Patents by Inventor Bodo Neef

Bodo Neef 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: 11274683
    Abstract: An electropneumatic controller has an electropneumatic control unit on which is provided an expansion interface, on which an expansion module arrangement is fitted. In the expansion module arrangement there extends at least one expansion working channel which is connected to a main working output and which is fluidically connected to the control unit at the expansion interface for connection to control valve means. The control unit further contains control electronics for electrically controlling the control valve means. Also proposed is a process control device equipped with a controller of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Patent number: 11242874
    Abstract: A pneumatic control device includes a functional assembly that has an interruption valve device for the selective opening or interruption of at least one main working channel used for the pneumatic control of a pneumatic actuator. The functional assembly also contains a manually actuatable valve device that is connected to the interruption valve device by means of at least one auxiliary working channel and which enables manual pneumatic control of the connected actuator, if the at least one main working channel is interrupted by the interruption valve device at the same time. A process control device can also be equipped with a control device of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Publication number: 20210095702
    Abstract: A pneumatic control device includes a functional assembly that has an interruption valve device for the selective opening or interruption of at least one main working channel used for the pneumatic control of a pneumatic actuator. The functional assembly also contains a manually actuatable valve device that is connected to the interruption valve device by means of at least one auxiliary working channel and which enables manual pneumatic control of the connected actuator, if the at least one main working channel is interrupted by the interruption valve device at the same time. A process control device can also be equipped with a control device of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Patent number: 10927861
    Abstract: An electropneumatic control apparatus, which has a carrier module, on which a control unit, which is equipped with control electronics and control valve elements, and an expansion module assembly, which has at least one expansion module, are installed independently of each other. By means of a drive fastening interface, the control apparatus can be installed on the actuating drive to be controlled, in order to form a process control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Patent number: 10927865
    Abstract: A pneumatic control device includes a functional assembly that has an interruption valve device for the selective opening or interruption of at least one main working channel used for the pneumatic control of a pneumatic actuator. The functional assembly also contains a manually actuatable valve device that is connected to the interruption valve device by means of at least one auxiliary working channel and which enables manual pneumatic control of the connected actuator, if the at least one main working channel is interrupted by the interruption valve device at the same time. A process control device can also be equipped with a control device of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Patent number: 10851811
    Abstract: A fluid system with a safety-oriented valve assembly including a first fluid connection for a fluidic connection with a fluid connection of a fluid source or a control valve and a second fluid connection for coupling a fluid load as well as a fluid channel between the fluid connections, wherein a first valve can be actuated between a fluid supply position, or open position, and a fluid discharge position, or closed position, is arranged in the fluid channel, wherein a second valve which can be adjusted between an open position for the fluid channel and a throttle position for the fluid channel is arranged in the fluid channel and wherein a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure and for outputting a fluid pressure-dependent sensor signal is arranged in a section of the fluid channel between the first valve and the second valve and including a controller which is designed to process the sensor signal and to process control signals for the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FESTO SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Publication number: 20200200198
    Abstract: An electropneumatic control apparatus, which has a carrier module, on which a control unit, which is equipped with control electronics and control valve elements, and an expansion module assembly, which has at least one expansion module, are installed independently of each other. By means of a drive fastening interface, the control apparatus can be installed on the actuating drive to be controlled, in order to form a process control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Publication number: 20200191173
    Abstract: An electropneumatic controller has an electropneumatic control unit on which is provided an expansion interface, on which an expansion module arrangement is fitted. In the expansion module arrangement there extends at least one expansion working channel which is connected to a main working output and which is fluidically connected to the control unit at the expansion interface for connection to control valve means. The control unit further contains control electronics for electrically controlling the control valve means. Also proposed is a process control device equipped with a controller of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Bodo NEEF, Christoph MAILE
  • Patent number: 10605274
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for a fluidic supply of a fluid load, with several main valves designed for influencing fluid flows at the fluid ports, and with electrically controllable pilot valves designed for fluidic control of the main valves. A base body is assigned a connection plate lying opposite a connection face and having a fluid passage which leads into an operating port for the connection of a fluid load wherein, between the connection face and the connection plate there is provided a separate passage body which has at least one connection passage for a fluidically communicating link between at least one of the fluid ports and the operating port, and at least one connecting conduit for a fluidic coupling of at least two fluid ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FESTO AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bodo Neef
  • Publication number: 20180355893
    Abstract: A fluid system with a safety-oriented valve assembly including a first fluid connection for a fluidic connection with a fluid connection of a fluid source or a control valve and a second fluid connection for coupling a fluid load as well as a fluid channel between the fluid connections, wherein a first valve can be actuated between a fluid supply position, or open position, and a fluid discharge position, or closed position, is arranged in the fluid channel, wherein a second valve which can be adjusted between an open position for the fluid channel and a throttle position for the fluid channel is arranged in the fluid channel and wherein a sensor for detecting a fluid pressure and for outputting a fluid pressure-dependent sensor signal is arranged in a section of the fluid channel between the first valve and the second valve, and including comprising a controller which is designed to process the sensor signal and to process control signals for the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Publication number: 20180320714
    Abstract: A pneumatic control device includes a functional assembly that has an interruption valve device for the selective opening or interruption of at least one main working channel used for the pneumatic control of a pneumatic actuator. The functional assembly also contains a manually actuatable valve device that is connected to the interruption valve device by means of at least one auxiliary working channel and which enables manual pneumatic control of the connected actuator, if the at least one main working channel is interrupted by the interruption valve device at the same time. A process control device can also be equipped with a control device of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Christoph Maile
  • Publication number: 20170328383
    Abstract: A valve arrangement for a fluidic supply of a fluid load, with several main valves designed for influencing fluid flows at the fluid ports, and with electrically controllable pilot valves designed for fluidic control of the main valves. A base body is assigned a connection plate lying opposite a connection face and having a fluid passage which leads into an operating port for the connection of a fluid load wherein, between the connection face and the connection plate there is provided a separate passage body which has at least one connection passage for a fluidically communicating link between at least one of the fluid ports and the operating port, and at least one connecting conduit for a fluidic coupling of at least two fluid ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: Bodo Neef
  • Patent number: 9062798
    Abstract: A pressure regulating device has a pressure regulating valve with a valve casing and a regulating unit which is movable relative to the former. The regulating unit contains an actuation element which may be moved by a control pressure, and two first and second closing members, each spring-biased in a closed position, which may be switched by the actuation element. The connection between a primary port and a secondary port is controlled by the first closing member. Fixed immovably to the actuation element is a restrictor element which is moved into a restriction position when the actuation element is so positioned that the first closing member is normally moved into its closed position. If, because of a fault, the first closing member is not moved into the closed position, only a very small amount of pressure medium flows to the secondary port, so that consequential damage may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Neef, Sebastian Schill
  • Patent number: 8567442
    Abstract: In a soft start device for pneumatic systems comprising a primary inlet where compressed air can be supplied at primary pressure, wherein the primary inlet is, via a valve circuit, connected to at least one secondary outlet which can be coupled to a load and where compressed air can be discharged at secondary pressure, the secondary pressure being lower than or equal to the primary pressure, wherein a main valve is installed between the primary inlet and the secondary outlet, a restrictor device being installed in the bypass, wherein the main valve and the restrictor device together with further directional valves of the valve circuit are interconnected such and the valve circuit can be switched into a standard switching position for venting such that the secondary outlet is vented, the valves of the valve circuit are interconnected such that several further switching positions for venting are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Christiani, Gunter Gebauer, Bodo Neef, Markus Kleske, Udo Walden
  • Publication number: 20110277843
    Abstract: In a soft start device for pneumatic systems comprising a primary inlet (P1) where compressed air can be supplied at primary pressure, wherein the primary inlet (P1) is, via a valve circuit, connected to at least one secondary outlet (P2) which can be coupled to a load and where compressed air can be discharged at secondary pressure, the secondary pressure being lower than or equal to the primary pressure, wherein a main valve of the type 2/2 nc (normally closed) which can be bypassed by means of a bypass (17) is installed between the primary inlet (P1) and the secondary outlet (P2), a restrictor device (13) being installed in the bypass (17), wherein the main valve (WV5) and the restrictor device (13) together with further directional valves (WV1, WV3, WV4, WV5, WV6) of the valve circuit are interconnected such and the valve circuit can be switched into a standard switching position for venting such that the secondary outlet (P2) is vented, the valves (WV1, WV3, WV4, WV5, WV6) of the valve circuit are interc
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: FESTO AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Christiani, Gunter Gebauer, Bodo Neef, Markus Kleske, Udo Walden