With Positive Reduction Patents (Class 251/158)
  • Publication number: 20040011985
    Abstract: A gate valve having a valve body, a valve rod, a regulation device, a cam mechanism and a drive for supplying a straight-move force to the cam mechanism is provided. The valve rod is held so that it can move in a straight-move direction of opening and closing the valve via a pair of linear guides provided on both sides of the valve rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshio Osawa, Koichi Mori
  • Patent number: 6629682
    Abstract: A vacuum valve comprises a wall with a valve opening and a valve seat, a valve plate which is pressed against the valve seat in the closed state, an elastic sealing ring which is arranged at the valve plate or at the valve seat and, in the closed state of the valve, is pressed by a pressing force against a sealing surface arranged at the valve seat or at the valve plate and seals the valve opening, and a supporting ring which is made of plastic and which is arranged at the valve plate or at the valve seat and, at least in the closed state of the vacuum valve, lies closer to the valve opening than the sealing ring, viewed from the sealing ring, and limits the pressing force acting on the sealing ring in the closed state of the vacuum valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Duelli
  • Patent number: 6619618
    Abstract: In a gate valve having a rectangular gate, generation of flection at opposite end portions due to bending moment applied to the gate is suppressed easily. For this purpose, in the gate valve in which a central portion of a longer side of the rectangular gate is mounted to a tip end of a shaft operated by driving of a cylinder device and the gate is pressed against a valve seat provided around a rectangular valve opening by tilting the shaft after the gate is moved to a position facing the valve opening by movement of the shaft by driving of the cylinder device, the gate is formed to have an uneven wall thickness including a large thickness in a vicinity of a fulcrum portion connected to the shaft and a small thickness on each of opposite end portion sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Ishigaki, Seiichi Furutate, Kenji Waragai
  • Patent number: 6612546
    Abstract: A valve, such as a gate valve, includes a housing having a fluid conduit and defining a valve seat and a support surface, a seal plate, a counter plate, an actuator for moving the seal plate and the counter plate between an open position and a closed position, and a coupling mechanism operatively coupled between the seal plate, the counter plate, and the actuator. The seal plate is in sealed engagement with the valve seat, and the counter plate is in engagement with the support surface in the closed position. The coupling mechanism retracts the counter plate from the support surface subsequent to retraction of the seal plate from the valve seat as the valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Young, Vaclav Myslivec
  • Patent number: 6565066
    Abstract: A gate valve includes: a valve plate; a valve rod which the valve plate is fixed to and is supported to be able to tilt; a seal bellows and a dust sealing portion; a stopper member; a tilting cam mechanism which converts supplied straight moving force into tilting force, and tilts the valve rod of which the straight movement is restricted at a closed position in the direction where the valve plate 2 seals an aperture; a seal-releasing cam mechanism which tilts the valve rod in the direction to release the sealing of the valve plate; and an air cylinder as an actuator which supplies the straight movement force for the tilting cam mechanism and the seal-releasing cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignees: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd., NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Osawa, Koichi Mori, Yuzuru Tamura
  • Patent number: 6474622
    Abstract: A pendulum gate valve incorporates an improved power transmission device for transmitting the movement of a pivot arm of the valve to a valve disk that selectively closes the valve. The power transmission device has a supporting plate and a valve disk support that is fixed to a tip end of the pivot arm and movable relative to the valve disk. First and second facing roller guide grooves, formed on the valve disk and on the valve disk support, respectively, extend obliquely downwardly so as to be separated from the valve disk. Third and fourth facing roller guide grooves, formed on the valve disk support and the supporting plate, respectively, extend obliquely downwardly so as to approach the valve disk. A first roller engages the first and second roller guide grooves, and a second roller engages the third and fourth roller guide grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: V Tex Corporation
    Inventor: Ichio Ito
  • Publication number: 20020130288
    Abstract: A suspension of a valve plate of a vacuum valve at a valve rod comprises a bearing block (16) of rubber-elastic material with first and second side surfaces (21, 22), one of which side surfaces (21) is fastened to the valve rod (6) or to a plate (14) which is rigidly connected with the latter, and the other side surface (22) is fastened to the valve plate (5) or to a plate which is rigidly connected with the latter, wherein an inelastic force transmission part (17) is embedded in the rubber-elastic material of the bearing block (16) and extends at oppositely located points or along oppositely located lines up to the side surfaces of the bearing block. (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Bernhard Duelli
  • Patent number: 6431518
    Abstract: A vacuum valve comprises a valve opening which is provided in a valve housing and can be closed by a valve plate arranged at least one valve rod, at least a first piston-cylinder unit by which the valve plate is displaceable from its open position releasing the valve opening into a position which is located opposite the valve opening but is lifted from the valve seat, and at least a second piston-cylinder unit by which the valve plate can be moved toward the valve seat and pressed against it from its position which is located opposite the valve opening but is lifted from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Geiser
  • Patent number: 6425569
    Abstract: A gate valve including a valve disc for opening and closing an opening formed in a partition wall for separating a processing chamber from an other chamber, a valve seat formed on the wall around the opening, and a block provided on a side surface of the valve disc facing the processing chamber for filling up the opening. The valve disc is moved selectively brought into contact with the valve seat. When the opening is closed by the valve disc the block is positioned in the opening to close the opening, and when the opening is not closed by the valve disc the block is not positioned in the opening. A gate valve includes a valve disc for opening and closing one side of an opening formed in a partition wall for separating a processing chamber from an other chamber, a valve seat formed on one side surface of the wall around the opening, a closing member for opening and closing the other side of the opening, and a groove formed in the wall for receiving therein the closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: V Tex Corporation
    Inventor: Ichio Ito
  • Publication number: 20020088959
    Abstract: A vacuum valve comprises a wall (2) with a valve opening (1) and a valve seat (4), a valve plate (3) which is pressed against the valve seat (4) in the closed state, an elastic sealing ring (19, 19′) which is arranged at the valve plate (3) or at the valve seat (4) and, in the closed state of the valve, is pressed by a pressing force against a sealing surface arranged at the valve seat or at the valve plate and seals the valve opening (1), and a supporting ring (20, 20′, 20″) which is made of plastic and which is arranged at the valve plate (3) or at the valve seat (4) and, at least in the closed state of the vacuum valve, lies closer to the valve opening (1) than the sealing ring, viewed from the sealing ring, and limits the pressing force acting on the sealing ring in the closed state of the vacuum valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Duelli
  • Patent number: 6416037
    Abstract: A vacuum pipe for a part which is mounted so as to be movable and projects from outside a vacuum chamber into a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, comprises an opening in a wall of the vacuum chamber limiting the vacuum, with an inner side facing the vacuum and an outer side at which is provided an annular sealing surface surrounding the opening, an annular sealing surface at the part projecting through the opening into the vacuum from outside the vacuum, a sealing arrangement which is provided between the annular sealing surfaces of the wall and of the part and which comprises at least one sealing ring of elastic material, and a guide device which guides the part relative to the wall and by which at least a minimum axial pressing force is maintained on the at least one sealing ring in every position of the part, resulting in a deformation of the at least one sealing ring such that tightness is ensured, wherein the deformation of the sealing ring changes at least in areas of the sealing ring when the part moves re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Geiser
  • Patent number: 6378841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow with a quarter-turn plug valve with seats operated to lift off the sealing surface of the plug prior to plug rotation and to reseat upon completion of plug rotation. One embodiment shown relates to a quarter-turn rotary plug valve having a handle operable through a 90 ° angle and having both upstream and downstream seats which are operated to lift off from the sealing surface of the plug prior to initiation of plug rotation and then reseat upon completion of plug rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Larry R. Russell
  • Publication number: 20020027214
    Abstract: In a gate valve having a rectangular gate, generation of flection &dgr; at opposite end portions due to bending moment applied to the gate is suppressed easily. For this purpose, in the gate valve in which a central portion of a longer side of the rectangular gate 5 is mounted to a tip end of a shaft 6 operated by driving of a cylinder device 2 and the gate 5 is pressed against a valve seat 8 provided around a rectangular valve opening 7 by tilting the shaft 6 after the gate 5 is moved to a position facing the valve opening 7 by movement of the shaft 6 by driving of the cylinder device 2, the gate 5 is formed to have an uneven wall thickness including a large thickness in a vicinity of a fulcrum portion connected to the shaft 6 and a small thickness on each of opposite end portion sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Ishigaki, Seiichi Furutate, Kenji Waragai
  • Publication number: 20020000531
    Abstract: A gate valve includes: a valve plate 2; a valve rod 6 which the valve plate 2 is fixed to and is supported to be able to tilt; a seal bellows 10 and a dust sealing portion 90; a stopper member 12 as a restriction means; a tilting cam mechanism 31 which converts supplied straight moving force into tilting force, and tilts the valve rod 6 of which the straight movement is restricted at a closed position in the direction where the valve plate 2 seals an aperture 51; a seal-releasing cam mechanism 70 which tilts the valve rod 6 in the direction to release the sealing of the valve plate 2; and an air cylinder 60 as an actuating means which supplies the straight moving force for the tilting cam mechanism 31 and the seal-releasing cam mechanism 70.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshio Osawa, Koichi Mori, Yuzuru Tamura
  • Patent number: 6318402
    Abstract: A closure is movably mounted on the tank top of a pneumatic tank truck. The closure is movable between open and closed positions relative to an opening in the tank top by a pneumatically operated piston. An inflatable seal seals the closure to the tank top when the closure is in open position. Air jets are employed to clean dirt and debris from a guide supporting the closure. All operations can be performed without the driver climbing to the tank top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Richard Ladeira
  • Patent number: 6298879
    Abstract: A stem valve stopper that has a shell (1) intended to be mounted to a faucet (K). An operating stem (8) is mounted for rotation but is axially fixed in the stopper shell (1) and has a lower end that acts as a valve seat surface (12). The stem 8 has an interior section (7) that is threadably engaged with a mobile fitting (6) that is mounted in the shell so that it can be moved axially but cannot be turned or rotated inside the stopper shell. The mobile fitting (6) has an annular lower end surrounding a valve seat (12). A valve sealing member (17) made from elastomeric material is mounted in the lower end of stopper shell (1) and is spring biased downstream toward the valve seat (12). The mobile fitting (6) can be operated to push the sealing member (17) upstream away from valve seat surface (12) and provide flow about the valve seat (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Francesco Knapp
  • Patent number: 6196520
    Abstract: An air distribution device comprises a casing (10) provided with a cylindrical wall (12) having at least one air passage opening (14, 16), a shutter (20) mounted so as to pivot with respect to an axis of rotation (X—X) and having a generally cylindrical obturation wall, which is mounted so as to movable with respect to a body of the shutter, consisting of two plates, in a direction substantially radial with respect to the axis of rotation (X—X) of the shutter by virtue of movement means (46, 48) synchronised with the rotation of the shutter, which makes it possible to move the obturation wall (24) away from the wall (12) when the shutter is in an open position (P1, P2) and bring the obturation wall (24) closer to the wall (12) of the casing when the shutter is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Philippe Vincent, Thierry Barbier
  • Patent number: 6089537
    Abstract: A pendulum valve assembly comprises a housing including an interior space and a pair of openings through which fluid can enter and exit the interior space; a valve seat disposed in the interior space around the edge of a first of the openings; a disk mounted relative to the housing so that the disk is movable within the interior space between a completely opened position and a completely closed position, the disk being constructed so that when the disk is moved to the closed position the disk engages the valve seat and seals the first opening so that fluid can not pass therethrough; a longitudinal shaft defining a longitudinal axis, fixedly coupled to the disk through at least one pivot arm and at least partially mounted within the housing so that (a) the shaft and disk can rotate about the longitudinal axis between a first angular position where the disk is in the completely opened position and a second angular position where the disk is substantially axially aligned with the first opening but spaced therefr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Olmsted
  • Patent number: 6082706
    Abstract: A non-sliding vacuum gate valve according to the present invention has a curved cam lead member provided to end of a valve rod, and a pair of rollers provided to a connection rod. The cam lead member and the rollers are engaged with each other and move relatively, so that vertical movement and slant movement of a valve plate and the valve rod are guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Irie Koken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikimi Irie
  • Patent number: 6056266
    Abstract: A device for closing an opening of a tank or a tubular conduit and including a plate for closing the opening and movable substantially perpendicular to a plane of the opening toward the opening to be pressed against a wall in which the opening is formed and away from the opening, and displaceable, in its position in which it is spaced from the opening, substantially parallel to the plane of the opening, first and second piston-cylinder units for displacing the closing plate parallel to the plane of the opening and perpendicular to the plane of the opening respectively, with each piston-cylinder unit having a housing with a cylinder bore and at least one piston displaceable in the cylinder bore relative to the housing, and conduits for communicating pressure medium to the cylinder bores of both piston-cylinder units for displacing respective pistons in respective bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Thomas Blecha
  • Patent number: 5842680
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a valve with less resistance. The actuator includes a rotor, a stator, a valve and a shaft. The shaft having a first and second end, and an axis extending longitudinally therethrough. The stator, having an electromagnet mounted thereon, and circumferentially mounted around the shaft that extends therethrough. The rotor, fixedly mounted circumferentially around the first end, and having a permanent magnet mounted adjacent to the electromagnet and spaced a first distance therefrom. The valve including a rotary valve and valve seat. The rotary valve, mounted circumferentially around and near the second end, having a valve opening therein. The valve seat, mounted adjacent the rotary valve, having a seat valve opening therein, and fixedly attached to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Eleazor Felipe Bustamante, Phillip G. Adams, Catherine Hoskin, David Yan Leng
  • Patent number: 5799825
    Abstract: A material storing and dispensing assembly for storing and discharging hot asphalt material, comprising a vertically-extending vessel having a generally cylindrical shape and a top opening for receiving material, a dispensing cone positioned in the vessel and opposed to the top opening, the dispensing cone having a discharge opening at a distal end for discharging material from the vessel, a first gate enclosed within a gate weldment and adapted for engagement with the discharge opening slidable between one of an open position for releasing material from the vessel through the discharge opening and a closed position for retaining material within the vessel, a second gate having a sealing face adapted for effectively sealing the discharge opening by rotating the second gate from a vertical storage position into a horizontal closed position, a third gate adapted for further cooperating with the first and second gates and slidable between one of an open position for releasing material from the vessel and a close
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Marquette Leasing, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Dillman
  • Patent number: 5755255
    Abstract: A friction-free gate valve for regulating gas flow in semiconductor manufacturing comprises a gate which, prior to being lifted up for the valve-opening position, is horizontally flitted away from the passage wall surface against which it was pressed against for valve closure, lest undesirable frittered particles should occur from rubbing the gate against the passage wall surface. The gate is axially coupled to and made integral with a vertically and horizontally movably disposed valve stem. The valve stem is also operatively coupled to a cam mechanism which is actuated by a reciprocating piston rod which, in an earlier part of its stroke, drives vertically the valve stem through the cam mechanism, moving the gate to a lower position where the gate blocks the passage. While the piston rod further moves to cover the remaining part of stroke, additional pressure exerted on the cam mechanism causes the valve stem to tilt, thereby pressing the gate into tight contact with the opposed wall surface of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Benkan Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 5755426
    Abstract: A valve mechanism for a vacuum sliding valve. The mechanism includes a valve housing defining a vacuum chamber having a throughgoing opening therein and being free from setting elements which move relative to one another; a drive region disposed adjacent to and outside of the vacuum chamber; and a sealing interface disposed between the vacuum chamber and the drive region for sealing the vacuum chamber and the drive region with respect to one another. The mechanism further includes a valve disk disposed in the vacuum chamber, and a drive connected to the valve disk and disposed in the drive region for moving the valve disk for sealingly closing the throughgoing opening with the valve disk. A rod of the mechanism has a first end disposed in the vacuum chamber and a second end disposed in the drive region, and is connected to the valve disk at the first end thereof and sealingly extends through the sealing interface and out of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Hubert Boesch
  • Patent number: 5641149
    Abstract: A gate valve including a valve disc which is moved to a position where the valve disc is brought into contact with a valve seat and a position where the valve disc is separated from the valve seat by a driving device provided outside of a valve housing through a valve rod sealingly projected from the inside to the outside of the valve housing. The valve disc is brought into contact under pressure with the valve seat in the valve housing when the valve rod is inclined at the end of the movement of the valve rod. The driving device has piston cylinder devices, a block arranged in side-by-side relationship with the piston cylinder devices and connected to the valve rod, and a device to move up and down and to incline the block. The device for moving the block may include a pivotable link or a pin received in an oblique hole in a sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Kishikawa Special Valve Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichio Ito
  • Patent number: 5626324
    Abstract: A non-sliding vacuum gate valve has a valve housing with a valve opening therethrough which is opened and closed by a gate valve body moved by a valve rod. The valve rod moves with linear and tilting movement so that the valve body tilts against the valve seat surrounding the valve opening. The valve rod is moved linearly by cylinder rods extending from a pair of cylinders attached to the valve housing on either side of the valve rod. A cam body having an angular cam slot is attached to a connecting member which spans between the end portions of the cylinder rods above the valve rod. The valve rod has a cam follower engaging the angular cam slot to provide the tilting movement of the valve rod and valve body responsive to the alternate reciprocal vertical movement of the cylinder rods, to open and close the valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Irie Koken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nakamura, Yuzo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5620165
    Abstract: A retracting ring seal valve is disclosed for adjustably restricting and permitting fluid flow in a two-direction fluid control system. In a particular embodiment the invention comprises a valve body that defines a central passage through which the fluid passes, a side chamber adjacent the central passage, and a sealing shoulder around a circumference of the passage. A gate assembly adjustably moveable between the central passage and the side chamber includes a ring seal surrounding a peripheral edge of a sealing surface of the gate assembly so that a retainer moves the ring seal to seal a flow gap defined between the sealing surface and the sealing shoulder of the valve body to restrict flow of fluid through the central passage. An actuating assembly secured between the gate assembly and the valve body both positions the gate assembly to restrict or permit flow of fluid through the passage and also moves the ring seal into and out of the flow gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • Patent number: 5415376
    Abstract: A gate valve wherein a valve disc is moved to a position where the valve disc is brought into contact with a valve seat and a position where the valve disc is separated from the valve seat by a driving device provided outside of a valve housing through a valve rod sealingly projected from the inside to the outside of the valve housing. The valve disc is brought into contact under pressure with the valve seat in the valve housing when the valve rod is inclined at the end of the movement of the valve rod. The driving device has piston cylinder devices, a block arranged in side-by-side relationship with the piston cylinder devices and connected to the valve rod, and a device to move up and down and to incline the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Kishikawa Special Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichio Ito
  • Patent number: 5415375
    Abstract: The closing system has a closure member, and a carriage for translational displacement of the closing member along rails. A jack is mounted on the carriage for non-resilient axial displacements of the closure member to and from a flow opening. A damper transmits the vibrations of the closure member to the carriage and ensure axial displacement of the closure member. The closure member closes the flow opening by first axially aligning the closure member with respect to the flow opening by displacing the carriage. The jack axially displaces the closure member to urge the closure member against the flow opening to close it without translational displacement. The closure member is retracted away a minimal distance from the opening for clearance and then the carriage is actuated to reduce or enlarge the flow opening, with precision and without friction to a seal disposed about the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Jacques Gaboriault
  • Patent number: 5363872
    Abstract: Low particulate slit valve system and method for controlling the closure pressure applied to a slit valve. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a barrier having a slit valve aperture, a valve seat surrounding the aperture, a closure movable towards and away from the valve seat, a sensing mechanism for determining the pressure differential on the two sides of the barrier, a processing unit responsive to the pressure differential and operative to produce a control signal, and a valve actuator responsive to the control signal and operative to control the force applied to the closure. The method of the invention includes determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of the barrier, determining a second pressure on a second side of the barrier, and applying a closure pressure to the closure which is related to the pressure differential between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: D'Arcy H. Lorimer
  • Patent number: 5215120
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a valve system which upon disconnection essentially eliminates the release of liquids and vapors to the atmosphere. The invention includes a precision machined poppet and valve seat such that the leading end of the poppet and the end of the valve housing are flush when the valve is closed and such that the sides of the poppet are flush with the surface of the valve seat. Fluids and vapors are eliminated as the valve closes. The valve is not sealed until after closing. The invention is normally used with two flushly abutting valves which close sequentially for the elimination of liquids and vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Precision General, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer M. Nimberger, Robert L. Ward
  • Patent number: 5143348
    Abstract: A gate lifter for shifting a gate from a valve seat in a gate valve. The gate lifter is provided on the downstream, or low pressure side of a valve, and is a tubular structure that surrounds and is slidable relative to a tubular valve seat. Hydraulic or other pressurized fluid is adapted to be introduced between an end of the lifter and a flange carried by the valve seat to cause the parts to move in opposite directions, as a result of which the lifter operates by shifting the gate member away from the valve seat to avoid damage to the valve seat as the gate member is moved there across. The gate lifter includes a face that is adapted to engage with a corresponding face of the gate member, the gate lifter face preferably including a low friction coating, such as teflon, gearings or gearing type material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventors: Dwight Baker, James C. Baker, Randall King, Elton W. Eads
  • Patent number: 5116023
    Abstract: A low vibration, high cycle, high vacuum gate valve structure comprises a high vacuum housing defining a passageway, a valve actuator for providing a rectilinear displacement force, a translatable and pivotable gate valve assembly actuated by the valve actuator for translating from a fully retraction position outside of the passageway to an initial closure position adjacent to a fixed seal surface provided within the housing thereby blocking off the passageway. The gate valve assembly defines an angled sealing surface relative to an oppositely facing angled sealing surface of the fixed seal but displaced by a predetermined angular displacement at the initial closure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: MDC Vacuum Products Corporation
    Inventor: Jose L. Contin
  • Patent number: 5102054
    Abstract: An airblast fuel injector tip is provided for reducing fuel vaporization problems as a result of high fuel temperatures without adversely affecting the airblast operational characteristics of the injector tip. The injector tip includes a fuel receiving chamber and a fuel discharge orifice downstream thereof and an arcuate, distensible, tubular valve member having a discharge end movable relative to a valve seat in the fuel receiving chamber in dependence on the pressure of fuel in the valve member to meter fuel to the fuel receiving chamber for discharge through the discharge orifice into a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Fuel Systems Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Halvorsen
  • Patent number: 5029516
    Abstract: An electronically controllable pneumatically powered valve actuating mechanism for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine is of the type having engine intake and exhaust valves with elongated valve stems. The actuator has a power piston reciprocable along an axis and adapted to be coupled to an engine valve and a pneumatic arrangement for moving the piston, thereby causing an engine valve to move in the direction of stem elongation between valve-open and valve-closed positions. The pneumatic arrangement includes a pair of control valves which are movable relative to the piston for selectively supplying high pressure air to the piston. Each control valve includes a thin walled portion having an inner cylindrical surface which slidingly engaging a portion of one of the enlarged diameter cylindrical portions of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick L. Erickson, William E. Richeson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4988075
    Abstract: For the sealing of valves or flanges, particularly used in vacuum technology, two opposed sealing surfaces are arranged at a main flange, on which a sealing element can be brought to rest, which is in the form of a cup spring and which is adjustable in the axial direction. In order to perform this operation with a smaller closing force, the cup spring is arranged in the space between the axially movable ring of a smaller diameter and a washer of greater diameter. The washer is radially outwardly and inwardly deformable, in an elastic manner, and the radial length of the cup spring is selected, so that when the seal is open, the cup spring is wedged within the space and when the seal is closed, it rests on the main flange in a nearly parallel position on a radius line with the seat of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Inventor: Hubert R. Bosch
  • Patent number: 4962889
    Abstract: An airblast fuel injector tip is provided for reducing fuel vaporization problems as a result of high fuel temperatures without adversely affecting the airblast operational characterisitics of the injector tip. The injector tip includes a fuel receiving chamber and an arcuate valve member movable relative to a valve seat member having a fuel discharge port for discharging fuel flow into the fuel receiving chamber as metered by the valve member in dependence on the pressure of fuel. The valve seat member is adjustably received on the injector tip and preferably includes a deflectable portion accessible externally of the injector tip for facilitating adjustment of the valve cracking pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Fuel Systems Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Halvorsen
  • Patent number: 4938417
    Abstract: An airblast fuel injector tip is provided for reducing fuel vaporization problems as a result of high fuel temperatures without adversely affecting the airblast operational characteristics of the injector tip. The injector tip includes a fuel receiving chamber and a fuel discharge orifice downstream thereof and an arcuate, distensible, tubular valve member having a discharge end movable relative to a valve seat in the fuel receiving chamber in dependence on the pressure of fuel in the valve member to meter fuel to the fuel receiving chamber for discharge through the discharge orifice into a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Fuel Systems Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Halvorsen
  • Patent number: 4785844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gate valve for controlling flow, providing a dual seal, including a valve body having a discharge orifice. A gate assembly, located upstream of the discharge orifice, is movable between open and closed positions remote from and blocking the discharge orifice, respectively. The gate assembly includes upper and lower spaced flexible sealing disks which are attached to a relatively rigid upstream backup plate. Radially inner and outer valve seats are secured to the valve body adjacent the discharge orifice. When blocking flow through the valve body, each gate is wedged in sealing engagement with a respective valve seat and a chamber is formed between the two seals to receive seepage past the upstream seal. The chamber may be either evacuated or pressurized to prevent flow of controlled material past the lower or downstream seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: C & S Valve Company
    Inventor: Ivan Pankov
  • Patent number: 4770392
    Abstract: For a shut-off device comprising a tubular housing to be built into a pipe and a rotary valve for which a driving shaft penetrating the housing and a seat in the housing are provided, a ring wheel (4) with movable bearings (9) being disposed on the driving shaft (10) and the valve flap (3) being guided in the ring wheel (4) and connected with the driving shaft by a gearing (22, 23) which locks when the valve flap (3) swivels in and serves to press the valve flap (3) onto its seat (32), the invention provides for the following: when the driving shaft (10) is rotated back, the gearing (22, 23) lifts the valve flap (3) axially off the seat (32) until the valve flap (3) is supported on the ring wheel (4), and the gearing (22, 23) constitutes the connection between the valve flap (3) and the driving shaft, the valve flap (3) being supported on the ring wheel (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventor: Fritz Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4753417
    Abstract: A gate valve for sealing an opening in the wall of a vacuum processing chamber is disclosed. The valve includes a gate having a pair of wheels mounted on opposite ends of the gate and a curved track aligned and shaped to guide the wheels through an angle so that the plane of the gate is rotated out of the path of substrates as the gate moves between its sealing and open positions. The curvature of the track should be sufficient to rotate the gate through an angle of at least 60.degree., and preferably 75.degree. to 105.degree., in order to minimize the dimension of the chamber normal to the direction of substrate travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Madocks, Alex Boozenny
  • Patent number: 4747577
    Abstract: A gate valve, for use with evacuable equipment, includes a housing having a pair of aligned ports in opposed walls. A valve seat surrounds one of the ports. A gate member is reciprocally translatable by means of a linear actuator in a direction generally normal to the central axis of the valve seat. Magnetic structures are operably associated with the gate and valve seat for pulling the gate and seat into sealing engagement for closure of the gate valve by exerting a closure force generally parallel to the axis of the valve seat. The linear actuator includes a hollow cylinder having a piston movable therein and axially thereof which is magnetically coupled through the walls of the cylinder to an actuator member mechanically coupled to the gate for effecting reciprocal motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack A. Dimock
  • Patent number: 4721282
    Abstract: A gate valve assembly includes a housing, a shaft axially mounted within the housing, and a gate member secured to one end of the shaft. A mechanism within the housing is provided for axially extending and rotating the shaft in order to move the gate member into sealing engagement with a port in a processing chamber. By providing an expandable seal about the shaft and secured to the housing, the mechanical drive portion of the valve may be isolated from the interior of the chamber. The valve is particularly suitable for use with loadlocks and other chambers having a low pressure environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: LAM Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Shawver, Robert T. Lobianco
  • Patent number: 4718637
    Abstract: A two part high vacuum gate valve construction includes a control mechanism part having a limited displacement stem passing through a first generally rectangular high vacuum flange and a valve body part including a generally rectangular case, a second generally rectangular high vacuum joint providing flange having a mirror image sealing geometry to the first high vacuum flange, two machined fluid flow flanges passing through openings defined through opposite sidewalls of said case and sealed thereto, at least one of the fluid flow flanges having an inside gate sealing surface machined prior to insertion through and sealing of the flange to the sidewall of the case; a two part, levered carriage having a central transverse pivot joint and having an endwall engagement mechanims for causing the pivot joint to pivot toward the inside gate sealing surface of the one flow flange in response to continued actuation force supplied by the control stem shaft after an inside endwall of said case has been contacted; a valv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: MDC Vacuum Products Corporation
    Inventor: Jose L. Contin
  • Patent number: 4700927
    Abstract: A slide gate has a frame made up of parallel channel guides extending vertically from and cooperating with a horizontal bottom to define a gate opening. The channel guides each have mutually spaced first and second guide flanges protruding laterally into the gate opening. A gate disc is supported by the frame for vertical movement between a lowered position resting on the frame bottom and closing off the gate opening, and an open position spaced thereabove. The gate disc has side portions received between the first and second guide flanges of the channel guides, and these side portions carry seal assemblies. A plurality of vertically spaced pivotal pressure pads are mounted on each of the channel guides between their respective first and second guide flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Rodney Hunt Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Henderson
  • Patent number: 4627567
    Abstract: A pivotal slide valve for the temperature-dependent regulation of the through flow of a cooling medium, in which for avoiding friction losses, a slight gap is provided between the sealing surface of the pivotal slide valve member and the sealing surface of the housing. For achieving a complete tightness, the pivotal slide valve member is pressed against the sealing surface of the housing when the cooling medium is cold. This is achieved by a corresponding construction of the valve parts between the temperature-dependent working element and the pivotal slide valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Thorn
  • Patent number: 4597414
    Abstract: A two position control valve having a body member with a control surface and a slide member incorporating a seal supported by the body member for sliding movement relative to the control surface and forming a control chamber placing selected ones of a plurality of control ports in communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Schmelzer Corporation
    Inventor: LeRoy B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4551284
    Abstract: A carburetor has a throttle member in the form of a slide for controlling the air induction passage, the slide being displaceably guided in a sealed and sliding manner on planer edge areas of guide surfaces of a surface extending substantially at right angles to the induction passage, the slide being relieved from vertical downward pressures exerted on the guide surfaces by the manifold vacuum acting on the underside of the slide by an unloading mechanism controlled by the vacuum force, the unloading mechanism comprising lifting rails which are pivotally mounted for engagement with the slide and include rollers that may be raised or lowered by devices that are responsive to the change in vacuum below the slide as the slide moves closed or open to counteract the differential pressure force acting on the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Dieter Stojek
  • Patent number: 4535811
    Abstract: An air flow control apparatus is disclosed which is characterized by essentially zero leakage in its closed position, and by minimal air resistance in its open position. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior framework which defines a plurality of troughs of V-shaped cross section, and with each side of each trough including an opening. A closure is associated with each trough, which includes a pair of pivotally mounted plates which are movable between a spread apart position covering and closing the openings in the trough, and a collapsed position wherein the plates are substantially aligned with each other and spaced from the associated openings to permit free air flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Flanders Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Wood, William C. Peebles, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4483509
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid has a housing defining a valving chamber accommodating a transversely movable valve plate. A manually operated lever connected to the valve plate with a rod is operable to move the valve plate between open and closed positions. A resilient member mounted on the housing within the chamber surrounds the fluid outlet opening in the chamber. Rails secured to the housing cooperate with the valving member to hold the valving member in sealing engagement with the resilient member when the valving plate is in the closed position. The valving plate may be connected with a remotely located actuator lever mounted on a tubular member secured to the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventors: Ronald B. Lewcock, James D. Lyons