Patents by Inventor Robert Alan Neal

Robert Alan Neal 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: 6668986
    Abstract: A vehicular damper includes a cylinder, a piston rod in the cylinder having a hollow end defining an axial rod passage and a cylindrical piston affixed to the end of the rod dividing the cylinder into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A valve plate on the rod adjacent the piston has a plurality of soft channels extending from an outer end at the rebound chamber to an inner end at the axial rod passage and a solenoid actuated cylinder in the rod passage is movable to open and close the inner ends of the soft channels. A bi-directional working disc contacts with the soft channels' outer ends to provide damping in rebound and compression when the solenoid valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal, Darin Duane Dellinger
  • Publication number: 20030127294
    Abstract: A vehicular damper includes a cylinder, a piston rod in the cylinder having a hollow end defining an axial rod passage and a cylindrical piston affixed to the end of the rod dividing the cylinder into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A valve plate on the rod adjacent the piston has a plurality of soft channels extending from an outer end at the rebound chamber to an inner end at the axial rod passage and a solenoid actuated cylinder in the rod passage is movable to open and close the inner ends of the soft channels. A bi-directional working disc contacts with the soft channels' outer ends to provide damping in rebound and compression when the solenoid valve is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal, Darin Duane Dellinger
  • Patent number: 6533085
    Abstract: A modular blow-off base valve is provided for a vehicle twin tube damper in which a valve body is inserted into the end of an inner damper tube. The valve body has a central opening into which is inserted a valve cage assembly. The valve cage assembly includes a valve cage tubular member having a blow-off valve opening which is pressed into the central opening. A valve stem forming a valve seat with the blow-off valve opening is biased into a closed position by a helical spring seated against the underside of the valve stem at one end and a spring retainer fastened to the bottom of the valve cage at its other end. An annular bleed disc, intake disc and washer disc fit over the tubular member and cover rebound openings in the valve body. When the valve cage assembly is placed into the valve body's central opening, the washer disc biases the intake disc into sealing engagement with the rebound openings in the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal
  • Publication number: 20020179388
    Abstract: A modular blow-off base valve is provided for a vehicle twin tube damper in which a valve body is inserted into the end of an inner damper tube. The valve body has a central opening into which is inserted a valve cage assembly. The valve cage assembly includes a valve cage tubular member having a blow-off valve opening which is pressed into the central opening. A valve stem forming a valve seat with the blow-off valve opening is biased into a closed position by a helical spring seated against the underside of the valve stem at one end and a spring retainer fastened to the bottom of the valve cage at its other end. An annular bleed disc, intake disc and washer disc fit over the tubular member and cover rebound openings in the valve body. When the valve cage assembly is placed into the valve body's central opening, the washer disc biases the intake disc into sealing engagement with the rebound openings in the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal
  • Patent number: 6260678
    Abstract: A base valve assembly fore regulating the flow of fluid through a twin tube fluid vehicle damper is provided. The base valve assembly has opposing compression and rebound surfaces. Inner and outer annular seats extend from the compression surface and define an annular channel therebetween. At least one fluid passageway connects the annular channel and the rebound surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A connector secures a blow-off valve to the cylinder end. The blow-off valve has a hollow cylindrical portion with a flange extending transversely from an end thereof. The flange is adjacent the annular seats when the blow-off valve is in a closed position. The blow-off valve is movable from the closed position to an open position away from the compression surface. A helical spring is interposed between the connector and the blow-off valve for biasing the blow-off valve to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal, William R. Nunke
  • Patent number: 6230858
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid vehicle damper having a cylinder with a valve body is provided. The valve body has an outer surface adjacent to an interior wall of the cylinder and includes first and second opposing surfaces. The valve body defines first and second fluid chambers within the damper, which are adjacent to the first and second surfaces, respectively. Inner and outer annular seats extend from the first surface and define an annular channel therebetween. At least one fluid passageway is connects the annular channel and second surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A high speed bypass valve assembly is attached to the valve body and is movable between an open position and a closed position adjacent to the annular seats. An orifice disc is interposed between the annular seats and the high speed bypass valve assembly for providing low speed bypass of fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber when the high speed bypass valve assembly is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamshid Kargar Moradmand, Robert Alan Neal