Patents by Inventor Mark Allen Batdorff

Mark Allen Batdorff 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).

  • Patent number: 9836066
    Abstract: In hydraulic systems having rotating-stationary component interfaces, a bore pressure regulating mechanism is provided to interact with the hydraulic fluid in a control volume to maintain a hydraulic fluid pressure in a longitudinal shaft bore at or approximately equal to a supply pressure when a gear shaft rotates within the control volume. In one aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism minimizes vortex flow of the hydraulic fluid induced by the rotation of the gear shaft. In another aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism provides a direct feed of pressurized hydraulic fluid proximate an opening of the longitudinal shaft bore through an end surface of the gear shaft, and thereby minimizes the opportunity for the hydraulic fluid to be forced into vortex flow by the gear shaft in the area of the longitudinal shaft bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Williams, Mark Allen Batdorff, Timothy Lorentz, Jay Robert Steffen
  • Publication number: 20160018825
    Abstract: In hydraulic systems having rotating-stationary component interfaces, a bore pressure regulating mechanism is provided to interact with the hydraulic fluid in a control volume to maintain a hydraulic fluid pressure in a longitudinal shaft bore at or approximately equal to a supply pressure when a gear shaft rotates within the control volume. In one aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism minimizes vortex flow of the hydraulic fluid induced by the rotation of the gear shaft. In another aspect, the bore pressure regulating mechanism provides a direct feed of pressurized hydraulic fluid proximate an opening of the longitudinal shaft bore through an end surface of the gear shaft, and thereby minimizes the opportunity for the hydraulic fluid to be forced into vortex flow by the gear shaft in the area of the longitudinal shaft bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Williams, Mark Allen Batdorff, Timothy Lorentz, Jay Robert Steffen
  • Patent number: 9200648
    Abstract: A fluid control valve system suitable for use in fluid systems. The valve system includes at least one check valve assembly that has a controllable bidirectional flow capability. The valve system and its check valve assembly can be installed in a fluid system that contains a pump/motor to enable the displacement output of the pump/motor to be controlled. The valve system further includes a pilot valve assembly and a device for controlling the check and pilot valve assemblies. The controlling device is adapted to control the pressure of at least one pilot fluid delivered to the pilot valve assembly, which enables the check valve assembly to selectively check flow of a working fluid flowing therethrough in either of two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: John H. Lumkes, Mark Allen Batdorff, Kyle Joseph Merrill, Michael Andrew Holland, Gabriel Jordan Wilfong
  • Publication number: 20120186659
    Abstract: A fluid control valve system suitable for use in fluid systems. The valve system includes at least one check valve assembly that has a controllable bidirectional flow capability. The valve system and its check valve assembly can be installed in a fluid system that contains a pump/motor to enable the displacement output of the pump/motor to be controlled. The valve system further includes a pilot valve assembly and a device for controlling the check and pilot valve assemblies. The controlling device is adapted to control the pressure of at least one pilot fluid delivered to the pilot valve assembly, which enables the check valve assembly to selectively check flow of a working fluid flowing therethrough in either of two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: John H. Lumkes, Mark Allen Batdorff, Kyle Joseph Merrill, Michael Andrew Holland, Gabriel Jordan Wilfong