Patents by Inventor Ralph Valkenberg

Ralph Valkenberg 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: 10871161
    Abstract: An epitrochoidal vacuum pump includes a housing having a chamber, a rotor rotatably received within the internal space of the chamber, and a drive shaft configured to rotate the rotor eccentrically about an axis within the chamber in an epitrochoidal manner. An externally toothed guide sprocket meshes with and guides movement of a guide gear of the rotor as it is driven by the drive shaft. A chamber inlet draws air under negative pressure into the housing, and an outlet is provided to expulse air under positive pressure from the housing. Further, a fluid inlet is provided to input lubricant along the drive shaft and into the internal space of the chamber. The fluid inlet is communicated by channel(s) in an interior of the housing. The lubricant is drawn into the housing via a pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: STACKPOLE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ralph Valkenberg, Luke Bouwmeester
  • Publication number: 20200208629
    Abstract: A pump assembly that has a first pump and a second pump for pumping lubricant, both pumps being integrated into a single housing. A drive shaft is provided that drives both pumps. Both the first pump and the second pump have a gear or rotor that is rotated by the drive shaft. Each of the pumps have an inlet provided on the housing to receive input from a source outside the housing and an outlet. The housing has a wall that is common to both pumps. The first pump is provided on a first side of the wall and the second pump is provided on the second, opposite side. The gears or rotors of the pumps may be provided in pockets provided on the first and second sides of the wall. The drive shaft extends through the wall and connects to each of the drive gears or rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph Valkenberg, Luke Bouwmeester
  • Patent number: 10247187
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a control slide displaceable within its housing and a first control chamber and a second control chamber for receiving pressurized lubricant. A thermally adjustable control valve is provided in the housing for adjusting pump displacement based on a temperature of the lubricant. In addition to fluid communication channels in the control chambers, at least one vent port is provided in the second chamber. The control valve is configured to control pressure and fluid communication between the chambers along with the control slide. The control valve can help reduce pump displacement at lower temperatures and low engine speeds. At lower temperatures, the second control chamber can be pressurized by the first control chamber. At higher temperatures, the second control chamber can be vented through the control valve and/or the vent port, despite the position of the control slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: STACKPOLE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LTD.
    Inventors: Manfred Arnold, Hans Peter Kutzer, Ralph Valkenberg
  • Publication number: 20180291900
    Abstract: An epitrochoidal vacuum pump includes a housing having a chamber, a rotor rotatably received within the internal space of the chamber, and a drive shaft configured to rotate the rotor eccentrically about an axis within the chamber in an epitrochoidal manner. An externally toothed guide sprocket meshes with and guides movement of a guide gear of the rotor as it is driven by the drive shaft. A chamber inlet draws air under negative pressure into the housing, and an outlet is provided to expulse air under positive pressure from the housing. Further, a fluid inlet is provided to input lubricant along the drive shaft and into the internal space of the chamber. The fluid inlet is communicated by channel(s) in an interior of the housing. The lubricant is drawn into the housing via a pressure differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Ralph VALKENBERG, Luke BOUWMEESTER
  • Patent number: 10030656
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a pressure controlled valve moveable between first and at least second valve positions based on an output pressure of the pressurized lubricant delivered through the outlet. The pressure controlled valve provides an integrated fail safe function to the pump when an electrical valve fails. The pressure controlled valve is inactive in the first position for an output pressure below a threshold level, allowing an electrical valve (current, solenoid, pulse width modulation (PWM) valve) to selectively control pressure in the control chamber under normal operation of the pump. In fail safe regulation mode, the electrical valve function is disabled and the pressure controlled valve is active in its second position, controlling pressure in the control chamber. Channels and vents in the pump can be opened and closed based on selective movement of the valve when the outlet pressure is at or above a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Stackpole International Engineered Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralph Valkenberg
  • Publication number: 20180010605
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a control slide displaceable within its housing and a first control chamber and a second control chamber for receiving pressurized lubricant. A thermally adjustable control valve is provided in the housing for adjusting pump displacement based on a temperature of the lubricant. In addition to fluid communication channels in the control chambers, at least one vent port is provided in the second chamber. The control valve is configured to control pressure and fluid communication between the chambers along with the control slide. The control valve can help reduce pump displacement at lower temperatures and low engine speeds. At lower temperatures, the second control chamber can be pressurized by the first control chamber. At higher temperatures, the second control chamber can be vented through the control valve and/or the vent port, despite the position of the control slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Manfred ARNOLD, Hans Peter KUTZER, Ralph VALKENBERG
  • Patent number: 9771935
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a control slide displaceable within its housing and a first control chamber and a second control chamber for receiving pressurized lubricant. A thermally adjustable control valve is provided in the housing for adjusting pump displacement based on a temperature of the lubricant. In addition to fluid communication channels in the control chambers, at least one vent port is provided in the second chamber. The control valve is configured to control pressure and fluid communication between the chambers along with the control slide. The control valve can help reduce pump displacement at lower temperatures and low engine speeds. At lower temperatures, the second control chamber can be pressurized by the first control chamber. At higher temperatures, the second control chamber can be vented through the control valve and/or the vent port, despite the position of the control slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Stackpole International Engineered Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manfred Arnold, Hans Peter Kutzer, Ralph Valkenberg
  • Patent number: 9534519
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a pressure controlled valve moveable between first and at least second valve positions based on an output pressure of the pressurized lubricant delivered through the outlet. The pressure controlled valve provides an integrated fail safe function to the pump when an electrical valve fails. The pressure controlled valve is inactive in the first position for an output pressure below a threshold level, allowing an electrical valve (pulse width modulation (PWM) valve) to selectively control pressure in the control chamber under normal operation of the pump. In fail safe regulation mode, the electrical valve function is disabled and the pressure controlled valve is active in its second position, controlling pressure in the control chamber. Channels and vents in the pump can be opened and closed based on selective movement of the valve when the outlet pressure is at or above a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: STACKPOLE INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LTD.
    Inventor: Ralph Valkenberg
  • Publication number: 20160186623
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a pressure controlled valve moveable between first and at least second valve positions based on an output pressure of the pressurized lubricant delivered through the outlet. The pressure controlled valve provides an integrated fail safe function to the pump when an electrical valve fails. The pressure controlled valve is inactive in the first position for an output pressure below a threshold level, allowing an electrical valve (pulse width modulation (PWM) valve) to selectively control pressure in the control chamber under normal operation of the pump. In fail safe regulation mode, the electrical valve function is disabled and the pressure controlled valve is active in its second position, controlling pressure in the control chamber. Channels and vents in the pump can be opened and closed based on selective movement of the valve when the outlet pressure is at or above a threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Ralph Valkenberg
  • Publication number: 20160186752
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a pressure controlled valve moveable between first and at least second valve positions based on an output pressure of the pressurized lubricant delivered through the outlet. The pressure controlled valve provides an integrated fail safe function to the pump when an electrical valve fails. The pressure controlled valve is inactive in the first position for an output pressure below a threshold level, allowing an electrical valve (current, solenoid, pulse width modulation (PWM) valve) to selectively control pressure in the control chamber under normal operation of the pump. In fail safe regulation mode, the electrical valve function is disabled and the pressure controlled valve is active in its second position, controlling pressure in the control chamber. Channels and vents in the pump can be opened and closed based on selective movement of the valve when the outlet pressure is at or above a threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Ralph Valkenberg
  • Publication number: 20160069346
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump has a control slide displaceable within its housing and a first control chamber and a second control chamber for receiving pressurized lubricant. A thermally adjustable control valve is provided in the housing for adjusting pump displacement based on a temperature of the lubricant. In addition to fluid communication channels in the control chambers, at least one vent port is provided in the second chamber. The control valve is configured to control pressure and fluid communication between the chambers along with the control slide. The control valve can help reduce pump displacement at lower temperatures and low engine speeds. At lower temperatures, the second control chamber can be pressurized by the first control chamber. At higher temperatures, the second control chamber can be vented through the control valve and/or the vent port, despite the position of the control slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Manfred Arnold, Hans Peter Kutzer, Ralph Valkenberg