Contact Only, Or Friction, Joint Patents (Class 251/149.7)
  • Patent number: 6516831
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling is disclosed having a male member with at least two radial seals around the outer circumference of the probe. The seals on the probe engage the receiving chamber and seal retainer of the female coupling member. When the seals retained in the female coupling member are worn or damaged, the seals on the male coupling member provide the primary sealing mechanism in the coupling. The coupling includes a normally closed poppet valve within each of the male female coupling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20030025097
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Highline Mfg. Inc.
    Inventors: David Patterson, Murray Kosokowsky, Kimball Lischynski, Charles Lepage
  • Patent number: 6511043
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling member is disclosed having recessed flow passages to facilitate connection to opposing coupling members having radial, angled or longitudinal flow passages. The recessed flow passages of the coupling member permit these connections without reduced hydraulic fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6428520
    Abstract: A closed system, spikeless, positive-flow valve device includes a body defining an internal cavity. At the proximal end of the body is an opening which is preferably sufficiently large to receive an ANSI standard tip of a medical implement. The valve includes a plastic, resilient silicon seal which fills the upper cavity and opening with an oval seal cap having a slit. The opening presses the oval seal cap to keep the slit closed in the decompressed state. The slit opens as the nose of the medical implement compresses the seal into the cavity and the seal cap is free from the opening. The housing also includes a fluid space which facilitates fluid flow between the medical implement and a catheter tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Lopez, Thomas F. Fangrow, Jr., David C. Arnold, Bruce M. Hubrecht, Alison D. Brummett, Thomas J. Gustus, Dennis M. Bui
  • Patent number: 6394131
    Abstract: A volume compensator has a body with an axial chamber containing a piston assembly that is biased to one side by a spring. The compensator is coaxially mounted with a female coupler to a protective cover for a hydraulic interface plate. The female coupler has an axial bore containing a poppet assembly with an axial bleed port that extends into a receptacle on the end of the female coupler. The receptacle receives a male coupler on the interface plate. The male coupler contains a poppet assembly with a solid poppet that seals in high pressure hydraulic fluid. When the cover is secured to the interface plate, the male coupler is inserted into the receptacle and a small amount of sea water is trapped in between. The trapped sea water is forced through the bleed port and female coupler, and into the compensator where it displaces the piston and spring in the compensator. When the tips of poppets engage, high pressure hydraulic fluid is released into the female coupler and compensator where it is retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Fross, Richard K. O. Barratt
  • Patent number: 6375153
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a stepped internal bore dimensioned to increase the flow rate through the coupling is disclosed. The coupling allows an increased flow rate without increasing the size or weight of the coupling, by positioning the poppet valve in the body section, rather than in the probe section, of the male coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6357722
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling is disclosed having a poppet valve with an actuator extending from the valve, and a guide between the actuator and bore. The guide is a sleeve shaped member around the actuator with flow passages which ensure a smooth flow of hydraulic fluid through the annulus between the coupling bore and actuator. The guide also helps prevent damage to the actuator, and aligns the actuator during connections, disconnections and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: National Coupling Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20010025659
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a stepped internal bore dimensioned to increase the flow rate through the coupling is disclosed. The coupling allows an increased flow rate without increasing the size or weight of the coupling, by positioning the poppet valve in the body section, rather than in the probe section, of the male coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: NATIONAL COUPLING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6286809
    Abstract: A gas fitting for selectively obstructing gas flow from a gas source, particularly for medical use when gaseous material is to be dispensed through a hose. A hollow plunger is movably retained within a passage through the fitting and has a seal which, when no hose is attached to the fitting, prevents the flow of gas through the fitting. One end of the plunger extends beyond the gas outlet end of the fitting and is displaced axially inwardly when a gas hose is attached to the fitting. The axially inward displacement unseats the seal on the other end of the plunger and gas from the source passes through gas channels into the hollow area of the plunger and out the gas outlet end into the gas hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Steinmetz, Steven L. Maness
  • Patent number: 6283444
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling member is disclosed having a valve actuator extending through the probe section and the leading face, and having angled flow ports in the probe section which help keep the hydraulic system clear of debris when the coupling members are disconnected subsea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6227245
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling member is disclosed having angled flow ports to prevent ingress of debris into the hydraulic lines. A port guard attached to the valve actuator closes the flow ports unless the poppet valve is opened by mutual engagement with the opposing coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: National Coupling Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6206040
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling having a stepped internal bore dimensioned to increase the flow rate through the coupling is disclosed. The coupling allows an increased flow rate without increasing the size or weight of the coupling, by positioning the poppet valve in the body section, rather than in the probe section, of the male coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: National Coupling Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6202691
    Abstract: An undersea hydraulic coupling has a bleed port for seawater external to the coupling to enter the bore of the female coupling member when the male member is partially withdrawn from the female member. A ring-shaped radial seal positioned between the coupling members allows fluid to enter through the bleed port and flow into the bore, while sealing against the flow of hydraulic fluid out of the coupling. The bleed port and ring-shaped radial seal provide for seawater to fill the vacuum between the coupling members when they are separated, thereby decreasing the separation force required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: National Coupling Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III