Patents by Inventor Eric P Janssen
Eric P Janssen 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).
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Patent number: 11859729Abstract: A valve including a valve assembly and a solenoid assembly. The solenoid assembly is coupled to the valve assembly to actuate the valve assembly. The solenoid assembly includes a movable armature engaged with a poppet of the valve assembly. A plate spring having a spring force is positioned between the valve assembly and the solenoid assembly that is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with a valve seat. Based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Jeffrey Simmonds, Brett Landacre
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Publication number: 20220196178Abstract: A valve including a valve assembly and a solenoid assembly. The solenoid assembly is coupled to the valve assembly to actuate the valve assembly. The solenoid assembly includes a movable armature engaged with a poppet of the valve assembly. A plate spring having a spring force is positioned between the valve assembly and the solenoid assembly that is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with a valve seat. Based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Eric P. JANSSEN, Jeffrey SIMMONDS, Brett LANDACRE
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Patent number: 11248715Abstract: A valve including a valve assembly and a solenoid assembly. The solenoid assembly is coupled to the valve assembly to actuate the valve assembly. The solenoid assembly includes a movable armature engaged with a poppet of the valve assembly. A plate spring having a spring force is positioned between the valve assembly and the solenoid assembly that is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with a valve seat. Based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Jeffrey Simmonds, Brett Landacre
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Patent number: 10808860Abstract: A control valve having a valve body, seat member, valve member, and solenoid including a housing, bobbin, and coil. The valve member has a head portion disposed within the bobbin and a valve portion, disposed within the valve body, that has a seat engagement member operating to open and close ports in the valve body when the valve member slides between first and second positions. A permanent magnet, disposed within the bobbin, applies an attractive force of variable magnitude to the valve member in a direction opposing a biasing force created by a biasing component. Pulses of electric current applied to the coil change the variable magnitude. The permanent magnet pulls the valve member to the second position when the attractive force is greater than the biasing force and the valve member returns to the first position when the attractive force is less than the biasing force.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Michael Jamison, Eric P. Janssen, Kevin C. Williams
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Publication number: 20190120402Abstract: A control valve having a valve body, seat member, valve member, and solenoid including a housing, bobbin, and coil. The valve member has a head portion disposed within the bobbin and a valve portion, disposed within the valve body, that has a seat engagement member operating to open and close ports in the valve body when the valve member slides between first and second positions. A permanent magnet, disposed within the bobbin, applies an attractive force of variable magnitude to the valve member in a direction opposing a biasing force created by a biasing component. Pulses of electric current applied to the coil change the variable magnitude. The permanent magnet pulls the valve member to the second position when the attractive force is greater than the biasing force and the valve member returns to the first position when the attractive force is less than the biasing force.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Michael JAMISON, Eric P. JANSSEN, Kevin C. WILLIAMS
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Patent number: 9022069Abstract: A pressure balanced solenoid operated valve includes a solenoid portion having a coil. A valve member portion is connected to the solenoid portion. The valve member portion has a body including: first and second valve seats; a first cavity positioned between the first valve seat and a valve outlet port. A valve member slidably disposed in the body has a resilient valve element positioned between the first and second valve seats, the resilient valve element when in direct contact with the first valve seat defining a valve closed position. A bleed port created in the body between the first valve seat and the valve outlet port and opening into the first cavity provides a flow path for a pressurized fluid present at the second valve seat in the valve closed position to continuously flow out through the valve outlet port.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Neff, Eric P. Janssen
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Publication number: 20140261804Abstract: A pressure balanced solenoid operated valve includes a solenoid portion having a coil. A valve member portion is connected to the solenoid portion. The valve member portion has a body including: first and second valve seats; a first cavity positioned between the first valve seat and a valve outlet port. A valve member slidably disposed in the body has a resilient valve element positioned between the first and second valve seats, the resilient valve element when in direct contact with the first valve seat defining a valve closed position. A bleed port created in the body between the first valve seat and the valve outlet port and opening into the first cavity provides a flow path for a pressurized fluid present at the second valve seat in the valve closed position to continuously flow out through the valve outlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Neff, Eric P. Janssen
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Patent number: 8167000Abstract: A valve assembly includes a solenoid can having an internal coil. A valve body connected to the solenoid can includes an inlet port and a first valve seat. An axially adjustable retainer threadably connected to the valve body includes an end portion defining a second valve seat. A homogenous valve member/armature slidably disposed in the valve body moves in the presence of a coil generated magnetic flux between valve closed and valve open positions. A valve member/armature first surface area is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid through the inlet port. A valve member/armature second surface area is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid in the valve closed position. The first surface area is equal to the second surface area and the pressurized fluid acts equally on the first and second surface areas defining a pressure balanced condition in the valve closed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Neff, Jeffrey Simmonds, Eric P. Janssen
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Publication number: 20080251748Abstract: A valve assembly includes a solenoid can having an internal coil. A valve body connected to the solenoid can includes an inlet port and a first valve seat. An axially adjustable retainer threadably connected to the valve body includes an end portion defining a second valve seat. A homogenous valve member/armature slidably disposed in the valve body moves in the presence of a coil generated magnetic flux between valve closed and valve open positions. A valve member/armature first surface area is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid through the inlet port. A valve member/armature second surface area is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid in the valve closed position. The first surface area is equal to the second surface area and the pressurized fluid acts equally on the first and second surface areas defining a pressure balanced condition in the valve closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: Mac Valves, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Neff, Jeffrey Simmonds, Eric P. Janssen
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Patent number: 7210501Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a valve body having both fluid inlet and discharge ports. A flow passage axially extending within the valve body communicates with the inlet and discharge ports. A valve member within the flow passage is movable by an actuator force in a first direction to direct a pressurized fluid from the inlet to the discharge port. The valve member includes first and second valve heads having different diameters and a valve seating member. The valve seating member engages first and second sealing diameters of the flow passage, the second sealing diameter being smaller than the first. Fluid pressure acting on the different diameters of the first valve head and valve seating member in contact with the second sealing diameter creates a net return force directing the valve member in a second direction opposite to the first direction upon removal of the actuator force.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Mac Valves, Inc.Inventors: Robert H Neff, Eric P Janssen, Lynn R Long
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Patent number: 6129115Abstract: A self-latching solenoid valve assembly including a valve body having a pressurized air supply inlet port for communicating with a source of pressurized air and at least one cylinder port. A valve member is supported in the valve body so as to be movable between predetermined positions to selectively direct pressurized air from the inlet port to at least one cylinder port. A biasing member is employed to move the valve member in one direction and a solenoid assembly is used to move the valve member in an opposite direction. The solenoid assembly includes a housing with a solenoid coil supported therein and a fixed ferromagnetic pole piece having a passage extending therethrough with a pushpin movably supported in the passage. A ferromagnetic latch is also supported by the housing and spaced from the pole piece. A permanent magnet is disposed between the latch and the pole piece.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Thomas R. Jones
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Patent number: 5192936Abstract: A solenoid having a bobbin with a rectangular core hole in which is mounted an armature having a rectangular cross section, and a pole piece having a rectangular cross section. The bobbin has a magnet wire coil wound around a bobbin tubular body which is rectangular in cross section. The bobbin has an upper flange and a lower flange that encloses the ends of the coil. A tubular can is seated around the bobbin. A top flux plate is seated on the upper can surface and a bottom flux plate is seated under the lower can surface. The flux plates are secured to the bobbin flanges. A sealing, electrical insulating heat dissipating material is disposed inside of the tubular can which seals the coil and insulates the coil from the flux plates, tubular can and solenoid mounting screws.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1991Date of Patent: March 9, 1993Assignee: Mac Valves, Inc.Inventors: James A. Neff, Richard A. Fagerlie, Eric P. Janssen, Michael E. Robert