Patents by Inventor John Ferraz, JR.
John Ferraz, JR. 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: 11053958Abstract: A regeneration valve includes a housing defining a first port, a second port, a third port, and a chamber fluidly communicating with the first, second, and third ports. The chamber has a valve element movable between a first position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the first port, and a second position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the third port. A resilient member biases the valve element towards the first position. In operation, a flow restrictor element moves between the first port and the second port for restricting fluid flow from the second port to the first port. At a predetermined flow rate between the second port and the first port, if a supply pressure of fluid at the actuation chamber exceeds the bias of the resilient member, the valve element moves to the second position for fluidly communicating the second and third ports.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Patent number: 10858806Abstract: A control module for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator that is associated with an earthmoving machine includes a body. The body has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway associated with the spool chamber. The body also has a spool positioned axially, and at least partially, within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap located at a first end of the body. The body also has a pair of electrohydraulic spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The body also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Publication number: 20200299932Abstract: A regeneration valve includes a housing defining a first port, a second port, a third port, and a chamber fluidly communicating with the first, second, and third ports. The chamber has a valve element movable between a first position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the first port, and a second position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the third port. A resilient member biases the valve element towards the first position. In operation, a flow restrictor element moves between the first port and the second port for restricting fluid flow from the second port to the first port. At a predetermined flow rate between the second port and the first port, if a supply pressure of fluid at the actuation chamber exceeds the bias of the resilient member, the valve element moves to the second position for fluidly communicating the second and third ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, JR., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Publication number: 20200291611Abstract: A control module for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator that is associated with an earthmoving machine includes a body. The body has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway associated with the spool chamber. The body also has a spool positioned axially, and at least partially, within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap located at a first end of the body. The body also has a pair of electrohydraulic spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and. operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The body also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, JR., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Publication number: 20200283995Abstract: An electro-hydraulic arrangement for controlling operation of a pair of tilt actuators of an earthmoving machine includes a housing, and a directional control valve (DCV) and a regeneration valve (RV) disposed within the housing. The DCV and the RV are coupled in selective fluid communication with one another and with rod end and head end chambers of the actuators via ports defined on the housing. When the DCV is in a first or second operative position, the RV may be positioned in a regenerative position to allow the rod end chambers of respective ones of the first and second actuators to communicate fluid to the head end chamber of the second actuator. Optionally, the regeneration valve may be positioned in a drain position to allow the rod end chambers of respective ones of the first and second actuators to communicate fluid with a drain port of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, JR., Michael Thomas Jackson, Kenneth Alan Dust
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Patent number: 10753068Abstract: An electro-hydraulic arrangement for controlling operation of a pair of tilt actuators of an earthmoving machine includes a housing, and a directional control valve (DCV) and a regeneration valve (RV) disposed within the housing. The DCV and the RV are coupled in selective fluid communication with one another and with rod end and head end chambers of the actuators via ports defined on the housing. When the DCV is in a first or second operative position, the RV may be positioned in a regenerative position to allow the rod end chambers of respective ones of the first and second actuators to communicate fluid to the head end chamber of the second actuator. Optionally, the regeneration valve may be positioned in a drain position to allow the rod end chambers of respective ones of the first and second actuators to communicate fluid with a drain port of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Michael Thomas Jackson, Kenneth Alan Dust
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Patent number: 9644649Abstract: A void protection system includes a valve assembly, a second fluid source configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, an auxiliary valve configured to fluidly connect the hydraulic cylinder to the second fluid source, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor fluid pressure within the hydraulic cylinder based on signals from the sensor assembly, based on a determination that pressure in a rod end or a head end of the hydraulic cylinder is below a first fluid pressure threshold, configure the valve assembly to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the first fluid source, and if the first fluid source is not operational, increase an opening of the auxiliary valve to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the second fluid source and cause the second fluid source to provide fluid until pressure in the corresponding end is above a second fluid pressure threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLCInventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Brandon Z. Barnes
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Publication number: 20160201296Abstract: A hydraulic valve for a machine is provided. The hydraulic valve includes a valve housing having a passage defined therein. The valve housing defines a first chamber maintained at a first predetermined pressure. The first chamber includes a retaining member, a first and a second support member coupled to the retaining member, and a resilient member disposed on the retaining member. The valve housing further defines a second chamber maintained at a second predetermined pressure. Further, an intermediate chamber is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a valve member is slidably disposed in the intermediate chamber. The valve member blocks the passage in a closed position and unblocks passage in an open position. The resilient member is compressed in the first chamber and the valve moves from first position to second position when value of second predetermined pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2016Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: John Ferraz, JR.
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Patent number: 9388829Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use in a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool, a motor configured to swing the work tool, a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, and a control valve operable to control fluid flow from the pump to the motor and from the motor to the tank via first and second chamber passages to affect motion of the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have an accumulator, and an accumulator circuit configured to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor to the accumulator for storage and to direct stored fluid from the accumulator to the motor to assist the motor. The hydraulic control system may further have a selector valve configured to selectively connect a higher pressure one of the first and second chamber passages with the accumulator, and a single pressure relief valve disposed within the accumulator circuit and configured to relief pressure from opposing sides of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Pengfei Ma, Dayao Chen, John Ferraz, Jr., Tetsuya Yoshino
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Publication number: 20150260205Abstract: A void protection system includes a valve assembly, a second fluid source configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, an auxiliary valve configured to fluidly connect the hydraulic cylinder to the second fluid source, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor fluid pressure within the hydraulic cylinder based on signals from the sensor assembly, based on a determination that pressure in a rod end or a head end of the hydraulic cylinder is below a first fluid pressure threshold, configure the valve assembly to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the first fluid source, and if the first fluid source is not operational, increase an opening of the auxiliary valve to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the second fluid source and cause the second fluid source to provide fluid until pressure in the corresponding end is above a second fluid pressure threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: John Ferraz,, Jr., Brandon Z. Barnes
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Publication number: 20150101164Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Pengfei MA, Jiao ZHANG, Tonglin SHANG, Peter SPRING, Dayao CHEN, Salik A. SYED, John FERRAZ, JR., Randal N. PETERSON
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Patent number: 8919113Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Pengfei Ma, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Dayao Chen, Salik A. Syed, John Ferraz, Jr., Randal N. Peterson
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Publication number: 20140060023Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use in a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool, a motor configured to swing the work tool, a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, and a control valve operable to control fluid flow from the pump to the motor and from the motor to the tank via first and second chamber passages to affect motion of the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have an accumulator, and an accumulator circuit configured to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor to the accumulator for storage and to direct stored fluid from the accumulator to the motor to assist the motor. The hydraulic control system may further have a selector valve configured to selectively connect a higher pressure one of the first and second chamber passages with the accumulator, and a single pressure relief valve disposed within the accumulator circuit and configured to relief pressure from opposing sides of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Lawrence J. TOGNETTI, Pengfei MA, Dayao CHEN, John FERRAZ, JR., Tetsuya YOSHINO
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Publication number: 20130000094Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Pengfei MA, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Dayao Chen, Salik A. Syed, John Ferraz, JR., Randal N. Peterson