Patents by Inventor Gerrit VanVranken Beneker

Gerrit VanVranken Beneker 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: 9157542
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Patent number: 8656873
    Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
  • Publication number: 20130000574
    Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
  • Patent number: 8316888
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Patent number: 8302570
    Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
  • Patent number: 8230729
    Abstract: A fluid condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, and an armature surrounded by the coil. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber in which the armature is movable in response to energizing of the coil. The sensor is mounted to a reservoir such that a first portion of the solenoid body extends into a cavity defined by the reservoir, and so that movement of the armature is substantially transverse to a direction of fluid level change in the reservoir. The first portion of the solenoid body defines an opening permitting fluid communication between the cavity and the armature chamber, such that fluid enters and is displaced from the armature chamber through the opening as the armature moves, movement of the armature within the armature chamber thereby being affected by fluid level in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Patent number: 7921703
    Abstract: An oil condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, an armature and a pole piece. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and the pole piece. The armature is movable in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil. In an oil condition sensing system, the coil is operatively connected to a controller which can determine at least one of an oil temperature, oil viscosity, oil level, and an oil change occurrence. In one embodiment, four oil levels, including an overfill oil level and an excessively low oil level may be detected. The sensor is referred to as an integrated oil condition and level sensor as multiple sensing functions are integrated into one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker
  • Publication number: 20100320407
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Publication number: 20100281971
    Abstract: A fluid condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, and an armature surrounded by the coil. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber in which the armature is movable in response to energizing of the coil. The sensor is mounted to a reservoir such that a first portion of the solenoid body extends into a cavity defined by the reservoir, and so that movement of the armature is substantially transverse to a direction of fluid level change in the reservoir. The first portion of the solenoid body defines an opening permitting fluid communication between the cavity and the armature chamber, such that fluid enters and is displaced from the armature chamber through the opening as the armature moves, movement of the armature within the armature chamber thereby being affected by fluid level in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Publication number: 20100269586
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring fluid level is provided that includes a float, which may be steel or another material that affects magnetic flux. The sensor further includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the float. The housing may be, but need not be, tubular, and the cavity may be cylindrical. At least one magnetic coil is wound to the housing along the cavity. The coil may be wound around the housing. The float is positionable in the fluid to move within the cavity in relation to fluid level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
  • Publication number: 20100212420
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring a level of a fluid includes a member and a bobbin defining a cavity therethrough and configured for receiving the member. The sensor also includes at least one inductive coil wound to the bobbin, wherein the at least one inductive coil defines a plurality of symmetrical layers that each extend along an axial length of the bobbin. The sensor includes a float operably connected to the member and buoyant in a fluid having a level in a container. The member axially translates within the cavity in response to a change in position of the float according to the level of the fluid so that an inductance of the at least one inductive coil varies in relation to a position of the member within the cavity and thereby in relation to the level of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker
  • Publication number: 20100186696
    Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
  • Publication number: 20080250851
    Abstract: An oil condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, an armature and a pole piece. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and the pole piece. The armature is movable in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil. In an oil condition sensing system, the coil is operatively connected to a controller which can determine at least one of an oil temperature, oil viscosity, oil level, and an oil change occurrence. In one embodiment, four oil levels, including an overfill oil level and an excessively low oil level may be detected. The sensor is referred to as an integrated oil condition and level sensor as multiple sensing functions are integrated into one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker