Encased Patents (Class 251/163)
  • Patent number: 11536379
    Abstract: This invention relates to a valve comprising: —a body with a first port, a second port and an interior space extending between the first and second port; —a seat arranged in the interior space; —a valve member moveably arranged inside the interior space to cooperate with the seat; and —a stem to move the valve member, wherein the stem is rotatable between a first rotational position and a third rotational position with a second rotational position in between the first and third rotational position, wherein in between the first and second rotational position the valve member and the stem are coupled according to a first configuration, and wherein in between the second and third rotational position, the valve member and the stem are coupled according to a second configuration different from the first configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Tolboom Valve B.V.
    Inventor: Theodorus Johannes Tolboom
  • Patent number: 11313477
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a DBB forced sealing valve and an operating mechanism, including a valve body, a valve seat, a valve core arranged in the valve body, upper sealing member driving part and lower sealing member driving part arranged in the valve body and located on either side of the valve core, and the sealing members arranged between the valve seats and the upper sealing member driving part and the lower sealing member driving part. Wherein, the upper sealing member driving part and the lower sealing member driving part can move along the rotation axis of the valve core, and the upper sealing member driving part and the lower sealing member driving part drive the sealing members to press against or to retract from the valve seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Zhigang Liu, Jimeng Chen, Xiaoqi Liu
  • Patent number: 11009135
    Abstract: A four valve disc frictionless ball valve includes a spherical valve core assembly, wherein the spherical valve core assembly includes a wedge-shaped valve core. A closed-position valve disc is respectively installed on a pair of closed-position wedge-shaped sides. A closed-position guide key is respectively arranged at the middle positions of the pair of closed-position wedge-shaped sides along an axial direction. A closed-position guide groove is arranged on each closed-position valve disc along the axial direction. An open-position valve disc is respectively installed on a pair of open-position wedge-shaped sides. An open-position guide key is respectively arranged at the middle positions of the pair of open-position wedge-shaped sides along the axial direction. An open-position guide groove is arranged on each open-position valve disc along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: South China Company, China Oil & Gas pipeline Network corporation, Xi'an Aerospace Yuanzheng Fluid Control Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Zhongshan Tian, Jun Yuan, Shaochuan Lai, Bo Wang, Changqun Yang, Yulong Feng, Long Zhong, Zhenning Yang
  • Patent number: 10890107
    Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, includes a turbine; a bypass line fluidly arranged parallel to the turbine; and a cross section adjustment element for adjusting a flow cross section of the bypass line, wherein the cross section adjustment element being configured as a ball valve having a valve housing, two bearing shells arranged in the valve housing and a valve element. The valve element is floatingly supported in the valve housing and arranged between the two bearing shells with a tolerance in a direction which is angled with respect to a rotation axis of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Marko Lindner, Franz Bäumel, Maximilian Köhnlein, Dominik Simon
  • Patent number: 10823292
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve body, a valve rod, a valve seat, and a valve core assembly. The valve core assembly is mounted inside the valve body and includes a valve core. The valve core is articulated to the valve body, and the valve core assembly further includes a drive member, a positioning member, and a flexible member. The positioning member is mounted on the valve core such that it may move relative to same. The flexible member is mounted between the positioning member and the valve core; thus the drive member has a separable fitting relationship with the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Zhengwei Fang
  • Patent number: 10436329
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing defining therein a channel, a valve seat on an inner surface of the housing at a middle of the channel, a valve body member seated on and unseated from the valve seat to close and open the channel, and a stem spaced from the valve seat and rotatable around a first axis parallel with an opening surface of the valve seat. The valve body member and the stem respectively have a restricting hole and a restricting projection mutually slidably engageable to form a cam mechanism. The cam mechanism, in conjunction with rotation of the stem, reciprocates the valve body member between the seated position and the unseated position, and rotates the valve body member to be in a posture along a flow direction of a fluid flowing through the housing at the unseated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: IHARA SCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Suzuki, Masaji Nagao
  • Patent number: 10408352
    Abstract: A flow control valve comprising a valve seat provided with a valve hole and a seat surface, a valve element formed with a sealing surface corresponding to the seat surface, and a rotary shaft to which the valve element is integrally provided, the central axis of the rotary shaft being arranged eccentrically toward the radial direction of the valve hole from the central axis of the valve hole, and the sealing surface being arranged eccentrically toward the direction in which the central axis of the valve element extends from the central axis of the rotary shaft. The flow control valve has a valve element movement direction restriction member for stopping rotation of the valve element, and thereafter moving the valve element toward the valve seat while also relatively rotating the valve element about the eccentric axis eccentric from the central axis of the rotary shaft, relative to the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Fukui, Mamoru Yoshioka, Naruto Ito, Takashige Inagaki, Kasumi Mishima
  • Patent number: 10260651
    Abstract: A butterfly valve includes a valve body-side valve seat section, a valve box-side valve seat section, and a valve movement mechanism. The valve movement mechanism includes a cam groove, a cam projection, and a reverse key. The valve movement mechanism moves the valve body in an extending direction of the flow passage along with rotation of the valve shaft between a blocking position and an open position. One of the valve body-side valve seat section and the valve box-side valve seat section is formed of a laminated material composed of alternatingly stacked plates made of metal and plates made of expanded graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd., Okano Valve Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kawahara, Yoshihisa Kiyotoki, Takayoshi Nakashima, Keisuke Sakemura, Yoshitomo Kanemura, Yukio Imoto
  • Patent number: 10209154
    Abstract: An in-line process fluid pressure transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes a process fluid connector configured to couple to a source of process fluid. A plug is coupled to the process fluid connector and has a passageway configured to convey fluid to a distal end of the plug. A pressure sensor subassembly is coupled to the plug at a weld. The pressure sensor subassembly has a pressure sensor operably coupled to the distal end of the passageway such that the pressure sensor reacts to process fluid pressure. The plug includes a sidewall encircling the weld. Transmitter electronics are coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to measure an electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and provide a process fluid pressure value based on the measured electrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Strei, Charles R. Willcox, Blake T. Petersen, David A. Broden
  • Patent number: 10132414
    Abstract: A vacuum valve improving product performance of a packing ring to extend a replacement period of the packing ring is disclosed. As an opening and closing driving guide groove including a protruding groove section and first and second inclined groove sections is defined in each of both side surfaces of a driving block, and an L-motion roller inserted into and moving along the opening and closing driving guide groove is provided on an L-motion block, when the L-motion roller is disposed at an end of the first inclined groove section, one side surface of a valve blade closes an inlet, and when the L-motion roller is disposed at an end of the second inclined groove section, one side surface of the valve blade closely contacts an inner surface of the housing. The packing ring provided on a closing surface of the valve blade is blocked from contacting air or fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PRESYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bae-Jin Kim, Ki Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 9995398
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having an annular sealing surface, and a rotary shaft having an axis parallel to a radial direction of the valve element and offset from the center of a valve hole in a radial direction thereof. The sealing surface is positioned eccentrically from the axis toward an extending direction of an axis of the valve element. The valve element rotates about the axis of the rotary shaft between a fully-closed position in which the sealing surface is in surface contact with the seat surface and a fully-open position in which the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. Simultaneously with start of rotation of the valve element from the fully-closed position, the sealing surface starts to separate from the seat surface and also move along rotation path about the axis of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Misumi, Sunao Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9951876
    Abstract: A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Asanuma, Sunao Kitamura, Hiroshi Misumi
  • Patent number: 9791053
    Abstract: A ball valve with offset straight through flow is provided. The ball valve has a housing having an inlet and an outlet and an internal cavity. A non-spherical ball valve member is positioned within the internal cavity. The valve member is mechanically coupled to a valve stem extending from the internal cavity to an exterior of the housing such that rotation of the valve stem results in a like rotation of the valve member. The ball valve has a fully closed position wherein fluid flow therethrough is prevented. The ball valve member also has a fully opened position where fluid flow therethrough is allowed. The ball valve can transition from the fully closed position to the frilly opened position and vice versa with a rotation of the valve member of less than or equal to about forty-five degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9625039
    Abstract: An electric motor driven valve for use in gas meters, has at least one valve unit (V) with a valve body and a valve element, a drive unit (A) and a connection unit (S). The units (V, A, S) can be connected to each other and separated from each other, in a modular manner. The valve element is a spherical or cylindrical valve element that is sealed relative to the valve body by means of only one sealing element, which is preferably a lip seal. The valve body has two recesses in which the valve element is rotatably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventors: Joerg Endt, Joerg Gassmann, Majid Bakhshi, Torsten Ettrich
  • Patent number: 9458939
    Abstract: A butterfly valve has a circular plate-shaped valve element, a pair of support shafts, a pair of support shaft moving units, and a drive shaft. The valve element is seated on and removed from the valve seat from below. The drive shaft drives and rotates the support shafts. As the support shafts are rotated by the drive shaft, the valve element is rotated and inverted. The support shaft moving units include decentered shafts that are rotatably supported by casings and in which the support shafts are respectively inserted in a decentered state, and air cylinders configured to apply a force to the support shafts in the upward and downward direction. When the valve element is seated on or removed from the valve seat, the valve element is moved in the upward and downward direction in a horizontal posture as the air cylinders operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA POWREX
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hotta, Takashi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9279505
    Abstract: A valve core assembly and a valve adopting the valve core assembly. The valve core assembly comprises a valve core (4) and a transmission member (7) having a common axis, and a sliding ejector pin (6) arranged along an axis perpendicular to the common axis. The valve core assembly is disposed inside a valve body (1) and is rotatable about the common axis upon engaging with the valve body (1). The valve core (4) has one concave portion, and the transmission member (7) is at least partially placed inside the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HONGY AN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fang Yuan, Zuocheng Qian, Kai Gong, Qingxin Liao
  • Patent number: 9151653
    Abstract: A gas meter with integrated gas shut-off valve has a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A device to record the gas flow, a meter mechanism, a gas shut-off valve and optionally a pressure reducer are positioned in a gas flow path between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The gas shut-off valve is an electrically operated valve with a spherical or cylindrical valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventors: Joerg Endt, Joerg Gassmann, Majid Bakhshi, Torsten Ettrich
  • Patent number: 8911688
    Abstract: A microvalve for controlling fluid flows, and a sealing device for sealing cavities in a microfluidic system, particularly in a lab-on-a-chip system, and a method for the production thereof. A sealing surface of a valve body, or a sealing element, respectively, rests on a sealing surface of a substrate and is pressed against the sealing surface of the substrate in a fluid-tight manner by means of a clamping element. The clamping element and/or the valve body, or the sealing element, respectively, are at least partially elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Gransee, Eva Schaeffer, Klaus-Stefan Drese, Silvio Kraus, Tobias Baier, Felix Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8590501
    Abstract: An intake manifold assembly is disclosed that utilizes a barrel valve apparatus comprised of segments and connectors. The barrel valve apparatus and its housing component can be tapered and flexible. A protrusion such as a draft can be used to seal the performance of the barrel valve apparatus without a seal. Openings in the barrel valve apparatus can possess an integrated bellmouth shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Managed Programs LLC
    Inventors: Taehwan Kim, Seunghyun Jang
  • Patent number: 8479771
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a diverter valve system includes a valve body defining an internal chamber having at least first, second and third ports, and a first valve seat associated with the first port and a second valve seat associated with the second port. A valve shaft structure includes an internal shaft portion positioned within the internal chamber, the valve shaft structure configured for rotation about a valve axis through a range of motion. A diverter structure includes a diverter face portion configured to seat against the first valve seat when in a first rotational position and against the second valve seat when in a second position, and a mounting portion configured to mount on the internal shaft portion of the valve shaft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: G-G Distribution and Development Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Graham J. Campbell, Luis E. Fuentes, Jason W. Hillyard
  • Patent number: 8403293
    Abstract: A ball valve (10) for sealing a conduit (12) is described. The ball valve includes a housing having a throughbore and a valve seat. An apertured ball element (18) is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (38) between a throughbore open and a throughbore closed position. The apertured ball element (18) has a first portion (20) and a second portion (22) coupled together which are rotatable and moveable relative to each other. The first portion has a sealing surface for engaging with the valve seat. In use, in the throughbore closed position, the second portion is moveable relative to the first portion to axially displace the first portion from the axis of rotation towards the valve seat such that the sealing surface on the first portion of the apertured ball forms a seal with valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Enovate Systems Limited
    Inventors: Gavin David Cowie, Jeffrey Charles Edwards
  • Patent number: 8042569
    Abstract: A fuel selector valve (100) in communication with at least first and second fuel tanks and an engine is provided. The fuel selector valve (100) includes a drive system (106), and a fuel draw valve (102) coupled to the drive system (106). The fuel draw valve (102) includes a first fuel tank draw port (108) adapted to be coupled to the first fuel tank, a second fuel tank draw port (110) adapted to be coupled to the second fuel tank, and an engine draw port (112) adapted to be coupled to the engine. The fuel selector valve (100) further includes a first closure element (120) operably coupled to the drive system (106). The first closure element (120) is selectively displaceable between a first position, wherein the first closure element (120) sealingly engages the first fuel tank draw port (108), and a second position, wherein the first closure element (120) sealingly engages the second fuel tank draw port (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Norgren G.T. Development Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Morris
  • Patent number: 7775502
    Abstract: A ball valve having a reduced sized is provided, that includes a first shaft that extends into a housing accommodating a valve body along a rotational axis of the valve body and is connected to the valve body; and a second shaft that extends into the housing to be oppositely located to the first shaft and is rotatable about an axis line, and has a pressing part that projects radially outwardly from at least a part of the outer circumference of the second shaft. The ball valve is capable of instantly and securely opening and closing communication passages, and changing the direction of fluid flow, while being capable of minimizing the wearing of a seat member for shutting off the communication passages, by having a valve body rotatable while being kept out of contact or substantial contact with the seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hisaka Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kozi Ohta
  • Patent number: 7757512
    Abstract: An ice dispenser has a duct cap and a controller to control movement of the duct cap. The controller includes a guide, a first control surface, and a second control surface. A first frictional force between the guide and the first control surface is greater than a second frictional force between the guide and the second control surface. The first frictional force controls the duct cap to move at a first rate and the second friction force controls the duct cap to move at a second rate faster than the first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyong Bae Park, Sung Jhee, Dong Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7673469
    Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice dispenser includes a spiral type time delay unit for controlling the opening and closing of an ice duct. A duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator. A rotating shaft of the time delay unit is operably connected to the duct cap. Foldaway catching members on a rotating shaft intersect with a threaded cylindrical body. The catching members fold back to allow a quick opening of the ice duct. The catching members then interact with the threaded cylindrical body as the ice duct closes to delay the closing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyong Bae Park, Nam Soo Cho, Dong Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7637477
    Abstract: A gate valve apparatus of a vacuum processing system includes a surrounding wall that defines a transfer space and has a transfer port. A first valve seat is defined around the transfer port. A valve body is movable within the surrounding wall to open/close the transfer port. A first seal member is disposed on the valve body to engage with the first valve seat. A maintenance port is formed in the surrounding wall to perform maintenance of the first seal member. A second valve seat is defined around the maintenance port. A second seal member is disposed around the first seal member on the valve body to engage with the second valve seat. A maintenance cover is detachably attached outside to close the maintenance port. A driving mechanism drives the valve body within the surrounding wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tsutomu Hiroki
  • Publication number: 20090159827
    Abstract: A rotary knife gate valve includes a gate which rotates above a process flow axis within a pipeline. The valve includes a valve body defining a flow path having in inlet and an outlet and a knife gate channel. A shaft that has a longitudinal axis is positioned within an upper portion of the valve body. The gate has a first end connected to the shaft and positioned within the knife gate channel when the valve is in a closed position and rotationally displaced from the channel when the shaft rotates perpendicular to the shaft axis to open the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: TYCO VALVES & CONTROLS LP
    Inventors: Johnny W. Ellis, David L. Gambetta, John W. Muran
  • Patent number: 7281700
    Abstract: A gate valve apparatus includes a valve body to open and close a target object transfer port in a vacuum processing system. The valve body is reciprocated in a first direction relative to the transfer port. A support rod is connected to the valve body and extends in the first direction. A driving mechanism is configured to drive the valve body through the support rod. The driving mechanism includes a movable shaft structure reciprocated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first cam structure coupling the movable shaft structure to the support rod includes a portion that converts reciprocation movement of the movable shaft structure in the second direction into reciprocation movement of the support rod in the first direction. A swing drive is configured to swing the support rod and valve body about the central axis of the movable shaft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tsutomu Hiroki
  • Patent number: 7267323
    Abstract: A ball valve has a valve body having a chamber, aligned inlet and outlet passages providing flow therethrough, and an access passage communicating with the chamber. A replaceable cartridge assembly is seated in the chamber and includes a generally spherical ball having a flow passage therethrough alignable with the inlet and outlet passages, an inlet valve seat, and an outlet valve seat. A cartridge body member extends about and couples the ball and the valve seats. A resiliently deflectable biasing member biases the inlet valve seat and the ball against the outlet seat. A resiliently deflectable biasing member acts upon the inlet end of the cartridge body and a deflector is movable between a first position in which the biasing member is substantially free from deflection and a second position in which the biasing member is deflected to bias the cartridge body and the outlet valve seat against the wall of the valve body chamber to effect a seat-to-body seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Conval, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. O'Callaghan
  • Patent number: 6782912
    Abstract: In a throttle assembly for a flowing medium having an inlet and outlet and having two throttle devices disposed between them coaxially to one another, which each have at least one flow window for the passage of a flow of the medium flowing from the inlet to the outlet and are rotatable relative to one another for controlling the flow of the medium, in order to avoid friction and wear between the throttle devices and to assure a closing position without leakage flows, the throttle devices are embodied as hollow cones, with a cone jacket including at least one flow window, and the cones are disposed concentrically to one another in such a way that in the closing region of the throttle assembly, they are displaced axially toward one another by displacement means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Sam Soubjaki
  • Patent number: 6681793
    Abstract: A top-entry ball valve assembly that includes top and bottom camming plates which are coupled to top and bottom shoulders of the ball valve member. The camming plates include a first pair of opposing camming corner-surfaces to displace the spring-biased valve seat from the perimeter of the ball valve member when it is rotated between open and closed positions. The plates further include a second pair of opposing camming corner-surfaces to fully retract the spring-biased valve seat when being serviced so that the retraction tool can be inserted to hold the seats in place with little or no damage to the forward end of the seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Jeff Mike
  • Patent number: 6397664
    Abstract: A method for detecting leakage in a bellow-type flow control valve and an apparatus for use in such detection are described. In the method, a leakage detection device can be connected in line and in fluid communication between a shut-off valve and a bellow-type flow control valve. The leakage detection device includes a mass flow controller and a recording means for detecting any possible leakage of a facility gas that is used to open or close the bellow-type flow control valve into a process gas conduit through a defective bellow. The apparatus may be advantageously equipped with quick disconnect fittings such that it can be used for checking a large number of bellow-type flow control valves that are normally used on a semiconductor fabrication apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Hung-Ju Chien, Chin-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 6186174
    Abstract: Multi-port valve assemblies with, typically, two-piece housings are disclosed. Particularly useful in connection with swimming pools and associated water pumps, the assemblies avoid reliance on an elongated handle to effect rotation of the internal structure of the valve. Instead, the assemblies utilize a knob—which users need not lift—coupled to a post in which an elongated slot is formed. Doing so avoids breakage problems associated with use of elongated handles while reducing wear of internal seals. Each valve assembly additionally may include a cam having non-semicircular, asymmetrically-shaped recesses into which followers attached to a shaft passing through the elongated slot are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Muskin Leisure Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Yurchision, Alan W. Brownlie, Fred A. Marconi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6026845
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axially-rotated valve which permits increased flow rates and lower pressure drop (characterized by a lower loss coefficient) by using an axial eccentric split venturi with two portions where at least one portion is rotatable with respect to the other portion. The axially-rotated valve typically may be designed to avoid flow separation and/or cavitation at full flow under a variety of conditions. Similarly, the valve is designed, in some embodiments, to produce streamlined flow within the valve. An axially aligned outlet may also increase the flow efficiency. A typical cross section of the eccentric split venturi may be non-axisymmetric such as a semicircular cross section which may assist in both throttling capabilities and in maximum flow capacity using the design of the present invention. Such a design can include applications for freeze resistant axially-rotated valves and may be fully-opened and fully-closed in one-half of a complete rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Bighorn Valve, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Walrath, William R. Lindberg, Robert K. Burgess, James LaBelle
  • Patent number: 5755427
    Abstract: A self adjusting ball valve assembly having a ball valve body, a shaft assembly or shaft mounted to the ball valve body, a spherical segment carried by the shaft, and elements for adjusting the position of the shaft. The ball valve body has a port for fluid transit therethrough and a first through passage, located concentrically about a body axis. The shaft rotatably mounts through the first through passage along a shaft axis, which is maintained parallel but offset from the body axis. The spherical segment mounts to the shaft and radially extends from the shaft axis within the ball valve body, and includes a portion for sealing engagement with the port, upon rotation of the shaft through a predefined angle. The adjustment elements automatically adjust the offset between the body axis and the shaft axis to enhance the sealing engagement between the spherical segment and the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: NAF AB
    Inventor: John Koskinas
  • Patent number: 5611516
    Abstract: In a preferred ball-valve construction, a valve body has spaced inlet and outlet ports on an axis of flow that is controlled by an interposed ball; the ball is rotatable about a body-fixed axis which intersects the axis of flow at the geometric center of the ball. In the closed condition of the valve, an annular valve-seat member associated with one of the ports has circumferentially sealed contact with the ball. The annular valve-seat member is guided for axial displaceability into and out of its engageability with the ball, and actuation of the valve utilized coordination of valve-seat displacement with ball rotation such that valve-seat engagement with the ball is only for the closed condition of the valve, and such that, valve-opening rotation of the ball can occur only while the annular valve-seat member is in axial-clearance relation with the ball. Various embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Marotta Scientific Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Reinicke, Joseph M. Cardin, Arnold Dalene
  • Patent number: 5542644
    Abstract: An improved plug type valve of the type having seat and reseat retractable seals, the plug assembly having a tapered faceted cylindrical plug with a waterway therethrough. A first pair of shut-off slips is positioned on the plug for axial movement, relative to the plug, wherein the plug surfaces adjacent the shut-off slips are tapered for retracting the shut-off slips as the plug is moved vertically in a first direction relative to the inlet and the outlet of the valve. A pair of thru-bore slips are positioned on the plug adjacent the waterway for relative axial movement therebetween. The plug surfaces adjacent the thru-bore slips are tapered for retracting the thru-bore slips as the plug is moved vertically in a second direction, relative to the inlet and outlet of the valve. The thru-bore slips have a thru-bore aperture to permit flow through the waterway without leakage around the plug and thus the interior of the valve body, when the waterway is aligned with the inlet and outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Johnston Pump/General Valve, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5342028
    Abstract: An expanding valve assembly which includes a closure member supporting at least one segment supported on one side thereof for movement toward a valve seating surface upon movement of the closure member in selective response to valve stem movement. Each segment carries two spaced-apart, parallel wedging-camming surfaces configured to cooperate with complementary spaced-apart, parallel wedging-camming surfaces on the closure member to effect expansion of the segment during closure of the valve. In one embodiment a lift-and-turn mechanism provides selective rotational and axial movement of the closure member during different intervals of movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Venkatesh R. Nevrekar
  • Patent number: 5330157
    Abstract: A rotary disk valve has a valve body provided with an annular valve seat section defining a central opening to be removably closed by a valve disk. The valve disk is supported by a drive assembly which includes a drive shaft mounted on the valve body and supporting a drive link for rotation with the shaft. The link mounts a valve disk support shaft which extends slidably through a slot in a bracket secured to the valve disk. The bracket mounts a guide cam follower pin arranged to engage a guide cam secured to the valve body. The arrangement of drive shaft, valve disk support shaft, bracket slot and guide cam and follower is such that rotation of the drive shaft through 180.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Hull Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Dern, David L. Ho
  • Patent number: 5265845
    Abstract: A split ball closure member is disposed in the central chamber of a valve. The closure member includes a pair of sealing ball halves each having a substantially spherical sealing surface adapted to seal against annular seats in the valve body around the flow passages, and flow portions therethrough. A head member is mounted on the end of the valve operating stem extending into the chamber, for rotation with the stem. The split ball halves are pivotably mounted to the head member to be pivotable about the mounting means alternately to separate the halves from one another or to collapse them toward one another. The closure member is rotatable with the stem and head member alternately to place the flow port portions in register with the seats to open the valve, or to align the sealing surfaces with the seats to close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Maxie Gilliam
  • Patent number: 5263685
    Abstract: A valve seat arrangement sealing against a valve core in a valve, particularly for a ball valve, having an inner ring with a first deflectable sealing lip and an outer ring with a second deflectable sealing lip. The first deflectable lip is arranged to protrude forwardly to make initial contact with a closing valve core and once deflected, the second lip is arranged to land against said closing valve core forming a secondary seal. The first sealing lip and the second sealing lip are fashioned having selectively angled beveled surfaces facing the core. The invention provides an effective sealing arrangement for high temperature service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Orbit Valve Company
    Inventors: Don Winnike, Filiberto R. Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5259590
    Abstract: Valve such as a ball valve with a metal seat ring assembly comprising an outer ring seated in the valve body and an inner ring seated in the outer ring. The outer ring is formed with a lip projecting inwardly and presenting a sealing surface for contact with the valve closure member. The inner ring is formed with a lip behind which is an annular groove which permits flexing of such lip. The inner ring is seated within the outer ring. There is a small clearance between the lip and the outer ring which causes sealing between the closure member and the inner ring following by sealing between the closure member and the outer ring. The configuration and clearances of such lips is such that in initial closing the valve closure member contacts the lip of the inner ring causing it to flex and on final closing it contacts the lip of the outer ring causing it to flex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Grove Valve & Regulator Company
    Inventor: James F. Chambers
  • Patent number: 5253843
    Abstract: The retractable-gasket ball valve includes sealing means fixed on the valve body, and including, in particular, a gasket for providing sealing between the shutter member and the valve body when the shutter member is in a closed position, and further including a slide for causing said sealing means to move between a retracted position which is also a rest position in which the sealing means is spaced spart from the spherical shutter member, and a contact position in which the gasket is pressed against the shutter member. The valve includes a first resilient element of low stiffness which tends to separate the sealing means from the shutter member when the valve is brought to its open position, and a second resilient element of relatively greater stiffness which is put under tension by the slide a few degrees before the mechanical closure position of the valve when the gasket is in contact with the shutter member, and which exerts control pressure on said gasket in contact with the shutter member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventor: Patrick Garceau
  • Patent number: 5205535
    Abstract: An expanding gate valve assembly which includes a gate, a stem for actuating the gate, a segment mounted on one side of the gate, or in an alternate, bidirectional embodiment, two segments with one segment movably mounted on each opposite side of the gate for movement toward seating surfaces within the valve body. Each segment carries two spaced, parallel wedging-camming surfaces which are of a configuration to cooperate with complementary spaced, parallel wedging-camming surfaces on the gate to effect lateral expansion of the segment or segments during closure or opening of the valve. The spacing of the wedging-camming surfaces or legs is such that the movable segments are stably supported during their expansion movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Venkatesh R. Nevrekar
  • Patent number: 5193780
    Abstract: A low friction ball valve used for instance in an automatic shutoff valve system. The valve mechanism includes a spring loaded ball valve normally latched in the open position which is unlatched and hence closes in one version by the contraction of a BioMetal.TM. wire which activates a torsion spring to rotate the ball valve. When the valve is open, the ball inside the valve rests on rollers so that the ball is held slightly away from the seal of the valve located in the valve body. Closing the valve causes the rollers to snap into detents in the ball, and the ball then comes into firm contact with the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Robert C. Franklin
  • Patent number: 5118078
    Abstract: A fully sealing butterfly valve throttles flow rates through a flow channel and completely ceases flow. A throttle plate rotates into a close position and then moves axially to seat against a seal. The axial movement directly corresponds to rotation of an actuator shaft to improve valve control for the entire range of throttle plate movement from a full open position to a seal position. Additionally, the present butterfly valve employs a self-centering throttle plate adapted to float within the valve central bore. The throttle plate adjusts its positioning about an annular seal to achieve an effective seal entirely around its circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Tylan General, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Younker
  • Patent number: 5117858
    Abstract: A top entry ball valve comprises a housing having an interior cavity sufficiently large to receive a conventional ball and conventional seat rings through an opening in the housing. After the ball/seat package has been inserted into the cavity, a cam arrangement is used to axially load the seat rings. The cam arrangement comprises a pair of circular cams, each having an undulating annular surface, which are disposed in the housing cavity adjacent one of the seat rings with the respective undulating annular surfaces of the cams being in closely adjacent facing relation to one another. After assembly of the valve, one of the circular cams is rotated relative to the other cam to vary the rotational positions of the undulating annular surfaces relative to one another thereby to vary the axial positions of the circular cams relative to one another and relative to the ball and seat rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Worcester Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Osthues, Brian J. Caprera
  • Patent number: 5108073
    Abstract: A butterfly valve of the type wherein a valve stem is prevented from sliding engagement with a valve seat is disclosed which assures more complete shaft sealing without causing any inconvenience to the controllability of the valve body and valve stem and can thus advantageously prevent fluid from leaking outwardly of a valve casing. A drive shaft rotatable and reciprocable in longitudinal directions of the valve stem is connected to an outer end of the valve stem. The valve casing extends so as to cover the drive shaft, and a packing member is disposed between the valve casing and the drive shaft to provide a shaft seal for the drive shaft. The rotation of and reciprocating movement of the drive shaft connected to the butterfly valve are performed by a simple drive mechanism. That is, the rotation of and the reciprocation of the drive shaft are accomplished only through rotation of a control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Osaka Kikiseizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Adachi
  • Patent number: 5080140
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating and air conditioning system for vehicles incorporating a rotary air valve mounted in a housing for limited arcuate movement with respect to a pivot axis to adjust the amount of opening of two adjacent air flow windows to thereby control the routing and quantity of air flow through the heater core and a heater core bypass. The rotary valve is moved in a track radially spaced above peripheral edges in the housing defining the windows to eliminate frictional drag and wear of the sealing face of the air valve as well as the load on the motor or mechanical actuator. The valve is positioned at an infinitely variable number of positions for partial opening of the windows and a camming system is used to move the valve without drag into or from sealing positions with respect to the two windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Ostrand, Donald R. Baxa, Carl S. Wize
  • Patent number: 5005805
    Abstract: A lift-turn valve actuator is provided for tapered plug valve and slip assemblies that accomplishes vertical movement of the plug and retraction of the slips from sealing engagement with the valve body prior to rotation of the plug member 90.degree. to its open position. The valve actuator assembly includes inner fitting inner and outer sleeve members each having cam slots formed therein with the cam follower of a valve actuating stem being engaged with both cam slots. Rotation of the outer sleeve member with respect to the static inner sleeve imparts initial vertical movement to the actuator stem, valve stem and valve plug for slip retraction as an initial component of movement followed by simultaneous rotational and upward movement of the plug member until the plug member has rotated 90.degree. to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Daniel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene A. Morris, Deepak C. Patel, James E. Sternenberg