Patents by Inventor Ward Opdekamp

Ward Opdekamp 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).

  • Multi-tuneable degressive valve
    Patent number: 9080629
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston disposed within a pressure tube. A valve assembly is attached to the piston. The valve assembly defines a first fluid flow through an always open fluid passage; a second fluid flow due to elastic deformation of a valve disc of the piston assembly; and a third fluid flow due to movement of the entire valve disc away from the piston. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is designed to be pre-assembled at an off-line and/or off-site location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Gert Mangelschots, Ward Opdekamp, Werner Bosmans
  • MULTI-TUNEABLE DEGRESSIVE VALVE
    Publication number: 20140069753
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston disposed within a pressure tube. A valve assembly is attached to the piston. The valve assembly defines a first fluid flow through an always open fluid passage; a second fluid flow due to elastic deformation of a valve disc of the piston assembly; and a third fluid flow due to movement of the entire valve disc away from the piston. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is designed to be pre-assembled at an off-line and/or off-site location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC
    Inventors: M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Gert Mangelschots, Ward Opdekamp, Werner Bosmans
  • SHOCK ABSORBER WITH FOUR CHAMBERS
    Publication number: 20130319804
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a first pressure tube and a second pressure tube. A first piston is disposed within the first pressure tube and a second piston is disposed within the second pressure tube. Movement of the first and second pistons within their respective pressure tubes control both damping characteristics for the shock absorber and stiffness for the shock absorber. Valving in the pistons and/or external valving associated with each pressure tube generates both the damping characteristics and the stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kristoff Six, Peter Boon, Jan Soeffers, Ward Opdekamp, Gert Mangelschots