Patents by Inventor Joel MEKKES

Joel MEKKES 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).

  • Publication number: 20230146852
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve comprises a proportional piloted valve that controls pressure and includes means for restricting pilot flow through the pilot flow passage. The means for restricting pilot flow defines a restriction in the pilot flow passage when a movable spool disposed in an axial bore of the body of the valve is in a neutral position. The restriction varies as a function of spool movement such that flow of hydraulic fluid through the pilot flow passage is variably restricted as a function of the position of the spool over its range of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Cassaidy, Joel Mekkes, Matthew Meyer
  • Patent number: 10641298
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve maintains the pressure at a control port at a desired percentage of the pressure at two other ports as the pressure at the two other ports varies. Upon the pressure at the control port reaching a predetermined pressure setting, a fourth port will open to maintain the control port at a second desired percentage of the two other ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Schmidt, Scott Parker, Joel Mekkes
  • Patent number: 10378559
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Bissbort, Joel Mekkes, Damiano Roberti, Tomasz Slawinski
  • Publication number: 20180100520
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Markus BISSBORT, Joel MEKKES, Damiano ROBERTI, Tomasz SLAWINSKI
  • Publication number: 20180100522
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve maintains the pressure at a control port at a desired percentage of the pressure at two other ports as the pressure at the two other ports varies. Upon the pressure at the control port reaching a predetermined pressure setting, a fourth port will open to maintain the control port at a second desired percentage of the two other ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Travis Schmidt, Scott Parker, Joel Mekkes
  • Patent number: 9657749
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Bissbort, Joel Mekkes, Damiano Roberti, Tomasz Slawinski
  • Patent number: 9322416
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: HydraForce, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Bissbort, Joel Mekkes, Damiano Roberti, Tomasz Slawinski
  • Publication number: 20140251470
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: HYDRAFORCE, INC.
    Inventors: Markus BISSBORT, Joel MEKKES, Damiano ROBERTI, Tomasz SLAWINSKI
  • Publication number: 20140250877
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension cylinder, a pump, and a control valve therebetween. The control valve includes a spool reciprocally movable between a pump flow position and a tank flow position in which a control port of the control valve is in communication with a pump and a tank, respectively. A piloted logic element in fluid communication with and interposed between the control valve and the suspension cylinder is selectively movable between a through-flow position in which fluid can flow in either direction between a chamber of the suspension cylinder and the control port of the control valve and a blocked position in which fluid is prevented from flowing in or out of the chamber of the suspension cylinder. The logic element is biased to the blocking position, moving to the through-flow position when subjected to a crack pressure delivered from the control port of the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: HYDRAFORCE, INC.
    Inventors: Markus BISSBORT, Joel MEKKES, Damiano ROBERTI, Tomasz SLAWINSKI