Patents by Inventor Robert Dean Keller
Robert Dean Keller 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: 9157542Abstract: A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
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Patent number: 8844561Abstract: An isolation valve has an electrically-actuated solenoid valve, at least one port having a port extension, and a sensor assembly coupled to the port extension. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit disposed on the circuit board, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to the port extension to measure a vapor pressure in the port extension. In one embodiment, a single sensor assembly can monitor pressure at two or more ports. By integrating the sensor assembly into the isolation valve, the valve has a compact assembly that is easy to install in a vapor control system.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: 8839767Abstract: A valve assembly is provided that can perform an overpressure relief function to vent fluid from a first component, such as to vent fuel vapor from a fuel tank, to a second component, such as a carbon canister, without being affected by the vapor pressure in the vent line to the second component. That is, the valve opens to provide pressure relief when needed regardless of the vapor pressure against which it opens. The valve assembly may also include a solenoid that is controllable to allow fluid flow separately from the movement in response to vapor pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: Robert Dean Keller
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Patent number: 8823390Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of a solenoid valve having an armature and a poppet coupled to the armature includes the steps of energizing a coil in the valve to generate a current signature reflecting current vs. time, detecting a first inflection point in the current signature, wherein the first inflection point occurs when the armature starts to move from one of the open and closed positions toward the other of the open and closed positions, and detecting a second inflection point in the current signature. The second inflection point occurs when the armature moves completely to the other of the open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the first inflection point indicates when the valve begins to open, making it possible to accurately determine the elapsed opening time of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Steven Lee Ambrose, Eric Otis Barrows
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Patent number: 8656873Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
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Publication number: 20130000574Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
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Patent number: 8316888Abstract: A hydraulic control valve is provided having a solenoid body, an energizable coil, and an armature positioned adjacent the coil. A valve stem extends from the armature. The coil is energizable to move the armature and the valve stem from a first position to a second position. The valve body, the armature and the valve stem are configured so that the armature and the valve stem are biased to the first position by pressurized fluid, allowing the armature to operate without a biasing spring.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
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Patent number: 8302570Abstract: An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert John Boychuk, Leo Joseph Buresh, III
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Patent number: 8230729Abstract: A fluid condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, and an armature surrounded by the coil. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber in which the armature is movable in response to energizing of the coil. The sensor is mounted to a reservoir such that a first portion of the solenoid body extends into a cavity defined by the reservoir, and so that movement of the armature is substantially transverse to a direction of fluid level change in the reservoir. The first portion of the solenoid body defines an opening permitting fluid communication between the cavity and the armature chamber, such that fluid enters and is displaced from the armature chamber through the opening as the armature moves, movement of the armature within the armature chamber thereby being affected by fluid level in the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Gerrit VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
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Patent number: 8196466Abstract: A sensor for measuring fluid level is provided that includes a float, which may be steel or another material that affects magnetic flux. The sensor further includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the float. The housing may be, but need not be, tubular, and the cavity may be cylindrical. At least one magnetic coil is wound to the housing along the cavity. The coil may be wound around the housing. The float is positionable in the fluid to move within the cavity in relation to fluid level.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Gerritt VanVranken Beneker, Robert Dean Keller
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Publication number: 20120024265Abstract: A valve assembly is provided that can perform an overpressure relief function to vent fluid from a first component, such as to vent fuel vapor from a fuel tank, to a second component, such as a carbon canister, without being affected by the vapor pressure in the vent line to the second component. That is, the valve opens to provide pressure relief when needed regardless of the vapor pressure against which it opens. The valve assembly may also include a solenoid that is controllable to allow fluid flow separately from the movement in response to vapor pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: Eaton CorporationInventor: Robert Dean Keller
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Publication number: 20110284781Abstract: An isolation valve has an electrically-actuated solenoid valve, at least one port having a port extension, and a sensor assembly coupled to the port extension. The sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit disposed on the circuit board, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to the port extension to measure a vapor pressure in the port extension. In one embodiment, a single sensor assembly can monitor pressure at two or more ports. By integrating the sensor assembly into the isolation valve, the valve has a compact assembly that is easy to install in a vapor control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: 7921703Abstract: An oil condition and level sensor is provided that includes a solenoid body, a coil, an armature and a pole piece. The solenoid body defines an armature chamber between the armature and the pole piece. The armature is movable in the armature chamber in response to energizing of the coil. In an oil condition sensing system, the coil is operatively connected to a controller which can determine at least one of an oil temperature, oil viscosity, oil level, and an oil change occurrence. In one embodiment, four oil levels, including an overfill oil level and an excessively low oil level may be detected. The sensor is referred to as an integrated oil condition and level sensor as multiple sensing functions are integrated into one sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Dean Keller, Gerrit VanVranken Beneker
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Patent number: D706389Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D706390Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D728746Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D728747Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D747784Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D750746Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
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Patent number: D829304Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Mills, Ronald Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer