Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. St. Clair
Kenneth A. St. Clair 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: 8397883Abstract: A controllable brake includes a housing and a rotor supported on a shaft. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by bearings. The controllable brake housing defines a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Lord CorporationInventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Robert H. Marjoram, William C. Hardin, Mariane Hontz, Stephen Koester
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Patent number: 8353393Abstract: A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Lord CorporationInventors: Kenneth A. St.Clair, Robert H. Marjoram
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Patent number: 8322497Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid damper includes a damper body having a reservoir for a magneto-rheological fluid, a piston rod, a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, where the piston rod guide has a passage therein for receiving the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a fluid chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod, the fluid chamber being in communication with the reservoir. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a piston rod guide filter arranged in a communication path between the fluid chamber and the reservoir to filter particulates out of the magneto-rheological fluid entering the fluid chamber. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes an accumulator arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Lord CorporationInventors: Robert H. Marjoram, Stephen F. Hildebrand, Douglas E. Ivers, Gregory Ericksen, William J. McMahon, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Patent number: 7942248Abstract: A damper device comprising a first mode having a first level of damping, a second mode having a second level of damping corresponding to a predetermined function, a sensor system having a first output corresponding to a normal position and a second output corresponding to an end stop approaching position, and a control system operable for receiving the first output and the second output and executing the first mode and the second mode. The damper device is operable in the first mode when the control system receives the first output and is operable in the second mode when the control system receives the second output.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: LORD CorporationInventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Kenneth R. Boone, Douglas E. Ivers
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Publication number: 20100294603Abstract: A controllable brake with a shaft having an axis of rotation and a shaft end. The controllable brake including a controllable brake rotor connected with the shaft, the rotor having a rotation plane. The controllable brake includes a controllable brake magnetic field generator located proximate the controllable brake rotor, the controllable brake magnetic field generator for generating a controllable magnetic field strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Robert H. Marjoram, William C. Hardin, Marlene E. Hontz, Stephen P. Koester
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Publication number: 20100109276Abstract: A controllable suspension system for controlling the relative motion between a first body and a second body includes at least one strut including a magneto-rheological fluid damper. The fluid damper includes a piston rod guide disposed within a damper body. The piston rod guide has a passage therein for receiving a piston rod. A piston rod bearing assembly is disposed in the piston rod guide to engage with and support reciprocal motion of the piston rod. At least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal are arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. A fluid chamber is defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. A piston rod guide gas charged accumulator is arranged between the piston rod and the damper body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: ROBERT H. MARJORAM, Stephen F. Hildebrand, Douglas E. Ivers, Gregory Ericksen, William J. McMahon, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Publication number: 20100096818Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid damper includes a damper body having a reservoir for a magneto-rheological fluid, a piston rod, a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, where the piston rod guide has a passage therein for receiving the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a fluid chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod, the fluid chamber being in communication with the reservoir. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a piston rod guide filter arranged in a communication path between the fluid chamber and the reservoir to filter particulates out of the magneto-rheological fluid entering the fluid chamber. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes an accumulator arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2009Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: ROBERT H. MARJORAM, Stephen F. Hildebrand, Douglas E. Ivers, Gregory Ericksen, William J. McMahon, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Publication number: 20100051374Abstract: A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: LORD CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth A. St.Clair, Robert H. Marjoram
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Publication number: 20080234908Abstract: A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Robert H. Marjoram
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Publication number: 20070257408Abstract: The controllable suspension system includes a strut with a magnetorheological fluid damper. The magnetorheological fluid damper includes a longitudinal damper tubular housing having a longitudinally extending axis and an inner wall for containing magnetorheological fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2007Publication date: November 8, 2007Inventors: Kenneth St.Clair, William McMahon, Robert Marjoram
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Publication number: 20070181391Abstract: A controllable brake includes a housing and a rotor supported on a shaft. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by bearings. The controllable brake housing defines a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2006Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Kenneth St. Clair, Robert Marjoram, William Hardin, Mariane Hontz, Stephen Koester
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Patent number: 7198140Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Lord CorporationInventors: Mark R. Jolly, Robert H. Marjoram, Steve Koester, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Publication number: 20050126871Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2005Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Mark Jolly, Robert Marjoram, Steve Koester, Kenneth St.Clair
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Patent number: 6854573Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Lord CorporationInventors: Mark R. Jolly, Robert H. Marjoram, Steve Koester, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Publication number: 20040124049Abstract: A damper device comprising a first mode having a first level of damping, a second mode having a second level of damping corresponding to a predetermined function, a sensor system having a first output corresponding to a normal position and a second output corresponding to an end stop approaching position, and a control system operable for receiving the first output and the second output and executing the first mode and the second mode. The damper device is operable in the first mode when the control system receives the first output and is operable in the second mode when the control system receives the second output.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Kenneth A. St. Clair, Kenneth R. Boone, Douglas E. Ivers
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Publication number: 20030079948Abstract: A controllable brake includes a rotor supported on one shaft end. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to change the rheology of the material and thereby impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by two bearings which, in combination with the housing define a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: Lord CorporationInventors: Mark R. Jolly, Robert H. Marjoram, Steve Koester, Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Patent number: 6513799Abstract: A method for automatically calibrating a seat suspension system. The method comprises the steps of sensing a current seat position; updating the value of a first current endstop to equal the current seat position if the seat position value is greater than a current first endstop limit; updateing the value of a current second endstop limit to equal the current seat position if the sensed seat position is less than the current second endstop limit; determining if the current first endstop limit is greater than the stored first endstop limit; determining if the current second endstop limit is less than the stored second endstop limit; and if the current first endstop limit is greater than the stored first endstop limit, setting the stored first end stop limit equal to the current first endstop limit, and if the current second endstop limit is less than the stored second endstop limit setting the stored second endstop limit equal to the current second endstop limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Lord CorporationInventor: Kenneth A. St.Clair
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Patent number: 6424894Abstract: A method for limiting endstop collisions when non-typical inputs are experienced and also when the seat is leveled at a position above or below the normal leveling zone limits. According to the method of the invention a temporary or transient control method referred to as rebound control method causes a large damping force to be applied by the seat suspension system in response to non-typically large inputs. The large damping force is applied until a duration timer timesout. Also according to the invention, a level control algorithm provides additional damping when the seat is leveled outside the normal leveling zone. The degree of additional damping provided is a function of the distance the seat exceeds the normal leveling zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Lord CorporationInventor: Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Patent number: 6382604Abstract: In a seat suspension system, a method for adjusting the gain applied to a control signal to accommodate for large variations in rider weight and input severity and thereby provide rider comfort over a wider range of conditions than is possible with fixed gains or tunings. The method of the present invention is adaptable to changes in system operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Lord CorporationInventor: Kenneth A. St. Clair
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Publication number: 20020011699Abstract: A method for automatically calibrating a seat suspension system. The method comprises the steps of sensing a current seat position; updating the value of a first current endstop to equal the current seat position if the seat position value is greater than a current first endstop limit; updateing the value of a current second endstop limit to equal the current seat position if the sensed seat position is less than the current second endstop limit; determining if the current first endstop limit is greater than the stored first endstop limit; determining if the current second endstop limit is less than the stored second endstop limit; and if the current first endstop limit is greater than the stored first endstop limit, setting the stored first end stop limit equal to the current first endstop limit, and if the current second endstop limit is less than the stored second endstop limit setting the stored second endstop limit equal to the current second endstop limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventor: Kenneth A. St.Clair