Patents by Inventor Alois Hoffmann

Alois Hoffmann 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: 7740224
    Abstract: A valve, in particular, a proportional seat valve or gate valve, includes a valve housing (10) and at least three fluid connections (1, 2, 3) extending through the valve housing. A main piston (18) extends in the valve housing (10). A pilot piston (24) for executing a pilot control (26) may be controlled by a current-carrying magnetic device (28). During an open pilot control (26), fluid from one (2) of the connectors (1, 2), controlled by the main piston (18), reaches the connector (3), controlled by the pilot piston (24), by a cross-sectional narrowing (38) in the main piston (19). The pilot control (26) and, as a result of the corresponding pressure drop, the main piston (18) achieves a control position, controlling both fluid connections (1, 2) with regard to fluid amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bill, Peter Bruck, Alois Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7426884
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a load sensing system (LS) with individual loads (10,14) arranged in series forming a series section, and in parallel forming a parallel section. A hydraulic supply circuit (12) includes a supply pump (P) and a runback (16) for fluid. The load sensing system (LS) determines the highest load pressure in the series section and the parallel section. The loads of the parallel section can be actuated independently from the pressure level of the loads of the series section due to the highest load pressure being transferred as a control pressure to a valve unit (18) such that, as long as the load pressure of the parallel section is higher than the load pressure of the series section, the valve unit restricts the runback (16) so that the pressure of the supply pump (P) matches or exceeds the pressure required in the parallel section. Sufficient fluid pressure for the load in the parallel section is ensured independently of the number of loads in the series section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH.
    Inventors: Gerd Anton Thiry, Alois Hoffmann, Harald Bär
  • Publication number: 20070137192
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement comprising a load sensing system (LS) wherein individual loads (10,14) are arranged in series, forming a series section, and in parallel, forming a parallel section, in a hydraulic supply circuit (12) comprising at least one supply pump (P) and a runback (16) for fluid, the load sensing system (LS) determining the highest load pressure in both the series section and parallel section. The loads of the parallel section can be actuated independently from the pressure level of the loads of the series section due to the fact that the respectively highest load pressure is transferred as a control pressure to a valve unit (18) in such a way that, as long as the load pressure of the parallel section is higher than the load pressure of the series section, the valve unit restricts the runback (16) for fluid so much that the pressure of the supply pump (P) matches or exceeds the pressure required in the parallel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Gerd Thiry, Alois Hoffmann, Harald Bar
  • Patent number: 6799599
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve that comprises at least one pump connection (10), one tank connection (14) and one consumer connection (18), and a valve piston (22) that is displaced within the valve box (12). Said valve piston separates the pump connection (10) from the tank connection (14) in at least one blocked position and interacts with an energy accumulator (24). A fluid stream that flows between the consumer connection (18) and the tank connection (14) is controlled by means of a control device (26). The control device (26) is configured as a fluid stream control that is integrated in the valve piston (22) and that allows, contrary to known valves which use a diaphragm construction, reduction, by a constant value, of the volume flow to the consumer in a load-independent manner, thereby allowing for a proportional load-independent control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Alois Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6786132
    Abstract: A control device for hydraulically operated hoisting mechanisms used to raise and lower loads includes an electrically controllable throttle valve connected to a return line of the hoisting mechanism, and a pressure scale with at least one blocking position and one control position. The pressure scale operates in conjunction with an unblocking mechanism. When in its normal position, the pressure scale blocks the return line. The pressure scale assumes its control position in lowering of a load as a result of triggering of the unblocking mechanism. In the event of failure of the throttle valve, the pressure scale may be moved to its blocking position by the unblocking mechanism. In the event of failure of the pressure scale, the throttle valve assumes its blocking position. The load retention function is performed by two series-connected closed hydraulic actuators which can be electrically controlled individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Albert, Peter Bruck, Alois Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030178060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve that comprises at least one pump connection (10), one tank connection (14) and one consumer connection (18), and a valve piston (22) that is displaced within the valve box (12). Said valve piston separates the pump connection (10) from the tank connection (14) in at least one blocked position and interacts with an energy accumulator (24). A fluid stream that flows between the consumer connection (18) and the tank connection (14) is controlled by means of a control device (26). The control device (26) is configured as a fluid stream control that is integrated in the valve piston (22) and that allows, contrary to known valves which use a diaphragm construction, reduction, by a constant value, of the volume flow to the consumer in a load-independent manner, thereby allowing for a proportional load-independent control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Alois Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030136124
    Abstract: A control device for hydraulically operated hoisting mechanisms used to raise and lower loads includes an electrically controllable throttle valve connected to a return line of the hoisting mechanism, and a pressure scale with at least one blocking position and one control position. The pressure scale operates in conjunction with an unblocking mechanism. When in its normal position, the pressure scale blocks the return line. The pressure scale assumes its control position in lowering of a load as a result of triggering of the unblocking mechanism. In the event of failure of the throttle valve, the pressure scale may be moved to its blocking position by the unblocking mechanism. In the event of failure of the pressure scale, the throttle valve assumes its blocking position. The load retention function is performed by two series-connected closed hydraulic actuators which can be electrically controlled individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Hydac Fluidtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Albert, Peter Bruck, Alois Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6158463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve arrangement which includes a hydraulically actuatable non-return valve (1) and another, preferably electrically actuatable valve closure member (7), which are both positioned in a valve-accommodating bore (8) of the valve housing (12) in which the valve arrangement is received, wherein both valve closure members (17) cooperate with a valve seat member (4) in the valve housing (12). The non-return valve (1) is configured as a plate-type non-return valve with a flow opening (2) which is aligned coaxially to a first opening (3) of the valve seat member (4). Relative to the first opening (3) at least one bypass opening (5) is provided in the valve seat member (4) which is either closed or opened by a sealing surface (6) located to the side of the flow opening (2) of the non-return valve (1). A compact non-return valve (1) which is especially simple to make is thereby achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Andre F. Goossens, Willy Dewachter, Antoine Rottiers, Alois Hoffmann