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).
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Patent number: 9327576Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventor: Erik S. Ellifson
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Patent number: 9303715Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventors: Patrick S. Dillman, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch
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Patent number: 9291230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
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Patent number: 9174686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20150197129Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
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Patent number: 8991834Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLCInventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
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Publication number: 20150028529Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATIONInventor: Erik S. Ellifson
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Publication number: 20140326555Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
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Patent number: 8876133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventor: Erik S. Ellifson
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Publication number: 20140291945Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
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Publication number: 20140251742Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATIONInventors: Patrick S. Dillman, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch
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Patent number: 8801017Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
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Publication number: 20130249175Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATIONInventor: Erik S. Ellifson
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Publication number: 20130249183Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATIONInventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger
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Patent number: 8333390Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Catherine R. Linsmeier, Erik S. Ellifson, Kevin W. Magners