Patents Issued in March 9, 2021
  • Patent number: 10941833
    Abstract: A vibration isolator with a pneumatic spring that is effective only in vertical direction, the pneumatic spring including a working space in which a vertically effective actuator is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Integrated Dynamics Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Arndt Evers, Frank Hofmann
  • Patent number: 10941834
    Abstract: A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cambridge International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Ulchak, Thomas O. Perdue, George H. Messick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10941835
    Abstract: A device for attachment with a structure such as a rope, bar, cord, pole or the like includes a loop arrangement having a first attachment portion and a second loop portion and a retainer located between the first attachment portion and the second loop portion. The loop arrangement is adapted to be movable between a non-furled condition, in which respective first and second ends of the first attachment portion and the second loop portion are located away from one another, and a furled condition, in which the second loop portion is wrapped around the rope to form a wrapped section with the first attachment portion fitted through the second loop portion and extending laterally of the rope and with the second end of the second loop portion being retained by the retainer thereby maintaining the furled condition. A retainer and an associated method of use is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: IP & IT PTY LTD
    Inventor: Dallas John Marchant
  • Patent number: 10941836
    Abstract: A transfer member includes a body including a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. A plurality of engagement features are positioned coaxially about the body and are separated by an axial gap. Each of the plurality of engagement features includes a beveled surface engageable to transfer rotation to or from the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Brian E. Lucker
  • Patent number: 10941837
    Abstract: A reclining apparatus (51) includes: an internal gear (61) that has internal teeth (61c) which are formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; an external gear (63) that has external teeth (63a) which have a smaller number of teeth than that of the internal teeth (61c) and are formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof; a first wedge (71) and a second wedge (73) that are provided so as to be movable along a peripheral direction in an eccentric annular space between the internal gear (61) and the external gear (63); and a striker (79) that has a pressing portion having a pair of first protrusion portions and second protrusion portions capable of pressing the first wedge (71) and the second wedge (73). The striker (79) has a plurality of the pressing portions (81, 83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10941838
    Abstract: A planetary gearbox including a first sun gear; a first ring gear; a first set of planet gears meshing with the first sun gear and the first ring gear; a second sun gear; a second ring gear; a second plurality of planet gears meshing with the second ring gear and the second sun gear, wherein the ith gear in the first set of planet gears is fixed to the ith gear in the second set of planet gears so that the gears in the first set and the second set rotate together coaxially. The resulting planetary gearbox can be readily integrated into compact robotic joints. Its few lightweight components can be manufactured with high accuracy with standard machining techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nikola Z. Georgiev, Joel W. Burdick
  • Patent number: 10941839
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner can include a valve retainer and valve member within a housing including a cavity, passageway, and boss. The passageway provides fluid communication with the cavity through an end face of the cavity. The boss is disposed about the passageway and extends axially outward from the end face. The valve retainer can include a first plate. The first plate can be fixedly coupled to the housing. The valve member can include a second plate that can be axially between the first plate and the boss. The second plate can extend in a radial direction beyond an outermost edge of the boss. The second plate can move axially between a closed position wherein the second plate is in sealing contact with the boss and an open position wherein the second plate is axially spaced apart from the boss. The valve spring biases the second plate toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Benn
  • Patent number: 10941840
    Abstract: A powertrain has a continuously variable transmission including a shaft rotatable about an axis. The CVT further comprises a variator assembly that includes a pulley supported on the shaft. The pulley has a movable sheave with a ramp surface. The movable sheave is axially movable on the shaft. The variator assembly also includes an endless rotatable device frictionally engaged with the movable sheave. An actuator mechanism includes a wedge component supported on the shaft. The wedge component has a wedge surface that automatically engages the ramp surface when torque on the shaft is in a first direction. The wedge surface applies a wedge force on the ramp surface. The actuator mechanism further includes an actuator that is operatively connected to the movable sheave and is activatable to apply a force on the movable sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jian Yao, Chengwu Duan, Chunhao J. Lee, Derek F. Lahr, Farzad Samie
  • Patent number: 10941841
    Abstract: Traction transmission having a first and a second component transmission (26a, b) which are of mirror-symmetrical construction with respect to one another and are arranged axially adjacently in a housing (12), in each case comprising—an axially inner drive friction disc (28a, b) and an axially outer complementary friction disc (32a, b) which are arranged coaxially and can be rotated relative to one another about a transmission central axis, and—a set of friction rollers (40) which make non-positive contact between the friction discs (28a, b, 32a, b) and are mounted such that they can be rotated about in each case one roller axle (44), wherein the roller axles (44) are pivotably mounted in a manner which is spaced apart radially from the transmission central axis on a star-shaped spider (38a, b) which can be moved ax Lilly in relation to the transmission central axis, wherein the spiders (38a, b) are arranged on a common spider sleeve (50) and are coupled to one another at a variable spacing via an axially ext
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rainer Petersen, Jörg Möckel
  • Patent number: 10941842
    Abstract: A disconnect assembly for an input shaft and an output shaft includes a sleeve configured to be disposed about the input shaft and the output shaft. A cam is disposed about the sleeve. A cam follower is configured to contact the cam. An interfacing element is configured to operatively interface the sleeve, the input shaft, and the output shaft. The sleeve, the cam, the cam follower, and the interfacing element are configured to move between a respective connect position and a respective disconnect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Gehrke, Cesar Abraham Davila, Arturo Maceda, Tom Phielix, Balwinder Singh Birdi
  • Patent number: 10941843
    Abstract: A telescopic differential screw mechanism based 3-DOF Parallel Manipulator system to enable differential length and omnidirectional bending is provided. The telescopic differential screw mechanism based 3-DOF Parallel Manipulator system includes a first circular rotating plate 102, a second circular rotating plate 104, three or more telescopic screw assemblies 106A-C and three or more actuators 108A-C. Each telescopic screw assembly 106 includes a pair of master screws 110, a pair of successive screws 112 and a universal joint 116. The three or more telescopic screw assemblies 106A-C are actuated differentially using the three or more actuators 108A-C to achieve omnidirectional bending with high angular rotations in a range of 0 to 75 degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
    Inventors: Madhava Krishna, Akash Singh, Enna Sachdeva, Vinay Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 10941844
    Abstract: A torque converter comprises a cover arranged to receive torque, an impeller including an impeller shell fixed to the cover, and a turbine fluidly coupled to the impeller. A lock-up clutch is provided that includes a dam plate non-rotatably connected to the cover, and a piston plate disposed, at least partially, between the cover and the dam plate. A fluid diversion plate is disposed between the dam plate and the turbine, wherein the dam plate is connected to the piston plate on a first axial side and connected to the fluid diversion plate on a second axial side, opposite the first axial side, via a single connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Schaaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kyle Nelson, Victor Norwich
  • Patent number: 10941845
    Abstract: A driveline power transmitting component with a differential assembly having a differential input, first and second differential outputs, which are driven by the differential input, a first friction clutch, a first biasing spring and a second friction clutch. The first friction clutch has a friction plate that is non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the differential input. The first biasing spring urges the first friction clutch into an engaged condition in which the friction plate of the first friction clutch is frictionally engaged to the first differential output. The second friction clutch has a plurality of first clutch plates, which are axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the differential input, and a plurality of second clutch plates that interleaved with the first clutch plates and axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the first differential output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn S. Proctor, Douglas J. Chemelli
  • Patent number: 10941846
    Abstract: A differential assembly having a case and a ring gear. The ring gear is mounted to the case and may include a mounting flange and a set of teeth. The mounting flange may have a fastener hole. The set of teeth overhangs the fastener hole such that the set of teeth extend further toward the axis than at least a portion of the fastener hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dhanapal Vittala Raya, I-Chao Chung, Tao Peng, Kristen G. Byrd
  • Patent number: 10941847
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gears. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a bulk metallic glass-based macroscale gear, where at least either the thickness of the gear is greater than 3 mm or the diameter of the gear is greater than 9 mm, includes: obtaining design parameters of the gear to be formed; selecting a bulk metallic glass from which the gear will be formed based on the obtained design parameters, where the selected bulk metallic glass is characterized by a resistance to standard modes of wear and a resistance to brittle fracture such that a gear can be formed from the selected bulk metallic glass that accords with the obtained design parameters; and fabricating the gear from the selected bulk metallic glass that accords with the obtained design parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hofmann, Andrew Kennett, Kobie T. Boykins
  • Patent number: 10941848
    Abstract: A pulley assembly having a body, a shaft mount and a plurality of bolts is disclosed. The body is aligned to the shaft mount by providing a tight tolerance between a shoulder portion of the bolt and a neck portion of a counter sunk hole formed in the body. Additionally, an outer surface of the body may have a pattern of friction lines or patches formed by fusing particulate matter to the outer surface with heat generated by a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZPE LICENSING INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Jason Zimmer
  • Patent number: 10941849
    Abstract: A planetary gear system can include a sun gear, an outer ring gear, and at least one planet gear driving the sun gear and planet gear. The planet gear can include an inner ring having an inner race, an outer ring having an outer race circumscribing and confronting the inner race. A plurality of rolling elements can be located between and in contact with the inner and outer races, which can include least one damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Howard Hasting, Joseph Robert Dickman
  • Patent number: 10941850
    Abstract: A gear unit includes a housing, a trough for guiding oil and reducing losses due to splashing surrounding a circumferential section of a toothing part, particularly a gear wheel, especially in the radial and axial direction, the trough including at least three parts, e.g., at least one bottom plate and two side walls, the bottom plate being screw-connected to the two side walls, the trough being fastened to the housing, the trough having an opening, particularly a channel, especially at its lowest surface area, e.g., particularly at the surface area having the greatest radial distance, in particular, during rotational movement of the gear wheel, oil being conveyed from the oil pan of the gear unit through the opening between the trough and gear wheel, especially to a position higher than the level of the oil pan, the bottom plate and the side walls being stamped bent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Zili Wu
  • Patent number: 10941851
    Abstract: A pin assembly for use in a planetary gear including a pin including a cylindrical side wall defining a central bore that extends from a first end to a second end of the pin along its longitudinal center axis, an inlet bore, and a first annular groove that extends radially outwardly into the side wall of the pin adjacent the first end. A first cylindrical plate includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a cylindrical outer wall extending therebetween, the first plate being disposed within the first annular groove of the pin, wherein a width of the first plate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis is less than a width of the first annular groove in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis so that the first plate is axially slidable within the first annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Koyo Bearings North America LLC
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Waseda, Cole A. Hume, Joseph C. Woods, Jr., Giovanni DiMatteo
  • Patent number: 10941852
    Abstract: A shift lever assembly includes a structural support, a shift lever, an autopark device, a folding device, and an interlock device. The shift lever includes a base structure and an arm. The base structure is pivotally engaged to the structural support about a first axis for movement between a park and gear positions. The arm is pivotally engaged to the base structure about a second axis for movement between deployed and stowed states. The autopark device is carried between the structural support and the base structure to effect movement between the park and gear positions. The folding device is carried between the arm and the base structure to effect movement between the deployed and stowed states. The interlock device is supported by the base structure, is adapted to operable interface between the autopark device and the arm, and is configured to move between locked and released positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FICOSA NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Abad García, Carlos López Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 10941853
    Abstract: When a knob of a shift lever device is being assembled, a pair of design frames are assembled to a knob main body, and then a cover is assembled to the knob main body. When the cover is being assembled to the knob main body, ribs of the pair of design frames are inserted into an insertion hole in the cover. The pair of ribs are put into surface contact with one another in a left-and-right direction, and distal end portions of the pair of design frames are put into surface contact in the left-and-right direction. Consequently, the formation of a gap between the distal end portions of the pair of design frames may be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Takahiro Miura
  • Patent number: 10941854
    Abstract: An operating device includes a shaft operated to tilt, a contact section on the shaft in a biased state movable and tiltable integrally with the shaft, a first holding section generating a feeling of moderation by sliding against and holding the contact section at tilted positions the shaft, and a second holding section contacting the contact section, guiding the contact section to a predetermined position from the tilted positions, and holding the contact section at the predetermined position. The first holding section is movable between first and second positions. The contact section contacts the first holding section and is separated from the second holding section when the first holding section is at the first position. The contact section is separated from the first holding section and contacts the second holding section when the first holding section is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Takeda
  • Patent number: 10941855
    Abstract: A controller performs control in a vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism, a forward clutch, an engine rotation sensor. a PRI rotation sensor, and a rotation sensor. The controller determines a rotation direction of a primary pulley corresponding to a rotation direction of a carrier on the basis of a rotation speed corresponding to a rotation speed of a sun gear, a rotation speed corresponding to a rotation speed of the carrier C, and a rotation speed of a ring gear, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiya Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10941856
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a primary sump and an auxiliary sump. When the transmission fluid is warm, fluid remains in the auxiliary sump reducing the volume of oil in circulation throughout the transmission to reduce parasitic losses. An oil control valve is designed to block flow of oil from the auxiliary sump to the primary sump when the fluid is warm and to allow flow when the fluid is cold. The oil control valve also responds to transmission line pressure. At moderate temperatures, fluid is held in the auxiliary sump when the engine is running but drains back to the primary sump when the engine is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Kinch
  • Patent number: 10941857
    Abstract: A self-shifting bicycle that shifts intelligently as a function of power output. The bicycle uses a computer control system mounted to the handlebar, a power meter attached to the front gearwheel, and an actuator module for adjusting the transmission. The computer control system software changes output gear ratio in accordance with load encountered as the cyclist rides. This allows the rider to set a preferred power output and to maintain that preferred power output very closely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Avraham Sonenthal
  • Patent number: 10941858
    Abstract: A controller includes: an automatic shifting control section that carries out automatic shifting control in which a shifting actuator is driven in response to a predetermined automatic shifting command; and an interference prevention control section that controls the automatic shifting control section so as to prohibit simultaneous occurrence of a manual shifting process induced by operation of a shifting operation member and an automatic shifting process induced by the shifting actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Terai, Daisuke Kawai, Yuka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10941859
    Abstract: A shift lever device has a shift lever that is moved and whose shift position is changed, and a detent plate that is displaced due to the shift lever being moved. The shift lever device has a first lock bar and a second lock bar that can move toward the detent plate side or a side opposite from the detent plate, and, due to the first lock bar and the second lock bar engaging with portions of the detent plate, a range over which the detent plate is displaced is restricted, and a range of movement of the shift lever is restricted. The shift lever device has a cam that has a single engaged-with portion with which the first lock bar and the second lock bar engage, and, due to the cam being displaced, the first lock bar and the second lock bar are moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Hironori Watanabe, Koji Imai, Munetoshi Makimura
  • Patent number: 10941860
    Abstract: A shift range control apparatus switches shift ranges by controlling a drive of a motor. The shift range control apparatus is provided with a motor drive controller and an actual range determination portion. The motor drive controller is capable of switching between at least two control modes as motor control modes that are modes in which the motor is controlled. The actual range determination portion determines an actual shift range, based on a requested shift range and the motor control modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 10941861
    Abstract: A shift range control apparatus is applied to a shift range switching mechanism that includes a rotation member including multiple recesses, and an engagement member that positions the rotation member by engaging to the recesses. The shift range control apparatus controls a motor of a shift actuator connected to the rotation member to switch a shift range. The shift range control apparatus includes a rotation speed detection section that detects an output shaft rotation speed corresponding to a rotation speed of an output shaft of the shift actuator, and a movement determination section that determines that an engagement portion of the engagement member has relatively moved to a bottom of one of the recesses of the rotation member when the output shaft rotation speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value during switching of the shift range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10941862
    Abstract: Sealing caps and method for manufacturing such sealing caps are presented wherein the sealing cap has a body (1) with a U-shaped profile with a base (9) and a perimeter wall (7) wherein the outside of the body is coated with a layer of an elastic material (5) and wherein the base is provided with a continuous convex ridge (12) adjacent the perimeter wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Kalmar AB
    Inventors: Jonas Karl-Gustaf Andersson, Nils Marcus Olsson, Stig Reine Joakim Axelsson
  • Patent number: 10941863
    Abstract: A sliding component includes a pair of sliding parts of which a rotating-side sliding part rotates in both forward and reverse directions. In the sliding component, at least one of the sliding parts has a sliding face provided with positive pressure generation grooves on the sealed fluid side, and a negative pressure generation groove on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side and separated from the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side by a land, and a deep groove communicating with the sealed fluid side on the sealed fluid side of the negative pressure generation groove. The positive pressure generation grooves each have an upstream end communicating with the deep groove, and the negative pressure generation groove has an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet that communicate with the deep groove, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and the outlet located on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side of the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yuta Negishi, Sayaka Kosugi, Hideyuki Inoue, Takeshi Hosoe, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10941864
    Abstract: A drain valve for draining liquid from an enclosed space comprises a movable plunger, which is movable between a closed position in which the plunger does not allow liquid to flow through the drain valve, and at least one open position, in which the plunger allows liquid to flow through the drain valve; and an elastic element, which is configured to urge the movable plunger into its closed position. The plunger is provided with at least one duct extending through the plunger and allowing fluid to flow through the drain valve when the plunger is positioned in its closed position, wherein said at least one duct is closed by a semi-permeable medium, which is permeable for air and water vapor and impermeable for liquid water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl, Anil Kumar Jha, Sascha Lueder, Ramesh Srinivasamurthy
  • Patent number: 10941865
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve stem, a first valve body disposed on a distal end side of the valve stem and configured to be driven via the valve stem, a first valve seat on which the first valve body is seatable, an auxiliary seat surface extending along a direction transverse to an axial direction of the valve stem, an auxiliary seat portion disposed on a proximal end side of the valve stem with respect to the first valve body and configured to abut on the auxiliary seat surface when the first valve body is closed, and a biasing member capable of generating a biasing force along the axial direction of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Hata, Shoichi Okawara, Kazuhito Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10941866
    Abstract: A stem-guided valve for use inside of a fluid end. The valve body is installed in a conduit that traverses the fluid end housing. A removable guide element is installed within a bore formed in the valve body. A static component that is interposed within the conduit includes an elongate projecting stem. As the stem reciprocates axially with the guide element, the valve is caused to move between open and closed positions. In its closed position, the valve body engages a valve seat that surrounds the conduit. A plurality of perforations are formed in the walls of the guide element, the perforations allow fluid to drain from the guide element during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kerr Machine Co.
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Michael Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Michael Eugene May, Kelcy Jake Foster
  • Patent number: 10941867
    Abstract: A high conductance valve for use in fluid delivery systems is comprised of a flat non-circular orifice ridge adjacent to which a control plate having a planar control surface is proximally positioned to adjust the valve effective opening area and thereby the conductance of the valve. The length of the non-circular orifice ridge periphery is substantially greater than the circumference of a similarly sized circular orifice and therefore the realized effective opening area is also substantially greater despite having a similar footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kim Ngoc Vu
  • Patent number: 10941868
    Abstract: This valve seat is disposed below a valve ball, wherein the valve seat comprises an annular member in which a seating surface and a lower end surface of the valve ball are formed into a circular shape; a flow path is formed between the seating surface and the lower end surface, for communicating a transfer fluid including a gas and a liquid; and the flow path is formed in a predetermined shape in which a horizontal distance from the central axis which crosses the lower end surface at right angle to the inner circumferential surface of the flow path excluding the seating surface and the lower end surface is not constant over the entire circumference of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: IWAKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshio Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10941869
    Abstract: A dual lock flow gate includes a valve with a flapper which may be fixed and/or locked in various positions for example to prevent fluid flow in the production string during lowering of the production string in the casing by blocking flow in the production string with the dual lock flow gate or for example to prevent rotation of the pump motor by preventing fluid flow in the production string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua Terry Prather, Lawrence Osborne
  • Patent number: 10941870
    Abstract: A throttling valve that allows staged pressure drop increments upstream and/or downstream of a primary flow trim assembly within a valve body to help prevent cavitation and freezing effects. The flow trim assembly can be quickly and efficiently removed from the throttling valve (and repaired or replaced) without requiring disassembly of the throttling valve from a flow line or other fluid conduit, and without requiring removal of an automated actuator. A throttling valve body that allows direct mounting of actuators to the valve without the need for brackets and linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AGI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan T. Sonnier, Christopher F. Rooney
  • Patent number: 10941871
    Abstract: A flow control apparatus for a heat exchange system of a vehicle, including a housing, a valve cartridge assembly, and a control part. A first protrusion is provided on the housing; correspondingly, a second protrusion is provided on a shell of the control part; the first protrusion and the second protrusion are assembled and engaged; a first valve plate is sealed from a second valve plate, so that the seal performance of a product can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumin Yu, Huayuan Jiang, Zhi Wu, Yaoyao Zhang, Hongmin Lu
  • Patent number: 10941872
    Abstract: A zoned fluid control system in a valve manifold system has a plurality of manifold blocks connected together and a plurality of control valves mounted to the manifold blocks with the control valves being electrically actuated and pilot pressure operated. The plurality of manifold blocks forms at least first and second separate pilot pressure passages of a respective first zone and second zone not connected to each other for supplying a respective first set and second set of control valves with independently controlled pilot pressure. A pilot supply valve selectively supplies pilot pressure and shuts off pilot pressure to the second pilot pressure passage without affecting the pilot pressure to the first pilot pressure passage thereby disabling the second set of control valves as a separate zone independent from the first set of control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Asco, L.P.
    Inventors: Bradly Joe Atkin, Enrico De Carolis, Michael W. Hundt
  • Patent number: 10941873
    Abstract: A mouthpiece includes: a mouthpiece main body portion including a tubular member to which an air supply device is connected on one end side and a tire valve is connected on the other end side; an annular protruding portion which is formed at a required position on the outer circumferential portion of the mouthpiece main body portion; a tire valve insertion hole provided in a tire-valve-side tip portion of the mouthpiece main body portion; an O-ring arranged on the air supply device side inside the tire valve insertion hole; and a back-up ring that presses the O-ring from the air supply device side of the O-ring; an actuation body having a substantially convex shape in which a cylindrical tip portion is reduced in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ORIGINALBOX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisao Emi
  • Patent number: 10941874
    Abstract: A valve actuator (10) has a damping circuitry including a capacitive damping circuit (37), which is activated in the event of generator operation of the stepper motor (18). The damping circuitry, together with the motor winding (26), forms a resonance assembly LCR, which has the effect of stabilising and regulating rotational speed. The rotational speed of the stepper motor (18), running in generator operation, is held constant within limits, specifically without the control intervention of control circuitry. Therefore, the damping circuitry can operate even in the currentless state of the control system and is reliable regardless of external current supply. Fast closing is achieved, and excessively long post-running of the motor (18) is reliably prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KARL DUNGS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Nils Obermöller, Dominic Marx, Benjamin Bös
  • Patent number: 10941875
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering fluids, in particular liquid fluids, includes at least one fluid being guided out of at least one fluid reservoir through a closeable valve device in a discharge direction, at least one valve opening in the valve device being closed or opened by a valve closing member in order for the fluid to flow or be prevented from flowing through the valve opening, the opening and closing movement being performed magnetically by moving the valve closing member, which is arranged and moved in the fluid reservoir on an upstream side of the valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Hans-Jörgen Beyer
  • Patent number: 10941876
    Abstract: A damper assembly is configured for deployment in an existing forced air duct that supplies conditioned air through a register boot to a vent cover secured relative to the register boot. The damper assembly includes a damper frame having an at least substantially obround shaped frame periphery and a damper blade having an at least substantially obround shaped blade periphery. A damper insert arm is biased into a deployment configuration in which the damper insert arm is at least substantially perpendicular to the damper frame and is movable into an operational configuration in which the damper insert arm is at least substantially parallel with the damper frame. A latch is configured to releasably engage the damper insert arm in order to hold the damper insert arm in the deployment configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Carlson, David J. Emmons, Steven Wolff, Eric Barton, Martin Zalesak
  • Patent number: 10941877
    Abstract: A switching valve includes a valve head having a plurality of connection ports connecting a pipe, a rotor accommodated therein and including a groove for connecting the connection ports, and a rotor shaft holding the rotor and rotatably equipped, and a driver having a holder holding the valve head and a motor rotating the rotor shaft of the valve head held by the holder. Further, the valve head is provided with a home position sensor detecting a reference position in a rotation direction of the rotor shaft, and a teaching information holder holding information on a relative positional relationship between the reference position and a position of the rotor shaft when the rotor is at a predetermined position, and the reference position acquired using the home position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Wada, Kenta Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10941878
    Abstract: Fluid flow control devices comprise a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall. The cylindrical body has a first channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall and a second channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall. At least a portion of one of the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a pattern of channels for improving the flow characteristics of a fluid through the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Jeff Parish, Bradford Haines, Gifford Decker
  • Patent number: 10941879
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for vacuumizing and sealing a package (322) includes a plurality of platens (12) and vacuum chambers (14), each chamber (14) adapted to mate with a dedicated one of the platens (12); a conveying system (16) for conveying the platens (12) and chambers (14) along a generally angular path having a single axis of rotation (18); an automated loading assembly (20) having a linear component (22c) and configured to load a package (322) onto each of the platens (12); an automated unloading assembly (26) having a linear portion and configured to unload a vacuumized, sealed package (322) from each loaded platen (12) onto an outfeed conveyor (30); and a vacuumizing/sealing system configured to cause relative movement of each chamber (14)/platen (12) pair, along a portion of the angular path, to form therebetween an air-tight enclosure accommodating the package (322) and effect vacuumization and sealing of the package (322).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Cryovac, LLC, Furukawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory E. McDonald, Gregory H. Grossman, Joe A. Price, Rod Hodgson, John L. King, Jr., Shuichi Nakamoto, Yoshitaka Nii, Silvio Rohrer, Joel Caillier, Peter Schmalz
  • Patent number: 10941880
    Abstract: A valve module includes a semiconductor body, cavities in the semiconductor body separated from each other by a distance, a cantilever structure suspended over each cavity to enable at least partial closing of the cavity, and a piezoelectric actuator for each cantilever structure. The piezoelectric actuator is configured for use to cause a positive bending of the respective cantilever structure and so modulate a rate of air flow through the valve module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Oriana Rita Antonia Di Marco, Igor Varisco
  • Patent number: 10941881
    Abstract: A bar extension system for supporting a suspended conduit in a vehicle and for engaging a tracker bar affixed to a mounting surface of the vehicle includes an extension arm extending away from the mounting surface of the vehicle and configured to support the suspended conduit, a bracket member coupled to the extension arm and configured to engage the tracker bar, a support arm coupled to the bracket member and angularly extending away from the bracket member and toward the mounting surface of the vehicle, and a support member coupled to the support arm and configured to press against the mounting surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: R.A. Phillips Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Dale Peterson
  • Patent number: 10941882
    Abstract: The technology is a securing device for electrical wiring and other mechanical components to the frame or other wire bundles without the use of metallic hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Daryian Rhysing