Non-reciprocating Actuator Patents (Class 251/266)
  • Patent number: 12196332
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body, a bonnet coupled to the valve body, a stem within the stem bore, a bonnet cap axially aligned with the bonnet along a stem bore axis, and a valve drive train coupled to the stem. The valve assembly also includes a first eutectic ring, positioned between a bonnet cap interior surface and an upper shelf of the valve drive train, the first eutectic ring blocking axially upward movement of the valve drive train when in a solid state, and a second eutectic ring, positioned between a lower bonnet cap interior surface and a lower shelf of the valve drive train to fill a gap, wherein the bonnet cap is configured to move in an axially downward direction after the first and second eutectic ring transition to a flowable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Fabio Tanaka, Lloyd Cheatham, Javier Garcia
  • Patent number: 12078262
    Abstract: An operation valve includes a valve formed into a rod shape and including a barrel portion in which a flow path for a fluid is provided, a head portion in which an inlet of the flow path is provided, and a leg portion in which an outlet of the flow path is provided, a housing body housing the barrel portion, and an operation dial screw coupled to the housing body and moving the valve in an extension direction of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: FUMOTO GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 12038101
    Abstract: A water valve that does not include a stem or handwheel that can calcify and become hard to operate. The valve includes a stopper within a body running perpendicular to the flow of water that can be pushed inward to stop the flow of water or pulled outward to allow the flow of water. The stopper is connected to a handle that a user can push or pull depending on the action to be taken. The use of the stopper and handle in a push/pull arrangement provides an easy manner of operation as it does not require any turning of a handwheel or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Inventor: Ernest R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11761285
    Abstract: The method of preventing pressures higher than a predetermined pressure in the front ram seals of blowout preventer rams comprising providing blowout preventer rams suitable for sealing across the bore of a blowout preventer stack, providing seals on the blowout preventer rams which sealingly isolate the bore area below or upstream of the blowout preventer rams from the area above or downstream of the blowout preventer rams, providing a passageway from the front to the rear of the blowout preventer rams to vent the upstream or higher pressures to the rear of the blowout preventer rams, and communicating the resilient seal material in the front ram seals with a pressure release piston which will relieve the pressure at the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Benton Frederick Baugh
  • Patent number: 11668409
    Abstract: A stepper motor proportionally controlled bellows valve system comprising: a valve manifold; one or more stepper motors; and one or more bellows valves. The one or more bellows valves may comprise a bellows, a sealing washer, and a profile washer. The sealing washer is configured to removeably engage with a vacuum orifice rim. The profile washers are configured to stick into the valve orifice, such that the profile washer defines a flow through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Digivac Company
    Inventors: James Gentile, Tom Bassi, Tom Matthews, William Lewental, Eugene Varshavsky
  • Patent number: 11629796
    Abstract: A vacuum valve includes a valve plate that covers an exhaust port of a vacuum chamber, and a poppet type actuator that drives the valve plate in an axial direction orthogonal to a surface of the vacuum chamber on which the exhaust port is provided. The actuator includes a shaft that is connected to the valve plate, a drive unit that is disposed side by side with the shaft in a radial direction of the shaft and includes a ball screw shaft and a drive source that rotates the ball screw shaft, and a connection part that connects the ball screw shaft and the shaft and moves in the axial direction together with the shaft to a position where the valve plate covers the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Emmanuel Vyers
  • Patent number: 11549602
    Abstract: The present application discloses a liquid seal method for on-off of gas pipeline and a device thereof, wherein a liquid-sealed U-shaped container being provided in the gas pipeline that requires to perform on-off control; a lifting mechanism using a leading screw controls the slider having a certain volume to immerse in or leave the liquid so as to raise or lower the liquid level. The U-shaped container has a structure with a wide top and a narrow bottom, the space of the U-shaped container is divided into two spaces with different sizes by a separating plate, and a liftable liquid-occupying device is located at the space having a larger volume; the upper and lower parts of the slider are tapered; and the driving device can be motor or hand wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: TIANJIN UNIVERSITY, GEORGIA TECH SHENZHEN INSTITUTE, TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tengfei Zhang, Tinglu Zhang, Guanyi Chen
  • Patent number: 11473698
    Abstract: A spool valve device includes: a housing with channels; a spool moving to change channel connection statuses; an electric actuator including an electric motor and linear-motion conversion mechanism, the motor rotating an output shaft by torque corresponding to a drive current supplied to the motor, the mechanism converting rotational output shaft movement into straight movement and applying thrust corresponding to the torque to the spool to change position; a biasing member applying biasing force to the spool against the actuator thrust; an angle detector detecting an motor output shaft angular position; a driving portion driving the motor by controlling drive current flow supplied to the motor based on a position command input and the angular position detected by the angle detector; and an abnormality determining portion calculating the spool position based on the detected angular position and determine presence or absence of operation spool abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Yukito Imamura, Kenjirou Hara, Masahiro Yamada, Keita Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11460113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum valve for the substantially gas-tight closure of an opening, comprising a closure element having a closure side and a coupling unit arranged on a rear side opposite the closure side, and a valve wall having valve seat surrounding the opening. The valve further comprises a linear drive unit enabling the closure element to be adjustable in at least two adjustment directions. The closure element is adjustable between an open position releasing the opening, an intermediate position pushed over the opening and a closed position closing the opening. The vacuum valve comprises a guide for the closure element associated with the opening. The closure element comprises a guide element interacting with the guide during an adjustment from the open position to the closed position and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Martin Netzer
  • Patent number: 11359730
    Abstract: A valve device includes: a valve device body including a valve seat; a diaphragm that is provided to cover a valve chamber; a stem; and a valve body portion that is inserted into a central portion of the diaphragm, and that is configured to open and close the fluid passage by approaching the valve seat and separating from the valve seat. The diaphragm includes a main diaphragm, and a support diaphragm positioned on an opposite side of the main diaphragm to the valve chamber side and provided in contact with the main diaphragm. A first terminal end portion on an inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm is fixed to the valve body portion. A second terminal end portion on an inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm is separated from the first terminal end portion on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakamura, Kenta Kondo, Tomohiro Nakata, Masahiko Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11339880
    Abstract: By preventing a twist of the diaphragm when assembled, various adverse effects arising from such a twist of the diaphragm are completely eliminated. Provided is a set of jigs for assembling a valve including a pair of above and below fixing jigs, a rotation-stop jig, and a fixing means: the rotation-stop jig is inserted and fixed to the above fixing jig in a non-rotational state; the fixing means fixes non-rotatably and attachably the rotation-stop jig and a bonnet of the valve to each other; a body of the valve is inserted and fixed to the below fixing jig in a non-rotational state; the bonnet and the body are fixed independently from each other in a non-rotational state, thereby preventing an outer periphery of a diaphragm from twisting in which a lower surface of an outer periphery of the bonnet and an outer seal part of the body are tightly attached to and hold the outer periphery of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: KITZ SCT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisanobu Iizuka
  • Patent number: 11287057
    Abstract: A Y-globe valve assembly includes a valve body having a neck portion defining a chamber with a circumferential wall and an integrated pressure relief passageway formed in the circumferential wall and communicating between the chamber and a flow passageway downstream of a valve port. A valve includes a core having an outer surface spaced radially inwardly from the circumferential wall of the valve body so as to define an annular space therebetween. The pressure relief passageway is in fluid communication between the annular space and the flow passageway upstream of the valve port when the valve is in at least the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Crane ChemPharma & Energy Corp.
    Inventor: Sudhir K. Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10876641
    Abstract: A diaphragm valve assembling method including steps through which a twist of the diaphragm when assembled is prevented: a step of inserting a bonnet which pressurizes an outer periphery of a diaphragm into a body having a valve seat provided to a valve chamber and the diaphragm arranged thereabove; a step of screwing a fastening nut to an opening and inserting the fastening nut to an outer periphery of the bonnet; a step of fixing a rotation-stop jig inserted through a through hole of the fastening nut and the bonnet via fixing means; and a step of fixing the body and the rotation-stop jig via a fixing jig and fastening the fastening nut, with the bonnet being in a non-rotational state, to tightly attach the bonnet to an outer seal part of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: KITZ SCT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisanobu Iizuka
  • Patent number: 10472169
    Abstract: A valve and associated components and methods, and a container including such a valve. The valve may be referred to as a non-rising stem gate valve. The valve includes a gate movable by a drive assembly to open and close the valve. The drive assembly includes a thrust bearing assembly configured to resist damage due to thrust force. The thrust bearing assembly can include a race threaded to a drive shaft of the drive assembly. The race can be pinned to the drive shaft by a roll pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Perimeter Solutions LP
    Inventors: Frank H. Parker, Jr., Robert J. Dodson, Jr., Darrell Clark Fee, Mark Willmore, Eric Linder, Brett Klaas, Nick Williams
  • Patent number: 10436347
    Abstract: A valve operator assembly is provided for a valve and includes a housing, an input member rotatably mounted with respect to the housing, and a transmission mechanism having a rotating screw provided with an outer thread and a translating nut surrounding and coaxial with the screw, the nut being provided with an inner thread, the transmission mechanism being adapted to convert rotation of the screw into axial translation of the nut. The input member is mounted on the rotating screw. The assembly further includes an outer translating sleeve radially disposed between the housing and the translating nut and adapted to be connected to the valve translating member of the valve. The outer translating sleeve is provided with an inner thread and is connected to the translating nut so as to slide relative to the housing when the rotating screw rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jerome Dubus, David Richardet
  • Patent number: 10342187
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a device for controlling discharge by a conduit. The device comprises a body, a mouth or a first portion attached to the body and a needle or a second portion attached to the body. The mouth and the needle are coaxial. The mouth receives an end portion of the conduit, such that when Areceived, an internal surface of the mouth is in contact with an external portion of the end portion of the conduit. The needle is arranged to be inserted into the received end portion of the conduit, such that an external surface of the needle is in contact with an internal surface of the end portion of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Gupta Narinder, Patil Narendra, Wayne Burt Douglas, B. Jain Ajit
  • Patent number: 10317099
    Abstract: A variable air volume diffuser and method of operation are disclosed. The system includes an energy harvesting device, a ring-shaped damper and a frame adapted to interface with the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Hirsch, Gary A. Minor, Makavan Hayes
  • Patent number: 10161528
    Abstract: Valve plugs having curved notches are described herein. An example valve plug includes a first section defining a first end, a second section defining a second end opposite the first end, and a third section located between the first and second sections, the third section including a curved notch formed inwardly from a periphery of the third section toward a longitudinal axis of the valve plug defined by the first, second and third sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Yanning Shen, Julian Adin Mann, III
  • Patent number: 10107413
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body with a flow passage intersected by a valve cavity. A valve member is axially movable in the valve cavity between a closed position and an open position, the valve member having an opening that registers with the flow passage when the valve member is in the open position. A valve stem is threadingly connected to the valve member, the valve stem rotatable to move the valve member between the closed position and the open position. A collar assembly is located within a slot of the valve member and circumscribes the valve stem, the collar assembly having an annular collar shoulder. The valve stem has an annular load shoulder sized to engage the collar shoulder, limiting axial movement of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control LP
    Inventors: Samuel Heung Yeung Cheng, Andrew Browne Helvenston, Keith M. Adams, Lloyd R. Cheatham, Travis Kyle McEvoy
  • Patent number: 10086135
    Abstract: A valve for controlling delivery of fluid includes a valve seat comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a conical well having an opening, a beveled surface and a bottom, and a valve membrane comprising a conical portion having a base and a tip. The conical portion is configured to fit within the conical well of the valve seat. The valve membrane is configured to fluidly connect the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the valve membrane is in an undeformed position and fluidly disconnect the fluid inlet from the fluid outlet when the valve membrane is in a radially deformed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Abal
  • Patent number: 9983594
    Abstract: A pressure independent control valve for controlling liquid flow includes a tubular body having an inlet duct and an outlet duct coaxial with each other, a central body arranged therebetween with an axis inclined with respect to the inlet and outlet ducts and including an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber coaxial with each other and communicating through an adjustment orifice, the upstream chamber and downstream chamber suitable for housing a first functional group defined by a control device for controlling the differential pressure between upstream of the orifice in correspondence of the upstream chamber and downstream of the orifice in correspondence with the outlet duct, and a second functional group coaxial to the first functional group and defined by an adjustment device suitable for increasing or decreasing the passage of fluid through the orifice, the device including axial actuation elements both rotationally operable and in axial translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: VIR VALVOINDUSTRIA ING. RIZZIO S.P.A.
    Inventor: Efrem Giubertoni
  • Patent number: 9664290
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a valve body defining a fluid flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet, a cage disposed in the fluid flow passageway, a plug disposed in the cage, a retainer collar coupled at an end of the plug, where an exterior surface of the retainer collar includes a first engagement surface having a first non-circular cross-section, and an anti-rotation collar coupled at an end of the cage, where the anti-rotation collar has a second engagement surface defining an aperture to receive the retainer collar, where the aperture has a second non-circular cross-section, where the engagement surfaces interact to inhibit rotation of the retainer collar and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Randall Scott Collison, Chad Michael Engle, Christine Rae Hodny
  • Patent number: 9506677
    Abstract: An electronic expansion valve comprising a screw rod and a motor provided with an output shaft. The output shaft is transmissively connected to the screw rod via a gear system. The gear system is supported on a gear base. The screw rod passes through the gear base. The electronic expansion valve also comprises a valve base provided with valve cavity and a motor housing arranged on the exterior of the motor. The gear base is further arranged within the valve cavity. The upper end part of the valve base is further connected to the lower end part of the motor housing. The structural design of the electronic expansion valve reduces the number of sealed parts for same, thus effectively lowering the probability of leakage and simplifying the assembly structure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Lv, Ze Yuan
  • Patent number: 9234333
    Abstract: An anti-freeze faucet includes a housing engaged into a receptacle, a check valve device engaged into the housing, a cap mounted on the housing and having an opening communicating with the check valve device, a casing attached to the cap and having a space communicating with the opening of the cap and having one or more outlet orifices, a non-circular follower is slidably engaged in a non-circular chamber of the casing for guiding the follower to move up and down along the casing, a plug is attached to the follower for blocking and opening the cap, and a shank is engaged in the casing and has a threaded segment engaged with the follower for moving the follower along the casing and for moving the plug to engage with the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Chih Han Ko
  • Patent number: 9149591
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electronic flow selector of a fluid flow control system may be used to select a flow rate of a fluid. The fluid flow control system may be operated in an electronic mode and a manual mode. When the system is in a manual mode, mechanical backup flow selectors may be used to select the flow rate of a fluid. The mechanical backup flow selectors may include a position detection system to determine the flow rate of a fluid. Flow selectors of the flow control system may be rotationally engaged with the valve shafts of each needle valve, while allowing them to translate axially. The flow selectors may remain axially fixed while the valve shafts are axially translated with respect to the needle valves in a fluid flow control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Jawidzik, Xiong Zhibin, Chen Peitao, Wang Gongmin, Cai Kun
  • Patent number: 9016320
    Abstract: The present invention is an intelligent flow control valve which may be inserted into the flow coming out of a pipe and activated to provide a method to stop, measure, and meter flow coming from the open or possibly broken pipe. The intelligent flow control valve may be used to stop the flow while repairs are made. Once repairs have been made, the valve may be removed or used as a control valve to meter the amount of flow from inside the pipe. With the addition of instrumentation, the valve may also be used as a variable area flow meter and flow controller programmed based upon flowing conditions. With robotic additions, the valve may be configured to crawl into a desired pipe location, anchor itself, and activate flow control or metering remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Anthony R Kelley
  • Patent number: 8939173
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a body having a body bore oriented coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the body and a seat member extending into the bore. A valve member is slidably disposed in the bore and oriented coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the body. The valve member includes a non-circular geometrically shaped head having a bore. A drive adapter includes a head receiving cavity slidingly receiving the geometrically shaped head of the valve member and preventing axial rotation of the valve member. A stepper motor is connected to the drive adapter, the stepper motor incrementally rotating a shaft engaged with the bore of the valve member. First and second equal diameter pistons of the valve member provide pressure balanced valve member operating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Yahr, Kevin C. Williams
  • Patent number: 8857791
    Abstract: The invention provides a balancing valve. The balancing valve (1) is provided with a body (2) that has two connector pipes (3 and 4). In the body (2) a seat (5) is housed which is closed with a head (6) mounted on a stem (7) where the stem (7) is seated in a gland (9). Outside the gland (9) there is a knob (10) engaged with the stem (7). The head (6) is made of plastics and it is connected with an adjustment ring (12) which is made of plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Zetkama Spólka Akcyjna
    Inventors: Marcin Rogalka, Andrzej Lisowski, Boguslaw Deren, Edmund Golabek
  • Patent number: 8844902
    Abstract: The invention discloses a valve housing (1) having a main bore (6) and at least one connecting bore or secondary bore (12, 20, 22, 36), the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the main bore. The connecting or secondary bores end at a side wall limiting the main bore, wherein the side wall has different material thicknesses being distributed at the circumference thereof. According to the invention, to reduce material stresses the valve housing has tension reducing grooves (14, 26, 28, 34) in the ending regions, said grooves being integrally molded into the side wall of the main bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Muehlhoff, Christoph Eisele
  • Publication number: 20140231685
    Abstract: A device for a valve actuator is described, the valve actuator being provided with a spindle nut surrounding a portion of an actuator spindle and engaging an external threaded portion arranged on the actuator spindle, the spindle nut being axially fixed relative to the actuator spindle, and the actuator spindle being in rotation-preventing engagement with an end cap or an actuator housing, and the spindle nut being connected via transmission means to a first driving motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Electrical Subsea & Drilling AS
    Inventor: Egil Eriksen
  • Publication number: 20140097368
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a flow regulating valve comprises a valve seat (1) and a casing (2). A motor (21) provided inside the casing (2) is connected to a screw rod (3) through the output shaft of the motor. The screw rod is connected to a screw nut (4) connecting with a valve rod (5) and the inner part of the valve rod (5) is provided with a mounting groove (51). The screw nut (4) is in clearance fit with the mounting groove (51) along the radical direction, and the inner wall of the mounting groove (51) is provided with an annular limiting groove (52). A limiting element (53) provided in the annular limiting groove (52) limits the position along the axial direction of the screw nut (4) and is in clearance fit with the outside of the screw nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Zhejiang Sanhua Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Lv, Xianrang Wei, Qingyong Wang
  • Publication number: 20130240052
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a valve assembly may include a housing having a orifice defining a flow path through the housing and a valve closure element positioned within the housing configured to control fluid flow through the housing. The valve closure element may include a side surface and drive teeth extending along at least a portion of the side surface. The valve closure element may be selectively rotatable about a rotation axis between an open position, wherein fluid flows through the orifice, and a closed position, wherein fluid flow is substantially obstructed by the valve closure element. The valve assembly may also include a worm gear assembly positioned and configured to selectively engage or mesh with one or more of the drive teeth such that rotation of the worm gear assembly may rotate the valve closure element between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Troy J. Bengtzen
  • Patent number: 8474792
    Abstract: In a valve device for selectively opening and closing a flow passage formed to open on a valve seat by a valve body through a resin-made seat, a hollow portion is formed on either one of the valve body and the valve seat and receives the resin-made seat therein, the resin-made seat has a thickness so that the resin-made seat partly protrudes from the hollow portion, and when the valve body is operated to close the flow passage, the resin-made seat is compressed to bring an end surface of the valve body into contact with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Kubo, Toshihiko Shima, Takuya Suzuki, Munetoshi Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 8333363
    Abstract: A regulating valve has a valve body, with an inlet and an outlet for fluid, which are connected by a connecting opening, and a flow control device for the connecting opening, inserted in a seat formed in the valve body. The flow control device has a piston for controlling flow within the connecting opening which is functionally connected to an electric motor adapted to make it slide within a cylinder along a sliding axis, and a monolithic tubular jacket that surrounds, determining its coaxiality, the rotor of the electric motor and the flow control piston, further providing the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Carel Industries S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Nalini, Andrea Dalan, Davide Scarabottolo
  • Patent number: 8136247
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blowout preventer body includes the steps of: providing more than one billet; forming a first billet to form a first portion of the blowout preventer body; forming a second billet to form a second portion of the blowout preventer body; and welding the billets to form the blowout preventer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Darwell Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Dean Foote
  • Patent number: 8006952
    Abstract: Actuators and valve-actuator combinations are disclosed which require low power for actuation, and which are particularly suitable for use to control a valve associated with a pipeline. Such an actuator (20) comprises a thrust member (26) moveable between two end of travel positions, an annular rotor having magnetic poles, an annular magnetisable stator having at least one winding and poles with which the rotor poles are aligned in each of a plurality of rotational positions of the rotor relative to the stator, and a drive connection between the rotor and the thrust member which is adapted to convert rotational movement of the rotor into linear movement of the thrust member. The actuator is able to hold its position using minimal energy, and may be located within or around an associated pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Camcon Limited
    Inventor: Wladyslaw Wygnanski
  • Patent number: 7766029
    Abstract: A re-closable valve (1, 100, 700, 800) for use in sterile fluid transfer has a body (5) with open entry and exit sides (2, 3) and a passageway (4) for fluid therebetween. The entry side is connectable to an opening of a separate vessel and the exit side is connectable to downstream processing. The entry side includes a first rupturable seal (5b, 500) blocking the opening of the entry side. A piston (9) is connected to an actuator (7) via a cam mechanism (8, 85, 10) which moves the piston (9) axially in the passageway (4) and to the first seal (5b, 500). On movement of the piston (9) during a first actuation, the first seal (5b, 500) is torn free from the entry side to open the valve for fluid transfer. A sharp rim (15) surrounds the opening of the entry side and a curved surface area (193) encircles the piston exterior proximal the entry side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: GL Tool & Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Liepold, Dietrich Bizer
  • Patent number: 7681864
    Abstract: A valve actuator including a body, a rotatable drive screw having an external thread over at least a portion of its length and extending through the body and projecting out at least one side of the body. An internally threaded member is captured on the drive screw on the interior of the body, the member being held against rotation during rotation of the drive screw, so as to cause the member to travel along a length of the drive screw as the drive screw is rotated in both a first and second rotational direction. At least one sleeve having an abutment surface engagable by the member upon a sufficient rotation of the drive screw in one of the two directions. The sleeve surrounds the drive screw and may be axially adjustable relative to the drive screw from the exterior of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Timothy M. O'Shea
  • Patent number: 7607453
    Abstract: A freezeless hydrant having an inlet and outlet, the hydrant including an elongated pipe connecting a valve to an operator. A stem has a length and has a first end engaged with operator threads and a second end carrying a stopper portion of the valve. A portion of the stem engages projections on an inner portion of the pipe such that the valve operator stem is held against rotational movement. The stopper portion includes a first and second seal face such that rotational movement of the operator results in longitudinal movement of the stem and in closing of the valve by moving the stopper portion and the first seal face into compressive sealing engagement with a face of a reduced diameter portion of the pipe and the second seal into movable frictional engagement with an inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion. The hydrant can be mounted in a hydrant box on the exterior of a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventors: Joe Poskin, Scott Brady
  • Patent number: 7600739
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gate valve for controlling the flow of a medium through suitable plumbing, featuring a valve housing for coupling the gate valve to the suitable plumbing; a detachable drive unit having a movable blade arranged therein; detachable blade seals for slidably arranging in the valve housing in order to receive the movable blade to control the flow of the medium through the gate valve and to prevent the medium from entering the drive unit; and a latching mechanism for detachably coupling both the drive unit and blade seals to and from the valve housing so as to replace either the drive unit, the blade seals, or both, without having to remove the gate valve from the suitable plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Phillips, Ashfaq M. Mir, Rufino Naval, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7588231
    Abstract: A valve for substantially reducing emissions from a level gauge. A lower end of the valve fits in a first interior cavity of the level gauge, which is in gaseous communication with an emission limiting bore in the level gauge. A second internal cavity is defined in said valve body and a seat is disposed near the bottom of the second internal cavity. A bore of substantially reduced cross-sectional area is disposed in the lower end of the valve body and is in gaseous communication with the second internal cavity A thumbscrew opens and closes the valve at the seat. An orifice vents gas or liquid from the second internal cavity when the thumbscrew is off of the seat. A low emissions level gauge and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Propane Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Samuel E. McTier, Jack Glandon
  • Patent number: 7523916
    Abstract: A gate valve has a body with a gate chamber intersected by a flow passage and a stem chamber extending from the gate chamber. A gate is carried in the gate chamber. A stem, when rotated, causes linear movement of the gate between open and closed positions. A neck on the gate extends into the stem portion of the chamber. The neck has a cylindrical outer diameter, and a seal seals the neck to the stem portion of the chamber. The stem extends into engagement with a cavity in the neck. A ball screw interface is located between the stem and the cavity of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Fenton
  • Patent number: 7410144
    Abstract: A pivot assembly provides an economical means for reducing the load on a manually operated hand jack by providing a pivot point on the body of a connecting rod which allows for an additional degree of movement. The pivot assembly may include a thrust bearing to further reduce friction on the connection rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Gethmann, David George Halm
  • Publication number: 20080116408
    Abstract: In a seawater pipe, a shut-off valve has a supporting body fixed to the pipe; a shutter movable between a forward closed position and a withdrawn open position; and a control member operated from outside the pipe to move the shutter via a transmission; the transmission is isolated in fluidtight manner from the seawater flowing in the pipe by a membrane; and the membrane has two edges, one fixed to the shutter, and the other forced radially between the supporting body and the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Guidi Bruno
  • Patent number: 7216844
    Abstract: The invention relates to pipeline accessories and can be used for working medium flow control in pipelines in particular the pipelines having a high pressure and flow rate of working fluid. Technical result is achieved due to the fact, that the inventive valve comprises a body provided with inlet and outlet holes, a valve seat, a closure, connected to a drive and seal assemblies, where the body comprises a cylindrical insert and the closure is embodied in the form of a hollow sleeve consisted of two coupled cylindrical parts, the external diameter of the part thereof contacting the body constituting 0.9-1.1 of the internal diameter of the part thereof contacting the insert. Said invention makes it possible to reduce the forces for moving the closure and increase the stable operation of the valve. The inventive valve is characterized with respect to existing valves in that it ensures the stability of operational characteristics at any pressure of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventors: Petr Vasilievich Malina, Aleksandr Viktorovich Kurlov
  • Patent number: 7007922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating regulating device, especially for a valve comprising a pivotable or rotatable valve body. Said device comprises at least one actuating device for rotating a regulating element which can be connected to the valve body in a moveable manner. The aim of the invention is to improve one such rotating regulating device in such a way that in its precise and reproducible, and can be especially automatically actuated. In order to achieve this, the regulating element is a rotating collar which is rotationally positioned in relation to a bearing collar, and the actuating device comprises at least one mechanism which converts a linear movement into a rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Biester, Norbert Lenz
  • Patent number: 7004045
    Abstract: A high thrust operator for gate valves employs an inverted satellite roller screw assembly driven by an internally threaded cylinder carried within a bearing case. The cylinder is sized to provide a relief plenum within the case into which the roller screw assembly can be over extended to expose tool engagement flats for attachment and release of a mating stem in the valve gate actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Minarik Corporation
    Inventor: Ted Ernest Cox
  • Patent number: 6994311
    Abstract: A regulating vacuum valve comprises a valve body with a through-channel a closure member which is adjustable over a control path between a closed position of the regulating vacuum valve in which it contacts a valve seat and closes the through-channel and an open position of the regulating vacuum valve in which it is raised from the valve seat, an adjusting device which has a drive unit for adjusting the closure member over the control path, a carrying unit which carries the closure member and is supported so as to be displaceable relative to the closure member. The carrying unit is arranged in the through-channel and is secured to the valve body, and the carrying unit has a chamber which is sealed relative to the through-channel and in which the adjusting device or at least a portion thereof is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Duelli, Leo Marugg, Robert Gsteu
  • Patent number: 6971401
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a cylindrical body that is formed from soft and resilient material and has a smooth outer surface provided with surface indicia coated thereon that has a fluorescent color for drawing attention thereto. The body further has a bore formed therein that extends through the length thereof and has an open and a closed end portion. An aperture is formed in the body that penetrates the body and terminates laterally of the bore. A sleeve formed from rigid material is nested within the bore, confronts an interior surface of the body and spans between the open and closed end portions of the body. A tether is included that has opposed end portions connected to the body and the valve assembly. The tether is attached proximate to one end portion of the body such that the apparatus can be detached while the tether remains engaged with the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: Samuel B. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6732997
    Abstract: An improved control valve for a pressurized water closet, having a housing, a spool rotatable within the housing, a valve stem threading engaging the spool but fixed from rotating relative to the housing and a needle valve extending from the valve stem and into the housing orifice, creating a self cleaning valve adjustable by rotating the spool, which adjusts the depth of the needle valve in the orifice, and thus adjusting the effective opening of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Beh, Raymond Bruce Martin