Patents by Inventor Jon K. Walimaa

Jon K. Walimaa 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).

  • Snowplow blade articulator assembly with passive downforce mechanism
    Patent number: 9315958
    Abstract: A snowplow blade articulator assembly includes a mounting frame for attaching a snowplow blade to a vehicle chassis. A hydraulic pump and a hydraulic reservoir are attached to the mounting frame, the hydraulic reservoir supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic pump. An articulating assembly is attached to the mounting frame for moving the snowplow blade when the snowplow blade is attached to the mounting frame, the articulating assembly is fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump, and the articulating assembly includes a lift cylinder and a hydraulic manifold. The hydraulic manifold includes a downforce circuit that fluidly isolates the lift cylinder from the hydraulic pump when a first control valve is closed and the downforce circuit fluidly connects a lift chamber of the lift cylinder with a lower chamber of the lift cylinder to maintain equal hydraulic pressure in the lift chamber and in the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jon K. Walimaa, Jody Christy
  • SNOWPLOW BLADE ARTICULATOR ASSEMBLY WITH PASSIVE DOWNFORCE MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20140298690
    Abstract: A snowplow blade articulator assembly includes a mounting frame for attaching a snowplow blade to a vehicle chassis. A hydraulic pump and a hydraulic reservoir are attached to the mounting frame, the hydraulic reservoir supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic pump. An articulating assembly is attached to the mounting frame for moving the snowplow blade when the snowplow blade is attached to the mounting frame, the articulating assembly is fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump, and the articulating assembly includes a lift cylinder and a hydraulic manifold. The hydraulic manifold includes a downforce circuit that fluidly isolates the lift cylinder from the hydraulic pump when a first control valve is closed and the downforce circuit fluidly connects a lift chamber of the lift cylinder with a lower chamber of the lift cylinder to maintain equal hydraulic pressure in the lift chamber and in the lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jon K. Walimaa, Jody Christy
  • Snowplow blade articulator assembly with passive downforce mechanism
    Patent number: 8793907
    Abstract: A snowplow blade articulator assembly includes a mounting frame for attaching a snowplow blade to a vehicle chassis. A hydraulic pump and a hydraulic reservoir are attached to the mounting frame, the hydraulic reservoir supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic pump. An articulating assembly is attached to the mounting frame for moving the snowplow blade when the snowplow blade is attached to the mounting frame, the articulating assembly is fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump, and the articulating assembly includes a lift cylinder and a hydraulic manifold. The hydraulic manifold includes a downforce circuit that fluidly isolates the lift cylinder from the hydraulic pump when a first control valve is closed and the downforce circuit fluidly connects a lift chamber of the lift cylinder with a lower chamber of the lift cylinder to maintain equal hydraulic pressure in the lift chamber and in the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Northern Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon K. Walimaa, Jody Christy
  • SNOWPLOW BLADE ARTICULATOR ASSEMBLY WITH PASSIVE DOWNFORCE MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20130318838
    Abstract: A snowplow blade articulator assembly includes a mounting frame for attaching a snowplow blade to a vehicle chassis. A hydraulic pump and a hydraulic reservoir are attached to the mounting frame, the hydraulic reservoir supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic pump. An articulating assembly is attached to the mounting frame for moving the snowplow blade when the snowplow blade is attached to the mounting frame, the articulating assembly is fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump, and the articulating assembly includes a lift cylinder and a hydraulic manifold. The hydraulic manifold includes a downforce circuit that fluidly isolates the lift cylinder from the hydraulic pump when a first control valve is closed and the downforce circuit fluidly connects a lift chamber of the lift cylinder with a lower chamber of the lift cylinder to maintain equal hydraulic pressure in the lift chamber and in the lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NORTHERN STAR INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jon K. Walimaa, Jody Christy