Patents by Inventor James A. Howland

James A. Howland 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: 11225776
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang, Blake Carl
  • Publication number: 20210309287
    Abstract: A hydraulic system (40) for a work machine comprising a priority circuit (41) including at least a first priority actuator (47, 48) and a priority control valve (58) for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first priority actuator (47, 48) and for providing a load sense signal indicative of the load acting on the first priority actuator (47, 48); an auxiliary circuit (42) including at least a first auxiliary actuator (51) and at least a first auxiliary control valve (80) for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first auxiliary actuator (51); at least a first pump (46) for producing a flow of hydraulic fluid; and a priority valve (74) for distributing the flow from the pump (46) to the priority circuit (41) and auxiliary circuit (42) for operating the respective actuators thereof, with priority being given to the priority circuit (41) as a function of the load sense signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Raymond Collett, Rajneesh Kumar, Qiang Wang, Miao Zhang, James Howland
  • Publication number: 20210148087
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas N. WHITE, James HOWLAND, Hao ZHANG, Blake CARL
  • Patent number: 10941542
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang, Blake Carl
  • Publication number: 20210002864
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas N. WHITE, James HOWLAND, Hao ZHANG, Blake CARL
  • Patent number: 10815646
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang, Blake Carl
  • Patent number: 10819252
    Abstract: A device, system and method for harvesting electrical power from hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system determines at least one of hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system. Based on rules and the determined at least one of the hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure, an expected conversion efficiency of the power conversion device and an expected rectified power to be generated from the received input power by the power conversion device are determined. From the expected rectified power a potential conversion efficiency of the power conversion device is determined, and the power conversion device is commanded to produce the expected rectified power when the potential conversion efficiency is greater than or equal to the expected conversion efficiency. When the potential conversion efficiency is less than the expected conversion efficiency, the rules are updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Cullman, Hao Zhang, James Howland, Zhesheng Jiang, Nicholas White
  • Publication number: 20200067428
    Abstract: A device, system and method for harvesting electrical power from hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system determines at least one of hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system. Based on rules and the determined at least one of the hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure, an expected conversion efficiency of the power conversion device and an expected rectified power to be generated from the received input power by the power conversion device are determined. From the expected rectified power a potential conversion efficiency of the power conversion device is determined, and the power conversion device is commanded to produce the expected rectified power when the potential conversion efficiency is greater than or equal to the expected conversion efficiency. When the potential conversion efficiency is less than the expected conversion efficiency, the rules are updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jeff Cullman, Hao Zhang, James Howland, Zhesheng Jiang, Nicholas White
  • Publication number: 20190292752
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas N. WHITE, James HOWLAND, Hao ZHANG, Blake CARL
  • Patent number: 10358797
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang, Blake Carl
  • Publication number: 20180216317
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for recovering potential energy of a load implement of a mobile construction vehicle. The hydraulic system includes first and second actuators and control valving. The first and second actuators are configured to be coupled to the load implement for controlling raising and lowering of the load element. The control valving is operable between a first position at which, during a lowering of the load implement, the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second actuators to an accumulator to charge the accumulator, and a second position at which the control valving directs hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to one or more of the first and second actuators to power the one or more of the first and second actuators to raise the load element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas N. WHITE, James HOWLAND, Hao ZHANG, Blake CARL
  • Patent number: 10024341
    Abstract: A hybrid swing drive system (1) of a hydraulic construction machine includes a variable displacement hydraulic swing pump (3) operable by a prime mover (2); a hydraulic swing motor (16) for performing a swing function of the machine; an accumulator (10); a controller (244); a swing control valve assembly (15) disposed in a first hydraulic path extending from the swing pump to the swing motor, the swing control valve assembly having a first position fluidly connecting the swing pump to a first side of the swing motor and a second position fluidly connecting the swing pump to a second side of the swing motor; and an accumulator control valve (12) having an open position fluidly connecting the accumulator to the first hydraulic path at an accumulator control valve connection point and a closed position fluidly isolating the accumulator from the first hydraulic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Jeff Cullman, Raymond Collett, James Howland, Nick White, Patrick Stegemann
  • Patent number: 9879403
    Abstract: A hydraulic machine includes an undercarriage; a rotating structure rotatably mounted on the undercarriage and configured to rotate with and with respect to the undercarriage; a first controller configured to receive user input and configured; a user interface configured to accept commands from a user and output a command signal to the controller; and a first gyroscope fixed to the rotating structure and electrically connected to the controller and configured to provide a data signal of rotation information of the rotating structure to the controller. An axis of rotation of the gyroscope is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating structure. The controller is configured to generate a control signal to control the rotating structure and cause the rotating structure to rotate with respect to the undercarriage based on the command signal from the user interface and the data signal from the first gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170274930
    Abstract: A hydraulic system (40) for a work machine comprising a priority circuit (41) including at least a first priority actuator (47, 48) and a priority control valve (58) for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first priority actuator (47, 48) and for providing a load sense signal indicative of the load acting on the first priority actuator (47, 48); an auxiliary circuit (42) including at least a first auxiliary actuator (51) and at least a first auxiliary control valve (80) for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first auxiliary actuator (51); at least a first pump (46) for producing a flow of hydraulic fluid; and a priority valve (74) for distributing the flow from the pump (46) to the priority circuit (41) and auxiliary circuit (42) for operating the respective actuators thereof, with priority being given to the priority circuit (41) as a function of the load sense signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Raymond Collett, Rajneesh Kumar, Qiang Wang, Miao Zhang, James Howland
  • Publication number: 20160168822
    Abstract: A hydraulic machine includes an undercarriage; a rotating structure rotatably mounted on the undercarriage and configured to rotate with and with respect to the undercarriage; a first controller configured to receive user input and configured; a user interface configured to accept commands from a user and output a command signal to the controller; and a first gyroscope fixed to the rotating structure and electrically connected to the controller and configured to provide a data signal of rotation information of the rotating structure to the controller. An axis of rotation of the gyroscope is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating structure. The controller is configured to generate a control signal to control the rotating structure and cause the rotating structure to rotate with respect to the undercarriage based on the command signal from the user interface and the data signal from the first gyroscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, James Howland, Hao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160010663
    Abstract: A hybrid swing drive system (1) of a hydraulic construction machine includes a variable displacement hydraulic swing pump (3) operable by a prime mover (2); a hydraulic swing motor (16) for performing a swing function of the machine; an accumulator (10); a controller (244); a swing control valve assembly (15) disposed in a first hydraulic path extending from the swing pump to the swing motor, the swing control valve assembly having a first position fluidly connecting the swing pump to a first side of the swing motor and a second position fluidly connecting the swing pump to a second side of the swing motor; and an accumulator control valve (12) having an open position fluidly connecting the accumulator to the first hydraulic path at an accumulator control valve connection point and a closed position fluidly isolating the accumulator from the first hydraulic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Jeff Cullman, Raymond Collett, James Howland, Nick White, Patrick Stegemann
  • Publication number: 20150361970
    Abstract: A compressor is provided suitable for compressing natural gas from a pressure associated with a residential gas supply to a pressure suitable for an automotive gas tank. The compressor utilizes a par of pneumatic cylinders driven by a hydraulic cylinder to compress the gas in a multi-stage process. Various embodiments are provided with respect to the gas compressor portion and the drive portion. A pressure boost system is also provided which utilizes an internal control valve and internal orifice through the piston of one of the pneumatic cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: Parker-Hannifin Corporation ("Parker")
    Inventors: Nicholas N. White, Blake Carl, Tim Beck, Raymond E. Collett, Christopher Parafinczuk, Thomas Biagi, James Howland, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 7895125
    Abstract: State information is shared across domains. The state information is placed in one or more cookies that are shared across disjoint domains. An intermediary application is used, as one example, to enable the sharing of the state information (e.g., the cookies) across the different domains. The intermediary application is used to add state information to requests received from a client and to responses going to the client. Further, an intermediary application is used to cause a client to save state information for any range of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), and to cause the client to send any previously stored state information to the intermediary application. Additionally, the intermediary application is used to cause state information previously saved by the client for one range of URLs to be subsequently saved by the client for one or more other range of URLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Callaghan, Michael James Howland, Steven M. Pritko
  • Patent number: 7302402
    Abstract: State information is shared across domains. The state information is placed in one or more cookies that are shared across disjoint domains. An intermediary application is used, as one example, to enable the sharing of the state information (e.g., the cookies) across the different domains. The intermediary application is used to add state information to requests received from a client and to responses going to the client. Further, an intermediary application is used to cause a client to save state information for any range of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), and to cause the client to send any previously stored state information to the intermediary application. Additionally, the intermediary application is used to cause state information previously saved by the client for one range of URLs to be subsequently saved by the client for one or more other range of URLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Callaghan, Michael James Howland, Steven M. Pritko
  • Patent number: D745112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde B Stevens, Dennis C Allen, Hao Zhang, James Howland, Michelle Tauchen, Shawn Vogel, Stephen Brunton, Yong Woon Jeon, Peter Stambro, Raymond E Collett