at the selected concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: William E. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20040245144
    Abstract: A mixing bag having an interior mixing chamber having a volume sufficient to receive a predetermined weight of substantially dry material and a selected volume of process compatible solution to form a solution having the material in suspension with a selected concentration is shown. The mixing bag includes at least two sealable openings. One opening is configured for at least one of enabling transporting the substantially dry material into the interior mixing chamber, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber to form the solution and enabling withdrawal of the solution at the selected concentration. The other opening is configured for at least one of injection of a process compatible solution into the interior mixing chamber to form the solution, enabling agitation of the material and process compatible solution in the interior mixing chamber and enabling withdrawal of the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: William E. Hurst