Patents by Inventor Eric Bunke

Eric Bunke 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).

  • Valve providing supplemental feedback during operation
    Patent number: 12181074
    Abstract: A ball valve for use in a hydraulic supply system is described. The ball valve includes a valve body defining a fluid passage including an inlet and an outlet, a ball having an opening therethough and having an open position and a closed position within the fluid passage and a normal operating range between the open position and the closed position, a manual valve operation mechanism, an input shaft connected to the manual valve operation mechanism, and a gearing assembly including an output shaft, the gearing assembly connected to the input shaft and the output shaft connected to the ball. Rotation of the manual valve operation mechanism causes rotation of the ball along a full operating range within the valve body and the gearing assembly includes a feedback mechanism that is actuated after the ball has rotated outside of the normal operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Badger Meter, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Morin, David Vaughn, Eric Bunke, Jeremy Aderhold, Andrew Perez
  • Valve Providing Supplemental Feedback During Operation
    Publication number: 20220163121
    Abstract: A ball valve for use in a hydraulic supply system is described. The ball valve includes a valve body defining a fluid passage including an inlet and an outlet, a ball having an opening therethough and having an open position and a closed position within the fluid passage and a normal operating range between the open position and the closed position, a manual valve operation mechanism, an input shaft connected to the manual valve operation mechanism, and a gearing assembly including an output shaft, the gearing assembly connected to the input shaft and the output shaft connected to the ball. Rotation of the manual valve operation mechanism causes rotation of the ball along a full operating range within the valve body and the gearing assembly includes a feedback mechanism that is actuated after the ball has rotated outside of the normal operating range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Morin, David Vaughn, Eric Bunke, Jeremy Aderhold, Andrew Perez