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).

  • Patent number: 11859729
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Jeffrey Simmonds, Brett Landacre
  • Publication number: 20220196178
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Eric P. JANSSEN, Jeffrey SIMMONDS, Brett LANDACRE
  • Patent number: 11248715
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Jeffrey Simmonds, Brett Landacre
  • Patent number: 10808860
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jamison, Eric P. Janssen, Kevin C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20190120402
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael JAMISON, Eric P. JANSSEN, Kevin C. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 9022069
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Neff, Eric P. Janssen
  • Publication number: 20140261804
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Neff, Eric P. Janssen
  • Patent number: 8167000
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Neff, Jeffrey Simmonds, Eric P. Janssen
  • Publication number: 20080251748
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Mac Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Neff, Jeffrey Simmonds, Eric P. Janssen
  • Patent number: 7210501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Mac Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H Neff, Eric P Janssen, Lynn R Long
  • Patent number: 6129115
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Janssen, Thomas R. Jones
  • Patent number: 5192936
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Mac Valves, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Neff, Richard A. Fagerlie, Eric P. Janssen, Michael E. Robert