Patents by Inventor Douglas M. Durant

Douglas M. Durant has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5400595
    Abstract: Left and right two stage brake valves communicate fluid pressure to left and right brake mechanisms. Each brake valve has an inlet for receiving pressurized brake fluid from a pump, a reservoir port, a stepped bore and a stepped piston member comprising a larger diameter prefill piston and a smaller diameter high pressure piston. The stepped piston is movable away from a rest position to transfer fluid to the brake mechanism. The stepped bore and the stepped piston form a high volume prefill chamber and a high pressure chamber. The high pressure piston has a groove communicated with the brake mechanism, and the groove communicates with the inlet when the high pressure piston has moved a certain distance to transfer fluid from the high pressure chamber to the brake mechanism. The prefill piston has a sealing land and a second land on either side of a sealing ring which is slidable in the stepped bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Douglas M. Durant
  • Patent number: 5394701
    Abstract: Left and right two stage brake valves communicate fluid pressure to left and right brake mechanisms, each brake valve having an inlet for receiving pressurized brake fluid, a reservoir, a stepped bore and a stepped piston. The stepped bore and the stepped piston forming a high volume prefill chamber and a high pressure chamber. A prefill drain valve communicates the prefill chambers to the reservoir only when pump pressure is available at the inlet and blocks communication between the left and right prefill chambers and between the prefill chambers and a reservoir when pump pressure is not available at the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Douglas M. Durant, Larry M. Delfs, Derek M. Eagles
  • Patent number: 5245827
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump which provides pressurized fluid at an output port as a function of pressure in a load sensing port, a hydraulic reservoir, and a load pressure sensing line connected to the load sensing port. A solenoid operated implement control valve controls fluid communication to and from a hydraulic function such as a cylinder. A supply control valve has a first position wherein the reservoir is communicated with the load sensing port and a second position wherein the pump output port is communicated with the load sensing port. A spring urges the valve member to its first position, and a solenoid is energizable to move the valve member to its second position. The solenoid is energized when the implement control valve is activated so that the supply control valve communicates pump pressure to the load sensing port and the pump will operate at full capacity whenever the second hydraulic function is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Douglas M. Durant, Larry M. Delfs, Derek M. Eagles, Ronald L. Pratt
  • Patent number: 4881573
    Abstract: A female coupler can operate in both a push-pull and a lever-actuated connect/disconnect fashion. Double lock ball controlling ramp surfaces are provided around the receiving bore of the coupler to allow the lock balls of the coupler to withdraw from the receiving bore when the receptacle is moved either into or out of the housing. The coupler can be moved into or out of the housing by pushing the male coupler into or pulling it out of the female coupler, or by use of a lever-actuated cam. A piston-type flow-check valve is provided to open the male check ball and hold it open despite transient surges. This flow-check valve is hydraulically actuated. A bleed valve for the hydraulically actuated flow-check valve is activated to release the flow-check valve when the lever is actuated or when the receptacle is pushed into the housing, thereby reducing the force needed for coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Douglas M. Durant, Uwe H. Kugler, Bennie J. Vaughn, Douglas W. Nordquist, Larry M. Delfs
  • Patent number: D326709
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Douglas M. Durant, Larry M. Delfs, Cristian J. Felix, William E. Crookes