The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 2025
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2025
Rotor Innovations, Inc., Sagle, ID (US);
Travis G. Storro, Sagle, ID (US);
Victor D. Trotter, Fort Worth, TX (US);
Richard J. Wilcox, Sagle, ID (US);
Lee N. Skidmore, Sandpoint, ID (US);
Abstract
An aerial valve for a liquid container (e.g., a bag or a tank) suspended or otherwise carried by a firefighting aircraft includes an axially compressible tubular diaphragm. To open and close the valve, a motorized leadscrew raises and lowers a flow stopper relative to a discharge opening. The tubular diaphragm creates an air chamber above the flow stopper, so the full weight of the liquid in the container is not bearing down against the flow stopper. Thus, less force is needed to lift the flow stopper from its closed position, making the valve easier to open. Some examples of the aerial valve include features that make it wear resistant, easy to service, reprogram remotely, inexpensive to ship, and useful as a replacement for existing valves.