Patents Examined by F. Daniel Lopez
  • Patent number: 10563678
    Abstract: A pressure vessel arrangement includes a pressure vessel and an optical sensor arrangement. The pressure vessel includes: a cylinder construction having a cylinder wall extending from a cylinder wall first end to a cylinder wall second end, and having an internal surface forming an interior region; a first end cap closing the cylinder wall first end and having an optical window located therein to permit passage of light therethough and into the interior region; a second end cap closing the cylinder wall second end; and a piston constructed to slide within the cylinder construction interior region along a direction between the cylinder all first end and the cylinder wall second end and along the cylinder construction internal surface to separate the interior region into a first end interior region and a second end interior region. The pressure vessel is constructed to withstand a fatigue test of one million cycles at 5,000 psi without failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Industries Mailhot, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Jackan, Sean D. Neitzel
  • Patent number: 10563674
    Abstract: A multi-control hydraulic circuit supplies receivers with hydraulic fluid delivered by a pump with an output controlled by the pressure of a control line depending on a load pressure of the receivers, and delivers the hydraulic fluid at a regulated pressure. The hydraulic circuit consists of hydraulic modules each associated with a receiver having a distributor which regulates the variable output supplying the receiver via a pressure compensator connected at its inlet to the outlet of the variable choke of the distributor, and at its outlet. The plunger manages the connection between its inlet and its outlet. The pressure compensator has a fluid link equipped with a choke and connects the outlet to the control line, irrespective of the position of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Emmanuel Richer
  • Patent number: 10562578
    Abstract: An adjustable length post for a bicycle comprises first and second slidably coupled supports, the second support comprising an interior cavity defined by an interior surface, the interior surface having a portion recessed from a surrounding surface; and a collet coupled to or integrated into the first support, the collet comprising a body positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the second support; a locking member pivotally or slidably coupled to the body, the locking member repositionable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, in the locked configuration, the locking member protrudes laterally from the body an amount sufficient to engage the recessed portion of the interior surface of the second support, and, in the unlocked configuration, the locking member does not protrude laterally from the body or does not protrude an amount sufficient to engage the recessed portion of the interior surface of the second support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Chuck Teixeira, Brian D. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10563378
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a work machine includes a first hydraulic pump driving a swing hydraulic motor; a second hydraulic pumps driving a boom cylinder; a first pump displacement increase valve controlling a volume of the first hydraulic pump; a swing pilot pressure sensor detecting a swing operation amount; a boom raising pilot pressure sensor detecting a boom raising operation amount; and a controller controlling a control signal to the first pump displacement increase valve on the basis of the swing operation amount and the boom raising operation amount. The controller controls the control signal in such a manner that a delivery rate of the first hydraulic pump becomes higher as the swing operation amount is larger and an increasing rate of the delivery rate of the first hydraulic pump becomes lower as the boom raising operation amount is larger during a swing boom raising operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Moriki, Shinya Imura, Shiho Izumi, Hiroaki Amano, Kouji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10550863
    Abstract: An improved method and circuitry for fluid power applications that provides energy savings through the recycling of normally exhausted pressure by direct transfer and accumulation of exhaust pressure for additional use, including from one end of the actuator to the opposite end or within the actuator itself and for use by other devices in separate systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Steven H. Marquardt
  • Patent number: 10550934
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission is configured to realize a braking operation in which at least one adjustable traction motor, which acts as a pump, is supported via a closed circuit on an adjustable axial piston pump, which acts as a motor, and which in turn is supported on an internal combustion engine. Since overspeeding of the latter should be avoided, a control unit adjusts the pivot angle of the pump in accordance with a characteristic map which represents a relationship between a setting force and a pressure difference of two working lines of a closed circuit, a pump rotational speed, and the pivot angle. Thus, characteristic-map-based pilot control of the pivot angle of the pump is possible and feedback of the present pivot angle is omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuemmel, Martin Behm, Michael Mast
  • Patent number: 10550867
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) actuator includes a housing and a piston in operable communication with the housing and at least one damping orifice in operable communication with the housing and the piston, a flow area of the at least one damping orifice being alterable to adjust damping of movement between the piston and the housing in response to changes in viscosity of a fluid related to temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Kuehn, Stephen Michael Bortoli
  • Patent number: 10550865
    Abstract: An electrohydrostatic actuator, comprising an actuator for driving a component, a pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid for operation of the actuator, and a control valve for controlling passage of the hydraulic fluid between the actuator and the pump, wherein the control valve is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the control valve is configured to convey hydraulic fluid from the pump through the control valve for operation of the actuator, and in the second position the control valve is configured to fluidly disconnect the pump and the actuator, and circulate hydraulic fluid arriving from the pump back to the pump via a first constriction within the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS SAS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Lesage, Jerome Socheleau
  • Patent number: 10539134
    Abstract: A linear actuator system includes a linear actuator and at least one proportional control valve and at least one pump connected to the linear actuator to provide fluid to operate the linear actuator. The at least one pump includes at least one fluid driver having a prime mover and a fluid displacement assembly to be driven by the prime mover such that fluid is transferred from the pump inlet to the pump outlet. The linear actuator system also includes a controller that establishes at least one of a speed and a torque of the at least one prime mover and concurrently establishes an opening of the at least one proportional control valve to adjust at least one of a flow and a pressure in the linear actuator system to an operational set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Project Phoenix, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Afshari
  • Patent number: 10533582
    Abstract: An energy storage and regeneration system that converts irregular, non-constant, and variable input power to regular, constant, and controlled output power using hydraulics whereby the irregular input power is used to pump hydraulic fluid into an accumulator array where it is stored pressurized. Energy is released in a controlled fashion using a hydraulic motor operated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the accumulator array, in accordance with the specified power demand. One or more power units may be deployed depending on the amount of energy required at the output. Each power unit includes a hydraulic motor and associated floating accumulator assembly whose internal pressure is controlled to maintain a substantially constant pressure differential across its associated motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Spring Ltd.
    Inventors: Abraham Bauer, Yona Weiss, Yoram Fruehling
  • Patent number: 10527072
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling torsional rotation and/or stiffness of a member by the use of artificial style activation elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: VECNA ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Theobald
  • Patent number: 10527028
    Abstract: A piston is cylindrical and includes: a concave spherical portion formed at one of end portions of the piston and having a partially spherical shape; a cylindrical hollow portion formed at the other end portion of the piston; and an oil passage formed between the concave spherical portion and the hollow portion, the concave spherical portion and the hollow portion communicating with each other through the oil passage. The concave spherical portion includes a concave spherical surface formed by forging and having a partially spherical shape. A convex spherical portion of a shoe is supported by the concave spherical surface so as to be slidable and rotatable. An area of contact between the concave spherical surface and a predetermined master ball corresponding to the convex spherical portion is 40% or more of an entire area of the concave spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Tamashima, Koji Matsuhisa, Kazuhiro Ishihara, Katsuyuki Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10527032
    Abstract: A linear compressor includes a frame including a frame body, a frame head that extends from a front end of the frame body, a flange groove defined in the frame head, and a body hole that passes through the frame body; a cylinder including a cylinder body inserted into the body hole, a cylinder flange, and a cylinder head provided on a front end of the cylinder flange; and a lock ring press-fitted to be coupled to the flange groove and provided in a space defined between the cylinder head and an inner circumferential surface of the flange groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunsoo Kim, Geonwoo Kim, Chulgi Roh
  • Patent number: 10519911
    Abstract: A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine is provided comprising a barrel including a central bore having a longitudinal axis, a plunger disposed partially in the central bore and movable along the longitudinal axis, a spring retainer, a first coil spring having a proximal end in contact with a first section of the barrel and a distal end in contact with the spring retainer to urge the spring retainer into engagement with a tappet assembly, an extender element coupled to the plunger, and a second coil spring having a proximal end in contact with a second section of the barrel and a distal end in contact with the extender element to urge the plunger toward the spring retainer, wherein the extender element includes a counter-bore to couple the extender element to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony A. Shaull, Lester L. Peters, Brian M. Watson, Roberto M. Munoz
  • Patent number: 10519925
    Abstract: A system is provided for converting fluid motion into electrical power, with the system being deployable in a body of fluid. The system includes a support structure and a movable structure connected to the support structure. The support structure includes a generator assembly configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and provide electric power from the electrical energy. The movable structure has three or more degrees of freedom, and is configured to generate mechanical energy for conversion by the generator assembly during a power generation phase of a power cycle in which the fluid motion acts on the movable structure. The movable structure has a first configuration during the power generation phase and a second, different configuration during a recovery phase of the power cycle, with the movable structure in the first configuration having a greater surface area normal to the flow of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brian C. Grubel
  • Patent number: 10508665
    Abstract: In a rod hole (19) of a holding rod (18) held in a guide hole (17) of a piston (10), a limit switch (20) is fixed and a detection rod (21) is inserted. A first engagement ball (30) and a second engagement ball (40) are configured to be in contact with a first cam surface (32) and a second cam surface (42), respectively, which are provided at an outer periphery of the detection rod (21). The first engagement ball (30) and the second engagement ball (40) are configured to be in contact with a first pushing portion (35) and a second pushing portion (45), respectively, which are provided inside the guide hole (17). The position of the piston (10) is detected by electrically or electronically detecting the movement of the detection rod (21) by the limit switch (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KOSMEK LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Kojima, Masahiro Yoshimi, Hideaki Yokota
  • Patent number: 10507812
    Abstract: A pedal travel simulator for a hydraulic vehicle power braking system with a cup-shaped cylinder cover in which a piston spring is accommodated, which is held by an orifice disk as a stop for a piston of the pedal travel simulator in the cylinder cover. Recesses are provided in an outer edge of the orifice disk, through which the piston is able to displace brake fluid on its rear side out of a cylinder of the pedal travel simulator through a circumferential groove into a return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Harald Guggenmos, Matthias Mayr, Stefan Kaserer
  • Patent number: 10502245
    Abstract: A cooling flow circuit is provided and includes a main line having first and second sections ported to piston extend and return sides of the gas turbine engine actuator, respectively, an orifice disposed along the main line between the first and second sections, a bypass line and a bypass valve. The bypass line is fluidly coupled to the first and second sections at opposite ends thereof, respectively. The bypass valve is disposed along the bypass line between the opposite ends thereof. The bypass valve has a variable flow area which is responsive to a pressure differential between the first and second sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Reuter, Richard H. Bostiga
  • Patent number: 10495218
    Abstract: A pump, including: a cylinder block including two through-bores and two pistons disposed in the through-bores; a drive shaft to rotate the cylinder block; a swash plate to displace the pistons within the through-bores to draw fluid through an inlet port into the through-bores; and expel the fluid from the through-bores into the outlet port; a torque sensor arranged to measure torque on the drive shaft and transmit a torque signal, including the measured torque, to a processor; and an actuator to receive, from the processor, a control signal generated using the torque signal and pivot the swash plate about a first axis, transverse to the axis of rotation, or maintain a circumferential position of the swash plate about the first axis; or pivot the cylinder block about a second axis, transverse to the axis of rotation, or maintain a circumferential position of the cylinder block about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Richards
  • Patent number: 10494791
    Abstract: A flow control valve for a construction machine includes a boom valve block connected to a hydraulic pump; a boom spool coupled to the boom valve block so as to be slidably moved, and switched on by the supply of pilot signal pressure in order to carry out a boom-up or boom-down operation, thereby controlling the hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump to a boom cylinder; a boom-up flow control arrangement for supplying the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump to the large chamber of the boom cylinder through the boom spool, when switching on the boom spool in order to carry out the boom-up operation; and a boom-down flow control arrangement for returning a part of the hydraulic oil, which returns from the large chamber of the boom cylinder, to the hydraulic tank through the boom spool only at a predetermined pressure or higher, when the boom spool is switched on in order to carry out the boom-down operation, wherein the part of the hydraulic oil, which returns from the large chamber of the boom cylin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Min-Heuk Kang, Jin-Wook Kim