Patents by Inventor Darrell G. Breese
Darrell G. Breese 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: 10837515Abstract: A shock absorber with a pressure tube, a reserve tube, and a piston slidably disposed within the pressure tube to define first and second working chambers. A reservoir chamber is positioned between the pressure tube and the reserve tube. A damper baffle tube, positioned in the reservoir chamber, defines a baffle tube chamber between the pressure tube and the damper baffle tube. One or more electromechanical valves are positioned in fluid communication with the first working chamber and the baffle tube chamber. The damper baffle tube includes a compliant portion that has a sealing surface configured to move into and out of contact with the pressure tube in response to fluctuations in fluid pressure in the baffle tube chamber so as to form a check valve that holds a constrained volume of hydraulic fluid in the baffle tube chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Darrell G. Breese, Thomas P. Mallin, Michael S. Weaver
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Publication number: 20200256419Abstract: A shock absorber with a pressure tube, a reserve tube, and a piston slidably disposed within the pressure tube to define first and second working chambers. A reservoir chamber is positioned between the pressure tube and the reserve tube. A damper baffle tube, positioned in the reservoir chamber, defines a baffle tube chamber between the pressure tube and the damper baffle tube. One or more electromechanical valves are positioned in fluid communication with the first working chamber and the baffle tube chamber. The damper baffle tube includes a compliant portion that has a sealing surface configured to move into and out of contact with the pressure tube in response to fluctuations in fluid pressure in the baffle tube chamber so as to form a check valve that holds a constrained volume of hydraulic fluid in the baffle tube chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Matthew L. ROESSLE, Darrell G. BREESE, Thomas P. MALLIN, Michael S. WEAVER
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Patent number: 9810282Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed having a pressure tube forming a working chamber, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston assembly may divide the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. The piston assembly may have a piston body defining a first fluid passage extending therethrough and a first valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passage. A second fluid passage, separate from the first fluid passage, extends from one of the upper and lower working chambers to a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the pressure tube. A plurality of digital valve assemblies are included and configured to exclusively control all fluid flow through the second fluid passage, and thus all fluid flow between the one of the upper and lower working chambers to the fluid chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
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Patent number: 9695900Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
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Publication number: 20170175842Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed having a pressure tube forming a working chamber, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston assembly may divide the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. The piston assembly may have a piston body defining a first fluid passage extending therethrough and a first valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passage. A second fluid passage, separate from the first fluid passage, extends from one of the upper and lower working chambers to a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the pressure tube. A plurality of digital valve assemblies are included and configured to exclusively control all fluid flow through the second fluid passage, and thus all fluid flow between the one of the upper and lower working chambers to the fluid chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Matthew L. ROESSLE, Karl C. KAZMIRSKI, Jeroen K. PAENHUYSEN, Darrell G. BREESE, Daniel T. KEIL, Thomas P. MALLIN, Jeffrey T. GARDNER
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Patent number: 9285011Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure sensitive valve assembly that controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly based upon the velocity of the piston assembly in the shock absorber. The pressure sensitive valve assembly restricts fluid flow as the velocity of the piston in a compression stroke increases to increase the damping loads provided by the shock absorber. A secondary valve assembly controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly when the pressure sensitive valve assembly is in a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Karl Kazmirski, Darrell G. Breese, Matthew L. Roessle, John McGahey
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Publication number: 20150377316Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Matthew L. ROESSLE, Karl C. KAZMIRSKI, Jeroen K. PAENHUYSEN, Darrell G. BREESE, Daniel T. KEIL, Thomas P. MALLIN, Jeffrey T. GARDNER
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Patent number: 9169890Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly which includes a valve disc engaging an inner and outer valve land defined by a valve body. The inner valve land is a non-circular valve land such that a radial dimension between the inner and outer valve land varies based upon a circumferential position of the radial dimension. The varying radial dimension provides a progressive valve opening for the valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Gary W. Groves, Ben Schaller, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Andrew M. Jacobson, John P. McGahey
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Patent number: 9150077Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly that provides a high damping load during a compression stroke and an extension valve assembly that provides a high damping load during an extension stroke. One or more digital valve assemblies is positioned to work in parallel with the compression valve assembly and the extension valve assembly to provide a lower damping load. The lowering of the damping load is based upon the cross sectional area of flow passages provided by the one or more digital valve assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
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Patent number: 9033121Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure sensitive valve assembly that controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly based upon the velocity of the piston assembly in the shock absorber. The pressure sensitive valve assembly restricts fluid flow as the velocity of the piston in a compression stroke increases to increase the damping loads provided by the shock absorber.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Karl C. Kazmirski, Darrell G. Breese, Matthew L. Roessle, John McGahey
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Publication number: 20140318908Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure sensitive valve assembly that controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly based upon the velocity of the piston assembly in the shock absorber. The pressure sensitive valve assembly restricts fluid flow as the velocity of the piston in a compression stroke increases to increase the damping loads provided by the shock absorber. A secondary valve assembly controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly when the pressure sensitive valve assembly is in a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Karl Kazmirski, Darrell G. Breese, Matthew L. Roessle, John McGahey
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Publication number: 20140102842Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly that provides a high damping load during a compression stroke and an extension valve assembly that provides a high damping load during an extension stroke. One or more digital valve assemblies is positioned to work in parallel with the compression valve assembly and the extension valve assembly to provide a lower damping load. The lowering of the damping load is based upon the cross sectional area of flow passages provided by the one or more digital valve assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
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Patent number: 8616351Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly that provides a high damping load during a compression stroke and an extension valve assembly that provides a high damping load during an extension stroke. One or more digital valve assemblies is positioned to work in parallel with the compression valve assembly and the extension valve assembly to provide a lower damping load. The lowering of the damping load is based upon the cross sectional area of flow passages provided by the one or more digital valve assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
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Publication number: 20130020159Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly which includes a valve disc engaging an inner and outer valve land defined by a valve body. The inner valve land is a non-circular valve land such that a radial dimension between the inner and outer valve land varies based upon a circumferential position of the radial dimension. The varying radial dimension provides a progressive valve opening for the valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.Inventors: Gary W. Groves, Ben Schaller, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Andrew M. Jacobson, John P. McGahey
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Publication number: 20110079475Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly that provides a high damping load during a compression stroke and an extension valve assembly that provides a high damping load during an extension stroke. One or more digital valve assemblies is positioned to work in parallel with the compression valve assembly and the extension valve assembly to provide a lower damping load. The lowering of the damping load is based upon the cross sectional area of flow passages provided by the one or more digital valve assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin
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Publication number: 20100078275Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure sensitive valve assembly that controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly based upon the velocity of the piston assembly in the shock absorber. The pressure sensitive valve assembly restricts fluid flow as the velocity of the piston in a compression stroke increases to increase the damping loads provided by the shock absorber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Karl C. Kazmirski, Darrell G. Breese, Matthew L. Roessle, John McGahey
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Patent number: 6019201Abstract: A controllable magneto-rheological damper includes a housing; a piston moly disposed in the housing; a cavity defined by the housing and the piston; a passage fluidically coupled to the cavity; a magneto-rheological fluid contained within the cavity, wherein motion of the piston is damped by flow of the magneto-rheological fluid through the passage; and a magnet disposed to produce a magnetic field within the passage with field lines essentially parallel to the passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1997Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of NevadaInventors: Faramarz Gordaninejad, Darrell G. Breese