Fluid And Non-fluid Actuators Patents (Class 251/14)
  • Patent number: 11946566
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a valve actuator device comprising an upper plate and a lower plate facing each other, defining a housing inside which a cylinder with a stem is housed. The stem is connected to a rotor arm by a guiding element inserted and slidably in line between a lower position and an upper position within guiding grooves arranged in the respective upper plate and lower plate. The rotor arm is configured to rotate about a rotation axle arranged in a rotating element formed by two portions: an adapter portion for the connection thereof with the valve stem, and a display portion comprising a visual indicator. The valve actuator device includes a position sensor system for detecting an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Batfer Investment, S.A.
    Inventors: Emiliano Schifrin, Adrian Oscar Bucciarelli
  • Patent number: 11493941
    Abstract: The invention concerns a thermostatic valve (1) comprising a closed hollow body (2), a first opening leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the inlet opening (4), a second opening leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the main outlet (5), a third opening, substantially perpendicular to the second opening, leading into the hollow body (2), referred to as the bypass outlet (7), and a seal (11) allowing the inlet opening (4) to be alternately separated from the main outlet (5) or the bypass outlet (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NOVARES FRANCE
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Quevallier
  • Patent number: 11365828
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve moveable between an open position where hydraulic fluid flow is permitted and a closed position where hydraulic fluid flow is blocked. A controller includes a magnetometer adapted to measure a magnetic flux through at least a portion of a solenoid linear actuator that moves the valve. A magnetic flux value measured by the magnetometer corresponds to a linear position of the regulating member relative to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
    Inventor: Aaron Hertzel Jagoda
  • Patent number: 11067194
    Abstract: A combination valve includes a valve seat, a diaphragm valve element, a pilot system to automatically bring the diaphragm valve element into or out of contact with the valve seat by use of air pressure, and a manual system to hold the diaphragm valve element in contact with the valve seat even while air pressure is supplied. In the combination valve, a piston rod is provided such that, when the handle is turned to move the manual stem in a seating direction while the diaphragm valve element and the valve seat are separated from each other, the piston rod moves in the seating direction relative to a first piston and a second piston that are pushed by the air pressure in a separating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuhito Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10767788
    Abstract: An internal valve including a body having a first end configured to be disposed within a tank and a second end configured to be disposed outside of the tank. The body includes a shoulder configured to be positioned adjacent to a mounting surface of the tank, a single flange positioned between the shoulder and the second end, a plurality of primary struts connecting an interior of the body to an internal primary stem guide, and a plurality of secondary struts connecting the interior of the body to an internal secondary stem guide. The primary struts and the primary stem guide are positioned between the flange and the shoulder, and the secondary struts and the secondary stem guide are positioned between the shoulder and the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: FeiFei Ji, Li Li, Jing Chen
  • Patent number: 10119627
    Abstract: A poppet valve for controlling water flow is provided, the poppet valve includes a housing, a movable armature arranged within the housing, a pilot pin having first and second ends, and a return element associated with the pilot pin. The first end of the pilot pin is associated with and driven by the armature, and a poppet is arranged around the second end of the pilot pin. A cage is arranged around the poppet, the cage having a transverse opening adapted for water to flow therethrough. The armature is selectively actuated to drive the pilot pin in a first direction towards a closed position, in which the transverse opening of the cage is blocked by the poppet. The return element drives the pilot pin in a second direction towards an open position, in which the transverse opening of the cage is unblocked by the poppet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DRYJECT INC. ACQUISITION CORP.
    Inventors: Chris Des Garennes, Peter Van Drumpt, John Paddock
  • Patent number: 10066540
    Abstract: A control arrangement (1) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger having a bearing bushing (3); a control shaft (4) which is connected at a first end (5) to a first adjustment lever (6) and which is guided in the bearing bushing (3); and a second adjustment lever (9) which is connected to a second end (8) of the control shaft (4) and which, on a free end region (10), bears a control device (11), wherein the free end region (10) is designed to be cranked in the direction of the first adjustment lever (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Christmann, Raduz Zahoransky
  • Patent number: 9989166
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for an actuating system for inflating an inflatable structure in which a pressurized fluid piston is coupled directly to the valve an inflatable structure. The coupling of actuator to valve is such that the pairing will remain rigid and secure until the deliberate act of operating the actuator. When the actuator is operated, the actuator displaces a translating chock. This activation simultaneously (a) decouples the valve from actuator, allowing the inflatable to deploy without impedance and (b) activates the inflation of the structure via the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Mahlon Harlow, Robert Host
  • Patent number: 9958083
    Abstract: The force limited valve actuator operates on light-duty valves. The actuator includes signal controlled motor which drives a two piece threaded screw-nut drive. The nut connected to the motor and the screw connected to the valve stem. The nut has a spring loaded actuation surface/plate. The nut body has a positional indicator stem used as a valve-motor control. Operationally, the screw-nut-set moves between first, second and third positions. First: actuation plate at neutral and valve-stem at valve OPEN stop (example). Second: screw protrudes outboard of nut and valve-stem at CLOSE stop and actuation plate at neutral. Third: plate moves away from valve-stem (beyond neutral) while stem at CLOSE which third movement is a force sensor. First, second and third positions are all one way screw rotation. Force limited on stem by damper-shock absorber action. The positional indicator effects ON-OFF valve control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: National Enviornmental Products, Ltd., NEP, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephane Bujold, Gauthier Orban, Zev W. Kopel
  • Patent number: 9353600
    Abstract: A well tool has a housing and an actuator sleeve in the housing. An actuator in the housing includes a spring and an internal shifting tool engaging profile. The actuator is responsive, independent of well annulus pressure, to a remote hydraulic signal in a central bore of the well tool to change from an unactuated state to an actuated state to shift the actuator sleeve from a first position to a second position. The actuator is responsive to reset to the unactuated state using the internal shifting tool engaging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Foong Zhe Cong, Vijay Kumar Keerthivasan
  • Patent number: 9140378
    Abstract: An electric valve device including a body having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve seat through which the fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet, a main shutter movable with respect to the valve seat; a control chamber; first and second communication passages between the inlet and the control chamber and between the control chamber and the outlet, respectively; a fixed structure arranged in the control chamber and in which there is defined an auxiliary valve seat, which is coaxial with the main valve seat (8) and which communicates with said second passage; and a solenoid control valve including a control solenoid coaxial with the valve seats for controlling an auxiliary shutter mounted movably in the control chamber and cooperating with the auxiliary valve seat for controlling the communication between the control chamber and the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ELBI INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Da Pont, Paolo Ravedati, Giosuè Capizzi, Maurizio Rendesi, Fabrizio Paris, Roberto Bosio, Massimo Davi
  • Patent number: 9133958
    Abstract: Manual overrides for valves are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an actuator to move a stem of a valve. The actuator includes a housing defining a bore and a piston disposed in the bore. The example apparatus also includes a rod movably coupled to the housing to extend into the bore, and the piston is to be movable via the rod or a fluid to flow into the bore. The example apparatus also includes a lock to hold the rod in a first position on the housing where the rod is to disable a supply of the fluid to the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TESCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Todd William Larsen
  • Patent number: 9114365
    Abstract: A shut-off valve for use in a reverse osmosis filtering system including a housing defining an interior in fluid communication with a water inlet, a water outlet, and a permeate inlet, the housing having a fluidic network with a flowpath that connects the water inlet and the water outlet, a diaphragm plate forming a portion of the fluidic network within the interior, a piston within the interior for selectively opening and closing the flowpath, and at least one diaphragm coupling to the piston and the diaphragm plate such that as permeate pressure changes occur at the permeate outlet, the piston rocks between opening and closing the flowpath based on deflection of the at least one diaphragm in response to the permeate pressure changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Watts Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20150087209
    Abstract: A dual control shut off system, such as a dead man system for a blasting system, blasting equipment, or other equipment having both pneumatic and electric safety control circuits, may include an electric dead man's switch or a pneumatic dead man's switch. An embodiment of the dual control dead man system is for wet abrasive blasting systems used for cleaning, preparing surfaces, removing coatings, and/or other abrasive blasting operations. Embodiments of the dual control shut off system provide the ability to conveniently switch between an electric and pneumatic shut off system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventor: Keith Eliason
  • Publication number: 20150069275
    Abstract: An apparatus for overriding a valve actuator to move a valve stem to a second position includes an override body with a central axis. A piston is located within the override body. A bushing is non-rotatably carried within the override body. An override shaft is in threaded engagement with the bushing and extends through a sealed orifice in the override body. Fluid pressure applied to the piston causes the bushing to engage the valve actuator and push the valve stem, and alternatively, rotation applied to the override shaft causes the bushing to move linearly to engage the valve actuator and push the valve stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Christopher Taylor Herman, Mark Anthony Viator, Keith Adams, Fauad Saleem
  • Patent number: 8967178
    Abstract: A valve assembly configured to close off the flow of fluid within a fluid injection assembly includes a fluid column having a first open end and a second open end. A fluid flow path is defined between the first and second open ends of the fluid column, and a saturation valve portion is disposed within the fluid flow path. The saturation valve portion is a first configuration when no fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path, and the saturation valve portion transitions to a second configuration when fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: James Steele, William R. Stagi, Alexander Babchanik
  • Patent number: 8945485
    Abstract: A microfluidic valve system is disclosed that includes a matrix, a hydrophilic acceptor region a hydrophilic transfer region, and a hydrophobic gap between the acceptor region and the transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Hong Chen, Constantine Anagnostopoulos, Mohammed Faghri, Jeremy Cogswell
  • Patent number: 8905072
    Abstract: A manual override device for controlling at least one valve in a power system includes a rod having a first end and a second end. An attachment is configured to attach to a spool of the at least one valve and includes a clearance with respect to the first end of the rod so as to allow the attachment to move with the spool, during ordinary operation of the power system, without contacting the rod. A lever is connected to the second end of the rod and is configured to activate the manual override device by moving the rod in a longitudinal direction such that the first end of the rod makes contact with the attachment to move the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stanley Barnes, Evan Kyle Artis, Nachiket Pandurang Honkalse
  • Publication number: 20140225012
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic valve train is configured to change valve lift and valve opening/closing timing according to operation state of an engine. The electro-hydraulic valve train includes a valve stem having a valve head formed at a lower end thereof and a big-diameter stem formed at a middle portion thereof, the big-diameter stem having a larger diameter than the other portion, a swing arm having a roller contacting with a cam of a camshaft and an end connected to the valve stem, the one end being adapted to pivot with respect to the other end according to a rotation of the cam so as to move the valve stem upwardly or downwardly, a first brake unit enclosing the valve stem and adapted to perform brake operation in a case that the valve stem moves upwardly, and a second brake unit mounted at the other end of the swing arm and adapted to selectively move the other end of the swing arm upwardly or downwardly and to perform brake operation in a case that the other end of the swing arm moves downwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Myungsik Choi
  • Patent number: 8794589
    Abstract: Actuators having override apparatus are described herein. An example actuator having an override apparatus includes a first actuator stem coupled to a control actuation member. The override apparatus is operatively coupled to the actuator. A spring is coupled to an override member to move the first actuator stem to a predetermined position in response to an override condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLC
    Inventors: David Anthony Arnold, David George Halm, Michael Wildie McCarty
  • Patent number: 8752805
    Abstract: A pressure control valve includes a housing, a valve slide guided in the housing, on which at least one inflow control edge is configured, which cooperates with an inflow opening in the housing, a constriction in piston being present adjacent to inflow control edge, which lies at least approximately opposite to a control opening. It is provided that the valve slide have a circumferential annular groove, which lies on the side of the inflow control edge facing away from the constriction and approximately opposite the inflow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Pilz, Benjin Luo, Mehmet-Fatih Sen, Frank Wauro, David Jayanth
  • Patent number: 8733399
    Abstract: A needle valve that adjusts the flow of liquid fluid and an open/close valve that makes it possible to fully close a flow path of the liquid fluid are accommodated inside a casing of a flow adjusting valve. The needle valve is provided with a reciprocating movement section that adjusts the flow of the liquid fluid by moving a needle valve piece toward and away from the valve seat. The open/close valve is provided with an opening/closing section that utilizes a basal outer surface of the needle valve piece facing the valve seat as a fully-closing valve piece and that reciprocatingly moves the fully-closing valve piece, independently of the reciprocating movement section, between a closed position, where the fully-closing valve piece is in close contact with the valve seat, and an open position, where the fully-closing valve piece is moved away from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 8720478
    Abstract: A mechanism for implementing at least one of activation and deactivation of a gas valve that is coupled to an input manifold of a processing chamber is provided. The mechanism includes a toggle arm disposed in one of a toggle activation position and a toggle deactivation position. The mechanism also includes a toggle operated switch coupled to the toggle arm and the gas valve. The toggle operated switch is disposed on top of the gas valve and the toggle arm is disposed on top of the toggle operated switch so as to minimize a footprint of an assembly that comprises the gas valve, the toggle operated switch, and the toggle arm. Thus, the process gas flow flows through the gas valve when the toggle arm is in the toggle activation position and is inhibited from flowing into the gas valve when the toggle arm is in the toggle deactivation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Taskar
  • Patent number: 8684240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve unit (26) comprising a cartridge and valve holder (1), which has means (6) for connecting the same to a cartridge protective housing (3), means (7; 36, 49) for sealingly fastening the same in a hole (10) that is provided for this purpose in a liquid receptacle (11) as well as a lateral, continuous hole (20), an internal housing (4), which is mounted in the cartridge and valve holder (1), in which a tapping tip (8) and a pressure-reducing valve unit (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) are located at the end of the internal housing (4) facing the cartridge protective housing (3), wherein the pressure-reducing valve unit has a pressure-regulating chamber (13), wherein the pressure-regulating chamber (13) encompasses a connection to the interior of the liquid receptacle (11) via a continuous hole (19) in the internal housing (4) and the lateral, continuous hole (20) in the cartridge and valve holder (1), which [connection] is protected or can be blocked by a non-return valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Impress GmbH & Co. OHG, Diefenbacher Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Peter Sauer, Werner Neukirch, GĂĽnther Grittman
  • Patent number: 8678033
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary valve having a first valve member that may include at least one orifice, and which is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a second valve member that includes at least one orifice, and which is moveable relative to the first valve member between a first position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly disconnected from the at least one orifice of the first valve member, and a second position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly connected to the at least one orifice of the first valve member. The exemplary valve may also include first and second actuators for moving the first and second valve members between their respective first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Sorin C. Bengea, G. Clark Fortune, Thomas J. Stoltz, Benjamin Saltsman, Mihai Dorobantu, Subbaraya Radhamohan, Qinghui Yuan
  • Patent number: 8549984
    Abstract: Apparatus to increase a force of an actuator having an override apparatus are described herein. An example fluid control system includes a first fluid control apparatus to fluidly couple a control fluid supply source to a control actuator via a first passageway. The control fluid supply source provides a control fluid to move a control actuator member of the control actuator in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction when the control actuator is in the operational state. A second fluid control apparatus is in fluid communication with the first fluid control apparatus and is configured to fluidly couple an override actuator to the control actuator via a second passageway when the control actuator is in a non-operational state. The override actuator is operatively coupled to the control actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLC
    Inventor: David Anthony Arnold
  • Patent number: 8539973
    Abstract: A normally open non-electric valve includes a flow path through an apertured valve seat . . . cavity isolated from the flow path is sealingly closed off adjacent the valve seat by a flexible diaphragm. The diaphragm is sufficiently flexible to be pushed and held away from the valve seat by fluid flowing in the flow path. When it is desired to close the valve, a pressure medium is introduced into the cavity so as to force the diaphragm against the valve seat and interrupt the fluid flow in the flow path. The normally open valve can inexpensively be converted from an inexpensive electric solenoid valve by removing the plunger, spring and coil from the electric valve, closing off the plunger cavity with a flexible diaphragm, and selectably introducing a pressure medium into the cavity when it is desired to close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Bosko
  • Publication number: 20130233395
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling liquid flow wherein the apparatus comprises an orifice and an adjacent flexible diaphragm separated from each other by a gap through which a liquid flows. The diaphragm is sufficiently flexible to vary the gap thereby controlling the rate of liquid flowing through the orifice or to provide a positive liquid shutoff of liquid flowing through the orifice. A method for controlling liquid flow through the apparatus comprises flexing said diaphragm to vary a size of the gap to control the rate of liquid flowing through the orifice or to provide a positive liquid shutoff of liquid from flowing through the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Thuc M. Dinh, Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Yamin Ma
  • Publication number: 20130221253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a servo valve, in particular a two-stage or multistage electrohydraulic servo valve, having a first stage which works as a pilot stage, and a second stage which works as a power stage, wherein the second stage has a valve block and a control slide valve sleeve arranged therein and having a jacket surface (18), wherein the jacket surface and/or another region of the control slide valve sleeve is preferably provided with at least one flow passage for transferring control flow and/or volume flow, and wherein a control slide valve is movably arranged in the control slide valve sleeve, wherein at least one of the flow passages is formed by a groove which is arranged in the surface of the control slide valve sleeve and which does not extend sectionally or overall in the peripheral direction of the control slide valve sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventor: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
  • Patent number: 8499845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fire-extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type, in which the gaseous extinguishing agent is stored under high pressure in at least one high-pressure gas bottle (1). The bottle valve operates, with interposition of a container attachment for the extinguishing gas, as a pressure-controlled, reducing and self-regulating control valve (3). By means of a predetermined control pressure which corresponds to the pressure in the extinguishing line system (2), the pressure of the extinguishing gas is reduced from, for example, 150 to 300 bar within the control valve to, for example, 60 bar. This makes it possible to dispense with all the high-pressure components used to date between the bottle valve and the extinguishing line system. Furthermore, a computational software is no longer required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Total Walther GmbH Feuerschutz und Sicherheit
    Inventors: Bruno LĂĽders, Gregor Wildermuth
  • Publication number: 20130168580
    Abstract: Fail-safe apparatus for use with fluid valves are disclosed herein. An example fail-safe apparatus includes a first piston, a second piston movably coupled relative to the first piston, and a fluid chamber between the first and second pistons to receive a control fluid. The control fluid is to operatively couple the first and second pistons when the control fluid is provided in the fluid chamber. The first piston is operatively decoupled from the second piston when at least some of the control fluid is removed from the fluid chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: TESCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tescom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8475726
    Abstract: A reactor (6) for pyrolysing waste, in particular rubber tires, said reactor comprising a pyrolysis space (68), an inlet port (63) and an outlet port (64) enabling a flow across the pyrolysis space (68) of a heating medium for transferring heat required for the pyrolysis, and a lower discharge port (62) for discharging solid residues of the pyrolysis. The invention is, characterized in that—it comprises a baffle means (65) made of a plate material and enabling a gravitational slipping of the solid residues towards the discharge port (62), which baffle means (65) has openings (66) allowing the flow of the heating medium and is arranged to divide the inner space of the reactor (6) to form an upper pyrolysis space (68) and a lower space and—one of the inlet and outlet ports (63, 64) is in connection with the pyrolysis space (68) and the other one with the lower space. The invention is also an apparatus comprising the above reactor (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Pirolisis Project Kft.
    Inventors: András Bence Balint, Péter Varga, László Nagy, Sándor Demeter, Iván Pál Fodor
  • Patent number: 8418989
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fluid control system and method of controlling operating pressures within a fluid system, where the fluid control system includes a choke assembly, a pressure generating device, and a linear motor. The choke assembly may include a housing and a choke member adapted for movement in the housing, controlling the flow of a fluid from an inlet passage to an outlet passage. The fluid applies a force on a first end of the choke member. The pressure generating device may be fluidly connected to a chamber and may contain a control fluid that applies a first force on a second end of the choke member. The linear motor may apply a second force on the second end of the choke member. The difference between the forces applied to the first and second ends of the choke member may affect the movement of the choke member in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alan Wayne Burkhard, Nicolas Christopher Wade Thiessen
  • Patent number: 8366026
    Abstract: A high speed gas valve apparatus including a reservoir for holding a gas having a charge port for filling the reservoir with the gas and an outlet for releasing the gas from the reservoir, a rod slidingly housed in the valve apparatus, the rod including a sealing means operatively arranged to engage with the outlet of the valve chamber for sealing the reservoir when the valve is in a closed position, a pneumatic actuator, wherein a piston of the pneumatic actuator is coupled to the rod, an electro-magnetic actuator coupled to the rod, and wherein the gas is released from the reservoir via the outlet when the apparatus is in an open position, and the valve transitions from the closed position to the open position by activating the pneumatic and electro-magnetic actuators to move the rod away from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microsys Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wang, Colin Williams
  • Publication number: 20120313018
    Abstract: A control valve assembly (10) controls the flow of water to and from a treatment tank (16) and the regeneration of the treatment material therein. A housing of the valve assembly includes connections for a tank inlet and tank outlet, an inlet chamber (60), outlet chamber (34), a pressure-operated inlet valve (24) and an outlet valve (32). A pair of venturi chambers (81a, 81b) are configured to provide co-current and counter-current regeneration. A subsystem includes a turbine (104) and a nozzle. An external port (130) receives fluid to to drive the turbine in order to initiate regeneration. The inlet valve (24) has dual seating surfaces for controlling the communication between the inlet chamber, transfer chamber (70), a bypass chamber and tank inlet (26). The bypass chamber may receive a blocking wall for blocking communication between the chamber and the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Raymond Lillback
  • Publication number: 20120292540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve device comprising a valve housing (2) and a valve piston (4) arranged in an axially displaceable manner in a piston bore (3) of the valve housing (2), via which piston a first load connection (A) and a second load connection (B) can alternately be connected to a pressure connection (P) and to a tank connection (T1, T2) under the action of a first solenoid magnet (5) and a second solenoid magnet (6), wherein the valve piston (4) can be displaced from a centered, preferably middle idle position for connecting the first load connection (A) to the pressure connection (P) and the second load connection (B) to the tank connection (T1, T2) in a first direction, and it can be displaced for the reverse fluid-conducting connection of the connections (A, B, P, T1, T2) in an opposite direction, wherein a first pilot control chamber (7) is provided, which pressurizes a first piston back side (8) of the valve piston (4), and a second pilot control chamber (9) is provided, which pressurizes
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HYDAC FLUIDTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Bruck, Markus Bill, Frank Schulz
  • Patent number: 8282070
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manual override operation of a linear actuator are described. An example apparatus includes a base to be mounted to an actuator. A drive member is operatively coupled to the base and selectively engagable to a stem of the actuator to enable manual operation of the actuator in a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Lonnie Oscar Davies, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120234410
    Abstract: A subsea valve actuator is disclosed, comprising an override shaft (6) reaching from inside a fluid filled and pressure compensated actuator housing (1) to the exterior thereof via a bearing and sealing arrangement (7), wherein a visual valve position indicator (14) is arranged exterior to the actuator housing. The visual indicator (14) is pivotally mounted to the override shaft and guided non-rotatably to be forced in axial displacement on the override shaft when the override shaft is rotated, wherein the mounting of the visual indicator (14) on the override shaft (6) is encased in a fluid filled, pressure compensated indicator mounting enclosure (19) surrounding the override shaft (6) in sealing (26) relation outside of the actuator housing (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Vecto Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventors: Christian Borchgrevink, Jon Flidh, Paula Guimaraes, Christopher A. Flidh
  • Publication number: 20120228530
    Abstract: A bypass arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes an actuator movable in a first direction and a second direction, a volume booster in fluid communication with the actuator, the volume booster having a supply passage, an exhaust passage, and a volume booster output bypass connection in fluid communication with the supply passage, and a bypass valve in fluid communication with the volume booster output bypass connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Junk
  • Patent number: 8235352
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve for use in an irrigation system is disclosed that is adapted to reduce the water hammer effect, reduce debris in a flow path through a valve seat, improve bleed operation and/or reduce manufacturing and materials costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Irwin, Clint R. Haas
  • Publication number: 20120161043
    Abstract: A method of preventing a mass flow controller from participating in crosstalk in an array of mass flow controllers is described. The method includes sensing and providing a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside of a mass flow controller with a pressure sensor contained within the mass flow controller, determining a response of a control valve to a rapid pressure perturbation at the inlet of the mass flow controller using the signal indicative of the fluid pressure to avoid overcompensation for the rapid pressure perturbation, and adjusting a control valve contained within the mass flow controller downstream of the pressure sensor, based on the determined response, so that the mass flow controller avoids overcompensating for the rapid pressure perturbation. The pressure sensor is positioned such that the pressure sensor is sensitive to rapid pressure perturbations at the inlet of the mass flow controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Balarabe Nuhu Mohammed, Philip Barros, Raul A. Martin, Mark Adam Crockett, Eric S. Sklar
  • Patent number: 8141583
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a valve is disclosed including a manifold assembly, a valve position indicator and a trigger assembly. An operating media distribution system is disposed in the manifold assembly and an electronic control unit is disposed in the controller. The electronic control unit operates at least one electromagnetic valve to control operating media flow via the operating media distribution system to activate an actuator which opens or closes the valve. The trigger assembly includes a cylinder adapted to receive an actuator shaft and provide a self setting mechanism corresponding to the stroke length of the actuator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Westlock Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Minervini, Eric Jordan, Robert Endres
  • Publication number: 20120068094
    Abstract: An apparatus for remotely operating a manual valve is disclosed that includes a control unit, a valve actuator, a lock assembly, and a load cell. In some aspects, the apparatus may also include a stand such as a tripod. In another aspect, the apparatus may be portable and sometimes mounted on a vehicle or other form of transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Terrell
  • Patent number: 8104503
    Abstract: An optimized activation prevention assembly for a gas delivery system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pneumatically operated valve assembly. The apparatus also includes a toggle switch mechanically attached to the pneumatically operated valve assembly, the toggle switch includes a toggle arm, the toggle arm being positioned in one of an activation zone and a deactivation zone, wherein when the toggle arm is positioned in the activation zone, the pneumatically operated valve is activated, and wherein when the toggle arm is positioned in the deactivation zone, the pneumatically operated valve is deactivated. The apparatus further includes an activation prevention mechanism attached to the toggle switch, wherein when the activation prevention mechanism being configured for preventing the toggle arm from being repositioned from the deactivation zone to the activation zone without at least bypassing a lockout function of the optimized activation prevention mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Taskar
  • Patent number: 8070127
    Abstract: Apparatus for manual override operation of a linear actuator are described. An example manual override apparatus includes a manual operator having a first coupling on a first side and a second coupling on a second side opposite the first side. A first drive member having external threads is coupled to a housing of an actuator. The first drive member includes a first end to removably receive the first coupling of the manual operator, a second end to selectively engage an actuation member of the actuator, and a bore therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the first drive member. A second drive member disposed in the bore to be rotatably coupled to the first drive member. The second drive member has a first end threadably coupled to an actuator stem of the actuation member and a second end to removably receive the second coupling of the manual operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Paul Gethmann
  • Publication number: 20110259434
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide pneumatic control of a slam shut valve system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: David C. Butler
  • Publication number: 20110204267
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic valve arrangement (1) with a supply connection arrangement comprising a high-pressure connection (P) and a low-pressure connection (T), a working connection arrangement comprising two working connections (A, B), which can be connected to a motor (4), a directional valve arrangement (5) located between the supply connection arrangement (P, T) and the working connection arrangement (A, B), and a compensation valve (15) acted upon in a first activation direction by a pressure in a first pressure chamber (33), which is connected to a load-sensing pipe (LS), and, if required, by a spring (32), and in a second activation direction opposite to the first activation direction by a pressure downstream of the directional valve arrangement (5), said pressure acting in a second pressure chamber (34), the compensation valve (15) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Sauer-Danfoss ApS
    Inventors: Thorkild Christensen, Siegfried Zenker, Svend Erik Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20110198519
    Abstract: A pneumatic pressure regulating valve, the opening of which can be automatically changed in a pressure-related manner, including a control diaphragm that is subjected to a reference pressure, to the gas pressure as well as to a governor spring, wherein a change in the differential pressure causes an adjustment of the control diaphragm and the latter itself or a closing element actuated by it changes the opening through an outflow cross-section, and wherein a structure that is arranged adjacent to the outflow cross-section on the diaphragm side forms a stop for the control diaphragm or for the closing element in the closed position of said control diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: HENGST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Meinig, Thomas May
  • Patent number: 7913971
    Abstract: A valve system comprising a closure member that is linearly translatable within a valve body. A hydraulic override assembly comprises a first end that is connected to the valve body and a first rod member that is connected to the closure member. A linear actuator is connected to a second end of the hydraulic override assembly and comprises a second rod member that is operable to move the first rod member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Loc G. Hoang
  • Patent number: 7866287
    Abstract: A pump system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic valve actuation system for operating engine valves of an internal combustion engine comprises a substantially conventional main pump, driven by the engine, which supplies the necessary volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the engine is running. The system comprises a booster pump that supplies in conjunction with the main pump the necessary volume of hydraulic fluid during starting/cranking of the engine. The main pump is preferably designed and constructed for operating efficiency during engine operating conditions while the booster pump is preferably designed and constructed for operating efficiency during cranking/starting of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Shulver, Adrian C. Cioc, Matthew Williamson