Fluid Motor Patents (Class 137/625.66)
  • Patent number: 11761461
    Abstract: A rotary servo valve comprising a housing portion (105) defining a cylindrical cavity (107) and a first layer of ports. The rotary servo valve further comprises two opposing indented sides and two opposing sides having an increased radius relative to the indented sides, each side of increased radius extending between the two indented sides. The spool portion (103) is mounted for rotation relative to the cylindrical cavity (107), from a neutral position so as to prevent fluid flow through the valve, to an open position in which a fluid flow path is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DOMIN FLUID POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Collins, Martin MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11428332
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve housing having a first port, a second port, and a third port. A valve member within the valve housing is moveable therein to alter fluid communication between the first and second ports. The valve housing includes a first annular groove such that a first sealing ring is provided in the first annular groove, thereby sealing the first port from the second port when installed in a receiving bore. The valve housing also includes a second annular groove such that a second sealing ring is provided in the second annular groove, thereby sealing the second port from the third port in the receiving bore. The valve housing also includes a first anti-tip flange extending radially outward to a greater extent than the first annular groove and a second anti-tip flange extending radially outward to a greater extent than the second annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Dinkel, Salvador Plascencia
  • Patent number: 11413202
    Abstract: A patient support, such as a mattress, includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. Depth sensors are included in the support that measure the degree of penetration of a patient into the mattress. An air pressure sensor is also included that measures the pressure inside at least one bladder. A suitable inflation level of the mattress is determined by monitoring the rate of change of the depth with respect to air pressure as the bladder is either inflated or deflated. By detecting an inflection point in the graphical relationship of the depth and pressure outputs, a suitable inflation point for the bladders is determined that reduces interface pressures experienced by the patient, yet does not overly sink the patient into the mattress to a degree of discomfort. Analyzing the outputs of the depth and pressure sensors can also be used to detect a patient's heart rate and respiration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Manikantan Seshadrinathan, Donna-Marie Robertson
  • Patent number: 11408446
    Abstract: There is provided a control module for a hydraulic system. The module comprises a tank and a plurality of valves. The tank is configured to store hydraulic fluid and is substantially cylindrical. The plurality of valves fluidly connect with the tank and are configured to control distribution of hydraulic fluid from the tank to one or more components of the system. The plurality of valves are spaced around a circumference of the tank. One or more passages fluidly connect the tank with at least one of the plurality of valves and/or a first of the plurality of valves with a second of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: MICROTECNICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giacomo Mezzino, Gianfranco Salvatoriello
  • Patent number: 10760596
    Abstract: A valve member having a supply pressure and a method of controlling the supply pressure in the valve member includes a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a controlled port. The valve member includes a spool moveable within the valve body to fluidly connect at least one of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet with the controlled port. The spool includes an end in fluid communication with a control pressure port and a pin received within the end of the spool that is moveable relative to the spool. Fluid flow through the control pressure port acts against a cross-sectional area of the pin and an annular area of the spool to modulate the supply pressure through the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Jarmo Antero Harsia, Germano Franzoni
  • Patent number: 10724555
    Abstract: A controller configured to improve response time on a valve assembly. The controller may have flow modifying structure that couples with a pair of pneumatic outputs, both pneumatically coupled with an actuator on the valve assembly. The flow modifying structure can be configured to convert incoming instrument air into a pair of independent, pneumatic output signals, at least one of which flows directly to the actuator. In one implementation, a volume booster may be used to increase pressure of the other pneumatic output signal upstream of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dresser, LLC
    Inventor: Harold George Watts
  • Patent number: 10711902
    Abstract: A valve element movement mechanism includes: a first valve stem having one end portion to which a first valve element to close and open an area between one of the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion is fixed; a second valve stem having one end portion to which a second valve element to close and open an area between the other of the large diameter portions and the small diameter portion is fixed; a first bellows having one end portion fixed to a first bellows flange and the other end portion fixed to the first valve element; a second bellows having one end portion fixed to a second bellows flange and the other end portion fixed to the second valve element; a frame disposed outside the main passage; and an actuator to move the frame in the directions in which valve elements are closed and opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tanikawa, Keisuke Ishibashi, Tadayuki Yakushijin, Michio Yamaji, Ryousuke Dohi, Yoshinori Shimomura, Takashi Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 10682273
    Abstract: A patient support, such as a mattress, includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. Depth sensors are included in the support that measure the degree of penetration of a patient into the mattress. An air pressure sensor is also included that measures the pressure inside at least one bladder. A suitable inflation level of the mattress is determined by monitoring the rate of change of the depth with respect to air pressure as the bladder is either inflated or deflated. By detecting an inflection point in the graphical relationship of the depth and pressure outputs, a suitable inflation point for the bladders is determined that reduces interface pressures experienced by the patient, yet does not overly sink the patient into the mattress to a degree of discomfort. Analyzing the outputs of the depth and pressure sensors can also be used to detect a patient's heart rate and respiration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Manikantan Seshadrinathan, Donna-Marie Robertson
  • Patent number: 10678276
    Abstract: A valve device for controlling a fluid flow includes a flow control valve (15) having a valve housing (19) with a supply connection (9) and a user connection (11). A valve piston (17) is guided inside the valve housing (19) longitudinally moveable and controls the passage to the user connection (11) by a thermocouple (61) via an orifice (37, 39) depending on the temperature of the fluid flow. A pressure compensator (21) is connected to the supply connection (9) and keeps the pressure drop across the orifice (37, 39) constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HYDAC FLUIDTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Baer, Josef Christian Schaefer, Ferdinand Friebe, Philipp Gandner, Maximilian Gehring, Philipp Linnebach
  • Patent number: 10634173
    Abstract: A filter band assembly for a solenoid-actuated valve includes a filter band adapted to be disposed about a valve body of the solenoid-actuated valve. The filter band has a first end at one end and a second end at another end. The filter band assembly also includes a separate bracket affixed to one of the first end and the second end and adapted to support the one of the first end and the second end on the valve body to allow the first end and the second end to be joined together in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Typinski, Kevin Schneider
  • Patent number: 10584798
    Abstract: In a seat component received in a receiving region of a first body of a body, one surface of a contacting portion and one surface of an engaging portion are planar and are flush with each other, and the other surface of the contacting portion and the other surface of the engaging portion are planar and are flush with each other. The engaging portion engages two portions of the first body, which form one opening of the receiving region, in a state where a distal end of the seat component reaches another opening of the receiving region. Furthermore, in the state where the engaging portion engages the portions of the first body, a second body of the body covers the one opening and contacts the engaging portion. Thereby, the engaging portion engages the three portions of the body, so that movement of the seat component is effectively limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hara, Yuki Ono, Makoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10520105
    Abstract: A spool valve, for a motor vehicle's automatic transmission, having a housing and an axially movable valve spool in a guide recess of the housing, including at least one radial inlet connection and one radial outlet connection spaced axially apart therefrom, and a working connection on the front face, at least one first control opening connected to the inlet connection and one second control opening spaced axially apart therefrom and connected to the outlet, and one third control opening situated axially between these two and connected to the working connection being present on the guide recess, the control openings being hydraulically cooperate-able with one first and second control section on the valve spool, and a connection channel extending axially in sections being in the housing, connecting the third control opening to the working connection. The housing includes a section made of plastic, in which the connection channel is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marcel Eszterle, Klaus Schudt
  • Patent number: 10173668
    Abstract: A controller determines a load weight associated with a plurality of pneumatically independent circuits of a vehicle suspension system. The controller is adapted to receive a first electronic pressure signal, which is based on a first pneumatic signal representative of a first pneumatic pressure in a first of the plurality of pneumatically independent circuits, and receive a second electronic pressure signal, which is based on a second pneumatic signal representative of a second pneumatic pressure in a second of the plurality of pneumatically independent circuits. The controller is also adapted to determine the load weight based on the first electronic pressure signal and the second electronic pressure signal. The controller is also adapted to control an operation of a function of an associated vehicle based on the load weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Macnamara, Jon D. Intagliata
  • Patent number: 9599238
    Abstract: A spool is disclosed for use in a valve. The spool may have an elongated cylindrical body with a first end and a second end. The spool may also have a first land formed at the first end, a second land axially spaced apart from the first land, and a check element located between the first and second lands. The check element may have an outer diameter that is about 0.5-1% greater than an outer diameter of the second land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Bryan A. Johnson, Hideki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9568090
    Abstract: A spool valve that has a hollow portion formed with an input port, a first output port, and a second output port, and a spool capable of sliding within the hollow portion and having a plurality of lands, the spool valve being configured to distribute output for input to the input port to the first output port and the second output port in accordance with a proportion of distribution that matches a position of the spool. An opening of the second output port is formed in such a shape that a width of the opening becomes gradually smaller in a direction of movement of the spool in which distribution of the output to the first output port is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kutsubo, Kazuki Kojima, Tetsuya Shimizu, Kenichi Tsuchida, Kazunori Ishikawa, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9494231
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply system of an automatic transmission may include a low-pressure oil pump generating low hydraulic pressure while being driven by an engine to exhaust the low hydraulic pressure to a first low-pressure channel, a high-pressure oil pump raising a portion of the hydraulic pressure in the first low-pressure channel to a high pressure while being driven by an electric motor to exhaust the hydraulic pressure to a first high-pressure channel, a low-pressure regulator valve controlling the hydraulic pressure while exhausting a portion of the hydraulic pressure to supply the controlled hydraulic pressure to a low-pressure part through a second low-pressure channel, and a high-pressure regulator valve controlling the hydraulic pressure while re-circulating a portion of the hydraulic pressure to the low-pressure part through single or two re-circulation channels according to the pressure to supply the controlled hydraulic pressure to a high-pressure part through the second high-pressure channe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyunjun Son, Sehwan Jo
  • Patent number: 9476516
    Abstract: An actuator for actuating a plunger of a valve is provided. The actuator has an inlet and includes first and second hollow caps. A main actuation assembly is provided between the caps. The main actuation assembly includes a deformable diaphragm; first and second chambers, static sealing elements and a main piston movable between actuated and unactuated positions. A biasing mechanism biases the piston in the unactuated position. When pressurized gas is flown through the inlet and/or drawn from the outlet of the actuator, the first chamber expands, moving the main piston from the unactuated position to the actuated position, an actuating stem connected to the main piston thereby sliding within a channel provided in the bottom cap. Stackable actuating assemblies can also be used between the caps. Using static sealing elements advantageously avoids friction between moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MECANIQUE ANALYTIQUE INC.
    Inventor: Yves Gamache
  • Patent number: 9468307
    Abstract: A patient support, such as a mattress, includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. Depth sensors are included in the support that measure the degree of penetration of a patient into the mattress. An air pressure sensor is also included that measures the pressure inside at least one bladder. A suitable inflation level of the mattress is determined by monitoring the rate of change of the depth with respect to air pressure as the bladder is either inflated or deflated. By detecting an inflection point in the graphical relationship of the depth and pressure outputs, a suitable inflation point for the bladders is determined that reduces interface pressures experienced by the patient, yet does not overly sink the patient into the mattress to a degree of discomfort. Analyzing the outputs of the depth and pressure sensors can also be used to detect a patient's heart rate and respiration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Manikantan Seshadrinathan, Donna-Marie Robertson
  • Patent number: 9456701
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling fluid communication between fluid chambers in a device such as an inflatable device includes a valve body having first and second ports for fluidly connecting to first and second fluid chambers, and defining a plurality of primary valve seats in series between the ports. A plurality of compound valves are within the valve body and each includes a primary valve member movable to close or open one of the primary valve seats, and a secondary valve member movable to close or open a secondary valve seat in the primary valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Aeris Technology LLC
    Inventor: Robert Eells
  • Patent number: 9242627
    Abstract: A valve assembly (110) having a housing (124) into which are provided a first port (112), a second port (114) and a third port (116), and in which are located a first movable member (126), a second movable member (132) and a third movable member (152), the first movable member (126) being movable between a first position which causes the second movable member (132) to close the first port (112) to prevent any substantial flow of fluid through the first port (112), whilst the second (114) and third (116) ports remain open, a second position which causes the third movable member (152) to close the third port (116) to prevent any substantial flow of fluid through the third port (116), whilst the first (112) and second (114) ports remain open and flow of fluid between the first (112) and the second (114) part is permitted, and a third position which causes the second movable member (132) to close the first port (112) and the third movable member (152) to close the third port (116) to prevent any substantial flow
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HALDEX BRAKE LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert David Prescott, Laurence John Potter, Edward Gilbert Shaw
  • Patent number: 9205822
    Abstract: A pressure regulator, including a housing; a piston axially movably disposed in the housing; a high-pressure chamber; a low-pressure chamber; a regulated-pressure chamber whose pressure biases the piston in a first direction in an axial direction of the housing; a first pilot chamber whose pressure biases the piston in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a second pilot chamber whose pressure biases the piston in the second direction; and a valve mechanism configured such that, by a movement of the piston in the second direction, communication between the regulated-pressure chamber and the high-pressure chamber is permitted while communication between the regulated-pressure chamber and the low-pressure chamber is shut off and such that, by a movement of the piston in the first direction, the communication between the regulated-pressure chamber and the high-pressure chamber is shut off while the communication between the regulated-pressure chamber and the low-pressure chamber is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Kiyoyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 9200721
    Abstract: In a fluid control valve, a valve part houses a diaphragm in a valve body including a valve seat, first and second ports, and a drive part includes a piston dividing a piston chamber in a cylinder body into first and second chambers, and a rubber sealing member attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piston. A constriction is provided between the piston chamber and the surface of the cylinder body contacting the valve body. The cylinder body is formed with an exhaust port communicating with the first chamber, an operation port communicating with the second chamber, and a purge port communicating with a fluid non-contact chamber. The piston is formed with a flow path which enables communication between the first chamber and the fluid non-contact chamber. Accordingly, a temperature increase of the drive part can be restricted, and degradation of internal parts can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michio Miyashita, Yukie Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9133941
    Abstract: Internal valve apparatus are described. An example internal valve includes a body having a valve seat disposed in a fluid flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet. A flow control member is operatively coupled to the body and movable between a first position to engage the valve seat to restrict fluid flow through the valve and a second position to move away from the valve seat to allow fluid flow through the valve. A removable actuator is coupled to the body and operatively coupled to the flow control member to cause the flow control member to move between the first and second positions. A portion of the removable actuator is cantilevered in the fluid flow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the removable actuator is coupled to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chun Lin, Tung Kim Nguyen, Roy Ronald Pelfrey
  • Patent number: 9109718
    Abstract: A poppet valve assembly is structured divided into a seat portion and a seat retaining portion. A spring is contained within an interior space between the seat portion and the seat retaining portion, where a poppet valve is held between the seat portion and the seat retaining portion in a state biased by the spring. The poppet valve is provided with a through hole for connecting a chamber that contains the spring and a discharge air duct of a spool, and a fine connecting duct for connecting the through hole and an output air pressure chamber. The chamber that contains the spring is separated from a supply air pressure chamber by an O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yohsuke Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9032986
    Abstract: A volume booster for a fluid flow control device comprises a supply path for supplying a fluid boost to facilitate actuation of an actuator in a first direction, and an exhaust path for enabling controlled exhaust to facilitate actuation of the actuator in a second direction. The supply path defines a supply resistance that is set by the geometry of a supply trim component. The exhaust path includes an exhaust resistance that is set by the geometry of an exhaust trim component. The supply and exhaust trim components are independently removable and replaceable with replacement components to customize the exhaust and supply resistances, and therefore, the exhaust and supply capacities for specific applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Michel K. Lovell, Kenneth W. Junk, Ryan J. Jwanouskos
  • Patent number: 9022072
    Abstract: A valve array includes a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid, a non-return valve and a seat valve that is actuatable so as to allow the fluid to flow out of the reservoir. The seat valve is configured as a pilot control valve connected to the reservoir such that, in an open condition of the seat valve, a smaller amount of the fluid flows out of the reservoir via the seat valve and a larger amount of the fluid flows out of the reservoir via the non-return valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Thomas Pippes
  • Patent number: 9010376
    Abstract: A relay includes a balance plug, a vent passage, and a flow passage. The first passage fluidly coupled to the balance plug and the vent passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Hal G. Watts
  • Patent number: 9004097
    Abstract: A spool valve includes a housing having a spring-enclosing portion and a spool-enclosing portion aligned along a longitudinal axis. A spool is mounted for reciprocal axial movement in the housing and a piston is fixed to one end of the spool. The spool-enclosing portion supports a stationary bushing having a bore receiving an opposite control end of the spool, the bushing formed with a first plurality of radially-oriented passages opening into an annular groove formed in the bore, the groove having sloped side edges. The spool supports plural ring-seals arranged to engage the sloped side edges of the annular groove and thereby seal off the radially-oriented passages when the spool is in a neutral position. Movement of the spool is adjustably limited in one direction and dampened in both axial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Robert D. Klein
  • Patent number: 8991427
    Abstract: A high pressure three-way control valve comprises a valve body defining first, second, and third ports disposed in selective fluid communication with each other via a control element. The control element is movable between a first seated position and a second seated position to selectively control the direction of fluid between the first and second port, or alternatively, between the first and third port. So configured, the control valve serves a function that conventionally requires two valves plumbed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Tescom Corporation
    Inventor: Todd W. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8973610
    Abstract: A pneumatic control valve includes a first valve body, a pushing block, a rotating block, a second valve body, an end cover, and a piston. The first valve body defines a first gas inlet and a receiving hole. The first valve body forms a plurality of guiding ribs evenly positioned on the inner surface of the receiving hole away from the first gas inlet, and each of the guiding ribs forms an inclined surface at a distal end thereof. The pushing block and the rotating block are slidably received in the receiving hole. The second valve body is connected to an end of the first valve body adjacent to the receiving hole of the first valve body. The end cover is fastened on an end of the second valve body away from the first valve body. A pneumatic control system using the pneumatic control valve is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai-Feng Ma, Xiao-Bing Xu
  • Patent number: 8960217
    Abstract: A spool is provided with a first discharge air duct connecting the first opening to the first discharge air chamber, and a second discharge air duct connecting the second opening to the second discharge air chamber, where the first discharge air duct and the second discharge air duct are divided by a non-duct part. A first output air pressure chamber is adjacent to a first discharge air chamber with a first diaphragm interposed therebetween, the first discharge air chamber is adjacent to a bias chamber with a second diaphragm interposed therebetween, the bias chamber is adjacent to an input air pressure chamber with a third diaphragm interposed therebetween, the input air pressure chamber is adjacent to a second discharge air chamber with a fourth diaphragm interposed therebetween, and the second discharge air chamber is adjacent to a second output air pressure chamber with a fifth diaphragm interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Yohsuke Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8944103
    Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump, a tank, a displacement actuator having first and second chambers, a regeneration valve, and a load-holding valve. The hydraulic system may also have a displacement control valve including a valve element, and a stationary cage portion at least partially forming a high-pressure passage fluidly connecting the pump and valve element, a low-pressure passage fluidly connecting the valve element and tank, a first displacement actuator passage fluidly connecting the valve element and first chamber, a second displacement actuator passage fluidly connecting the valve element and second chamber, a load-holding control passage fluidly connecting the valve element and load-holding valve, and a regeneration control passage fluidly connecting the valve element and regeneration valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Opdenbosch, Michael L. Knussman, Joshua Dierking
  • Patent number: 8931516
    Abstract: A pilot-controlled valve having a valve system switches a pressure medium flow between at least one working connection, a supply pressure connection and a ventilation connection, and includes at least one valve member of ceramic material operated rotationally/linearly by pilot control, at least one connecting channel is bringable into flow connection to the working connection, which, based on the valve member's position, produces a flow connection of the working connection to a first flow channel connected to the ventilation connection or to a second flow channel that is connected to the supply pressure connection, at least one section of the first and second flow channels being in at least one static valve body of ceramic material, at least the first flow channel is sealed from the second flow channel by at least one seal that is in a region outside a direct inflow by the pressure medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Woerner, Siegmund Deja
  • Patent number: 8925587
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a first piston with a smaller diameter and a second piston with a larger diameter that switch a spool between a first switching position at one end and a second switching position at the other end, and a return spring that moves the spool to a neutral switching position are provided, at the neutral switching position, some of a plurality of ports communicate with one another and remaining ports are closed; at the first switching position, the communication-and-closure relationship of the plurality of ports is the reverse of that in the neutral switching position; and at the second switching position, all the plurality of ports are closed, and when the spool is switched to the neutral switching position and the first switching position, only the first piston is operated, and when the spool is switched to the second switching position, the second piston is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Miyazoe, Katsuyuki Senba
  • Patent number: 8864245
    Abstract: A valve device is provided for a pneumatic brake system of a commercial vehicle and comprises a pilot piston, radial seals and at least one valve seat, which can be displaced in the direction of motion of the pilot piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfaurzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Schnittger, Oliver Kaupert, Mustafa Uslu
  • Patent number: 8851119
    Abstract: A control valve includes a signal pressure passage that transmits a pilot pressure of first and second pilot chambers as a signal pressure of another device, a connecting groove that is formed in a spool and connects the first pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage when the spool is in a neutral position, a connecting hole that is formed in the spool and connects the second pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage, and a check valve that is interposed in the connecting hole and permits a flow only from the second pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage. The connecting groove connects the first pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage when the pilot pressure is led into the first pilot chamber, and blocks communication between the first pilot chamber and the signal pressure passage when the pilot pressure is led into the second pilot chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Masayuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8813787
    Abstract: A valve rod is accommodated in a valve chest which is in communication with a plurality of ports, the valve rod has a round poppet valve disposed between a supply valve seat and a discharge valve seat, an annular protruding wall is formed on a side surface of the poppet valve, the protruding wall has a circumference surface including a cylindrical surface extending in parallel with an axial line of the valve chest and an inclined surface which enables the base end of the cylindrical surface to be smoothly continuous with the side surface of the poppet valve, and the cylindrical surface has a diameter smaller than that of the poppet valve and larger than that of a narrow portion of the valve rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Matsumura, Masanori Kaitsuka
  • Patent number: 8807168
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a trim cartridge, a diaphragm assembly, and a control element. The trim cartridge defines a cartridge supply port and an upper planar surface. The cartridge supply port is disposed along a supply path of the volume booster and the upper planar surface is disposed along an exhaust of the volume booster. The diaphragm assembly defines an exhaust port on the exhaust path. The control element is movably disposed in the trim cartridge and includes a supply plug, an exhaust plug, and a stem. The supply plug engages the cartridge supply port and the exhaust plug engages the exhaust port. The exhaust plug further includes a lower planar surface that is coplanar with the upper planar surface of the trim cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Michel K. Lovell
  • Patent number: 8695636
    Abstract: A one piece double membrane diaphragm including an upper (308) and lower diaphragm membrane (310) joined together by a central section (312) is provided. The upper diaphragm membrane (308) seals against a top sealing surface (222) when the diaphragm is in a first position. The lower diaphragm membrane (310) seals against a bottom sealing surface (224) when the diaphragm is in a second position. The diaphragm may also be made from a resilient material and shaped in such a way as to create a spring force holding the diaphragm into a default position in the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Norgren GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Kuhnle, Stefan Pfund
  • Patent number: 8689832
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device having a body having a inlet connection, an outlet connection, a discharge port and a booster module disposed within the body. The booster module including a control element and an actuator element having a noise-reducing trim element with a supply path extending between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. The noise-reducing trim element being coupled immediately adjacent to the discharge port such that the noise-reducing trim element distributes a fluid flow to the discharge port via the exhaust path into a plurality of fluid jets to substantially inhibit jet recombination at the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Michel K. Lovell
  • Patent number: 8678033
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary valve having a first valve member that may include at least one orifice, and which is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a second valve member that includes at least one orifice, and which is moveable relative to the first valve member between a first position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly disconnected from the at least one orifice of the first valve member, and a second position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly connected to the at least one orifice of the first valve member. The exemplary valve may also include first and second actuators for moving the first and second valve members between their respective first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Sorin C. Bengea, G. Clark Fortune, Thomas J. Stoltz, Benjamin Saltsman, Mihai Dorobantu, Subbaraya Radhamohan, Qinghui Yuan
  • Patent number: 8631826
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a body having an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a discharge port. A supply path extends between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and a booster module is disposed within the body. The booster module includes a control element and an actuator element and defines an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. A supply port is disposed within the booster module along the supply path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and at least a first damping means operatively connected to the booster module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Michel K. Lovell, Ryan J. Jwanouskos, Gary L. Scott, Kenneth W. Junk, Mark Stiehl
  • Publication number: 20130343939
    Abstract: A two-step hydraulic valve is described. In an implementation, a two-step hydraulic valve with retrograde spool action has a pilot spool that controls hydraulic force applied to a main spool to switch a rod of a hydraulic actuator back-and-forth between extension and retraction. The main spool is hydraulically driven in retrograde motion to the pilot spool, providing improved reliability and switching action for the valve. The pilot spool also has an overtravel feature that can be used to hyperextend the rod for various purposes. In an example system, the two-step hydraulic valve controls a hydraulic actuator connected to drive a submersible reciprocating pump, such as a diaphragm pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth John Stoddard, Cameron Snow Andersen, Garth L. Mason, Jared M. Mangum
  • Publication number: 20130319557
    Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HUNTING ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Frank Harold Hollister, Richard R. Watson, Dane Tipton
  • Patent number: 8590571
    Abstract: A latching valve system includes a housing, a supply port defined in the housing, a delivery port defined in the housing, an exhaust port defined in the housing, an apply port defined in the housing, and a release port defined in the housing. The apply port is sealingly fluidly isolated from the supply port, the delivery port, and the exhaust port. The release port is sealingly fluidly isolated from the supply port, the delivery port, and the exhaust port. An apply valve supplies an apply pilot pressure to the apply port as a function of a state of the apply valve. A release valve supplies a release pilot pressure to the release port as a function of a state of the release valve. A bore, defined in the housing, fluidly communicates with the supply port, the delivery port, the exhaust port, the apply port, and the release port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Thanh Ho
  • Patent number: 8528600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic valve comprising a body in which a bore is formed in order to receive a sleeve that includes sealing seats that cooperate with a wall of the bore to define hydraulically isolated chambers that are connected to hydraulic ports in the body, the sleeve including connection holes in order to connect at least certain chambers with the inside of the sleeve and receiving a movable element that is slidable between two end positions in order to slide in leaktight manner against an inside wall of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes at least one regulator hole that opens out inside the sleeve in such a manner as to be the first bore to be uncovered or the last bore to be blocked by one of the fitted portions of the movable element when said element slides from one position to another, said fitted portion having at least one face portion that presents a setback that passes over the regulator hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Xavier Jubert, Jérôme Fraval, Sébastien Meziane, Sébastien Ernis
  • Patent number: 8511346
    Abstract: A control valve for a device for variably setting control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The control valve has a valve housing, which is hollow, and at least one inflow connection, at least one exhaust connection, and at least two working connections; a hydraulic medium conduction insert disposed in the valve housing and implemented as hollow, having hydraulic medium conduction channels, which are disposed in the wall of the hydraulic medium conduction insert and communicate with the working connections; and a control piston, which is disposed in the hydraulic medium conduction insert. The hydraulic medium conduction insert has a guide sleeve, in which the control piston is guided. The guide sleeve has a plastic encapsulation, in which at least two of the hydraulic medium conduction channels are disposed, and a filter fabric is provided between the plastic encapsulation and the guide sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Scheidig, Ali Bayrakdar
  • Patent number: 8490640
    Abstract: A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hrudaya Mahapatro, Robert O. Burkhart, John Butwin
  • Patent number: 8474487
    Abstract: A latching valve includes a housing, a supply port, defined in the housing, which receives supply pressure, a delivery port defined in the housing, an exhaust port, defined in the housing, and an apply port defined in the housing. A housing bore fluidly communicates with the supply port, the delivery port, the exhaust port, and the apply port fluidly. A shuttle is sealingly and movably secured in the housing bore. The shuttle is alternately set to one of an apply position and a release position as a function of sequential pilot pressures at the apply port acting on the shuttle, and as a function of the supply pressure acting on one of an apply pair of sealed seats with different diameters in the housing bore and a release pair of sealed seats with different diameters in the housing bore. The delivery port fluidly communicates with the supply port while the shuttle is in the apply position. The delivery port fluidly communicates with the exhaust port while the shuttle is in the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle System LLC
    Inventor: Thanh Ho
  • Patent number: 8464757
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve device includes a fluid connection arrangement (10) having different connections and a mobile control (18) for at least partially controlling connections of the fluid connection arrangement (10). The control (18) is provided with load reporting and load detecting connections (32, 38; 34, 36). According to the displacement position of the control (18), at least one part of the connections of the fluid connection arrangement (10) are interconnected in a fluid-guiding manner. The control can then be brought with precision into the required functional positions, with a favorable dynamic driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Winfried Rüb