With Single Plane Swing Pivoted Connection Patents (Class 251/87)
  • Patent number: 10817002
    Abstract: A gas valve includes a valve seat, a valve stem, a valve body, and a valve diaphragm. The valve body acts together with the valve seat in such a way that the gas valve is in a closed state when the valve body is pressed against the valve seat and the gas valve is in an opened state when the valve body is lifted up from the valve seat. In a partially opened state, a connection between the valve stem and the valve body allows the valve body to tilt relative to the valve stem. The tilt may help provide more stable contact between the valve body and the valve seat when the gas valve is in the partially opened state. This can reduce wear on the gas valve by reducing, for example, valve body bounce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Gerrit J. Baarda, Erwin Kupers, Tieme de Jonge
  • Patent number: 10156299
    Abstract: A vacuum valve, having a valve seat including a valve opening (axis (A)), and a first sealing surface around the valve opening and defines a first sealing plane (ES), having a valve disk with a second sealing surface corresponding to the first sealing surface and defining a second sealing plane (ET), additionally having a first coupling element, connected to the valve disk and comprising a receiving means and a drive unit coupled with the first coupling element and is configured to provide the valve disk adjustable from an open position to a closed position. The drive unit and the valve disk are configured to provide a fine control position, wherein the valve disk is tilted relative to the valve seat where ES and ET enclose a defined angle (?), and the seal abuts fully against one of the two sealing surfaces and in part against the other sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventors: Martin Netzer, Daniel Seitz, Harald Sonderegger
  • Patent number: 10113541
    Abstract: Improved, rigid valves for pumps include ribs or other support structures, increased diameters and cross-sectional areas, and conically shaped outlet valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SILGAN DISPENSING SYSTEMS NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Eelco Han De Man, Stefan Koster
  • Patent number: 9566146
    Abstract: A cardiovascular valve assembly is disclosed including a housing assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion removably attached to the first portion. A valve may be positioned within the housing assembly. The valve, which may be a mechanical valve, a biological tissue valve, or a polymeric valve, may be structured to allow fluid to flow through the housing assembly in a single direction. In certain embodiments, the valve assembly may further include at least one coupling structure provided on the second portion and at least one aperture defined in the first portion, with the aperture structured to receive the coupling structure to couple the first portion to the second portion. Corresponding systems incorporating cardiovascular valve assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter N. Braido, Yousef F. Alkhatib
  • Patent number: 8678344
    Abstract: A mounting of a valve plate (1) on a valve rod (2) using a cross member (3) extending transversely with respect to the valve rod (2) is provided. The cross member (3) is connected at a central connecting point (4) to the valve rod (2) and is connected at least two lateral connecting points (5, 6), which are situated on both sides of the central connecting point (4), to the valve plate (1). The cross member (3) has a spacing (a) from the valve plate (1) in a central section (17) which comprises the central connecting point (4) and sections of the cross member (3) adjacent to the central connecting point (4) at both sides. By a twisting of the cross member (3), the valve plate (1) can be pivoted relative to the valve rod (2) about a pivot axis (19) which is at right angles to the valve rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: VAT Holding AG
    Inventors: Florian Ehrne, Thomas Blecha
  • Patent number: 8418721
    Abstract: A valve assembly (2) includes a valve body (4) having a first section (6) and a second section (8). The first section (6) includes an inlet member (12) and an outlet member (13) and the second section (8) includes an inlet element (28) and an outlet element (29). The valve assembly (2) also includes a control system (44) arranged between the first section (6) and the second section (8) of the valve body (4). The control system (44) includes a flow direction member (48) that is selectively shifted between one of a full through flow mode and a bypass mode. When in the full through flow mode the flow direction member (48) passes a complete fluid flow from the inlet member (12) to the outlet element (29) and from the inlet element (28) to the outlet member (13), and when in the bypass mode the flow direction member passes the fluid flow from the inlet member (12) to the outlet member (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 8231030
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a container for beverage fluid that has a flat bottom that is above a space large enough to place a glass or cup. The container has a sidewall and a top edge of an open container that has a removable lid. A pair of actuator guards are on either side of a space near but below the top edge of the container where an actuator is located that projects through a notch in the top edge, plunging downwardly inside the inner wall of the container sidewall and jutting straight out to form a fork. This fork selectively holds a plunger that has a long shaft and plug that fits into a hole in the bottom wall of the container. This hole and plug form a valve. The valve can be opened when the actuator is depressed between the actuator guards towards the container's sidewall, which pivots the fork upwardly which in turn lifts the plunger and plug to open the valve for dispensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Food Equipment Technologies Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Zbigniew G. Lassota
  • Patent number: 8132593
    Abstract: A pilot-operated three-port valve includes three ports, two valve seats that are concentric and opposite each other, a poppet-type valve member that is disposed between these two valve seats, and a pilot operating portion that opens and closes the valve member using a rod. Seat surfaces of the two valve seats and a first seal surface and a second seal surface of the valve member are flat. The valve member is attached to an end of the rod coaxially with the rod and so as to have a degree of freedom of inclination from the axis of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Yoshimura, Kenichi Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20080000353
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption system comprising two or more vessels, each having a feed end, a product end, and adsorbent material adapted to adsorb one or more components from a multi-component feed gas mixture; piping adapted to (1) introduce the feed gas mixture into the feed ends, withdraw a product gas from the product ends, and withdraw a waste gas from the feed ends of the vessels, and (2) place the product ends of any pair of vessels in flow communication; a feed pipe adapted to supply the feed gas mixture to the system; a product pipe adapted to withdraw the product gas from the system; and a waste gas pipe adapted to withdraw the waste gas from the system. An indexed rotatable multi-port valve is adapted to place the product end of each vessel in sequential flow communication with the product end of each of the other vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: David Lester Rarig, Roger Dean Whitley, Matthew James LaBuda
  • Patent number: 7134642
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum gate valve for closing off an opening. The vacuum gate valve can have a valve plate that can be turned so that the alignment of the valve plate will adapt to a valve seat when the valve plate is pressed against the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Vat Holding AG
    Inventor: Daniel Seitz
  • Patent number: 6926248
    Abstract: A reciprocating engine having a housing, having at least two cylinders with inlet orifices and outlet orifices which are to be opened and are closable by means of controllable valves, in each of which cylinders a piston can be linearly reciprocated, and having at least one shaft rotatingly mounted in the housing, comprises a gear device by means of which the linear reciprocation of the pistons is convertible into a rotary motion of the shaft, or the rotary motion of the shaft is convertible into a linear reciprocation of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Gerhard Lehofer
  • Patent number: 6439539
    Abstract: An electrically controllable valve comprising at least one input port (13) and one or more output ports (12, 14), at least one sealing means (17, 18) being arranged to control the flow of a fluid between said input port and at least one of said output ports, said valve comprises one or more piezo-electric actuators (26) arranged to control the state of said sealing means, whereby the flow of fluid through said valve may be electrically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: PBT (IP) Ltd
    Inventor: Simon Powell
  • Patent number: 6343618
    Abstract: A swing check valve for controlling fluid flow, including a valve housing having a port for fluid flow therethrough with a removable cover for accessing an interior of the valve housing. A valve assembly is positioned within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow through the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a valve seat in fluid communication with the port and a clapper mounted in the valve housing on a pivotally-mounted rocker arm and moveable between an open position responsive to fluid flow in a flow direction and a closed position sealed against the valve seat responsive to fluid flow in an opposite, backflow direction. A spring is captured in the valve housing by the removable cover without attachment to either the cover or valve housing, and normally urges the clapper into the closed position sealed against the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Conbraco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg L. Britt, Danny S. Meyer, Timothy D. Price, Robert V. Funderburk
  • Patent number: 5947444
    Abstract: The tap comprises an external operating element and a connecting stem for transmitting the movement of the operating element to the opening and closure member which is arranged in such a way as to be pressed against the sealing seat under the effect of the pressure of the gas. To make opening against the pressure of the gas easier, the connecting stem and/or the opening and closure member are designed in such a way that the opening of the tap comprises a first phase in which the opening and closure member pivots, followed by a movement of the axial translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company S.A.
    Inventor: Leon Kerger
  • Patent number: 5503123
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes self-aligning valve guides which are movable radially and coaxially to a variety of locations in which the axes of the valve guide and valve guide bore formed in the cylinder head are all parallel. The final location of the valve guide is determined by the contact relationship between the valve head and its mating valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Carter
  • Patent number: 5421360
    Abstract: A vertically oriented float assisted automatic driptrap mechanism having a float valve chamber defined by a body section and base is disclosed. A float is located for vertical liquid level responsive movement within the float valve chamber and reciprocates within a valve stem float guide. A diffuser is provided at the inlet of the chamber to prevent impingement of incoming fluid on the float. The valve stem guide also serves as a filter support for a filter which filters out contaminants that might interfere with the valving action of the driptrap mechanism. A valve seat having a tapered seat surface and a self-positioning valve plug movably supported by the valve stem and having a differently tapered sealing surface establish line contact sealing to ensure effective valve operation under high pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Groth Corporation
    Inventors: Louis R. Castaneda, Milton N. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5209455
    Abstract: There are provided a valve which is opened by an improved two-step motion, a valve which operates positively without leakage of fluid even when the difference in pressure between inlet and outlet of the valve is very small, and an improvement of a solenoid valve using those valves.The present invention relates to small-sized opening/closing valve and solenoid valve capable of being operated by very small force and electric power using a dry cell or the like, and is suitable to a solenoid valve for automatic opening/closing control which is used in city gas appliances, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, MIC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokio Uetsuhara, Kenji Iio, Masaki Kouzu, Yuichi Andoh
  • Patent number: 5170992
    Abstract: A stop valve (1) comprises a housing (2) having a passage (15) for a reversible medium flow, which can be stopped by means of a valve body (20) having an annular portion of a sphere as a sealing surface (25) and a flat end portion (26). The transfer area between said sealing surface (25) and said flat end portion (26) having a very small bending radius (r) and the spherical radius (r1) of said sealing surface (25) is smaller than the turning radius (r2) of said valve body. The valve body (20) cooperates with a sealing ring (36), which is annular and surrounds the passage and has an annular body (37), which via a constriction (38) merges into a seat ring (39). The sealing ring (36) is, in the closing position of the valve, exposed with a smaller portion to that passage section, which houses said valve body, and with a larger portion to the other passage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Tour & Andersson AB
    Inventor: Lars Lenberg
  • Patent number: 5005603
    Abstract: A retrofittable drain insert for existing bell shaped traps and other type drains is provided. The drain insert enables an existing bell trap or pipe drain to be modified and upgraded easily by not only preventing the backflow of sewer gases but also by substantially reducing the backflow of fluid through the drain into the drained area. The drain insert includes a housing with a valve means suspended by an expandable suspension means which easily fits into and can be mounted within the existing drain opening. The valve means has a larger diameter than the housing so as to form a gas tight and fluid tight seal, however, it has a smaller diameter than the existing drain opening so as easily to be retrofittable and fit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventors: Eric K. Amundson, Herbert C. Manners
  • Patent number: 4913398
    Abstract: A high speed water dumping valve apparatus usable attached with respect to a water reservoir which includes a housing with a flow chamber and water inlet and outlet defined therein. A door with a gasket means is adapted to extend over the water inlet for selective sealing thereof. A door control member including a horizontally extending crankshaft and a crank yoke fixedly secured thereto is included. A drive bar is connected between the crank yoke and the door for controlling movement of the door between the opened and closed positions. The drive bar preferably is formed of two bar sections at an oblique angle with respect to one another such as to extend around the crankshaft to facilitate over-center locking of the door in place selectively. A handle is secured with respect to the crankshaft to be rotatable therewith to urge movement between opened and closed positions as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventors: Theodore Ziaylek, Jr., Michael P. Ziaylek
  • Patent number: 4800919
    Abstract: A flap gate installation for systems where liquids are pumped into a holding tank has a fabricated frame surrounding the port of the conduit which opens into the tank. A flap gate is hingedly connected to the top of the frame and has concavo-convex walls welded to a gate frame with the convex surfaces of the walls the outer surface of the gate. The flap gate is held seated and sealed against the installed frame not only by its weight but by the head on stored liquids and is opened against that head by pumping pressures on liquid to be delivered into the holding tank. the cancavo-convex walls of the gate enable the weight of the gate to be substantially reduced with a corresponding reduction in pumping costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventor: Lothar Bachmann
  • Patent number: 4742845
    Abstract: The valve of a liquid fuel pressure regulator comprises a two-part construction consisting of a spherically contoured element and a stem. The spherically contoured element serves to swivelly mount the valve on the movable wall which carries the valve. The spherically contoured element comprises a hole which is on a radial to the center of the element. The shank of the stem is press-fitted to this hole to dispose the stem's flat circular head toward a seat with which the valve coacts as the pressure regulator operates. The swivel mounting compensates for misalignment and out-of-squareness of the valve travel relative to the seat and enables the head to close flat against the seat. Two embodiments are disclosed. In one, the spherically contoured element is a sphere and the hole is a blind hole drilled into the sphere. In the other, the spherically contoured element is a truncated sphere and the hole is a through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Weber U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: David Capoccia, Alexander Chadwick
  • Patent number: 4741360
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a first chamber and second chamber, a passage from the exterior of the housing to the first chamber, an inlet and an outlet associated with the second chamber of the housing, and a valve seat associated with the outlet. A carrier is mounted on and movable with the diaphragm and a first spring within the first chamber yieldingly urges the carrier toward the valve seat. The carrier supports a plate that has an opening therein. A valve has a hollow tubular closed end portion that projects through the opening in the plate for engagement with the valve seat and a peripheral portion that retains the valve between the carrier and the plate. A second spring is interposed between the carrier and extends into the tubular portion of the valve to yieldingly urge the valve toward the valve seat and permit relative movement between the valve and the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Tom McGuane Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Affeldt, Kenneth L. Rische
  • Patent number: 4730807
    Abstract: A valve for a surf pool having a frame of generally horizontal and vertical members, a leg pivotally attached to the higher horizontal member, a foot at the end of the leg for opening and closing the valve and an actuator mounted on the lower horizontal member for pivoting the leg. The foot may include oblique surfaces for reducing its drag and for enhancing the seal between the foot and a valve throat in response to hydrostatic pressure on the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: WaveTek International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Miller
  • Patent number: 4706934
    Abstract: A gate valve includes a body which includes first and second valve seats. First and second gates are mounted for movement adjacent to the valve seats, and each of the gates has an outer face adapted to seal against the respective valve seat and an inner face which defines a thrust pad. A wedge is interposed between the first and second gates, and the wedge defines first and second converging wedge faces rigidly positioned with respect to one another to bear against the respective thrust pads. At least one of the thrust pads and the wedge faces defines a convex surface. A hand wheel axially moves the wedge with respect to the body and the wedge is coupled to the gates such that movement of the wedge away from the valve seats moves the gates away from the valve seats. The convex surface allows the respective gate to articulate with respect to the wedge as necessary to align with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Mark Controls Corporation
    Inventor: George W. Brown
  • Patent number: 4647006
    Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in combination with a valve and sleeve to function as a valve attached to an actuator. The rotor is comprised of a rotor body containing the drive section with the necessary elements to turn the rotor within the sleeve, and a rotor stem with ports to coact with complementary ports in the sleeve to form variable orifices to control fluid flow, and a flexible means for connecting the rotor stem to the rotor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Barber-Colman Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Glynn, Laurence E. Jones
  • Patent number: 4513779
    Abstract: A valve body includes a chamber for the flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet thereto. The chamber includes an upper portion with an opening therethrough and a lower portion including a valve seat between the inlet and outlet. A bonnet is positioned in the chamber upper portion and is connected to the valve body and extends upwardly therefrom. The bonnet includes a passageway, and a stem is positioned in the passageway for longitudinal movement into and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat. An actuator is rotatably positioned in the bonnet passageway above the stem. A micrometer operating handle is nonrotatably connected to the upper end portion of the actuator to facilitate fine adjustment of the stem position to provide incremental adjustments in the flow rate of fluid between the inlet and outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Kerotest Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: James R. Owoc, John H. Thomas, Richard W. Conley
  • Patent number: 4480812
    Abstract: A dust trap having an annular valve seat and a pivoted valve flap closing the same including an off-center connection between the actuating means for said pivoted flap and said flap thereby to lessen the force required to open the valve passageway against the force of vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Plattsburgh Foundry, Inc.
    Inventor: Urgel R. Carpentier
  • Patent number: 4336918
    Abstract: A valve comprising a valve housing having a flow passage extending through the valve housing and a cavity communicating with the flow passage, a valve seat in the flow passage, a diaphragm extending across the cavity to define a control chamber on one side of the diaphragm and a valve element for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow passage. The valve element is mounted for pivotal movement about primary and secondary pivotal axes. The opening and closing of the valve element is controlled by the pressure in the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Hydro-Rain, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Karbo
  • Patent number: 4270727
    Abstract: A valve is provided which includes a poppet enclosed in a plug of plastic material, such as Teflon, and which is biased against a seat by a compression spring so that a positive seal is provided even in the presence of cold flow in the plastic plug. A valve stem engages the poppet, and it serves to pull the poppet and plug away from the seat against the force of the spring when the valve is opened, and to force the poppet and plug against the seat when the valve is closed. The valve may be hand operated, or it may be operated by a pressurized fluid, such as air. An indicator is included in the assembly which provides a readily visible indication of any leakage within the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Torr Vacuum Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur E. Norman
  • Patent number: 4256283
    Abstract: A ball valve housing including a main housing section and an actuator housing section wherein a ball valve is mounted in the actuator housing section for movement into the main housing section, the ball valve being pivotally connected to an actuator shaft for axial and rotational movement to a seated position against one of two opposing annular seating surfaces in the main housing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Inventors: Bobby J. Reneau, Luther L. Manchester, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4237920
    Abstract: A valve is provided which includes a poppet enclosed in a plug of plastic material, such as Teflon, and which is biased against a seat by a compression spring so that a positive seal is provided even in the presence of cold flow in the plastic plug. A valve stem engages the poppet, and it serves to pull the poppet and plug away from the seat against the force of the spring when the valve is opened, and to force the poppet and plug against the seat when the valve is closed. The valve is closed by a pressurized fluid, such as air, and is opened by means of a spring when the air pressure is removed. The Teflon plug is provided with a sharp corner which contacts a conical seat creating a seal when the valve is closed. The sharp corner of the plug wipes the seat of the debris as the valve is opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Torr Vacuum Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur E. Norman
  • Patent number: 4225111
    Abstract: A solenoid valve is provided which includes an axially movable solenoid plunger for moving an elastic diaphragm away from a position engaging an outlet stub of the valve housing. According to one aspect of the invention, the plunger and the diaphragm are connected by way of a wire ring which engages the diaphragm at a position peripherally outside of the engagement of the diaphragm of the outlet stub, whereby the movement of the diaphragm from the closed position is accompanied by a shearing action at the sealing edges, resulting in self-cleaning of the sealing edges. According to another aspect of preferred embodiments of the invention, the sealing element which is movable along with the plunger controlled by the solenoid valve, is connected so as to initially move away from the sealing surfaces at only one side of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Corcordia Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Stahle
  • Patent number: 4120318
    Abstract: A clapper-type check valve has a valve body with a chamber therein and a clapper-type valve member is mounted on an arm pivotally supported in the valve chamber. The valve member is supported from the lower end of the arm about a support pin received in openings in a pair of spaced lugs on the rear face of the valve member. An elastomeric bushing fits within each of the lug openings around the pin to permit a dampened and limited relative movement between the arm and the valve member. A channel-shaped strap is secured to the rear face of the valve member and receives a mid-portion of the arm. A band of elastomeric material is bonded around the arm between the valve member and the strap to permit a dampened and limited relative movement between the arm and the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jerry W. Jourdan