Biased Patents (Class 251/303)
  • Patent number: 11926192
    Abstract: A refrigerant heat exchange apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first communication cavity, a second communication cavity, and first valve cores. A cold water unit and a hot water unit are disposed in the apparatus body. A first water inlet is disposed on the first cavity of the cold water unit. A first water inlet is disposed on the third cavity of the hot water unit. A first water outlet is disposed on the second cavity of the cold water unit. A first water outlet is disposed on the fourth cavity of the hot water unit. The first communication cavity communicates with the first cavity and the third cavity. The second water outlet communicates with the first communication cavity. The second communication cavity communicates with the second cavity and the fourth cavity. An indirect heat pump system includes the refrigerant heat exchange apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AIR INTERNATIONAL THERMAL SYSTEMS R&D (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Duo Wu, Zhaokai Yu, Qi Liu, Jingyang Mu
  • Patent number: 11884477
    Abstract: A valve for dispensing a fluid from a container and a dispensing apparatus with such a valve are proposed. The valve has a spring device for returning a valve element to a closed position, the spring device being integral with the valve element. The spring device has a contact area for contact with a counterface of a valve body, the contact area forming an elevation of an outer surface of the spring device. The spring device and the counterface are in point contact with each other in any position of the valve element. The materials of the contact area and the counterface are matched to each other in such a way that they slide silently on each other. A seal of the valve is made of polyethylene or a thermoplastic elastomer. The valve is preferably designed as a full plastic valve and is easily recyclable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: APTAR DORTMUND GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Jasper, Guido Burmann, Lukas Kurosky
  • Patent number: 11884445
    Abstract: A closure system for a beverage container includes a lid with upper and lower sides, a drinking orifice, a closure member for closing the drinking orifice, and an operating member for manually opening the drinking orifice by a user. The closure member is positioned at the lower side of the lid and fixedly connected with the operating member on the upper side of the lid, the closure member configured to overlap the drinking orifice in a closed position. A movement of the operating member in a first direction along a first axis substantially parallel to the upper side of the lid causes movement of the closure member from the closed position and opening of the drinking orifice, and a movement of the operating member along the first axis in a second direction causes movement of the closure member into the closed position and reclosure of the drinking orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: RE-LID ENGINEERING AG
    Inventors: Alois Bühler, Christian Schandl
  • Patent number: 11873915
    Abstract: A poppet valve apparatus has a valve body with an aperture rimmed by a first sealing surface, and a valve stem with an axially oriented cup at its tip with a spring disposed within the cup. The valve plate includes a sealing surface at its perimeter and also has a central pocket which receives a spheroid. The valve stem passes through a collar which is affixed to the valve plate to trap the spheroid beneath the spring so that the plate is pivotably coupled to the valve stem and also tolerates radial and lateral excursion to allow the valve plate to self-align and seal within the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Brad M. Addona, James A. Richard, Maegan Rinehart Dawson, William Francis Sadowski
  • Patent number: 11833302
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a vaporizer reservoir forming a sump chamber that contains liquid anesthetic agent and a fill chamber isolated from the sump chamber configured to receive liquid anesthetic agent from a refill container. A piston is in the sump chamber configured to maintain a constant force on the liquid anesthetic agent in the sump chamber, and a transfer valve is configured to permit the liquid anesthetic agent to flow from the fill chamber to the sump chamber. The vaporizer reservoir has an outlet port that delivers the liquid anesthetic agent from the sump chamber to a vaporizing system that vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Wahl
  • Patent number: 11680652
    Abstract: A valve device is configured to adjust an opening degree of a flow path for fluid, and includes an axial member, a valve body, and a biasing member. The axial member is configured to be fixed to the flow path. The valve body is rotatable about the axial member, and is configured to be rotated in a closing direction in which the opening degree is reduced, and to be rotated, by the use of a fluid flowing down through the flow path, in an opening direction in which the opening degree is increased. The biasing member is provided to the axial member inside the flow path, and is configured to bias the valve body to rotate in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sameshima, Kosuke Onoda, Masayuki Sudo
  • Patent number: 11596096
    Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: Precision Planting LLC, AGCO do Brasil Soluções Agrícolas Ltda.
    Inventors: Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Tracy Leman, Jarlis Luiz Matter
  • Patent number: 11498417
    Abstract: There is provided a check valve for a fuel tank, including a cover to be welded to the fuel tank, a case welded to the cover and having a discharge port configured to discharge fuel into the fuel tank, and a valve body configured to open and close the discharge port. The cover includes a positioning portion on an outer circumferential surface. The case includes a vent hole which is arranged upward in a circumferential direction of the case when the check valve is mounted on the fuel tank, and a valve body supporting portion which supports the valve body inside the case. The valve body supporting portion includes a selecting portion for positioning the vent hole, which is provided on a discharge port side at a position away from the positioning portion by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ito, Atsuki Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Kito, Mitsuhiro Buichi
  • Patent number: 11446680
    Abstract: An execution system (100) for a fluid micro-injection device and a fluid micro-injection device are provided. The execution system (100) has a base body (110), a movable member (120), an executor and an adjusting member (130). The adjusting member (130) is disposed in the executor mounting cavity (110) and connected with the executor. The adjusting member (130) is adjustable for adjusting a pre-tightening force of the executor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CHANGZHOU MINGSEAL ROBOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Dongsheng Qu, Jijiang Min, Pei Sun, Yangyang Mao, Fuliang Gao
  • Patent number: 11428298
    Abstract: A device for rotating a toothed wheel, including a linear piezoelectric motor including: a passive element having an elongated shape, a piezoelectric actuator capable of axially moving the passive element in a bidirectional manner, a transmission member fastened to the passive element, meshing with a toothing of the wheel in such a way as to rotate the wheel by one tooth in a first direction of rotation when the passive element is moved axially in a first direction of movement, a jumper mobile between two end positions, including a lowered position in which it blocks a rotation of the wheel in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Pascal Meyer
  • Patent number: 11384666
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes a combustion engine configured to produce exhaust gases as a product of a combustion reaction. An exhaust discharge pipe coupled to the internal combustion engine, and an adaptive valve assembly. The adaptive valve assembly is coupled to the exhaust discharge pipe and configured to receive the exhaust gases prior to the exhaust gases reaching the atmosphere. The adaptive valve assembly includes a valve flapper arranged in the passageway and configured to pivot about a flapper pivot axis from a normally-closed position to an opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Sims, Yuntian Wang, Eric Schepman, Wenqi Wu
  • Patent number: 11022362
    Abstract: A damper device may include a frame structured of a tube part and an opening part formed on an inner side of the tube part, a baffle which is disposed on the inner side of the tube part and is supported by the frame in a state that the baffle is capable of being turned with a first edge as a turning center, and a baffle drive mechanism structured to turn the baffle between a closing position where the opening part is closed and an open position where the opening part is opened. The baffle is formed with a cut-out part at least one position of an edge except the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiko Yazawa, Satoru Yokoe
  • Patent number: 10203042
    Abstract: A method for turning off fluid flow through a valve. The method includes: movably disposing a member in an interior of a housing between a first position in which an inlet and an outlet are in fluid communication with each other and a second position blocking the fluid flow; restraining the member in the first position when a fluid temperature in the interior or an ambient temperature outside the housing is below a threshold temperature; and releasing the restraint such that the member is capable of moving to the second position when the fluid temperature or the ambient temperature is above the threshold temperature; wherein the releasing comprises changing the shape of an actuator from a first shape restraining the member to a second shape releasing the restraint upon a change in the fluid temperature or the ambient temperature from below the threshold temperature to above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S Rastegar
  • Patent number: 9770315
    Abstract: A multi-piece apparatus for performing dental hygiene includes a head portion including a concave support member; a floss attachment; and a tapered hollow water access portion. The hollow water access portion includes a water intake component continuous with a water exit component. A mechanism is connected to the head portion that reduces bacteria from the head portion. A handle portion is connected to the head portion and includes a first handle end; a second handle end; and a fluid aqueduct extending an entire internal length of the handle portion, wherein the fluid aqueduct is aligned with the water intake component and extends within the head portion. A hose is connected to the handle portion, wherein the hose is positioned to direct water to traverse through the fluid aqueduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Seemie N. Syed
  • Patent number: 9541206
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bypass valve, particularly a two-way valve for exhaust gas flows from motor vehicles, having a valve housing and an actuating mechanism with a valve flap and two ports for fluid outlet, which are embodied as alternately sealable by the valve flap, and one port for fluid intake, characterized in that at each of the ports for fluid outlet an adapter and sealing ring is provided, arranged at least partially and fluid-tight in the valve housing, wherein the valve flap can be positioned fluid-tight on the adapter and sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Peter Diehl, Michael Gauss, Andreas Capelle, Oliver Fischer, Jürgen Nothbaum
  • Patent number: 9353508
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a faucet-door for coupling to kitchen sinks or countertops primarily, although it can also be coupled to bathroom sinks, basins, etc. The object of the invention consists of combining a faucet and a door in a single element, with the particularity that the pivot shafts of the faucet-door are hollow, defining the hot water connection and cold water connection, faucet-door in the central core of which ducts are defined for hot water and cold water passage which open into a main casing established on the inner face of said central core, being of little thickness, for being re-conducted towards a diffuser that can be folded away on said casing, the ducts being associated with the corresponding flow rate-regulating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Juan Antonio Abello Jimenez
  • Patent number: 9010726
    Abstract: A technique provides a component actuation system in a space efficient form. A movable actuator member may be positioned within a corresponding housing in a manner which forms an annulus between the movable actuator member and the surrounding wall of the housing. A spring is located in the annulus and is designed such that the spring extends part way along a circumference of the actuator member to create an open annular region between circumferential ends of the spring. The open annular region provides space for a system related component without requiring additional longitudinal or radial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: David James Biddick
  • Patent number: 8613421
    Abstract: A device for the flow control of a liquid or gaseous medium has a valve element which controls at least one flow opening for the medium, and an electromagnet which actuates the valve element and has a magnetic circuit having at least one excitation coil and a solenoid armature coupled to the valve element. To markedly reduce the start-up power for the excitation coil, the solenoid armature is disposed between two diametrically opposed pole pieces located in the magnetic circuit, such that it can swivel about a swivel axis, and is designed such that it extends beyond each pole piece, leaving two air gaps. At least one permanent magnet is disposed in the solenoid armature in a manner such that the magnetic flux thereof closes by way of the pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: ASCO Numatics GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Ams, Peter Metternich De Oliveira
  • Patent number: 8453672
    Abstract: A passive valve assembly for an exhaust system is mounted within an exhaust tube. The exhaust tube has a bore that defines an exhaust flow path having a cross-sectional area. One end of the exhaust tube is to be connected to a first exhaust component and a second end of the exhaust tube is to be connected to a second exhaust component such that the exhaust tube forms a sole exhaust path between the first and the second exhaust components. The passive valve assembly includes a vane that is mounted within the bore, and which is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A resilient member biases the vane toward the closed position. When the vane is in the closed position, the vane covers 80% to 97% of the cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Emcon Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kwin Abram, Joseph Callahan, Robin Willats, Ivan Arbuckle
  • Patent number: 8443823
    Abstract: A flood detection and valve shutoff device which comprises a water sensitive sensor. A mechanism is for retaining the water sensitive sensor on a floor near a water heater. Another mechanism is for biasing a valve in a water inlet pipe of the water heater to a closed position. A lanyard in a taut condition extends between the water sensitive sensor and the biasing mechanism, so as to keep the valve in an open position. When the water sensitive sensor detects water on the floor the lanyard will be released from the water sensitive sensor, causing the biasing means to move the valve from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Irwin D. Prager
  • Patent number: 8439118
    Abstract: The problem of flappers that will not close due to high velocity gas rushing past and creating a vortex that has zones of high pressure pressing the flapper against the force of the torsion spring is reduced or overcome with modifications in the passage through a subsurface safety valve so as to reduce the intensity of the vortex to allow the torsion spring to pivot the flapper to closed position. Various shapes are inserted adjacent the flapper base to create turbulence to minimize or prevent the vortex and the associated pressure increases that would otherwise prevent flapper closure with the flow tube retracted. Inserts that create turbulence are placed in a recess that in part holds the flapper when it is rotated to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas S. Myerley, Tyler C. Roberts, Grant R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8375982
    Abstract: A hydraulic manifold has features adapted to the needs of hybrid vehicle applications. In one embodiment, multifunction valves selectively regulate fluid flow among primary and auxiliary flow paths. A normally closed butterfly valve is biased by a relatively small secondary biasing force against rotation in first and second (opposite) directions, and by a relatively large principal biasing force against rotation in the first direction past a transitional angular position at which the principal biasing force takes effect. An actuator selectively controls the transitional angular position and the magnitude of the principal biasing force. In the first direction, flow must overcome only the secondary biasing force to pass the valve. In the second direction, any flow sufficient to overcome the secondary biasing force but not the principal biasing force will divide into a first flow passing the valve and a second flow induced to enter an auxiliary path upstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8316876
    Abstract: A drain ring adapted for use in a device for flushing a dead-end of an underground municipal water distribution system includes a pair of annular seals and a channel between the seals, an outlet passage extending from inside the ring to the channel, and a flapper adapted to close the outlet passage under the influence of at least one of pressure and flow. The drain ring is removably positioned between a shut-off valve and an outlet of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: John C. Kupferle Foundry Company
    Inventor: Daniel G. McKeague
  • Patent number: 8256454
    Abstract: An adjustable moment arm flapper including a flapper defining a cavity there within and a moveable mass system disposed within the cavity, a center of mass of the flapper changeable based upon position of the movable mass and a method for dynamically controlling a flapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Keith J. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120153205
    Abstract: The device of the invention for regulating the passage of adherent or tacky materials to an enclosure comprises: a main hollow body with an access hole susceptible of being covered by a locking cover, and a lower opening; a swinging locking cover, susceptible of adopting a closed position, covering the access hole, and an open position, being swung onto one of the inner walls of the main body; cleaning means for the outer face of the cover, comprising a rotating cleaning disc shiftable between an inoperative position, allowing the passage of materials to the main body, and an operative cleaning position, the disc being juxtaposed to the outer face of the cover when the latter adopts the open position, removing by friction the material residues adhered to the face as the disc rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: AMBIENSYS, S.L.
    Inventors: Carlos Leon Tomas, Javier Ragull Aviles, Luis Carlos Carrillo Muñoz, Maria Dolors Salvatierra Robert, Jaime Bertral Gosch, Angel Manuel Nuñez Bodelon
  • Publication number: 20110284128
    Abstract: A one-way valve for a fuel-tank filling conduit deters siphoning and prevents back flow of fuel. The one-way valve comprises a blocking element arranged in the conduit and pivotable between a flow-blocking, object-insertion blocking first position and a flow-admitting, object-insertion blocking second position. In the second position the blocking element divides the conduit into flow areas of comparable width. The one-way valve further comprises a bias element that biases the blocking element to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric David Bramson
  • Publication number: 20110186762
    Abstract: A flap transfer valve is disclosed for the transfer of semiconductor elements or substrates into a semiconductor or substrate processing process chamber having an elongated first opening, which is surrounded in the form of a frame by a first sealing surface on a first sealing plane, and an elongated valve closure beam, having a second sealing surface which corresponds to the first sealing surface, can be brought into gas-tight contact with it, and is located on a second sealing plane. A support is arranged on the rear face of the valve closure beam, which is arranged such that it can pivot through a limited pivoting angle about a tilting axis. The support together with the valve closure beam can pivot about a pivoting axis, which lies on the first sealing plane, and the tilting axis lies on the second sealing plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: VAT Holding AG
    Inventor: Friedrich GEISER
  • Publication number: 20110108749
    Abstract: An adjustable moment arm flapper including a flapper defining a cavity there within and a moveable mass system disposed within the cavity, a center of mass of the flapper changeable based upon position of the movable mass and a method for dynamically controlling a flapper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Keith J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7845618
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber includes an elongated door member coupled to an actuator by a ball joint. The ball joint is configured to allow movement of the door member relative to the lever arm around a center of the ball joint. In one embodiment, a sealing face of the elongated door is curved. In another embodiment, the chamber is one of a chemical vapor deposition chamber, a load lock chamber, a metrology chamber, a thermal processing chamber, or a physical vapor disposition chamber, a load lock chamber, a substrate transfer chamber or a vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hyungsam Kim, Jae-Chull Lee, William N. Sterling, Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 7828267
    Abstract: A slide valve is provided, in which the conductance in the minimum region is controllable with high accuracy to enable stable control, a slide plate is prevented from plastically deforming to acquire good controllability of the minimum flow rate, and it is possible to detach a valve element and an air drive portion integrally with the slide plate, thereby facilitating the maintenance. The slide valve includes a body having a flow path, a slide plate provided within the body and between a closing position preventing a flow on the flow path and an open position permitting the flow, disposed perpendicularly relative to a flow path axis and movable horizontally or on a straight line, and a valve element incorporated in the slide plate and operated in a direction of the flow path axis to switch between the closing position and the open position of the slide plate by air cylinder drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kitz SCT Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 7805933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a throttle arrangement for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve for throttling a stream of exhaust gas flowing through a pipe and having a restoring spring which prestresses the throttle valve into a closed position. The throttle valve is pivotable about a pivot axis in the pipe between the closed position [and the open position] and the restoring spring is supported on the valve end on a lever fixedly connected to the throttle valve and is supported at the pipe end on a bearing for accommodating a shaft extending coaxially with the pivot axis. The restoring spring is adapted to support the spring forces on the pipe end in an essentially symmetrical manner with respect to a plane of symmetry that extends perpendicular to the pivot axis and is in the area of the support on the valve end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Hanitzsch, Bjoern Damson
  • Patent number: 7779867
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a miniature valve, which includes a valve body comprising an inflow channel, an outflow channel and a liquid chamber, and a close assembly comprising a driver, a rocker and a valve film. The close assembly connects to the valve body and is configured to selectively close the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The rocker can be driven by the driver to move, so that the movement thereof acts on the valve film and makes the valve film selectively close the channel. The rocker and the valve film are separate components. The valve film, an elastic film locating in the liquid chamber, has a size configured to cover the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The miniature valve according to the present invention doesn't have interior dead area and has a slight effect on liquid fluctuation when switching channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yushen Bai
  • Patent number: 7762336
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for selectively isolating a portion of a wellbore. In one aspect, an apparatus for isolating a zone in a wellbore is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a bore. The apparatus further includes a first flapper member and a second flapper member, each flapper member selectively rotatable between an open position and a closed position. Additionally, the apparatus includes a flapper latch assembly disposed in the bore, the flapper latch assembly movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the flapper latch assembly is configured to hold the first flapper member in the closed position when the flapper latch assembly is in the locked position. In another aspect, a method for selectively isolating a zone in a wellbore is provided. In yet a further aspect, a flapper latch assembly for use with a flapper valve is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Johnson, John Lee Emerson, Michael Foster
  • Patent number: 7744059
    Abstract: A valve system includes a valve body arranged in a valve housing and actuatable via a shape-memory element that is movable from an undeformed rest state to a tension deformed state and is again transferred to the rest state. The valve system is improved by a force deflecting device that enables the shape-memory element to actuate the valve body exclusively during the transfer thereof to the tension or rest state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Jerg
  • Patent number: 7687034
    Abstract: The valve sealing system for a reagent package includes an annular cylindrical gasket seated in a channel formed in the package. A rocker valve on the package pivots relative to the annular cylindrical gasket which surrounds an opening to the chamber of the reagent package. The annular channel includes a radially inner peripheral channel sidewall, a radially outer peripheral channel sidewall, and a bottom portion. An inclined peripheral wall portion of the channel intersects one of the channel sidewalls at an obtuse angle and the bottom portion of the channel. When the rocker valve is in a valve closed position it engages the annular cylindrical gasket to provide a substantially leak-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolae Dumitrescu, Joseph Carlucci
  • Publication number: 20100012198
    Abstract: A drain ring adapted for use in a device for flushing a dead-end of an underground municipal water distribution system includes a pair of annular seals and a channel between the seals, an outlet passage extending from inside the ring to the channel, and a flapper adapted to close the outlet passage under the influence of at least one of pressure and flow. The drain ring is removably positioned between a shut-off valve and an outlet of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel G. McKeague
  • Patent number: 7600534
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of moving a shiftable valve member into a closed position, the shiftable valve member mounted in a valve housing having a bore and being moveable between at least one open and at least one closed position relative to the bore, includes at least one elastically deformable member that extends at least partially around the circumference of the bore and is disposed at least partially in a cavity in the valve housing. Each elastically deformable member is elongated, has first and second ends and is connected to the shiftable valve member at one location and to the valve housing at least one other location. Each elastically deformable member is torsionally loaded to provide biasing, closing force to the shiftable valve member to assist in moving the shiftable valve member into a closed position and retaining it in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tomas Michael Deaton
  • Patent number: 7575220
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber includes an elongated door member having a convex sealing face and a backside. In another embodiment, a chamber having an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage is provided that includes a chamber body having an interior volume, at least one substrate access defined through the chamber body configured to allow passage of a large area substrate therethrough, and a door member having a convex sealing face moveable between a first position that covers the substrate transfer port and a second position clear of the substrate transfer port. In yet another embodiment, the chamber body may be a load lock chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tanase, Billy C. Leung, Gregory S. Lewis, David E. Berkstresser
  • Publication number: 20090193885
    Abstract: A fluid flow metering device comprises a ball valve locatable in a fluid flow, having at least two transverse bores through the ball valve, a first transverse bore and a second transverse bore. The first transverse bore includes a fluid flow metering apparatus for measuring the rate of fluid flow through the first transverse bore. The ball valve is preferably rotatable between a first metering position where fluid is flowable through the first transverse bore and a second open position where fluid is flowable through the second transverse bore. In addition, the second transverse bore is dimensioned so that a tool is movable through the second transverse bore when the ball valve is in the second open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Céline Gabard-Cuoq, Jean-Michel Hache, Gilles Roux
  • Publication number: 20090194725
    Abstract: A liquid purge valve comprising a housing for sealingly fitting at an uppermost end of a substantially vertical pipe, an outlet tube extending from the housing and projecting into the pipe, an outlet port fitted with a sealing boundary and sealable by a sealing member pivotally secured within the housing so as to pivotally displace between a closed and an open position, a biasing member biasing the sealing member into its open position, and a mass articulated to the sealing member and extending downwards into the pipe. The mass applies a force at an opposite direction of the biasing member such that the resultant force acting on the sealing member determines its position such that when water level rises within the pipe the sealing member displaces into the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: A.R.I. Flow Control Accessories Ltd.
    Inventor: Meir Shuval
  • Patent number: 7497414
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber includes an elongated door member having a concave sealing face coupled to an actuator by a flexible coupling. The flexible coupling configured to allow movement of the door member relative to the lever arm in at least two planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Chull Lee, David Berkstresser
  • Publication number: 20080308079
    Abstract: The invention concerns an exhaust gas recycling device comprising a cooled path (5) and a non-cooled path (6) connected through a selective connection means (7) to a conduit (14) provided with a valve (7) including a chamber (9) connected to the conduit and accommodating a mobile flow regulating element and perforated with a passage orifice (16) for defining a variable cross-section for allowing through exhaust gases. The cooled and non-cooled paths have each one end opening on to a wall (10) of the chamber and the regulating element is mounted opposite said wall to be mobile between a first extreme position wherein the passage orifice is opposite the cooled path and a second extreme position wherein the passage orifice is opposite the non-cooled path, the regulating element having an intermediate position wherein the regulating element closes the cooled and non-cooled paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTEMES DE CONTROLE MOTEUR
    Inventor: Laurent Albert
  • Patent number: 7451854
    Abstract: An exhaust flow rate control valve includes an on-off valve which is switched between a closed state in which a flow passage area of an exhaust pipe is decreased, and an opened state in which the flow passage area is increased. A notch is formed in the on-off valve, and a recess is formed in an inner pipe member of the exhaust pipe to correspond to the notch. A resilient member, for biasing the on-off valve in a closing direction, is disposed in a space formed between the recess and an outer pipe member of the exhaust pipe. Thus, the degree of freedom is improved in setting the operating characteristic of the on-off valve, without increasing the size of an exhaust structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Suzuki, Masaki Goto
  • Publication number: 20080001113
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for sealing a substrate transfer passage in a chamber includes an elongated door member coupled to an actuator by a ball joint. The ball joint is configured to allow movement of the door member relative to the lever arm around a center of the ball joint. In one embodiment, a sealing face of the elongated door is curved. In another embodiment, the chamber is one of a chemical vapor deposition chamber, a load lock chamber, a metrology chamber, a thermal processing chamber, or a physical vapor disposition chamber, a load lock chamber, a substrate transfer chamber or a vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: SAM HYUNGSAM KIM, Jae-Chull Lee, William N. Sterling, Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 7296595
    Abstract: A flow valve that provides for control of a fluid flow rate utilizing a first open position and a second open position. Various embodiments of a flow valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway therebetween are provided that comprise a damper element pivotally arranged within the passageway that is movable between a first position in which fluid flow through the passageway is substantially unaffected by the damper element, and at least a second position in which fluid flow through the passageway is substantially reduced by the damper element. An adjustable stop is further provided for adjustably limiting the movement of the damper element to establish the second position of the damper. A moveable operator is provided for moving the damper element between the first position and second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Mike C. Santinanavat, Mark H. Stark, Ryan D. Jensen, Donald L. Blessing
  • Patent number: 7121527
    Abstract: The spray gun is subdivided into a first body (4), in ternally of which a cavity (6) is afforded, and a second body (5) which is perpendicular to the first body (4) and internally afforded a through hole (25) communicating with the cavity (6). An obturator (14) is present internally of the cavity (6), on which obturator (14) elastic means (21) act. Means for activating (26) are located internally of the through hole (25), which activate the obturator (14) and open into the cavity (6) and are in contact with the obturator (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Arrow Line SRL
    Inventor: Roberto Amaduzzi
  • Patent number: 7014165
    Abstract: A flow control valve apparatus using a flow control valve manufactured via micro-machining is provided. The flow control valve has a substrate defining at least one orifice through which a fluid can flow, a support member formed on a first surface of the substrate, at least one flap corresponding to the at least one orifice, a pair of elastic flexures connecting the support member to the at least one flap, and a driving means for displacing the at least one flap between the first and second positions to control fluid flow through the at least one orifice. The support member is formed adjacent to the at least one orifice and the at least one flap extends from the support member to fittingly engage the at least one orifice in a first and second position. Also, the pair of elastic flexures provides an elastic restorative force proportional to a displacement of the at least one flap between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Hyeon Ji, Young Joo Yee, Jeong Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 6968852
    Abstract: A shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360° in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt gas or fluid flow therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Seismic Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Sibley
  • Patent number: 6945276
    Abstract: Valve with a displaceable actuating device that controls the movements of at least one actual sealing element for opening and closing, and the actuating device is loaded with an elastic element essentially in a perpendicular direction relative to the direction of displacement, and the longitudinal axis of the actuating device and the force exercised by the elastic element are aligned in one position of the actuating device between its two extreme positions. In order to realize a valve that can be electrically switched using minimal currents and that is characterized, in particular, by its small construction size but that is still able to achieve large regulating distances, the actuating device is a unilaterally constrained piezoelectric bending element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hygrama AG
    Inventors: Erich Dörfler, Bernhard Russ, Günther Strasser, Rainer Teltscher
  • Patent number: 6926025
    Abstract: A vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The vertical shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360° in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt gas or fluid flow therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Seismic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Sibley, Richard F. Christensen, Sr., William F. Keller