Patents by Inventor William Norbert O'Neill
William Norbert O'Neill 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: 11053958Abstract: A regeneration valve includes a housing defining a first port, a second port, a third port, and a chamber fluidly communicating with the first, second, and third ports. The chamber has a valve element movable between a first position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the first port, and a second position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the third port. A resilient member biases the valve element towards the first position. In operation, a flow restrictor element moves between the first port and the second port for restricting fluid flow from the second port to the first port. At a predetermined flow rate between the second port and the first port, if a supply pressure of fluid at the actuation chamber exceeds the bias of the resilient member, the valve element moves to the second position for fluidly communicating the second and third ports.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Patent number: 10858806Abstract: A control module for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator that is associated with an earthmoving machine includes a body. The body has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway associated with the spool chamber. The body also has a spool positioned axially, and at least partially, within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap located at a first end of the body. The body also has a pair of electrohydraulic spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The body also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, Jr., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Publication number: 20200299932Abstract: A regeneration valve includes a housing defining a first port, a second port, a third port, and a chamber fluidly communicating with the first, second, and third ports. The chamber has a valve element movable between a first position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the first port, and a second position, in which the second port fluidly communicates with the third port. A resilient member biases the valve element towards the first position. In operation, a flow restrictor element moves between the first port and the second port for restricting fluid flow from the second port to the first port. At a predetermined flow rate between the second port and the first port, if a supply pressure of fluid at the actuation chamber exceeds the bias of the resilient member, the valve element moves to the second position for fluidly communicating the second and third ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, JR., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Publication number: 20200291611Abstract: A control module for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator that is associated with an earthmoving machine includes a body. The body has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway associated with the spool chamber. The body also has a spool positioned axially, and at least partially, within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap located at a first end of the body. The body also has a pair of electrohydraulic spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and. operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The body also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Ferraz, JR., Michael Thomas Jackson, William Norbert O'Neill
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Patent number: 10745885Abstract: A system for operating a circle drive gear of a machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, an implement control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bi-directional hydraulic motor located downstream of the implement control valve and fluidly coupled to the implement control valve via a first delivery line and a second delivery line. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotatively driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. A brake is disposed on the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and engages with the output shaft with the help of a spring force for reducing a rotational speed of the output shaft in a brake engage state. The brake operatively disengages from the output shaft in a brake release state with the help of fluid pressure in at least one of the first delivery line and the second delivery line.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ernest Everett Stoops, William Norbert O'Neill, Bruce Raymond Vahling
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Publication number: 20190186101Abstract: A system for operating a circle drive gear of a machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, an implement control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bi-directional hydraulic motor located downstream of the implement control valve and fluidly coupled to the implement control valve via a first delivery line and a second delivery line. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotatively driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. A brake is disposed on the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and engages with the output shaft with the help of a spring force for reducing a rotational speed of the output shaft in a brake engage state. The brake operatively disengages from the output shaft in a brake release state with the help of fluid pressure in at least one of the first delivery line and the second delivery line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ernest Everett Stoops, William Norbert O'Neill, Bruce Raymond Vahling
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Patent number: 10267019Abstract: A hydraulic system and method of controlling such on a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may comprise a primary hydraulic circuit that includes a first load sense controlled pump, a secondary hydraulic circuit that includes a second load sense controlled pump, a flow sharing valve, and a load sense arrangement. The load sense arrangement may include a main resolver configured to select a higher pressure signal between the primary and secondary hydraulic circuits, and a load sense valve having an open position at which pressure signal flow between the primary hydraulic circuit and the main resolver is allowed, and a closed position at which pressure signal flow between the primary hydraulic circuit and the main resolver is blocked. In an embodiment, when the load sense valve is in the closed position, the second load sense controlled pump may be controlled only by the secondary hydraulic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Norbert O'Neill, Michael Thomas Jackson
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Publication number: 20170145660Abstract: A hydraulic system and method of controlling such on a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may comprise a primary hydraulic circuit that includes a first load sense controlled pump, a secondary hydraulic circuit that includes a second load sense controlled pump, a flow sharing valve, and a load sense arrangement. The load sense arrangement may include a main resolver configured to select a higher pressure signal between the primary and secondary hydraulic circuits, and a load sense valve having an open position at which pressure signal flow between the primary hydraulic circuit and the main resolver is allowed, and a closed position at which pressure signal flow between the primary hydraulic circuit and the main resolver is blocked. In an embodiment, when the load sense valve is in the closed position, the second load sense controlled pump may be controlled only by the secondary hydraulic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: William Norbert O'Neill, Michael Thomas Jackson