DAVID D HUGHES
Cosmetology in Pittsburgh, PA

4776562, Oct 11, 1988

Jul 28, 1987

7/078826

William S. Kalaskie - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA

Stanley G. Flagg & Co. - Washington DC

F16K 31122

251 634

A gas cylinder valve for high pressure gas cylinders includes a pneumatic actuator with tandem pistons which are operated by normal industry "house" pneumatic pressures to overcome the large closing bias force generated by a set of disc springs so that the valve opening spring can lift the valve stem from its seat. A floating pressure plate which seats against an annular internal shoulder in the actuator housing prevents pneumatic pressure applied to the upper piston from acting on the back of the lower piston. Pneumatic pressure from a common source is applied to both pistons through an axial hole in a piston rod integral with one piston and bearing against the other piston. The actuator is easily assembled by merely inserting the lower piston, the pressure plate, the upper piston and the disc springs into the open end of a cup-shaped housing, and securing them in place with a preload on the springs by screwing on a housing cover.

5474104, Dec 12, 1995

Jan 17, 1995

8/372960

Robin N. Borland - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA
William S. Kalaskie - McMurray PA
John Piscatelli - Pittsburgh PA
Paul Rafalowski - Erie PA
Timothy R. Stiffy - Bentleyville PA
Paul L. Wellener - Pittsburgh PA

Superior Valve Company - Washington PA

F16K 17168

137381

A refueling check valve assembly which provides for rapid, efficient, and safe refueling of compressed natural gas powered vehicles is provided and includes a receptacle adapted to mate with a fuel supply nozzle and a valve body having first and second gas flow passages therethrough. The respective first ends of the first and second gas flow passages communicate with the receptacle, while the respective second ends of the first and second gas flow passages are adapted to communicate with a fuel storage vessel, typically through a fuel supply line. A check valve is positioned in the first gas flow passage of the valve body and is normally biased into a closed position to prevent the flow of gas through the first gas flow passage. The check valve opens in response to a flow of fuel under pressure, permitting the flow of gas to the fuel storage vessel. A by-pass valve is also provided in the second gas flow passage in the valve body for depressurizing the fuel system prior to servicing.

4706929, Nov 17, 1987

Dec 8, 1986

6/938824

William S. Kalaskie - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA

Stanley G. Flagg & Co., Inc. - Washington PA

F16K 31143

251 14

A gas cylinder valve with an inner valve stem biased toward a valve open position by a helical compression spring is pneumatically operated by an actuator having a piston biased by a stack of disc springs against an outer valve stem, separated from the inner valve stem by a diaphragm gas seal, to urge the inner valve stem to a valve closed position. While the force exerted on the inner valve stem by the disc springs exceeds that applied by the helical spring so that the valve is normally biased closed, pneumatic pressure applied to the piston moves the piston away from the outer valve member so that the helical spring moves the inner valve stem to the open position. The valve may be manually opened without pneumatic pressure by screwing a threaded shaft into a boss on the piston, and while holding the shaft stationary with a handle provided, rotating a nut wrench threaded onto the shaft which bears against the actuator housing to draw the piston away from the outer valve stem against the bias of the spring discs so that the helical spring can move the inner valve stem to the open position. The valve is locked closed by a threaded plug which screws into the actuator housing and clamps the piston down against the outer valve stem with the inner valve stem in the closed position. The manually operable pneumatic actuator can be easily retrofitted to existing gas cylinder valves or can be provided as a part of new valves, and is of a size which permits it to be enclosed for transportation and storage by a conventional transport cap.

5452738, Sep 26, 1995

Feb 22, 1994

8/200075

Robin N. Borland - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA

Amcast Industrial Corporation - Dayton OH

F16K 3106, F16K 1738, F16K 3902

137265

A bidirectional solenoid operated valve for controlling the flow of a compressed gas to and from a pressurized vessel is provided which automatically blocks the flow of gas out of a cylinder to a gas line in the event of an electrical failure or crash and which will not fail catastrophically in the event of a crash. The bidirectional valve includes a manual lockdown feature, an integral electrical pass through assembly, and a thermally activatable pressure relief device.

5125622, Jun 30, 1992

May 22, 1991

7/705019

William S. Kalaskie - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA

Amcast Industrial Corporation - Washington PA

F16K 4112

251 634

An actuator-cylinder valve connection mechanism has a bonnet nut with external threads and receives an outer valve stem, a valve body having an upper end with internal and external threads with the internal threads in engagement with the external threads of the bonnet nut, and either a jam nut or an actuator housing of the actuator having a downward extension with internal threds in engagement with the external threads of the upper end of the valve body. Clearances, apertures, and a direct contact of the jam nut or the actuator housing against the top surface of the upper end of the valve body cause any impact or inertial forces to be circumvented from the jam nut or the housing and into the valve body, thereby entirely bypassing the sealing mechanism which is comprised of the bonnet nut.

5562117, Oct 8, 1996

Jun 2, 1995

8/459365

Robin N. Borland - McMurray PA
David E. Hughes - Pittsburgh PA

Amcast Industrial Corporation - Dayton OH

F16K 3106, F16K 1738

137 74

A bidirectional solenoid operated valve for controlling the flow of a compressed gas to and from a pressurized vessel is provided which automatically blocks the flow of gas out of a cylinder to a gas line in the event of an electrical failure or crash and which will not fail catastrophically in the event of a crash. The bidirectional valve includes a manual lockdown feature, an integral electrical pass through assembly, and a thermally activatable pressure relief device.