| AUTOMATIC SWITCH COMPANY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120112870 | THERMAL PROTECTION DEVICE AND METHOD - A solenoid valve for use in a hazardous environment requiring a surface temperature of the valve to not exceed a cutoff temperature, the valve comprising coil configured to physically move an armature using an field generated by the coil; a thermal cutoff device having a fusing temperature above the cutoff temperature; and a heating resistor sized and configured to raise thermal cutoff device's temperature to the fusing temperature before the surface temperature exceeds the cutoff temperature. A method of constructing a solenoid valve for use in a hazardous environment requiring a surface temperature of the valve to not exceed a cutoff temperature, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a thermal cutoff device having a fusing temperature above the cutoff temperature; and selecting and configuring a heating resistor to raise thermal cutoff device's temperature to the fusing temperature before the surface temperature exceeds the cutoff temperature. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120014031 | SOLENOID CONTROLS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF USE FOR OBTAINING OPTIMUM BATTERY LIFE - The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110175348 | VALVE CONNECTIONS - A valve assembly having a valve body; at least one port to receive tubing; and a collar group to secure the tubing to the port, wherein the collar group is selected from a first collar group configured to secure the tubing by a flattening a washer, thereby driving teeth of the washer into the tubing, and a second collar group having a smooth interior surface to which the tubing is bonded, wherein either the first or the second collar groups may be interchangeably threaded onto the port. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110088788 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUALLY OPENING A VALVE WITH A TOLERANCE COMPENSATING STEM - An automatically adjusting control valve comprises a valve body; a valve seat within the valve body; a sealing disc adjacent the valve seat when the valve is closed and offset from the valve seat when the valve is open; an armature adjacent the sealing disc and operable to move the sealing disc linearly within the valve body; a biasing mechanism which biases the armature toward a first position; and an actuation stem configured to overcome the biasing mechanism and move the armature between the first position and a second position upon manual operation. The actuation stem may comprise a portion which engages the armature during movement between the first position and the second position The portion may be configured to deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances of the valve. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110057140 | MODULAR SPOOL VALVE - A control valve comprising a plurality of interchangeable valve body modules, each module having a main valve cavity and a plurality of separate cross valve communication ports communicating; and at least one interchangeable gasket disposed between adjacent modules and configured to individually communicate the main valve cavity and the communication ports between adjacent valve body modules, wherein the gasket is further configured to selectively communicate between the main valve cavity and a selected one of the cross valve communication ports. In one embodiment, each valve body module further includes a passage communicating with the main valve cavity. In this case, the gasket may be configured to selectively communicate between the passage and the selected one of the cross valve communication ports, thereby selectively communicating between the main valve cavity and the selected one of the cross valve communication ports through the passage by selective orientation of the gasket. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20100294373 | COMPACT VALVE POSITION INDICATOR - A system for indicating the status of a valve may include an encapsulation with electronic circuitry disposed at least partially therein, a communication sub-system, a sensor, an indicator and a power source. The encapsulation may be zero volume, and the indicator may include a color changing skin. A method of indicating the status of a valve may include providing a valve, providing a status indicating system, changing a status of the valve, sensing a status of the valve, and indicating a status of the valve. A method of encapsulating a status indicating system may include providing an encapsulant and coupling at least a portion of the system with the encapsulant. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20090309054 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A SOLENOID VALVE AT MINIMUM POWER LEVELS - The inventions disclosed and taught herein are further directed to a solenoid valve comprising: a casing; a magnetic coil encapsulated in the casing adapted for inducing a magnetic flux when supplied with electrical current; a plunger supported for linear displacement positioned within the coil, adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve; at least one capacitor adapted to energize the magnetic coil; and a piston pneumatically connected to the solenoid valve adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090284891 | LOW POWER SOLENOID CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A low power solenoid control circuit including a power source in series with a sensing element and a first diode, an inductor to actuate a valve, an energy storage device to store and discharge energy into the inductor, diodes to control current flow, and switches and a controller to control the circuit. The circuit may be operated by closing a first switch, thereby allowing a source current to flow through an inductor; opening the first switch, thereby forcing a charge current to flow through an energy storage device utilizing the inductance of the inductor; repeating these steps until the energy storage device is sufficiently charged; and upon command, closing a second switch, thereby forcing a discharge current to flow from the energy storage device to the inductor causing the inductor to produce an actuating magnetic field thereby actuating a mechanical valve. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090021882 | Solenoid Controls, Systems, and Methods of Use for Obtaining Optimum Battery Life - The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced. | 01-22-2009 |
