Patents by Inventor Gary B. Ford

Gary B. Ford 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: 11813912
    Abstract: A closed leveling system for a vehicle includes a suspension system having a number of corners, and each corner includes at least one strut to be coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The closed leveling system also includes a sensor and a master controller in communication with the sensor. The master controller includes a memory device including computer-readable instructions, and a processor in communication with the memory device. The leveling system also includes a power module assembly including a reservoir containing compressible liquid, a pump configured to withdraw the compressible liquid from the reservoir, a dump valve configured to transfer the compressible liquid into the reservoir, and isolation valves. Each isolation valve is associated with at least one corner. The leveling system further includes secondary volumes in selective fluid communication with the reservoir. Each secondary volume is associated with one isolation valve and at least one corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary B. Ford, Richard J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 10047815
    Abstract: A resilient expandable pressure vessel configured to function like a spring. The resilient expandable pressure vessel includes a body portion, a cavity defined within the body portion, and at least one port in communication with the cavity defined in the body portion. The at least one port is configured to receive a fluid into the cavity and discharge the fluid from the cavity. The resilient expandable pressure vessel has a predetermined expansibility across a range of operating pressures of the fluid in the cavity. The range is at least 200 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary B. Ford, Richard J. Meyer, Peter M. Schmid
  • Publication number: 20170328434
    Abstract: A resilient expandable pressure vessel configured to function like a spring. The resilient expandable pressure vessel includes a body portion, a cavity defined within the body portion, and at least one port in communication with the cavity defined in the body portion. The at least one port is configured to receive a fluid into the cavity and discharge the fluid from the cavity. The resilient expandable pressure vessel has a predetermined expansibility across a range of operating pressures of the fluid in the cavity. The range is at least 200 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Gary B. Ford, Richard J. Meyer, Peter M. Schmid
  • Patent number: 9670979
    Abstract: A resilient expandable pressure vessel configured to function like a spring. The resilient expandable pressure vessel includes a body portion, a cavity defined within the body portion, and at least one port in communication with the cavity defined in the body portion. The at least one port is configured to receive a fluid into the cavity and discharge the fluid from the cavity. The resilient expandable pressure vessel has a predetermined expansibility across a range of operating pressures of the fluid in the cavity. The range is at least 200 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary B. Ford, Richard J. Meyer, Peter M. Schmid