Patents by Inventor Robert O. Burkhart
Robert O. Burkhart 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: 10125889Abstract: A solenoid valve includes a support bushing and an armature pin axially movable within the support bushing. The solenoid shield further includes a valve rigidly secured to the armature pin. The valve includes a diverter sleeve having an overlap portion that is radially spaced from at least a portion of the support bushing and extends along a length of at least a portion of the support bushing. The diverter sleeve further includes a deflector surface disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the armature pin.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Boya Zhang, Ravindra Velamakanni, Daniel Smokovitz
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Patent number: 10006541Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body and a solenoid module. The body has a chamber, control pressure port, exhaust port, and reference surface. Metering edges are formed in the body at the control port. A spring transmits force between first and second spools in the chamber. The solenoid module has a pin for displacing the first spool and is located by contact with the reference surface. The solenoid module also has a first stop surface limiting pin movement and a second stop surface contacting the reference surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
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Publication number: 20180058605Abstract: A solenoid valve includes a support bushing and an armature pin axially movable within the support bushing. The solenoid shield further includes a valve rigidly secured to the armature pin. The valve includes a diverter sleeve having an overlap portion that is radially spaced from at least a portion of the support bushing and extends along a length of at least a portion of the support bushing. The diverter sleeve further includes a deflector surface disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the armature pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Lev PEKARSKY, Robert O. BURKHART, Boya ZHANG, Ravindra VELAMAKANNI, Daniel SMOKOVITZ
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Patent number: 9541099Abstract: An accumulator includes a cylinder for containing a working fluid and a first volume of pressurized gas, the gas and fluid being separated by a displaceable piston and a first seal contacting the piston and the cylinder, a reservoir carried on the piston for containing a second volume of pressurized gas, and a device that permits gas flow from the second volume into the first volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Mark Davis
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Patent number: 9441732Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
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Publication number: 20160076642Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body and a solenoid module. The body has a chamber, control pressure port, exhaust port, and reference surface. Metering edges are formed in the body at the control port. A spring transmits force between first and second spools in the chamber. The solenoid module has a pin for displacing the first spool and is located by contact with the reference surface. The solenoid module also has a first stop surface limiting pin movement and a second stop surface contacting the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
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Publication number: 20150184741Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
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Patent number: 9010374Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
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Patent number: 8960232Abstract: A latch valve includes a first port containing line pressure, a second port containing control pressure, a third port located between the first and second ports, alternately connecting the first and second ports to a transmission control element, and a fourth port containing control pressure that tends to close the second port and open the first port in opposition to a spring force.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
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Publication number: 20140311577Abstract: An accumulator includes a cylinder for containing a working fluid and a first volume of pressurized gas, the gas and fluid being separated by a displaceable piston and a first seal contacting the piston and the cylinder, a reservoir carried on the piston for containing a second volume of pressurized gas, and a device that permits gas flow from the second volume into the first volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Mark Davis
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Publication number: 20140161641Abstract: A system for pressurizing transmission control elements includes an accumulator for containing pressurized fluid, first and second check valves, a booster valve supplied with accumulator pressure, and an actuator that causes the booster valve to open a fluidic connection between the accumulator and the control elements through the check valves in response to an engine restart signalType: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
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Patent number: 8734293Abstract: A system for pressurizing transmission control elements includes an accumulator for containing pressurized fluid, first and second check valves, a booster valve supplied with accumulator pressure, and an actuator that causes the booster valve to open a fluidic connection between the accumulator and the control elements through the check valves in response to an engine restart signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lev Perkarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
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Patent number: 8490640Abstract: A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
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Publication number: 20130056657Abstract: A latch valve includes a first port containing line pressure, a second port containing control pressure, a third port located between the first and second ports, alternately connecting the first and second ports to a transmission control element, and a fourth port containing control pressure that tends to close the second port and open the first port in opposition to a spring force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
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Publication number: 20130026401Abstract: A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
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Patent number: 8132594Abstract: A valve-actuator includes a chamber, a spool that opens and closes connections between ports in the chamber, an actuator including a housing containing a piezoelectric stack having a bore, and a spring contacting the spool through the bore and forcing the stack toward the chamber, the stack expanding and contracting in response to a voltage, the spool moving in the chamber in response to said expansion and contraction.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
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Publication number: 20100313970Abstract: A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
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Publication number: 20100176321Abstract: A valve-actuator includes a chamber, a spool that opens and closes connections between ports in the chamber, an actuator including a housing containing a piezoelectric stack having a bore, and a spring contacting the spool through the bore and forcing the stack toward the chamber, the stack expanding and contracting in response to a voltage, the spool moving in the chamber in response to said expansion and contraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
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Patent number: 7717132Abstract: A valve-actuator for a hydraulic valve includes a valve chamber, ports spaced mutually and opening into the chamber, a spool axially located in the chamber for opening and closing hydraulic connections between at least two of the ports as the spool moves axially in the chamber. An actuator includes a housing having mutually spaced surfaces, and a piezoelectric element located in the housing between the surfaces, the element expanding and contracting in response to an electric signal applied to the element. A temperature compensation and motion damping circuit comprising feedback resistors and a thermistor. The spool moves axially in the chamber in response to expansion and contraction of the element.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
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Patent number: 7654377Abstract: An actuator system includes a piezoelectric pump; an accumulator including a cylinder, a piston located in the cylinder, a port located at a first side of the piston and hydraulically connected to the pump outlet and a switching circuit, a relief port hydraulically connected to the reservoir and located at a second side of the piston, and a spring biasing the piston toward the port; and a hydraulically actuated servo including a front port hydraulically connected to the switching circuit, a back port hydraulically connected to the reservoir, and the servo causing the friction element alternately to engage and to disengage in response to a magnitude of hydraulic pressure in the servo.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii, Ted D. Snyder, William E. Tobler