Patents by Inventor Robert Brian Knepple
Robert Brian Knepple 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: 11339917Abstract: A pedestal is provided having a telescoping column and an integrated master/slave actuator unit for a telescoping column of a pedestal-mounted support structure such as a surgical bucket, storage container, receptacle, utility tray, work surface, seat, equipment or automotive service rack, or other platform. The telescoping column preferably is vertically extendible and retractable by an actuator unit, which preferably is manually-actuated such as by being foot-actuated and vertically extendable to raise and lower the platform. The actuator unit is operated by an actuator pedal or other drive unit through an actuator stroke, which causes the column to raise and lower through a lift stroke. The actuator stroke is smaller than the lift stroke so that a small movement, such as by downward movement of the user's foot, allows the column to rise through an extended distance, i.e. the lift stroke.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Depatie Fluid Power Co.Inventors: Robert Brian Knepple, Adam Edward Jeffrey, Chad Conway Souke
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Publication number: 20210048142Abstract: A pedestal is provided having a telescoping column and an integrated master/slave actuator unit for a telescoping column of a pedestal-mounted support structure such as a surgical bucket, storage container, receptacle, utility tray, work surface, seat, equipment or automotive service rack, or other platform. The telescoping column preferably is vertically extendible and retractable by an actuator unit, which preferably is manually-actuated such as by being foot-actuated and vertically extendable to raise and lower the platform. The actuator unit is operated by an actuator pedal or other drive unit through an actuator stroke, which causes the column to raise and lower through a lift stroke. The actuator stroke is smaller than the lift stroke so that a small movement, such as by downward movement of the user's foot, allows the column to rise through an extended distance, i.e. the lift stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Robert Brian Knepple, Adam Edward Jeffrey, Chad Conway Souke
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Patent number: 10870320Abstract: A novel valve that may include a self-energizing seal member with a lobe extending toward a valve seat surface, a radially outwardly extending skirt, an axially extending nose, solenoid-operated three-position valve member, a pressure sense port, and/or a pressure pick-up opening. The features of the valve may allow the valve to operate at higher flow rates while requiring less energy to operate, may have a wider pressure and/or temperature operation range, may allow bidirectional fluid flow, may be less expensive to manufacture, and/or may enable a simple and compact assembly of the valve with a pressure sensor. The self-energizing seal member may include a base portion and the lobe extending may extend at an angle from the base portion relative to a longitudinal axis. The lobe may reduce energy requirements to operate the valve compared to larger sealing contact area seals. For example, the lobe may have a small sealing area to allow the valve to be better balanced.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventors: Yufeng Qi, Robert Brian Knepple, Leonard Joseph Jabcon
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Publication number: 20190329603Abstract: A novel valve that may include a self-energizing seal member with a lobe extending toward a valve seat surface, a radially outwardly extending skirt, an axially extending nose, solenoid-operated three-position valve member, a pressure sense port, and/or a pressure pick-up opening. The features of the valve may allow the valve to operate at higher flow rates while requiring less energy to operate, may have a wider pressure and/or temperature operation range, may allow bidirectional fluid flow, may be less expensive to manufacture, and/or may enable a simple and compact assembly of the valve with a pressure sensor. The self-energizing seal member may include a base portion and the lobe extending may extend at an angle from the base portion relative to a longitudinal axis. The lobe may reduce energy requirements to operate the valve compared to larger sealing contact area seals. For example, the lobe may have a small sealing area to allow the valve to be better balanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Yufeng Qi, Robert Brian Knepple, Leonard Joseph Jabcon
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Patent number: 10131192Abstract: A central tire inflation/deflation system (CTIS) with a novel valve that may deflate more quickly and may deflate to a lower pressure than the previously known central tire inflation/deflation system valves. Also, the present valve may not be temperature sensitive, at least because the present valve does not require trapped air behind a diaphragm to operate the valve. The present valve may be placed into existing CTIS's in place of existing valves, without modifying pneumatic lines of the existing CTIS's. Thus, the present valve may be operated by a single fluid flow line, receive pressure from the single fluid flow line, and exhaust to the single fluid flow line. A second communication line, either a pneumatic pilot line or an electrical line, is not necessary, which allows the present valve to be retrofit into an existing CTIS without adding weight or complication from additional components.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventors: Leonard Joseph Jabcon, Robert Brian Knepple, James Alden Beverly, Stephen P. Claussen
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Publication number: 20170299077Abstract: A central tire inflation/deflation system (CTIS) with a novel valve that may deflate more quickly and may deflate to a lower pressure than the previously known central tire inflation/deflation system valves. Also, the present valve may not be temperature sensitive, at least because the present valve does not require trapped air behind a diaphragm to operate the valve. The present valve may be placed into existing CTIS's in place of existing valves, without modifying pneumatic lines of the existing CTIS's. Thus, the present valve may be operated by a single fluid flow line, receive pressure from the single fluid flow line, and exhaust to the single fluid flow line. A second communication line, either a pneumatic pilot line or an electrical line, is not necessary, which allows the present valve to be retrofit into an existing CTIS without adding weight or complication from additional components.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2015Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: Parker-Hannifin CorporationInventors: Leonard Joseph Jabcon, Robert Brian Knepple, James Alden Beverly, Stephen P. Claussen
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Patent number: 8528597Abstract: An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts when heated. One portion of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body, and another portion of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. The actuator further includes a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the second body. The magnetic force acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts, and further decouples the second body from the shape memory wire when applying the magnetic force to the second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Humphrey Products CompanyInventors: Mark William Friedman, Robert Brian Knepple
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Publication number: 20090065721Abstract: An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts when heated. One portion of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body, and another portion of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. The actuator further includes a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the second body. The magnetic force acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts, and further decouples the second body from the shape memory wire when applying the magnetic force to the second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: HUMPHREY PRODUCTS COMPANYInventors: Mark William Friedman, Robert Brian Knepple
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Patent number: 7448411Abstract: An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts upon heating, and a magnetic field. One end of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body. The other end of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated, the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. A magnetic field generates a magnetic force on the second body, which acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts to thereby reduce the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position. The actuator may be used, for example, to move the valve stem in a valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Humphrey Products CompanyInventors: Mark William Friedman, Robert Brian Knepple
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Publication number: 20070228309Abstract: An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts upon heating, and a magnetic field. One end of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body. The other end of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated, the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. A magnetic field generates a magnetic force on the second body, which acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts to thereby reduce the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position. The actuator may be used, for example, to move the valve stem in a valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Mark William Friedman, Robert Brian Knepple