Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7412988 | Pneumatic level control An improved pneumatic level control for the activation, deactivation or regulation or a downstream device or process by way of pneumatic signal in response to increased liquid volume in an attached vessel or container. ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7357149 | Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling mani... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7293578 | Gauge assembly having a stop fill device A gauge assembly includes an indicator for providing an indication of an amount of fluid in a tank and a stop-fill assembly for stopping the flow of fluid flowing into the tank once the fluid reaches a particular level. The gauge assembly has a shaft that rotates as... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7089974 | Float operated overfill protection device A fuel storage tank includes an overfill protection device for shutting off the flow of fuel into the tank via a fuel fill tube when the contents of the tank reach an intended maximum fill level. The overfill protection device includes a butterfly valve located with... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7040343 | Valve assembly with low gas level signaling and controlling function A valve assembly with low gas level signaling and controlling function includes a primary valve threadedly engaged with an outlet of a tank, the primary valve being formed with a recess in which is fitted a plunger having an upper end extending upwardly through the ... | 05/09/2006 |
| 6953050 | Float, particularly for level control in bottles of liquefied gas and the like A float, particularly for level control in bottles of liquefied gas and the like, comprising a float body associated with an element for connection to a valve unit, the float body being constituted by an internally hollow element made of plastics whose shape is defi... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6913047 | Drop tube assemblies adapted for use with a liquid reservoir Drop tube assemblies are provided and adapted for use with a liquid reservoir. One exemplary drop tube assembly includes a first conduit, a second conduit and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve member, a float, and a linkage device pivotally conne... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6910499 | Valve assembly for pressurized fluid vessel A valve assembly for a pressurized fluid vessel such as a propane tank has a housing defining a main fluid passageway therebetween with a valve seat (734) defined in the main passageway, a main valve member (742) movable against the valve seat (734 | 06/28/2005 |
| 6895990 | Water heater fail safe apparatus Apparatus for automatically shutting off the water supply to a leaking water heater includes a water collecting tray positionable beneath the heater, a valve mechanism attachable to the tray, a float mechanism, and an action arm interactive between the float mechani... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6874528 | Fill valve assembly A fill valve assembly comprises a valve body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a fluid inlet, a valve seat and at least one fluid outlet, an axially slidable valve element arranged for axially slidable movement along the longitudinal axis, into and ou... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6823890 | Water-intake control valve A water-intake control valve including an upper valve base, a lower valve base, a valve tappet and a ball connect rod. The upper valve base is combined with the lower valve base to form a valve chamber with a sealing neck. The valve tappet is movably disposed inside... | 11/30/2004 |
| 6810905 | Propane overflow protection valve An overflow protection device includes a valve body having an inlet conduit passing vertically therethrough. The inlet conduit includes an outlet end below a valve chamber. A valve within the valve chamber is movable between and open and closed position. A float is ... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6640829 | Valve for a tap of a compressed or liquified gas cylinder, and tap provided with such a valve A two-way valve is disclosed comprising at least two lateral openings which can be shut off by a piston provided with an axial orifice for the passage of gas, which piston slides axially in the casing between a position in which the openings are shut off ... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6557579 | Double metal seal A filling valve for a pressurized fluid container, including a valve body with a longitudinal bore and a side opening formed therein, a sealing assembly slidingly disposed in the valve body, the sealing assembly being formed with a bore therethrough, a va... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6450196 | Float valve A liquid level responsive shut-off valve for filling a tank, such as a toilet water tank, comprises a valve housing having an inlet passageway for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, an outlet passageway opening into the tank, and a diaphragm... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6408869 | Safety valve A liquid level responsive shut-off valve for filling a tank, such as a liquid propane tank, comprises a valve housing having an inlet passageway for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, an outlet passageway opening into the tank, and a diaphra... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6308729 | Filling valve for a pressurized fluid container A filling valve for a pressurized fluid container, including a tube with a longitudinal bore and a side port formed therein, a piston slidingly disposed in the tube, the piston being formed with a bore therethrough, a valve lever pivotally attached to a p... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6293302 | Overflow protection valve assembly A valve assembly is provided which includes a valve member for being shifted between open and closed positions, and a control member having an operative position for maintaining the valve member in the open position until a predetermined fluid level is re... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6227233 | Pressurized fluid apparatus Pressurized fluid apparatus including a pressurized fluid container, a pipe arranged for flow therethrough of the pressurized fluid into the container, a valve operatively connected to an end of the pipe disposed in the container, and a float attached to ... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6178994 | Tap for compressed or liquefied gases having an overcharging prevention function There is disclosed a tap for compressed or liquefied gases having an overcharging prevention function, in which a gas can be directly infused/discharged into/from a gas storage tank, regardless of pressure/level of the liquefied gas inside/outside a gas s... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6142175 | Structure of a floating-ball valve An improved structure of a floating-ball valve for industrial fluid comprising a valve seat, a valve insert, a cap, a crankshaft, a float and a floating arm, wherein a valve chamber is formed at the internal of the valve seat, and together with a water in... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6138709 | Overfill protection device A overfill protection device includes a first tubular member, a cylindrical piston slidably fitted within the first tubular member, a spring arranged within the first tubular member and fitted over an intermediate portion of the piston, a first and second... | 10/31/2000 |
| 6123099 | Pinch tube tank level control valve with snap-action shutoff A liquid level control apparatus for a flush tank includes an upstanding fill tube integral at its upper end with a valve housing carrying a flexible resilient pinch tube valve member. The valve housing defines a conduit which communicates with a downward... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6109314 | Tap for compressed or liquefied gas The tap is designed for fitting onto a gas bottle and to allow both the drawing-off of gas and the filling of the bottle. To this end, the tap includes a filling circuit communicating with the inside of the bottle via a level valve which automatically clo... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6079438 | Valve device for controlling the filling level of cylinders and the like with liquefied gases A valve device for controlling the filling level of cylinders and the like ith liquefied gases, comprising an upper connecting body which can be coupled to a cylinder for liquefied gas and forming a tubular gas infeed element which ends with a coupling bod... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6076546 | Overflow protection valve assembly A valve assembly is provided that prevents overfilling of vessels, such as tanks used to hold liquified gas, beyond a predetermined maximum level. Preferably, the valve assembly is for use with an LP tank attached at the bottom of a service valve thereof.... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6026841 | Pressurized fluid apparatus Pressurized fluid apparatus including a pressurized fluid container, a pipe arranged for flow therethrough of the pressurized fluid into the container, a valve operatively connected to an end of the pipe disposed in the container, and a float attached to ... | 02/22/2000 |
| 6006779 | Fluid cutoff system A fluid cutoff system for preventing fluid flow through a hose whenever a desired amount of fluid has been deposited onto an area is comprised of a tube having a valve therein. An accumulator has a float floatably disposed therein with an extension attach... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5992445 | Float unit for controlling the filling level of liquid gases in vessels A float unit for controlling the filling level of liquid gases in vessels, ylinders and the like, comprises a valve body which can be associated with a cylinder and defines a fork body whereto a float member is swingably connected, the float unit further c... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5921272 | Floater device for checking the liquefied gas filling level of cylinders or the like A mechanical device for checking the level to which cylinders and the like are filled with liquid gases, comprising a feeder pipe anchored to the cutoff valve unit of the cylinder. At the lower end of the pipe there are provided openings which are connect... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5896887 | Pinch tube tank level control valve with snap-action shutoff A liquid level control apparatus for a flush tank includes an upstanding fill tube integral at its upper end with a valve housing carrying a flexible resilient pinch tube valve member and a pivoting actuator engageable with the pinch tube for opening and ... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5894858 | Device for shutting off the feed or discharge pipe of a mobility separator There is described a device for shutting off the feed or discharge pipe (1) of a mobility separator, comprising a shutting flap (3) which in dependence on the position of a float (2) can be swivelled from an open position into a closed position about a ro... | 04/20/1999 |
| 5878775 | Toilet valve assembly A toilet having a water inlet valve apparatus has a flush tank with a water inlet tube connecting from a water source into the flush tank. A water cutoff is attached to the water inlet tube and has a valve seat in a floating valve element positioned in th... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5857483 | Plastic float valve A plastic float valve wherein the piston is provided with a number of thin ridges as bearing surfaces which contact the valve bore, an annular cup seal to seal the valve bore and a tip washer having a truncated cone portion and mounted onto a tapered post... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5850849 | Storage tank shutoff valve with double cam assembly An valve assembly for automatically shutting off the flow of a pressurized liquid to a storage tank includes a cam that is rotated in response to the level of a liquid in the storage tank. A follower moves a poppet valve axially with a housing as a nonlin... | 12/22/1998 |
| 5682919 | Float controlled valve shut-off assembly An apparatus for shutting off an impact valve being closeable by a latch bar in response to an accumulation of gasoline within a containment box, the apparatus comprising a cam being rotatable about an axis while displacing the latch bar to a closed posit... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5564464 | Storage tank shut-off valve An improved control valve for a holding tank is provided for cutting off the flow of fluid into a holding tank device in response to achieving a predetermined fluid level in the holding tank. The assembly includes a housing configured for placement adjace... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5551466 | Hydraulic valve The present invention discloses a valve which utilises an imbalance of flow induced pressure forces to keep the valve open or closed. The valve has an interior cavity (15) into which an opposite and aligned inlet (12) and outlet (13) open. A bulbous body ... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5487404 | Valve for a tap of a compressed or liquified gas cylinder, and tap provided with such a valve The valve (30) comprises at least two lateral openings (34, 36) which can be shut off by a plug (40) provided with an axial orifice (48) for the passage of gas, which plug slides axially in the casing (32) between a position in which the openings (34, 36)... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5472012 | Storage tank shutoff valve A valve assembly for automatically shutting off the flow of a pressurized liquid to a storage tank includes a cam that is rotated in response to the level of a liquid in the storage tank. A follower moves a poppet valve axially with a housing as a nonline... | 12/05/1995 |
