Spring-biased, Axially Translating Member Patents (Class 220/203.23)
  • Patent number: 9683559
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel pump comprising: a pump body; a plunger reciprocatably displaceable with respect to the pump body; and a plurality of valve elements inclusive of a suction valve to allow the fuel to be sucked into the fuel pressurizing chamber and a discharge valve to allow the fuel to be discharged out of the fuel pressurizing chamber, in which the pump body comprises a tubular valve retention member to retain the plurality of valve elements, a cylinder member to slidably retain the plunger, and an outer shell member having an inner wall surface facing an outer surface of the valve retention member, the inner wall surface and the outer surface of the valve retention member collectively forming a suction gallery chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Kazuhiro Asayama
  • Patent number: 9579971
    Abstract: In a fuel cap provided with a breather mechanism, a cap openably and closably covers a fuel filler of a fuel tank. The cap includes a breather passage for communication between the inside and the outside of the fuel tank. The breather passage is provided with a breather valve mechanism and a resonator chamber as a silencing mechanism. The breather mechanism is a valve having a spring capable of retaining a pressure within the fuel tank up to a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Koishikawa, Takeshi Uemae, Takashi Toriki, Yoji Fukui, Takumi Sakamoto, Takeshi Shimura, Shinji Kobayashi, Satoshi Okayama
  • Patent number: 8907796
    Abstract: A valve and cap system for a beverage container including a button with at least one arm, a base element coupled with a beverage container and moveably coupled with the button, a top element, and a flexible seal valve with a slit. The flexible seal valve is coupled with the base element, and the at least one arm is coupled with the flexible seal valve to operatively open and close the slit in the flexible seal valve when the button is moved inwardly and outwardly respectively. The valve and cap system includes at least one electronic element situated in at least one compartment in the top element, and at least one sensor that senses one or more signals, to determine an amount of fluid a user of the beverage container should consume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: GWS Tahoe Blue LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Sweeney, Cory McCluskey, James William Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8746479
    Abstract: A method for closing a fuel tank includes providing a base sized to be received within an interior of a fuel tank filler neck, movably mounting a closure structure on the base, and securing a biasing mechanism to the base wherein the biasing mechanism biases the closure structure into a closed position on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Neal L. Keefer, Kenneth A. Watson, Evan Waymire
  • Patent number: 8746496
    Abstract: A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Pacific Market International, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Sean Gilbert, Randy Sims
  • Patent number: 8740002
    Abstract: A filler neck cap is adapted to mate with and close a filler neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Stant USA Corp.
    Inventors: John W. Ripberger, Jr., Joshua L. Rude
  • Patent number: 8733574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve unit for a pressure vessel, the latter consisting of a receptacle and a lid which can be placed on said receptacle in such a way as to make it pressure-tight and said valve unit including: a safety function, pressure-relief function and pressure indicator function; adjustable indicator levels and pressure levels; an indicator pin (4) or indicator piston (10) which is supported against an indicator spring (7), can move in axial direction and bears on its portion becoming visible upon pressurization, due to its emergence from a valve housing (12), indicator rings, for example, for indicating the pressure inside the vessel; and comprising a valve body (5) which is movable in axial direction against the action of an exhaust steam spring (6) and, in the closed position, rests against a seal seat (19), lifting off from this, when a given pressure inside the vessel is exceeded, to uncover a pressure-relief aperture (20), in which case both the indicator spring (7) and the exhaust ste
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fissler GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Heidrich, Heiko Müller, Joachim Neef, Arnold Thelen
  • Patent number: 8701920
    Abstract: A fuel cap for a filler neck on a fuel tank includes a cap body having threads for engaging the filler neck when the fuel cap is installed on the filler neck and a cap handle rotatably mounted on the cap body. A clutch acts between the cap handle and the cap body to permit the cap handle to rotate freely on the cap body when the clutch is disengaged. When the clutch is engaged, rotation of the cap handle will rotate the cap body so that the user can remove the fuel cap from the filler neck to refuel the vehicle. A pressure-sensing diaphragm disengages the clutch when the pressure differential between the fuel vapor pressure and the atmospheric pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold and engages the clutch when the pressure differential between the fuel vapor pressure and the atmospheric pressure is less than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Wiese, Jonathan J Stec, Timothy E. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8684215
    Abstract: The pressure control valve comprises a negative pressure valve and a positive pressure valve. The negative pressure valve comprises a negative pressure valve body, a valve retaining member and an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism comprises a support concave portion formed on the negative pressure valve body and a support protrusion formed on the valve retaining member and inserted into the support concave portion, which is formed to reduce the elastic deformation transferred to a second seating portion, when a first seating portion is pressed by a first seal portion to undergo elastic deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20140061233
    Abstract: A fluid application system includes a diluent reservoir, a chemical container, a sprayer housing, a manifold located in the sprayer housing, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with an outlet of the manifold. The manifold includes a diluent inlet in fluid communication with the diluent reservoir, a chemical inlet in fluid communication with the container, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the diluent inlet and the chemical inlet and the outlet of the manifold. The pump assembly draws a mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the manifold and sprays the mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher F. Lang, James R. Crapser, Thomas A. Helf, Jeffrey L. Crull, Evan A. Sparks, Cunjiang Cheng, Jonathan Mark Dalton, David Jackson Trettin, Spencer Ralph Dodge, Hee Seung Lim
  • Patent number: 8632049
    Abstract: A plug for closing off a bore of a hydraulic spool type valve is provided. The plug includes a polymeric body having a plurality of integral projecting studs which have a snap fit engagement with an inward radial protrusion of the bore within the hydraulic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Brian K. Stefina
  • Patent number: 8608004
    Abstract: A cap for closing a sprayer tank has integrated therein a pressure relief valve having a tubular member providing a seat with respect to which a valve provided by an o-ring on a stem is displaced in a direction against the seat to close the valve. The stem is connected at one end thereof to a cap and is biased by a spring around the stem at the opposite end thereof into closing position. The cap is guided by a rim around the seat member. The cap defines around the stem a chamber. This chamber communicates with a spout which directs pressurized flow away from the cap when it is rotated to manually open the valve against the bias of the spring so as to relieve pressure in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Chapin Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 8596481
    Abstract: A clutch oil reservoir cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including a head and a body may include an exhaust opening formed in the head for exhausting air, an intake hole formed in the head for inflow of air, and an operation valve disposed in the head, wherein the operation valve selectively opens or closes the exhaust opening and the intake hole according to fluctuation of pressure in a part below the operation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Haksung Lee
  • Patent number: 8528767
    Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic reservoir includes a reservoir tank having an interior cavity for retaining a fluid and an aperture fluidly connecting the interior cavity to an exterior region of the reservoir. A cover selectively engages the reservoir tank, and is movable between an open position, wherein the fluid path through the aperture in the reservoir tank is at least partially open, and a closed position, wherein the fluid path through the aperture is substantially closed. The hydraulic reservoir further includes a pressure relief mechanism having at least one pressure responsive fastener for releasably connecting the cover to the reservoir tank. The at least one pressure responsive fastener includes a fastener fixed for concurrent movement with one of the cover and the reservoir tank, and a biasing member operably connecting the fastener to whichever of the cover and reservoir tank is not fixed for concurrent movement with the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Don R. Draper, Christopher T. Arneson
  • Patent number: 8430261
    Abstract: A closure cover for tanks under internal pressure, with a cover body (6) which can be fixed in a tank neck by rotation, and with a cover (14) which is provided with a handle (15) and is operatively connected to the cover body (6), and with a pressure control valve (40). A coupling device (22-28) is arranged between the cover body (6) and the cover (14) and, during the positive pressure which prevails in the fuel tank during normal operation, releases the rotational connection between the cover body (6) and the cover (14) such that the fuel tank cannot be opened, and in that a pressure control valve (40) is provided which opens when the positive pressure prevailing during normal operation is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fuel Systems GesmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Eggenreich, Stefan Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 8360258
    Abstract: A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Market International, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Sean Gilbert, Randy Sims
  • Patent number: 8272532
    Abstract: A beverage container lid for a container base having a reservoir, the lid comprising a shell removably mountable on the base comprising a first drink passage that extends through the shell and communicates with ambient and a cartridge removably engageable to the shell. A second drink passage is in communication with the first drink passage and is formed between an outer surface of the cartridge and inner surface of the shell. The cartridge comprises a valve that is moveable between an open condition and closed condition to control communication between the reservoir and second drink passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Peter Michaelian, Eric Freitag, Erica Eden, Dean DiPietro
  • Patent number: 8272524
    Abstract: A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop the floating roof, including a valve body having a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter, a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from the top part and defines within the wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than the first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of the top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat, the circumferential wall of the bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of the fluid from the valve, a valve seal element axially movable in the bottom part bore between an upper closed position where it abuts the shoulder, and a lower open position spaced axially downward from the upper closed position, and a spring mounted in the bottom part and constantly biasing the valve seal element toward the upper c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim L. Alajlani, Ahmed Al Oufi, Mohammed S. Banjar
  • Patent number: 8091725
    Abstract: An anti-twist device for a sealing cap that is located on a fixed connecting piece of a motor vehicle radiator. The sealing cap comprises an external cap part with a grip element and a sealing element, which can be connected to a counter sealing element of the connecting piece and in relation to which the grip element can be rotated. The sealing cap also comprises an internal cap part comprising a valve assembly that is configured in an excess/negative pressure combination. An anti-twist stop acts in the external cap part between the grip element and the sealing element. An anti-twist device of this type has a no-load function instead of a locking function and yet has a simple construction and is easy to produce. To achieve this, the anti-twist stop can be actuated by means of a drive, which is controlled by the operating data in the container and is located inside said container in close proximity to the external cap part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Reutter Metallwarenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: René Koerber, Helmut Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8056761
    Abstract: A pouring device for a liquid filled container that fits into the neck of a container opening. The pouring device has a buoyant hollow ball valve that when the container or bottle is seated in its normal vertical storage position is pressed against an inner lip of the pouring device to form a seal by a spring that is seated on a distal inner lip of the pouring device. The valve opens when the container is inverted as the hollow ball valve is so buoyant that it overcomes the spring bias, thereby allowing the container's fluid contents to pour out. The hollow ball valve's movement is controlled by at least one vertical projection along the length of the pouring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Raúl Acarreta Delgado
  • Patent number: 7841482
    Abstract: Fitting for attachment to a membrane of an inflatable device comprises a mounting adapter (1) to be secured to said membrane. A resiliently deformable part (5c) associated with said mounting adapter is arranged to embrace and hold an initially separate insert (2). The resiliently deformable part (5c) is arranged such that when the mounting adapter is secured to the membrane and exposed to a force exerted by fluid at one of two sides of the membrane, the resiliently deformable part is urged into applying engagement with the insert (2). A variety of different inserts (2) having different valve arrangements can be held by the mounting adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Mangar International Limited
    Inventor: Richard Edmond Fletcher
  • Patent number: 7819276
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the flow of liquid from drinking containers, wherein a membrane is movably connected to a valve to form a valve, controlled by negative pressure, for liquid from a drinking container, the force resulting from the pressure difference (P1?P2) across the membrane, opening the valve, even by positive pressure (P3) within the drinking container, caused by a carbonated refreshing drink, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Kjetil Naesje
  • Publication number: 20100230409
    Abstract: A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop the floating roof, including: a. a valve body having: i. a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter, ii. a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from the top part and defines within the wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than the first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of the top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat, b. the circumferential wall of the bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of the fluid from the valve, c. a valve seal element axially movable in the bottom part bore between (i) an upper closed position where it abuts the shoulder, and (ii) a lower open position spaced axially downward from the upper closed position, and d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Ibrahim L. Alajlani, Ahmed Al Oufi, Mohammed S. Banjar
  • Patent number: 7654403
    Abstract: A filler neck cap includes a vacuum-relief valve member that moves from a normally closed position to an opened position when exposed to certain vacuum conditions to open a vent aperture and allow atmosphere to flow therethrough. The filler neck cap also includes a pressure-relief valve member formed to include the vent aperture that is closed normally by the vacuum-relief valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. DeCapua, Douglas O. Gregory
  • Patent number: 7578405
    Abstract: A fuel cap of the invention has a pressure regulating valve, which includes a positive pressure valve and a negative pressure valve. The positive pressure valve has a positive pressure valve plug and a first spring. The negative pressure valve has a negative pressure valve plug and a second spring. A ring-shaped projection is protruded outward from the upper circumferential end of the negative pressure valve plug to face a first valve flow path, and functions as a restriction member. The restriction member narrows the passage area of the first valve flow path in a closed position of the negative pressure valve plug, while widening the passage area of the first valve flow path in an open position of the positive pressure valve plug where the negative pressure valve plug moves integrally with the positive pressure valve plug. This arrangement effectively improves the flow characteristics of the pressure regulating valve in the open position of the positive pressure valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hagano
  • Patent number: 7537133
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the flow of liquid from drinking containers, wherein a membrane (12) is movably connected to a valve (50) to form a valve, controlled by negative pressure, for liquid from a drinking container, the force resulting from the pressure difference (P1?P2) across the membrane (12), opening the valve (50), even by positive pressure (P3) within the drinking container, caused by a carbonated refreshing drink, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventor: Kjetil Naesje
  • Publication number: 20080135553
    Abstract: A cap, for safely filling and closing an engine oil tank, in particular of an aircraft engine, has an elongated tubular body for feeding oil into the tank; a removable cover body for closing an end portion of the tubular body; an oil feed valve located close to the end portion of the tubular body and movable between an open position, allowing oil flow into the tank, and a closed position, preventing oil outflow from the tank; a filter upstream from the oil feed valve; a dipstick for measuring the oil level in the tank, and which is housed in the tubular body and carried by the removable cover body; and a monostable valve controlled by the dipstick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Claudio Ligorio, Davide Cascione
  • Patent number: 7275651
    Abstract: A stainless steel, double-skin, industrial, tote tank (100) for transporting dangerous liquids between a dock and an off-shore platform having inner and out tank “skins,” with the opposing walls gapped, except for the flatly engaged, bottom walls. A low-profile 550 gallon tank design has about a four foot height, six foot length and four foot width, allowing a worker to easily view and work with a liquid level gauge and the top fill openings while merely standing next to the tank. The tank top includes a high wall around all of the operative, top elements, confining any spilled liquid, with a typically closed drain line located in the top wall extending to the side for emptying of the spilled liquid. A protectively enclosed, discharge valve line having a bottom drip pan is included at the sloped tank bottom completely within the tank wall confines with a lock-able access door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin L. Morales, John L. Guidry, II
  • Patent number: 6729271
    Abstract: A closure cap for a fixed neck of a container, especially of a motor vehicle radiator. The closure cap comprises a cap inner part provided with a flow connection between the inside of the container and the outside of the container. The cap inner part includes a valve assembly for releasing and blocking the flow connection. The valve assembly includes a valve body is able to move in a to-and-fro manner. It is pressed with a bias in a direction toward the interior of the container against a sealing seat. The valve body is biased so that it can lift from the sealing seat when a limiting value of the inner pressure of the container is surpassed. The bias can be adjusted by a drive controlled by the operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Heinrich Reutter
  • Publication number: 20040040961
    Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid defining a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body. The lid also includes a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening to impede air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The lid further includes a pressure indicating dome defining a cavity therein, the dome in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening, the dome having a membrane that collapses toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Montserrat Vilalta, Jose Millan, Juan Carlos Coronado, Mariano Penaranda, Antonio Rebordosa, Sergi Gili
  • Publication number: 20030197011
    Abstract: A hose direct cannister lid includes a port that accepts a hose connected to a source of vacuum in order to evacuate a cannister to which the lid is connected. The hose direct cannister lid includes a first valve for exposing the cannister to the source of vacuum when the vacuum hose is secured to the lid, and wherein the first valve closes when the source of vacuum is removed in order to seal the lid and cannister from ambient. The hose direct cannister includes a second valve used to break the vacuum and expose the interior of the cannister to ambient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Luther T. Nieh, Michael H. Tsao, Djabbar Moustafaev, Landen M. Higer
  • Publication number: 20030183632
    Abstract: A pressure cap (111) for openings in tanks, in particular in automobile radiators, has an outer cap component (110) which is provided with a locking element (113) that can be connected to the tank's neck, and provided with a handling element (112) rotatably mounted in relation to said locking element, and furthermore provided with a coupling insert (180) which is anti-rotationally mounted in the handling element (112) and which can be axially engaged in and disengaged from the locking element (113) to allow a releasably non-rotational connection between the locking element and the handling element, and which furthermore is provided with a valve assembly (115) containing a valve body (117) that can be axially moved back and forth, for releasing and blocking flow connections between the inside and the outside of the tank depending on the pressure prevailing inside the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Heinrich Reutter
  • Publication number: 20030150859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure cap (11) for openings in tanks, particularly in motor-vehicle radiators, which has an internal cap component (14) that is provided with at least one flow connection between the inside and the outside of the tank, and with a valve arrangement (15) for releasing and blocking the flow connection. The said valve arrangement (15) has a first and a second valve body (17, 18) that can be moved back and forth. The first valve body (17) is biased in the direction of the inside of the tank against a first sealing seat (24) on the second valve body (18), which is pressed against a second sealing seat (32) on the interior cap component (14). Furthermore, the first and second valve bodies (17, 18) can be lifted when a respective threshold value of the inside tank pressure is exceeded and the flow connection (50, 51) between the inside and the outside of the tank is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Heinrich Reutter
  • Publication number: 20030094454
    Abstract: A safety valve apparatus is arranged on a water inlet of a vapor heater and comprises a cover, a clutch unit and a resilient unit. The clutch unit comprises an upper disk and a stage detachably assembled with the upper disk. The resilient unit is arranged between the cover and the upper disk such that the upper disk is normally rotated with the cover. The upper disk has a downward extending cylinder looped by a spring and having a movable cap on one distal end thereof. The movable cap normally seals an outlet below the stage by the resilient force of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Lambert Wu
  • Patent number: 6511634
    Abstract: The reagent package includes a container housing section and a container lid that arc sealed together to define one or more inside chambers. An opening in the container lid provides access to a corresponding chamber. The chamber opening is controlled by a valve that is pivotable from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. When the valve is in an open position the container chamber can be accessed through the valve with an aspiration probe and a dispensation probe. The reagent package accommodates a filter screen member and a glass ampoule in the container chamber. The glass ampoule contains one reagent ingredient, which can be a dry powder and the space within the chamber outside the glass ampoule can contain a reconstituting liquid. When the reagent package is ready for use a pressure force is imposed on the outside wall of the chamber adjacent the glass ampoule to crush the ampoule and permit the liquid within the chamber to mix with the dry powder released from the glass ampoule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph Bradshaw, Andrew Oakes, Nicholae Dumitrescu, Robert L. Berger, William M. Jameson, Chris Robinson, James R. Laskey
  • Patent number: 6375024
    Abstract: A vacuum apparatus for easily forming a vacuum in any bottle, container or the like and for providing a stable sealing. A lower cylindrical member together with a disc member forms a space portion in which a vacuum or an atmospheric pressure is applied, and the lower portion of an upper cylindrical member is inserted in the space portion and divides the space portion into upper and lower spaces. With a downward movement of the upper cylindrical member, the upper space expands and draws air inside of a bottle, and with an upward movement thereof, the air introduced into the upper space is vented outside. At this time, a check valve is selectively opened and closed and is operated by a pressure difference applied thereon. By repetitive reciprocating movement of the upper cylindrical member, a high vacuum is formed in the bottle and is sealed by the check valve. The apparatus is adaptable in a vacuum bottle, a medical suction instrument or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Yoon Sik Park
  • Patent number: 6296135
    Abstract: A vent-on-demand hatch cover for closing a hatch opening of a compartment in a railcar, and particularly a hopper car, wherein the car is provided with a coaming that defines the opening. The cover includes a peripheral opening for taking in the outside air and which is disposed adjacent the outer side of the coaming and an inside opening at the underside of the cover exposed to the compartment for connecting the cover to the compartment air. Passageways are provided between the two openings in order to allow air flow between the outside of the car and the inside of the car. A closure member is provided at the inside opening of the cover which is resiliently biased normally into closed position and which opens upon the formation of a vacuum within the compartment in order to allow unloading of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: ZefTek, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Anderson, Walter J. Peach, Jr.