Patents by Inventor Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove

Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove 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: 7735517
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow in a fluid system is disclosed. The valve includes a housing, a servo spool, and a piston. The servo spool defines a spiral groove and a spiral land. The piston defines an orifice configured to provide flow communication to a supply of pressurized fluid and an orifice configured to provide flow communication to a portion of the fluid system exterior to the valve. The valve further includes a main spool operably coupled to the piston. The main spool is configured to control flow of fluid in the fluid system. The spiral groove and spiral land are configured such that angular displacement of the servo spool results in a force imbalance on the piston, thereby moving the piston and the main spool in one of a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove, Pengfei Ma
  • Patent number: 7621211
    Abstract: The force feedback poppet valve includes a valve body having a main chamber, a first port, and a second port. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a main poppet disposed within the main chamber and movable between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow between the first port and the second port. The main poppet forms a control chamber within the main chamber. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a first passage communicating the control chamber with the second port, a second passage communicating the control chamber with the first port, and a pilot valve having a pilot poppet for controlling fluid flow between the control chamber and the first port through the second passage. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a pressure compensator disposed within the main poppet, and fluidly connected to the second port via the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., Caterpillar Japan Ltd
    Inventors: Pengfel Ma, Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove
  • Publication number: 20080295681
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a source of pressurized fluid and a fluid actuator with a first chamber. The hydraulic system also has a first valve configured to selectively fluidly communicate the source with the first chamber. The first valve further includes a first element movable between a flow passing, at which fluid from the source flows to the first chamber, and a flow blocking position, at which fluid from the source is blocked from the first chamber and a second element configured to selectively drain a control passageway associated with the first element to cause the first element to move. The hydraulic system further has a proportional pressure compensating valve configured to control a pressure of a fluid directed between the source and the first valve dependent upon the pressure of the control passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Pengfei Ma, Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove, James Alvin Aardema, Kalpesh Patel
  • Publication number: 20080295508
    Abstract: The force feedback poppet valve includes a valve body having a main chamber, a first port, and a second port. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a main poppet disposed within the main chamber and movable between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow between the first port and the second port. The main poppet forms a control chamber within the main chamber. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a first passage communicating the control chamber with the second port, a second passage communicating the control chamber with the first port, and a pilot valve having a pilot poppet for controlling fluid flow between the control chamber and the first port through the second passage. The force feedback poppet valve further includes a pressure compensator disposed within the main poppet, and fluidly connected to the second port via the first passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Pengfel Ma, Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove
  • Publication number: 20080149181
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow in a fluid system is disclosed. The valve includes a housing, a servo spool, and a piston. The servo spool defines a spiral groove and a spiral land. The piston defines an orifice configured to provide flow communication to a supply of pressurized fluid and an orifice configured to provide flow communication to a portion of the fluid system exterior to the valve. The valve further includes a main spool operably coupled to the piston. The main spool is configured to control flow of fluid in the fluid system. The spiral groove and spiral land are configured such that angular displacement of the servo spool results in a force imbalance on the piston, thereby moving the piston and the main spool in one of a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Philippe Georges Vande Kerckhove, Pengfei Ma