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).

  • Patent number: 10125889
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Boya Zhang, Ravindra Velamakanni, Daniel Smokovitz
  • Patent number: 10006541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20180058605
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Lev PEKARSKY, Robert O. BURKHART, Boya ZHANG, Ravindra VELAMAKANNI, Daniel SMOKOVITZ
  • Patent number: 9541099
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Mark Davis
  • Patent number: 9441732
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony G. Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20160076642
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
  • Publication number: 20150184741
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: ROBERT O. BURKHART, DEREK KINCH, JOHN BUTWIN, ANTHONY G. KOENINGS, HRUDAYA MAHAPATRO, WEI ZHUANG
  • Patent number: 9010374
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8960232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
  • Publication number: 20140311577
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Mark Davis
  • Publication number: 20140161641
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
  • Patent number: 8734293
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Perkarsky, Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin
  • Patent number: 8490640
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
  • Publication number: 20130056657
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin, Derek Kinch, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang, Anthony Koenings
  • Publication number: 20130026401
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Derek Kinch, John Butwin, Anthony Koenings, Hrudaya Mahapatro, Wei Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8132594
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
  • Publication number: 20100313970
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
  • Publication number: 20100176321
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 7717132
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 7654377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Burkhart, Gregory M. Pietron, Yuji Fujii, Ted D. Snyder, William E. Tobler