Patents by Inventor Kenneth Marshall BEFUS

Kenneth Marshall BEFUS 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).

  • Integrated pressure diagnostic for off-highway steering isolation circuit
    Patent number: 11913480
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Kenneth Marshall Befus
  • INTEGRATED PRESSURE DIAGNOSTIC FOR OFF-HIGHWAY STEERING ISOLATION CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20230063904
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Kenneth Marshall BEFUS