Patents by Inventor Erik S. Ellifson

Erik S. Ellifson 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: 9327576
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing including a first port, a second port, and a third port, the housing defining a first flow path extending between the third port and the first port and a second flow path extending between the third port and the second port. The valve assembly further includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first port and the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventor: Erik S. Ellifson
  • Patent number: 9303715
    Abstract: A damper assembly is disclosed that includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a seal. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap defining an inner volume. The rod extends within the inner volume of the tubular member. The primary piston defines a contact surface and is positioned within the inner volume and coupled to an end of the rod. The secondary piston defines a central aperture and a channel. Engagement of the primary piston and the secondary piston forms a flow conduit between the channel and the contact surface. The seal is disposed between an outer surface of the secondary piston and the sidewall such that a flow path is formed through the central aperture and the flow conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick S. Dillman, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch
  • Patent number: 9291230
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper coupled to the primary damper. The secondary damper includes a housing, a piston, a conduit, and a valve. The housing includes a sidewall that defines a set of apertures and at least partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The piston is positioned within the damping chamber and is slidably coupled to the sidewall. The conduit forms a flow path between the set of apertures, and the valve is disposed along the flow path. The primary damper provides a base damping force, and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the piston along the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Patent number: 9174686
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis having a longitudinal centerline, a first axle and a second axle coupled to the chassis, a cab, a driver's seat, and a passenger seat. The cab is coupled to the chassis and includes a windshield assembly comprising a first side portion, a middle portion, a second side portion, a first pillar coupling the first side portion to the middle portion, and a second pillar coupling the second side portion to the middle portion. The driver's seat is disposed within the cab along the longitudinal centerline, and the passenger seat is disposed within the cab and longitudinally offset from the driver's seat to improve driver visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Rob Messina, Chris Yakes, Dave Marek, Colin Wheeler, Joseph Holda, Dean Seefeldt, Ben Andrews, Martin Schimke, Steve Tittl, Austin Dowdy, Kevin Pennau, Greg Malcolm, Andrew Drach, Andy McClaine, Ryan Carignan, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron Rositch
  • Publication number: 20150197129
    Abstract: A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder defining a chamber, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber. The rod and the cylinder are configured such that a relative movement therebetween changes the volume of the chamber. Gas in the chamber and the accumulator are configured to cooperate to at least partially provide a spring rate that varies based on at least one of a deflection and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
  • Patent number: 8991834
    Abstract: A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, a relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changing the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber. Compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a first spring rate for deflections of the gas spring below a threshold, compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a second spring rate for deflections of the gas spring above the threshold, and the first spring rate is greater than the second spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
  • Publication number: 20150028529
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing including a first port, a second port, and a third port, the housing defining a first flow path extending between the third port and the first port and a second flow path extending between the third port and the second port. The valve assembly further includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first port and the second port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Erik S. Ellifson
  • Publication number: 20140326555
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper coupled to the primary damper. The secondary damper includes a housing, a piston, a conduit, and a valve. The housing includes a sidewall that defines a set of apertures and at least partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The piston is positioned within the damping chamber and is slidably coupled to the sidewall. The conduit forms a flow path between the set of apertures, and the valve is disposed along the flow path. The primary damper provides a base damping force, and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the piston along the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Patent number: 8876133
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing having a control port, a first accessory port, and a second accessory port. The housing defines a first flow path extending between the control port and the first accessory port and a second flow path extending between the control port and the second accessory port. The valve assembly also includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first accessory port and the second accessory port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventor: Erik S. Ellifson
  • Publication number: 20140291945
    Abstract: A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, a relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changing the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber. Compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a first spring rate for deflections of the gas spring below a threshold, compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a second spring rate for deflections of the gas spring above the threshold, and the first spring rate is greater than the second spring rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
  • Publication number: 20140251742
    Abstract: A damper assembly is disclosed that includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a seal. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap defining an inner volume. The rod extends within the inner volume of the tubular member. The primary piston defines a contact surface and is positioned within the inner volume and coupled to an end of the rod. The secondary piston defines a central aperture and a channel. Engagement of the primary piston and the secondary piston forms a flow conduit between the channel and the contact surface. The seal is disposed between an outer surface of the secondary piston and the sidewall such that a flow path is formed through the central aperture and the flow conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick S. Dillman, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch
  • Patent number: 8801017
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper. The secondary damper is coupled to the primary damper and includes a housing and an annular piston. The housing includes a sidewall that partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The sidewall defines a plurality of apertures. The annular piston is positioned within the damping chamber and slidably coupled to the sidewall. The primary damper provides a base damping force and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the annular piston along the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Publication number: 20130249175
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing having a control port, a first accessory port, and a second accessory port. The housing defines a first flow path extending between the control port and the first accessory port and a second flow path extending between the control port and the second accessory port. The valve assembly also includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first accessory port and the second accessory port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Erik S. Ellifson
  • Publication number: 20130249183
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper. The secondary damper is coupled to the primary damper and includes a housing and an annular piston. The housing includes a sidewall that partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The sidewall defines a plurality of apertures. The annular piston is positioned within the damping chamber and slidably coupled to the sidewall. The primary damper provides a base damping force and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the annular piston along the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger
  • Patent number: 8333390
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a land vehicle includes sensors that provide information relating to a ride height of the land vehicle. A processing circuit monitors data from the sensors and controls adjustment of one or more vehicle systems that affect the vehicle's ride height based on the data from the sensors. In some embodiments, the processing circuit controls a suspension system and can control the suspension system to have any of a multiplicity of height settings. In some embodiments, the processing circuit controls the ride height based on a user selection of a pre-configured ride height setting. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to maintain a ride height of the vehicle at a consistent ride height when the suspension is unlocked after a load is removed where the suspension was locked after the load was added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Catherine R. Linsmeier, Erik S. Ellifson, Kevin W. Magners