Multi-way Valve Unit Patents (Class 137/625)
  • Patent number: 11788261
    Abstract: A faucet apparatus and method of implementing a faucet apparatus are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, the apparatus includes a body integrated or coupled to a base, where the body includes surfaces within which are formed first and second orifices that respectively extend inward into the body along first and second axes, respectively. A first cross-section of the first orifice taken perpendicular to the first axis has a first size and a first shape that are, respectively, substantially identical to a second size and a second shape of a second cross-section of the second orifice taken perpendicular to the second axis. The apparatus also includes a spout having a first end supported within the first orifice, and a sensor structure having a cross-sectional surface supported within the second orifice, where each of the first end and cross-sectional surface is configured to fit complementarily within either of the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Schmitt, Gregory Chesack, Mauricio Medaets
  • Patent number: 11746511
    Abstract: A faucet apparatus and method of implementing a faucet apparatus are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, the apparatus includes a body integrated or coupled to a base, where the body includes surfaces within which are formed first and second orifices that respectively extend inward into the body along first and second axes, respectively. A first cross-section of the first orifice taken perpendicular to the first axis has a first size and a first shape that are, respectively, substantially identical to a second size and a second shape of a second cross-section of the second orifice taken perpendicular to the second axis. The apparatus also includes a spout having a first end supported within the first orifice, and a sensor structure having a cross-sectional surface supported within the second orifice, where each of the first end and cross-sectional surface is configured to fit complementarily within either of the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. Schmitt, Gregory Chesack, Mauricio Medaets
  • Patent number: 11185873
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembled shower device, that includes a hand-held type shower and a head portion shower. In the head portion shower is disposed a control mechanism. The control mechanism is adapted to control open or close of a water channel of the hand-held type shower, such that the hand-held type shower and the head portion shower act in cooperation in the following two approaches: the hand-held type shower is disposed on the head portion shower, to bring the control mechanism into action, to close the water channel of the hand-held type shower; and the hand-held type shower is separated from the head portion shower, to bring the control mechanism into action, to open the water channel of the hand-held type shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: RUNNER (XIAMEN) CORP.
    Inventors: Wei-Wu Su, Min-Qing Zheng, Zhao-Yi Zhuo, Tai-Hua Chen, Sheng-Jun Du
  • Patent number: 10767856
    Abstract: A gas burner has a body, a supply unit and a lid having a central flame crown and a peripheral flame crown. The supply unit has at least one supply duct, three injectors connected to said at least one supply duct, three Venturi tubes respectively associated with said injectors, wherein the injectors and the Venturi tubes have parallel horizontal axes and fixing means used to fix the Venturi tubes in position. The body of the burner has a central chamber and two peripheral chambers in communication with the Venturi tubes and with an upper central chamber and an upper peripheral chamber respectively disposed under the central flame crown and the peripheral flame crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SOMIPRESS—SOCIETA' METALLI INIETTATI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Serenellini
  • Patent number: 10502244
    Abstract: An actuator control arrangement is provided comprising a pair of rotary control valves used in combination to control the operation of an actuator. The rotary control valves are driven synchronously through a hydraulic or mechanical coupling. Each rotary control valve has a by-pass mode which activates in the event of a jam. In addition each rotary control valve has a mechanism for activating the by-pass mode absent any jam. The actuator control arrangement further comprises a circuit coupling a pilot control and/or a flight control computer (FCC) to one or both of the mechanisms for remotely switching the rotary control valve(s) from an active mode to a by-pass mode under control of a pilot or FCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS SAS
    Inventors: Arnauld Hervieux, Johann Martin-Meyer
  • Patent number: 10473668
    Abstract: A self-shielded, bench-top radiochemistry system, including a radioactive isotope dispensing module configured to draw an isotope out of a vial and dispense one or more metered doses of the isotope to a concentration module that concentrates the metered dose into a droplet amount of isotope and a synthesizer module that delivers the droplet amount of isotope along with one or more reagents to an electrowetting on dielectrics (EWOD) chip to produce a radiolabeled molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SOFIE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: R. Michael Van Dam, Melissa Moore, Brandon Maraglia, Daniel Thompson
  • Patent number: 10343250
    Abstract: A device and method to aid in lapping a spherical washer to a steam turbine component are provided. The device includes a drive head, the drive head made up of a drive cap and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from the drive cap. The drive cap abuts a surface of the spherical washer. The cylindrical portion fits within and is concentric to an inner diameter of the spherical washer. The device also includes an expanding gasket including an outer diameter having a contour configured to fit a contour of an inner diameter of the spherical washer and an inner diameter slides onto the cylindrical portion such that the gasket and cylindrical portion are concentric. The drive head attaches to a drive unit which imparts a torque to lap the spherical washer with respect to a steam turbine component. The expanding gasket expands and holds the spherical washer during the lapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Maxwell Pless, Stuart C. Weddle, Richard Sennott
  • Patent number: 10184684
    Abstract: A ventilation system for an air conditioning system includes dampers, a heat exchange unit, and a control unit. One damper controls the flow of ambient air into the system. The other damper controls the flow of relief/exhaust air that is utilized to scavenge energy from return air from a room or space being cooled (or heated) by the air conditioning system. The ventilation system utilizes a control algorithm in the control unit to calculate, at stepped spaced apart increasing room ventilation rates, increasing CO2 concentrations in the air in the room that are below a maximum desired CO2 concentration in a room. The control algorithm permits a control unit in the ventilation system to open and close the dampers to maintain a CO2 concentration in the room that is below the desired CO2 concentration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventor: Richard S Kurelowech
  • Patent number: 10154629
    Abstract: The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of farm irrigation, and particularly relates to a novel pressureless irrigation device. The novel pressureless irrigation device of the present disclosure uniformly conveys irrigation water to crop plant root systems on the basis of a “connector” principle; and the size of a flow cross-section necessarily satisfies the extremely-low flowing speed requirement of “lossless conveyance” for the “connector” in a static pressure dominant operating state, thereby eliminating a problem of irrigator blockage which accompanies energy dissipation. Water enters the atmosphere via transpiration of crop plants, and a water supply water level control pool at a head portion is triggered to replenish the water. The water consumption and water replenishment are adaptive, and human intervention and additional energy are not required, thereby realizing low-cost and “fool-proof” automatic irrigation and true sense of uniform irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: FARMLAND IRRIGATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CHINESE ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Shengguo Gao, Renxiang Gao
  • Patent number: 10150121
    Abstract: A combined shower comprising a top shower head and a handheld shower head, a first magnetic piece, an elastic piece and a sealing structure is inside an assembly hub of the top shower head. The first magnetic piece can move under the action of the elastic force from the elastic piece and then makes the sealing structure shut off the outflow cavity of the top shower head. The second magnetic piece is fixed on the handheld shower head and the second magnetic piece is arranged magnetically opposite and facing the first magnetic piece. Under the action of the attraction force from the second magnetic piece, the first magnetic piece can overcome the elastic force from the elastic piece, moves in the opposite direction, and makes the sealing structure connect the outflow cavity of the top shower head to the water inlet cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Zhejiang Huale Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongxin Lin, Guiyong He
  • Patent number: 9862619
    Abstract: A water discharge management system is provided. The water discharge management system includes a water processing system, a controller provided with an executable recapture protocol, and a plurality of controllable multi-way valves which control and implement a regeneration cycle of the water processing system based upon the recapture protocol. Each controllable multi-way valve is in operable communication with the controller through a signal path. The controllable multi-way valves are responsive to a signal exchanged with the controller through the signal path and operable between a first position connecting an input from the water processing system to a first output, and a second position connecting the input from the water processing system to a second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hellenbrand, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Hellenbrand, Edward T. Maas, Jill E. McDonald, John P. Fetzer
  • Patent number: 9810244
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow control valve for construction machinery, the flow control valve being adapted to reduce pressure loss due to flow on return to a hydraulic tank during the boom-down operation of a large-scale excavator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Jin-Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 9488283
    Abstract: A control valve for a gas burner includes a valve body that defines an inlet conduit. The inlet conduit has a non-circular shape. A plug is positioned within a valve chamber of the valve body. The plug defines a slot on an outer surface of the plug, and the plug also defines a flow chamber within the plug. The plug further defines an aperture that extends between the slot of the plug and the flow chamber of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 9410701
    Abstract: A gas valve includes a valve body and a valve core; the valve core has a center hole and an inlet hole defined in the peripheral surface of the valve core and capable of aligning with the inlet of the valve body and in communication with the center hole of the valve core; an auxiliary inlet with two ends is defined in the valve body linking the inlet with the chamber of the valve body; an auxiliary inlet hole is defined in the peripheral surface of the valve core and capable of aligning with the auxiliary inlet, the auxiliary inlet hole is in communication with the center hole of the valve core, and the auxiliary inlet hole is defined away from the inlet hole. The gas valve with the separated inlet hole and auxiliary inlet hole can reduce the operational error during the adjustment of the gas flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ningbo Chaoyang Household Gas Stoves Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xueya Li
  • Patent number: 9010361
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a control valve assembly and method of fault detection that includes adjusting a valve between an operating position and a fault position in response to various fault conditions. The control valve assembly is adjustable to accommodate fault conditions encountered in a variety of electrochemical deionization systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Averbeck, George Shoemaker Ellis
  • Publication number: 20150101644
    Abstract: A passive diverter is provided that does not require a dedicated motor to switch between multiple outlet ports. The diverter uses a flow of fluid provided by a pump to switch between different outlet ports. In a dishwashing appliance, fluid from the pump that supplies one or more spray assemblies can be used to cause the diverter to switch between different fluid outlets and e.g., different spray assemblies. A separate motor to power the diverter is not required, which allows a savings in costs and space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Craig Curtis
  • Patent number: 8993181
    Abstract: A valve-closing pressure chamber and a valve-opening pressure chamber are arranged on both sides of a main diaphragm inside an outlet shutoff valve. An upper supply/discharge tube and a lower supply/discharge tube are connected to a housing forming the outlet shutoff valve. The upper and lower supply/discharge tube supply and discharge air to and from the valve-closing pressure chamber and the valve-opening pressure chamber, respectively. An opening end, which is on the pressure chamber side, of each supply/discharge tube is obliquely cut relative to the direction of axis of the supply/discharge tube, which increases the opening area of the opening end. This prevents water present in the pressure chamber from adhering to the opening end of each supply/discharge tube and prevents the adhered water from freezing. As a result, operation performance of the outlet shutoff valve is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Takeshita
  • Publication number: 20140305154
    Abstract: The invention is provided with: a housing having a refrigerant inlet and plurality of refrigerant outlets, through which a refrigerant flows in or out; and a valve body having refrigerant channels which are movably accommodated in the housing and can be selectively switched between communicating with the refrigerant inlet and with each of the refrigerant outlets; the refrigerant channels being partially constituted of an orifice and able to be selectively switched between a route passing through the orifice and a route not passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoshioka, Hidekazu Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20140299201
    Abstract: A gas supply line and gas supplying apparatus that facilitates maintenance and management of various types of devices. The supplying apparatus is formed with a supply line that is made up of a gas inlet-side block, a gas outlet-side block and a plurality of fluid control devices. The gas supplying apparatus is formed with at least two gas supply lines, the fluid control device of each gas supply line includes at least one flow controller, an inlet-side block of the flow controller on one gas supplying line is connected to an inlet-side block of the flow controller on the other gas supply line so as to oppose the inlet-side block, and an outlet-side block of one flow controller is connected to an outlet-side block of the other flow controller so as to oppose the gas outlet-side block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Takashi Hirose, Michio Yamaji
  • Patent number: 8844568
    Abstract: A multi-channel stepped motor operated gas adjusting valve includes a valve shell, a reduction motor, a locator, a gas flow distributor and a locator rotation angle detecting mechanism. The gas flow distributor has a disk which is tightly attached to a hard hollow washer. An inner wall of the valve shell is provided with locating ends corresponding to a group of locating nodes to form the locator rotation angle detecting mechanism. Each locating node is placed corresponding to a gas flow distribution groove of the same sequence. The inner wall of the valve shell is also provided with stopping blocks at a beginning state and an ending state of the locator. The valve enables accurate control by utilizing an action position feedback signal and a control circuit, and enables multi-position stepped adjustment on gas flow rate upon multi-channel gas passages simultaneously. The valve can independently cut the multi-channel gas passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Zhaokeng Pan
  • Publication number: 20140261704
    Abstract: A regulator for regulating the pressure and flow of gas traveling between a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A first pressure regulator in fluid communication with the gas inlet and configured to prevent gas flowing downstream of the first pressure regulator from exceeding a first pressure. A first line between the first pressure regulator and the gas outlet. A second pressure reducing device in fluid communication with the first line downstream of the first pressure regulator and configured to prevent gas flowing in the first line at a point downstream of the second pressure regulator from exceeding a second pressure. A control valve actuatable to an open position when gas is transmitted to a first pilot valve at or below the second pressure, the first pilot valve in fluid communication with the first line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon E. Hoogenakker, Huadong Lou, Bradley D. Robb
  • Publication number: 20140261859
    Abstract: A fluid delivery apparatus including a three-way diverter valve assembly, the three-way diverter valve assembly including a valve housing having a valve body and a valve cap, the valve housing providing a first fluid passageway, a second fluid passageway, and a third fluid passageway, and a resilient valve component within the valve housing, where the resilient valve component is movable from a first position which provides a fluid pathway from the first fluid passageway to the second fluid passageway to a second position which provides a fluid pathway from the third fluid passageway to the first fluid passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: John Goodman
  • Publication number: 20140261808
    Abstract: A universal valve body includes a front face having a circular opening for receiving a valve cartridge, a rear face, a frustoconical side wall connecting the front face to the rear face, and a first inlet port and a first outlet port obliquely disposed in the frustoconical side wall. A cap for the valve body includes a base and a structure extending from the base. The structure extending from the base may block at least one of the inlet port or outlet port in the valve body. A service valve for a valve body includes a base rotatable between an open orientation and a closed orientation relative to the valve body and a tab extending from the base. When the base is in the open orientation, the tab prevents removal of a cover from the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Brouwer, Michael W. Smith, Michael A. Niver, Chad J. Cochart
  • Publication number: 20140224361
    Abstract: A control valve unit for a liquid circuit of an internal combustion engine, includes a valve housing (1) having at least one inlet opening (2) or outlet opening (2?) and at least two outlet openings (31, 32, 33) or inlet openings (31?, 32?, 33?) and at least two closing elements (41, 42, 43) actuated by a control device (22). The closing elements selectively open or close an associated outlet or inlet opening. The closing elements may be continuously adjusted between maximum open and closed positions. The control device (22) includes at least one displaceable or rotatable cam (6) and includes at least two cam tracks (71, 72, 73), each of which is assigned to a closing element (41, 42, 43) and acts on at least one driving pin (11) that is in contact with said closing element (41, 42, 43). The cams (6) are adjusted by an actuator (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Stéphane Warnery, Pascal Noiseau, Mickael Cormerais
  • Patent number: 8800503
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine for motor vehicles, includes a main cooling circuit including a feed line leading to a radiator and a return line, and a bypass line, which bypasses the radiator and can be controlled as a function of temperature and secondary cooling circuit for a retarder of a braking device of the motor vehicle, which is connected, likewise by a feed line, a return line and a control valve, to the main cooling circuit. The two cooling circuits (2, 3) can be controlled by a single rotary slide valve (10). Both cooling circuits (2, 3) are interconnected in such a way that the flow rates thereof to the radiator (6) and/or to the retarder (4) can be varied in a predetermined or defined manner, in particular between 0% and 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Martin Böhm
  • Publication number: 20140216582
    Abstract: An apparatus for diverting a fluid flow path automatically diverts a fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of a main body, and includes two or more selectable fluid flow paths through which an external air stream is drawn, a fixed fluid flow path to be selectively connected to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, a path selecting unit to connect the fixed fluid flow path to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, and a driving member to provide a driving force for path selecting of the path selecting unit. If mounted in an external apparatus, the driving member causes the path selecting unit to move and connect to the fixed fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of the external apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung-Jo Lee, See-hyun Kim, Myoung-Sun Choung
  • Publication number: 20140190582
    Abstract: A water diverter assembly is provided. The water diverter assembly includes a valve and a selecting mechanism. The selecting mechanism permits adjustment of the valve. Such adjustment can selectively direct a flow of filtered water or a flow of unfiltered water through the valve. The water diverter assembly also includes an auxiliary filtered water connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8771773
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for the high-pressure treatment of products, particularly of packaged foodstuffs. The device comprises a high-pressure chamber and a discharge valve for discharging high-pressure medium out of the high-pressure chamber. The invention is characterized in that a controllable actuator is provided for adjusting the rate of the pressure decrease in the high-pressure chamber at least over a predetermined pressure range. The disclosure also relates to a method for the high-pressure treatment of products, wherein pressure decrease takes place in a first phase and in a second phase, and the mean pressure decrease rate in the first phase is higher than in the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tobias Richter
  • Publication number: 20140166138
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (1) for the blocking or controlled establishing of a volume flow of a working fluid in a flow path of a technical device for transmitting and/or storing of energy, in particular in a control device for a hydraulic drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Roland Bisig, Esad Ibrisimbegovic
  • Publication number: 20140144512
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for dispensing different chemicals used for high productivity combinatorial processing. A dispense panel may include multiple inlet lines for supplying different chemicals. Each inlet line is connected to its own three-way valve that either allows the supplied chemical to flow from the inlet line towards a dispense valve connected to a dispense manifold (during dispensing of the supplied chemical) or allows another chemical to flow from the dispense valve to a waste manifold (during priming of the dispense manifold with this other chemical). Specifically, during priming a chemical supplied from its inlet line and is passed through a corresponding three-way valve and is directed to its dispense valve and then into the dispense manifold. Other dispense valves and three-way valves of the dispense panel allow this chemical to flow out of the dispense manifold, thereby priming remaining parts of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Satbir Kahlon, Aaron T. Francis, Chi-I Lang, Gregory P. Lim, Jeffrey Chih-Hou Lowe, Robert Anthony Sculac
  • Publication number: 20140083538
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic control valve comprising a valve element that is displaceable in a first direction by a pressure in a first pressure chamber and in a second direction by a pressure in a second pressure chamber. The first pressure chamber is connectable to a high pressure supply and a low pressure supply. The second pressure chamber is connectable to the high pressure supply and the low pressure supply. A first magnetic valve is connected to the first pressure chamber and a second magnetic valve is connected to the second pressure chamber. A third magnetic valve is connected to the high pressure supply and to the first magnetic valve and to the second magnetic valve. It is intended to provide an electrohydraulic control valve that is both reliable and less complex than previous valve arrangements. To this end the first magnetic valve and the second magnetic valve are three-way valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Kjeld Ravn
  • Publication number: 20140083511
    Abstract: A nitrogen gas system for an aircraft is provided and operable in warm-up and normal modes. The system includes an air separation module (ASM), a line to transport nitrogen enriched air (NEA) from the ASM to a fuel distribution system and a diverter valve disposed on the line and configured to divert the NEA away from the fuel distribution system during warm-up operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Khem Vanwijak Eowsakul, James P. Hurst, Christina W. Millot
  • Publication number: 20140076436
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to microfluidic valves and pumping systems, which may be suitable for controlling and facilitating liquid flow. Electrodes are disposed proximately to volumes containing a liquid. The liquid flow can be facilitated by electrowetting forces. Processes for controlling the flow of liquids, as well as for pumping liquids, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Umberto Ulmanella
  • Patent number: 8671985
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a control valve assembly and method of operating in a blend position at which a supply fluid and a treated fluid are combined into a blended fluid that is directed from the control valve assembly to establish multi-port blending. The control valve assembly is adjustable to accommodate fluctuating demand for treated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Averbeck, George Shoemaker Ellis
  • Publication number: 20140069539
    Abstract: A bypass device for an absorption tank comprises a two-position three-way valve, a micro switch, a control circuit board, and a micro switch actuation mechanism. When an absorption tank needs to be replaced, in the process of rotating a handle, a contact wheel of the micro switch is pressed to send an electrical signal to the control circuit board, and the control circuit board controls a solenoid valve, thereby controlling a gas path of the two-position three-way valve, and bypassing the absorption tank effectively and timely. After the absorption tank is replaced, it is only required to rotate the handle to the original position, so that the entire replacement process involves simple operations and is effective, and the sealing effect of the gas path is desirable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Beijing Aeonmed Co., LTd.
    Inventor: Huimin Bi
  • Publication number: 20140069522
    Abstract: A first fluid system includes a thermostat portion T, a valve portion V, and an ECU 30A. The thermostat portion T includes a first thermostat 18 in a first divergent pathway PB1 and a second thermostat 19 in a second divergent pathway PB2. The valve portion V includes a valve mechanism in at least a second portion SG2 of portions SG1, SG2, SG3. In the ECU 30A, achieved is a control unit that controls the valve portion V to switch a flow control state of at least one of the valve mechanism of the valve portion V when one of an open failure and a close failure occurs in one of the thermostats 18, 19.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Publication number: 20140064998
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems that use a variable displacement motor-pump (VDMP) to control the position and speed of a hose for an aerial refueling system are disclosed. At displacements greater than required to hold a position of the hose, the VDMP operates in a motor mode to retract the hose. For lesser displacements, the VDMP operates in a pump mode to control extension of the hose. In accordance with some embodiments, a pump-motor relief valve operates to throttle hydraulic fluid flow from the VDMP and to control mixing of hydraulic fluid flowing from the VDMP with system hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FEDERAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Asher Bartov, Charles Kubilos
  • Publication number: 20140060654
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for actuating a hydraulic valve arrangement, having a hydraulic continuously adjustable valve and having a hydraulic switching valve for providing a variable opening cross section, wherein an opening cross section threshold value is predefined, wherein, above the opening cross section threshold value, the switching valve is placed into a defined switching position and only the continuously adjustable valve is actuated, and wherein, below the opening cross section threshold value, the continuously adjustable valve is placed into a defined switching position and only the switching valve is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Koeckemann, Hermann Mehling
  • Publication number: 20140053930
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve, in particular a sample injection valve, for a device (1) for synthesizing, analyzing, and/or separating, comprising at least three liquid connections (3?, 4?, 5?, 6?, 7?, 7?), a housing (8) as a valve part, and a valve body (9) as another valve part for selectively connecting the liquid connections (3?, 4?, 5?, 6?, 7?, 7?) by means of at least one flow channel (10, 11, 12) bounded at least partially by sealing surfaces (10?, 11?, 12?) between the housing (8) and the valve body (9), wherein the housing (8) and/or the valve body (9) are supported in such a way as to be movable relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: CHRISTOPH ARTNER
    Inventors: Michael Schubert, Reinhard Busch, Michael Nader
  • Publication number: 20140034167
    Abstract: A manifold of a valve conducting gas or liquid has a passage with an inlet and at least one outlet. The passage changes direction from the manifold inlet to the manifold outlet over a length of the passage. The cross-section of the manifold in the region where the passage changes direction, merges in a plurality of sequential sectors from an almost round or oval cross-section over a plurality of cross-sections that are flattened on the inner manifold side again into an almost round or oval cross-section. In the region of the flattened cross-section of the passage, the cross-sectional contour has a plurality of arcuate sections that are continuous with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Phönix Armaturen-Werke Bregel GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Wodara, Hannes Kellermann
  • Publication number: 20140007962
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving excavating operation characteristic and grading operation characteristic of an excavator. The apparatus includes a solenoid valve group and a hydraulically controlled selector valve. An oil controlling output A1 of the solenoid valve group is configured in series with oil controlling input a1 of the hydraulic control valve. An oil controlling output A2 of the solenoid valve group is configured in series with a pilot control end XBa2 of a multi-port valve group. An oil return port T1 of the solenoid valve group is connected to the hydraulic oil tank. An oil controlling output b1 of the hydraulically controlled selector valve is connected to a pilot control end XAb2 of the multiplexer valve group, and an oil return port T2 of the hydraulically controlled selector valve is connected with the hydraulic oil tank. The apparatus improves operational efficiency and control comfortability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: YONG WANG, HONG ZHANG, SHENGXIA ZHANG, KAI LIU, ZONG LI, JIAN ZHANG, MINGJUN LIAO, JIASHENG QIN, YUFENG YANG
  • Publication number: 20130327408
    Abstract: A trip control system for use with, for example, turbines, includes a porting manifold that supports and provides fluid to two or more trip manifolds, each of which includes a bleed circuit having two or more bleed valves connected in parallel between a trip header line and a return or dump line to bleed the hydraulic fluid pressure from the trip header line to thereby cause a trip. The bleed valves of each of the tripping manifolds are actuated by one or more control valves under control of a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Jay Michael Jacobs, Thomas Sweeney, Daniel Philip Berkepile, Adam Gregory Redling, Michael Henry Winwood
  • Publication number: 20130298998
    Abstract: A water distribution system having a dual use water treatment unit. The same water treatment unit can be used to treat water supplied from a fill port to a storage tank during a fill operation, as well as water leaving the storage tank for supply to one or more points of water use during a supply operation. When a diverter valve is in a fill position, water supplied to the fill port can flow through the diverter valve and to the water treatment unit for treatment then to the storage tank for storage. When the diverter valve is in a supply position, the water from the storage tank can be delivered using means for pressurizing water to the same treatment unit for treatment, then through the diverter valve and to a point of water use device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Daniel Nolan
  • Publication number: 20130269378
    Abstract: An air heating, air conditioning and water heating system includes a multi-communicative valve unit, a compressor arranged for compressing the refrigerant in a state of superheated vapor, a condenser communicated with the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, a heat exchanger communicated with the condenser through the multi-communicative valve unit, an expansion valve, and a water heater communicated with the heat exchanger and the compressor through the multi-communicative valve unit, wherein the multi-communicative valve unit is arranged to be operated to selectively establish at least an air conditioning route, an air heating route, and a water heating route for the refrigerant so that the air heating, air conditioning and water heating system is capable of selectively providing air conditioning, heating and delivering hot water for a predetermined premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Lee Wa Wong
  • Publication number: 20130269786
    Abstract: A method for regulating water output is presented. The method includes receiving an input at a plurality of sensors, transmitting a signal to a control unit in response to receiving the input, controlling, via the control unit, a first plurality of solenoid valves to regulate hot water controlling, via the control unit, a second plurality of solenoid valves to regulate cold water in response to the signal, creating a water mixture comprising at least hot water output from at least one of the first plurality of solenoid valves or cold water output from at least one of the second plurality of solenoid valves, and outputting the water mixture to a water output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: MUIRSIS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Su Yong SONG
  • Publication number: 20130263949
    Abstract: A compact four-way fluid flow control valve wherein an inlet port and three outlet ports are all disposed on the sidewall of a manifold. A valve core is rotatably disposed within the manifold, and has first and second core openings. Annular seals are disposed at blind portions of the sidewall of the valve core in non-circumscribing relation to the core openings and in abutting relation to the manifold. Rotation of the valve core with respect to the manifold provides selected fluid flow to any of the outlet ports, as well as a trickle flow at a selected outlet port and fluid mixing between selected outlet ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Bartnick, Corry W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130263950
    Abstract: A waterway switch device has a waterway mechanism, an execution part, an operation part and a transmission part. The waterway mechanism has a main body, and an inlet and a plurality of outlets are arranged on the main body. The execution part is mounted in the main body and has a moving piece, and at least the switch of the outlets to the inlet can be achieved through the relative movement between the moving piece and the main body. The operation part has a handle. The transmission part has a wire rope, one end of the wire rope is connected with the moving piece, the other end is connected with the handle in a transmission manner. The handle rotates relatively, and the wire rope is driven to move, and the moving piece can move relative to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Yonghua Chen, Hui Huang, Dongying Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130263649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (10, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 210), comprising a first valve element (12, 42, 62, 82, 102, 122, 152, 212) and a second valve element (14, 44, 64, 84, 104, 124, 154, 214), wherein the first valve element comprises a first carrier part (13, 43, 63, 83, 103, 123, 153, 213) which is made of plastic material and a first surface element (16, 46, 66, 86, 106, 126, 158) which is made of silicon or silicon oxide and is fastened to the first carrier part, and the second valve element comprises a second carrier part (15, 45, 65, 85, 105, 125, 155, 215) made of plastic material and a second surface element (18, 47, 67, 87, 107, 127, 159, 218) which is made of silicon or silicon oxide and is fastened to the second carrier part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: PARItec GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Storch, Martin Lang, Joseph Lass
  • Publication number: 20130199642
    Abstract: A fine ceramic switch valve for a bathtub includes a water control valve, a valve piece, a switch valve piece, a control shaft, a valve cover, and a valve shell. The water control valve has a first water outlet hole and a second water outlet hole for the bathtub and shower head. The first water outlet hole is smaller to form a smaller water channel, so the water pressure is higher to generate a stronger water flow and effectively reduce water output. The second water outlet hole is larger to form a larger water channel, so when the water passes through the second water outlet hole, as well as a fully open through hole of the bottom of the water control valve, the amount of water can be significantly increased to fill the bathtub and thus to increase the convenience and practicability of the switch valve structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GEANN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Shih Wang
  • Patent number: 8500999
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for providing a regeneration stage in a water treatment system. The method can include entering a first air bleed state to allow pressurized, deoxygenated air to exit the water treatment system, entering a second air bleed state to equalize a first air pressure of remaining deoxygenated air inside the water treatment system with a second air pressure outside the water treatment system, entering a backwash state to expel remaining deoxygenated air and particulates from inside the water treatment system, and entering an air draw state to allow oxygenated air to enter the water treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Tischendorf, Michael M. Lindfors, Kyle Paull