Patents by Inventor David Holiviers
David Holiviers 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: 8511444Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nait Oukhedou
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Publication number: 20120228072Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INCInventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nait Oukhedou
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Patent number: 8256586Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nait Oukhedou
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Publication number: 20110139557Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nait Oukhedou
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Patent number: 7926632Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nait Oukhedou
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Publication number: 20080251331Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Gert Mangelschots, David Holiviers, Gert Vanhees, Patrick Vanmechelen, Sjaak Schel, M'hand Nail Oukhedou
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Patent number: 6978871Abstract: A shock absorber according to the present invention includes a pressure tube having a working chamber disposed therewithin. A piston is slidably disposed within the working chamber and divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. An intermediate tube is disposed around the pressure tube and the working chamber to define an intermediate chamber. A reserve tube is disposed around the intermediate tube. A collar is attached to the intermediate tube. The collar is defined by a shoulder portion extending generally lateral to the intermediate tube and a radial neck portion extending generally perpendicularly to the intermediate tube. An external control valve includes a valve seat received within the collar in an installed position. The external control valve is attached to the reserve tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: David Holiviers
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Patent number: 6913127Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber includes a baffle located in the reservoir chamber to define a non-linear flow path within the reservoir chamber. The baffle extends between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube such that the non-linear flow path is the only flow path between two portions of the reservoir chamber. One embodiment is a T-shaped baffle, and another embodiment has a base section and an upright section with a wire being embedded in the base section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: David Holiviers, Paul Martens, Jan Hermans, Patrick Vanmechelen
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Patent number: 6896110Abstract: A rod guide assembly for a shock absorber includes a seal assembly which is biased towards a sealing surface on the rod guide by a biasing member which is located between the seal assembly and the bearing which is assembled to the rod guide housing. The biasing of the seal assembly prohibits movement of the seal assembly during operation of the shock absorber. In addition, a wire circlip which radially biases the seal assembly can be included.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Patrick Vanmechelen, David Holiviers, Rudi Schurmans
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Patent number: 6886670Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage defined by a valve body or a piston includes a valve disc which abuts the valve body or the piston. The valve body or the piston defines a first supporting member for the valve disc, a second supporting member for the valve disc located radially inward from the first supporting member and a third supporting member for the valve disc located between the first and second supporting members. This valve disc abuts the first and second supporting members and a clearance is defined between the valve disc and the third supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: David Holiviers, Dirk De Gronckel, Johan Vangrieken
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Publication number: 20050067242Abstract: A rod guide assembly for a shock absorber includes a seal assembly which is biased towards a sealing surface on the rod guide by a biasing member which is located between the seal assembly and the bearing which is assembled to the rod guide housing. The biasing of the seal assembly prohibits movement of the seal assembly during operation of the shock absorber. In addition, a wire circlip which radially biases the seal assembly can be included.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: Patrick Vanmechelen, David Holiviers, Rudi Schurmans
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Publication number: 20050067241Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage defined by a valve body or a piston includes a valve disc which abuts the valve body or the piston. The valve body or the piston defines a first supporting member for the valve disc, a second supporting member for the valve disc located radially inward from the first supporting member and a third supporting member for the valve disc located between the first and second supporting members. This valve disc abuts the first and second supporting members and a clearance is defined between the valve disc and the third supporting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: David Holiviers, Dirk Gronckel, Johan Vangrieken
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Publication number: 20050067240Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber includes a baffle located in the reservoir chamber to define a non-linear flow path within the reservoir chamber. The baffle extends between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube such that the non-linear flow path is the only flow path between two portions of the reservoir chamber. One embodiment is a T-shaped baffle, and another embodiment has a base section and an upright section with a wire being embedded in the base section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: David Holiviers, Paul Martens, Jan Hermans, Patrick Vanmechelen
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Publication number: 20050056504Abstract: A shock absorber according to the present invention includes a pressure tube having a working chamber disposed therewithin. A piston is slidably disposed within the working chamber and divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. An intermediate tube is disposed around the pressure tube and the working chamber to define an intermediate chamber. A reserve tube is disposed around the intermediate tube. A collar is attached to the intermediate tube. The collar is defined by a shoulder portion extending generally lateral to the intermediate tube and a radial neck portion extending generally perpendicularly to the intermediate tube. An external control valve includes a valve seat received within the collar in an installed position. The external control valve is attached to the reserve tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2003Publication date: March 17, 2005Inventor: David Holiviers
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Patent number: 6802404Abstract: A hydraulic fluid flow passage has a controlled restriction disposed within the passage. The restriction includes a first filter, a second filter and a plurality of particles disposed between the two filters. The particles are either dielectric particles or they are magnetizable particles. The dielectric particles create an electro-rheological fluid between the filters and the magnetizable particles create a magneto-rheological fluid between the filters. The arrangement for the dielectric particles is controlled by an electric field and the arrangement for the magnetizable particles is controlled by a magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Rudi Schurmans, Mario Maes, David Holiviers