Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7784487 | Fuel metering valve assembly including thermal compensation mechanism A metering valve assembly is provided for metering a fluid. The metering valve assembly includes a position sensor, metering valve, and a thermal compensation mechanism. The metering valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough, and a valve elem... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7360555 | Gas regulator with altimetric adjustment The invention relates to a gas regulator which is intended to be mounted on a gas delivery pipe connecting a gas source to a user device. The inventive regulator comprises a pressure regulation mechanism which is controlled by the movement of a mobile element. The i... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7363182 | System and method for mass flow detection device calibration Systems and methods for correcting measurements of fluid flow using device-specific information to compensate for differences between individual devices of the same design. In one embodiment, a method includes providing device-specific calibration data; sensing a fl... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7347423 | Arrangement in connection with mechanical seal An arrangement in connection with a mechanical seal includes at least two sliding surfaces pressing against each other, which are arranged to seal a gap between a rotating and a non-rotating machining part, and mechanism for providing a sealing fluid flow cooling th... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7337799 | Gaseous fuel vehicle and automatic vent system A vehicle (1) equipped with a tank (2) for storage of a fluid under pressure on the vehicle, the tank being connected to at least one vent channel (3 and 33), the vent channel leading to a discharge orifice (34), the vent channel b... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7335396 | Methods for controlling mass flow rates and pressures in passageways coupled to reaction chambers and systems for depositing material onto microfeature workpieces in reaction chambers Methods, apparatuses, and systems for controlling mass flow rates and pressures in passageways coupled to reaction chambers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes controlling a mass flow rate in a passageway in response to a first condition by mo... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7310942 | Exhaust passage control valve Exhaust passage control valve 10 may comprise housing 30, valve member 20, and helical torsion spring 40. Housing 30 has an exhaust passage. Exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine flows through the exhaust passage of the ho... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7302961 | Surge relief valve A surge relief valve comprising a main valve body having a dome port and an inlet port. The inlet port is in fluid communication with a first fluid. The invention further includes a dome reservoir connected to the main valve body via the dome port and arranged to ho... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7300060 | Seal staging system A staged seal assembly having a plurality of staged seals and an external pressure breakdown device connected to the seal assembly and configured to be connected to an external device, wherein each staged seal includes a shaft seal and a seal bypass. The seal bypass... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7255286 | Temperature compensation valve A temperature compensation valve is hereby provided wherein the inner cavity of the valve comprises a puck, a metal piston (gas control device), and a spring. The spring serves to bias the piston towards the puck, and the puck expands and contracts proportionately i... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7251998 | Liquid measurement system having a plurality of differential pressure probes The weight of liquid in a tank subject to tilting is determined by measuring differences in air pressure in the ullage (the empty volume of the tank above the level of the liquid) and the air pressure produced by the weight of the liquid at the bottom of the tank. T... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7237619 | Automatic fire sprinkler having a variable orifice An automatic fire sprinkler having a variable orifice, the sprinkler having a variable orifice associated with the automatic fire sprinkler, and wherein the orifice is responsive to the water inlet pressure of the sprinkler. ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7225085 | Precision gas flow meter A precision gas flow meter that is capable of measuring small flow rates of gasses precisely in the range of 0.01 to 10 L per minute. The meter is designed to measure the gas flow in small volume increments of predetermined value, and therefore can be used to measur... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7188610 | No-return loop fuel system A no-return loop fuel injection system supplies fuel from a fuel pump to an injector fuel rail, through a fuel line. A biased closed pressure control valve communicates with the fuel line and has a valve head preferably of a diaphragm type carrying a fuel side havin... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7178656 | Hydraulic controlled fan clutch with integral cooling A hydraulically controlled fan drive system (12) having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly (20) containing a hydraulic fluid (48) and an engaging circuit (36). The engaging circuit (36) includes a pitot tube (152... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7171972 | Passive back-flushing thermal energy system This invention provides a thermal energy system comprising a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7114661 | Thermally actuated fluid shuttle valve A thermally actuated fluid shuttle valve that is a three-way direction control valve that shifts when fluid passing through said valve reaches a preset temperature. The control valve, including three ports, an internal shiftable spool, and a thermal element, wherein... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7096772 | System and method for controlling hydraulic fluid flow A method of flowing hydraulic fluid in a work machine is disclosed. The method includes generating a control signal from an input mechanism and generating a property signal indicative of a viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. The control signal and the property signal ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7096658 | Centrifugal pump fuel system and method for gas turbine engine A fuel system for a gas turbine engine that utilizes a centrifugal pump is presented. The system includes a fuel metering valve that is adapted to set a metered flow of fuel, and a throttle valve that is adapted to accurately control pressure drop across the fuel me... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7093608 | Vacuum pressure breaker and freeze protection for a water flushing system A water flushing system for a pressurized subterranean water distribution system includes an inlet conduit for receiving pressurized water from the subterranean water distribution system; an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet conduit for discharging pressurized w... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7089919 | Automotive vapor purge valve using shape memory alloy wire A purge valve is provided for a vehicle. The purge valve 10 includes a body 12 to be coupled to an intake manifold 40 of the vehicle and to a canister 33. The body has an orifice 20 for communicating vapor from the canister 33 | 08/15/2006 |
| 7017564 | Temperature-controlled PCV valve A positive crankcase ventilation valve includes a flow restrictor movable in an orifice to vary flow of fumes from a crankcase to an intake manifold in a vehicle. The valve also includes a wax motor for moving the flow restrictor in the orifice. ... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7000850 | Anti-scald water valve assembly An anti-scald water valve assembly comprises a body including a passage for water, a valve provided in the passage for shutting off the passage, and an electro-mechanical actuator to cause closing of the valve. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of water ru... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6994102 | Pressure regulating valve A pressure regulating valve which is comprised of a valve body being comprised of a cylinder, a spool slidably disposed in the cylinder with a clearance, the spool and the cylinder defining a pressure chamber and a space portion, and an urging member which urges the... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6988710 | Flow regulating device The flow regulating device has a shape preservation member which surrounding the environment of a flow conduit and restricts the amount of heat deformation of a housing in the housing. The shape preservation member is made from a material whose amount of heat deform... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6971186 | Lint filter assembly for use in a dryer A filter assembly for collecting lint in use with a dryer having an interior compartment. The filter assembly includes a control unit, an input air pathway in communication with the interior compartment, an exhaust, and a micro-filter. The input air pathway carries ... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6962164 | System and method for a mass flow controller A system and method for controlling a mass flow controller to have a constant control loop gain under a variety of different types of fluids and operating conditions, and for configuring the mass flow controller for operation with a fluid and/or operating conditions... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6962295 | Thermostat for an automatic hydraulic transmission system The present invention has a by-pass thermostat assembly (1) that is connected to the oil circulation system of an automatic hydraulic transmission system of an internal combustion or other engine. The assembly includes a block or a case (4) with an inn... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6918526 | Muffler for staple guns A muffler is received in a passage of an end member connected to a handle of the staple gun and a fitting extends from the end member so as to be connected to a hose. The muffler includes a tubular body and a plurality of plates extend from an end of the tubular bod... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6902048 | Clutch The present invention provides various clutch/gear assemblies that can be driven by a single motor. The clutch/gear assemblies comprise a smart material which changes shape when supplied with energy, e.g., current or heat. The smart material achieves one of a first ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6895993 | Expansion valve An expansion valve 1 comprises a piping member 10 equipped with passages to which refrigerant pipes are connected, and a cassette unit 100, the two members being formed as separate units. The cassette unit 100 comprises a tube member 1... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6827091 | Passive back-flushing thermal energy system A thermal energy system including a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with the load, wherein the sec... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6615855 | Stimuli-responsive hybrid materials containing molecular actuators and their applications The present invention provides a hybrid material and a method for forming a hybrid material comprising actuator made from a stimuli responsive polymer mounted in a porous framework. The present invention also provides devices employing the actuator of the... | 09/09/2003 |
| 6550495 | Safety device for cutting off gas pipelines A thermal safety device for cutting off gas pipelines, wherein gas transfer is prevented by the safety device when temperature increases in the section of the gas pipeline placed downstream from the safety device, especially when connected gas apparatuses... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6536213 | Micromachined parylene membrane valve and pump A micromachined fluid handling device having improved properties. The valve is made of reinforced parylene. A heater heats a fluid to expand the fluid. The heater is formed on unsupported silicon nitride to reduce the power. The device can be used to form... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6516827 | Gas regulator for flowmeter A measuring device for gas flows including a gas regulator positioned immediately upstream of a volumetric meter for determining the volume of a gas passing therethrough. The measuring device includes means for modifying the pressure of the gas expansion ... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6491061 | Stimuli responsive hybrid materials containing molecular actuators and their applications The present invention provides a hybrid material and a method for forming a hybrid material comprising actuator made from a stimuli responsive polymer mounted in a porous framework. The present invention also provides devices employing the actuator of the... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6453937 | Hot gas valve construction for reducing thermal shock effects A system (and accompanying method) for reducing thermal shock in a physical device includes: a gas inlet portion; and an ablator material positioned in the gas inlet portion to reduce a temperature differential at a surface between the gas inlet portion a... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6352016 | Hydraulic power-assisted steering A hydraulic power steering system, in which the servomotor also acts as a steering damper. Damper valves are arranged on hydraulic lines between the servomotor and servo valve. In order to compensate the temperature-dependent viscosity of the hydraulic me... | 03/05/2002 |
| 6347745 | Engine thermostat housing and thermostat assembly A thermostat assembly with a valve mounted to a carrier for installation in an engine thermostat housing. The carrier includes a body portion to which the valve is mounted. A pair of posts extend upward from the body portion and have snap tabs that seat i... | 02/19/2002 |
