Patents by Inventor Joseph Thomas Belter

Joseph Thomas Belter 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: 20250012299
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Joseph Thomas Belter
  • Patent number: 12117024
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Joseph Thomas Belter
  • Patent number: 11999214
    Abstract: Presented herein, inter alia, are suspension system components having tuned accumulator sizing and/or stiffness. Such suspension system components are envisioned for use in a distributed active suspension system of a vehicle. In particular, through appropriate sizing of accumulators of a suspension system component of a vehicle, ride quality of the vehicle may be improved and so called “rough ride” issues may be precluded. Alternatively or additionally, various valves or alternative compliant mechanisms may be included in the suspension system component, so that desirable performance may be obtained for a range of operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Jason Steven Sirois
  • Patent number: 11964530
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 11965531
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Graham A. Dowie, Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Publication number: 20230249512
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 11541713
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 11511590
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 11440366
    Abstract: Active suspension systems including actuators with combinations of accumulators and flow restrictions, as well as their methods of operation, are described. In some embodiments, methods and constructions for mitigating pump ripple and/or resonances between different hydraulic components are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Patrick O'Shea, Joseph Thomas Belter, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Publication number: 20220220984
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Graham A. Dowie, Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Publication number: 20220185056
    Abstract: Active suspension actuator systems including an actuator with a compression volume and an extension volume are described. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more flow control devices in fluid communication with the compression volume and/or the extension volume of the actuator. In some instances, a flow control device may include a pressure balanced blow-off valve (PBOV). In some embodiments, the system includes a high capacity bidirectional base valve. In some embodiments, two or more flow control devices cooperate to, for example, damp low amplitude oscillations in the extension and/or compression volumes, and to allow the build-up of pump generated differential pressures while discharging rapid road induced differential pressure spikes between the extension and compression volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Brian Alexander Selden, Jason Steven Sirois, Mathijs van Staalduinen, Clive Tucker, Taha Zeki Ramazanoglu
  • Publication number: 20220118813
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 11215202
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Graham A. Dowie, Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Publication number: 20210291612
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Publication number: 20210252935
    Abstract: Presented herein, inter alia, are suspension system components having tuned accumulator sizing and/or stiffness. Such suspension system components are envisioned for use in a distributed active suspension system of a vehicle. In particular, through appropriate sizing of accumulators of a suspension system component of a vehicle, ride quality of the vehicle may be improved and so called “rough ride” issues may be precluded. Alternatively or additionally, various valves or alternative compliant mechanisms may be included in the suspension system component, so that desirable performance may be obtained for a range of operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Jason Steven Sirois
  • Publication number: 20210231133
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Graham A. Dowie, Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Patent number: 10906371
    Abstract: Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian, Zackary Martin Anderson, John A. Laplante
  • Patent number: 10890197
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Graham A. Dowie, Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden
  • Publication number: 20200049266
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Joseph Thomas Belter
  • Publication number: 20200039316
    Abstract: In one embodiment, certain aspects of forces at a structural interface applied by one actuator are mitigated by a secondary actuator that applies a secondary force. In some embodiments the secondary actuator applies a static force. In yet another embodiment, an actuator is used to apply a force on a wheel assembly of a vehicle to detect and/or ameliorate the effect of certain tire incongruities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Clive Tucker, Jack A. Ekchian, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Marco Giovanardi, David Ta-wei Hsu