Solids From Liquid Separator Patents (Class 60/454)
  • Patent number: 10626577
    Abstract: Hydraulic equipment of the type that can be fixed to a moving arm of an operating machine. The equipment has a support structure connected or connectable to a moving arm of an operating machine, at least one hydraulic motor for the rotation of a working element, a feed pipe connected or connectable to a hydraulic circuit of the supporting operating machine to supply a flow of working fluid to the hydraulic motor, and a drainage unit for the drainage of working fluid from the hydraulic motor. The equipment may optionally include a pressure detector in the drainage unit and a shut-off valve operationally associated with the pressure detector in such a way as to interrupt the flow of working fluid to the hydraulic motor when predetermined pressure conditions are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MECCANICA BREGANZESE S.P.A. IN BREVE MB S.P.A.
    Inventors: Diego Azzolin, Guido Azzolin
  • Patent number: 10352761
    Abstract: A piezo-actuated valve, system, and method of exciting gas turbine turbomachinery are provided. The piezo-actuated valve includes a valve body extending along a first axis between a first and second end, the valve body defining a first opening near the first end, a second opening near the second end, a third opening centrally located on the valve body, and a valve cavity between the first opening and the second opening, a tube connected to the third opening and extending from the valve body along a second axis transverse to the first axis, a shuttle valve assembly slidably disposed within the valve body, wherein the shuttle valve slides between the first end to a first stopper and the second end to a second stopper, a first piezo injector having an injector tip extending through the first opening, and a second piezo injector having an injector tip extending through the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keven G. Van Duyn, Todd M. Currier
  • Patent number: 10119560
    Abstract: An axle assembly can include a housing defining a reservoir and cylindrical bore open thereto. A clutch can selectively transmit torque between input and output members. A first inlet/outlet of a pump can be in fluid communication with the reservoir and define first threads coaxial with the cylindrical bore. The pump can be configured to pump fluid from the first inlet/outlet to an actuator of the clutch via a second inlet/outlet. The filter can include a base, port, and filter element. The port can define second threads that threadably engage the first threads. The base can be fixedly coupled to the port and include a cylindrical wall coaxial with the second threads. A seal member can form a seal between the cylindrical wall and the cylindrical bore when the first and second threads are engaged. The filter element can be disposed between the reservoir and the first inlet/outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 9321479
    Abstract: A power steering waste heat recovery system for a vehicle and method of operating is disclosed. The system may include a power steering system and a waste heat absorption system. The power steering system may include a power steering pump, a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger located downstream of the power steering pump and configured to allow power steering fluid flow therethrough, and a steering rack operatively engaging the heat exchanger to receive the power steering fluid therefrom. The waste heat absorption system may include an auxiliary heater loop configured to direct a liquid through the heat exchanger; and an automatically controllable heat control valve having an inlet, a first outlet for directing the liquid to bypass the auxiliary heater loop, and a second outlet for directing the liquid through the heat exchanger in the auxiliary heater loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mukund S. Wankhede, Lee E. Krispin
  • Patent number: 8991422
    Abstract: A diffuser assembly for a hydraulic reservoir is disclosed. The diffuser assembly includes an inlet tube for connection to the inlet to the reservoir. A middle portion of the middle tube is connected to a plurality of diffusers. The diffusers are disposed at an angle with respect to an axis of the inlet tube and the axis of the inlet to the reservoir so that fluid flowing into the reservoir must change flow directions for entering and exiting the diffusers. The disclosed diffuser assembly is less prone to damaged cause by fluid flow spikes and is particularly useful for high flow/high pressure applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno Lawrence Risatti
  • Patent number: 8857171
    Abstract: An integrated hydrostatic transmission including a reservoir housing having at least two openings, wherein a pre-assembled motor module can be received in one of the openings for closing the opening, and a cover can be attached to the other opening for closing the opening. As a result, the motor can be mounted at a left or right side opening depending on which side of a zero-turn-radius mower or other vehicle the transmission is being mounted, and because the transmission is modular, the design provides for ease of service of both the hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Herman Simon
  • Patent number: 8689548
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a hydraulic pressure generating device, a first hydraulically operated device, a second hydraulically operated device, a common oil channel, a first bifurcated oil channel, a second bifurcated oil channel, and an oil state detector. The first hydraulically operated device is configured to be operated by liquid supplied from the hydraulic pressure generating device. The second hydraulically operated device is configured to be operated by liquid supplied from the hydraulic pressure generating device. The common oil channel is connected to the hydraulic pressure generating device. The first bifurcated oil channel connects the common oil channel and the first hydraulically operated device. The second bifurcated oil channel connects the common oil channel and the second hydraulically operated device. The oil state detector is provided in the common oil channel and configured to detect the state of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8549852
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil tank has a housing, a connecting member and a filtering device. The housing includes a main body, a storage compartment and a first through hole. The storage compartment is formed within the main body for containing a the hydraulic oil, and the first through hole is formed through the main body. The connecting member is disposed on the main body and covering the first through hole, the connecting member including a contact face having a planar shape. The filtering device is disposed within the storage compartment. The filtering device is connected to a part of the contact face exposed within the first through hole. The filtering device includes an overlapped portion overlapping with an inner edge of the first through hole in a plan view of the first through hole seen from inside of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Saeki, Tatsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 8220257
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus includes a first housing having a plurality of cooling fins, an axle rotatably mounted in the first housing, a hydraulic stepless speed change assembly disposed within the first housing. The axle driving apparatus also includes a second housing having a plurality of cooling fins, an axle rotatably mounted in the second housing, a hydraulic stepless speed change assembly disposed within the second housing. A connecting means, such as a bar and/or plate connects the first and second housings. The plurality of cooling fins on the first housing has a different configuration that the plurality of cooling fins on the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Iida, Fumitoshi Ishino, Manabu Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8182674
    Abstract: The device (100) serves to separate solid particles from the water of a flow (E) feeding a hydraulic machine of the turbine, pump, or turbine-pump type. The device has flow inlet and outlet zones (104, 105) for the flow that are spaced apart along an advance axis (X100) of flow advance through the device (100). The device (100) comprises a plurality of ducts (110) placed in parallel, each having a mouth and a downstream end between the inlet zone (104) and the outlet zone (105). In section perpendicular to the advance axis (X100), each duct presents a section in the form of a spiral with a radius of curvature that increases from the mouth towards the downstream end or from the downstream end towards the mouth, with each duct (110) presenting a thickness measured in a generally radial direction relative to the advance axis that is less than 10% of the width (l110) of said duct, measured parallel to said axis (X100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Hydro France
    Inventor: Serge Prigent
  • Patent number: 8042332
    Abstract: An axle driving device includes a hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor which are in fluid communication with one another through a closed circuit within a center section of the HST, an axle capable of being driven by driving power of various speeds from the HST, a common housing which houses the HST and the axle, wherein the center section is provided with an oil hole for supplying a working fluid to the closed circuit, the oil hole is connected to an oil filter placed in an oil reservoir within the housing, and a magnet provided near the oil filter, wherein a magnet holding portion for holding the magnet is formed integrally with the center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Ishino, Masaru Iida
  • Patent number: 7992385
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device includes an oil pan; an oil pump; a strainer; a pressure regulating valve; an oil cooler; a cooler bypass valve with an input port that is connected with a cooler supply oil passage through which the hydraulic oil to be supplied to the oil cooler flows, wherein the input port is communicatively connected with an output port when the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil within the cooler supply oil passage is equal to or greater than a predetermined valve opening pressure; and a cooler bypass oil passage that connects the output port of the cooler bypass valve with an intake oil passage between the strainer and the intake port of the oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Akira Noguchi, Kazuyuki Noda, Masaki Yoshida, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Iwase, Takuma Kakinami
  • Patent number: 7926266
    Abstract: A cylinder block brake for a hydrostatic transmission or transaxle is provided. A braking member is located in a housing adjacent to a motor cylinder block and has a first position where it is not engaged to the motor cylinder block and a second, braking position where it is engaged to the motor cylinder block. A brake actuation shaft is located in the housing and has a cam portion located along its longitudinal axis. The cam portion is positioned to engage the braking member so that rotation of the brake actuation shaft moves the braking member between the engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Craig Wigness, Thomas J. Langenfeld, Shane A. Deters
  • Patent number: 7856818
    Abstract: A compressor having a discharge chamber into which compressed refrigerant gas is discharged, a discharge passage connected to the discharge chamber, an oil separation device that centrifugally separate oil from the refrigerant gas, an oil reservoir chamber that communicates with a separation chamber through an oil passage and retains the oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a filter provided between the separation chamber and the oil passage is disclosed. The oil reservoir chamber communicates with a low pressure zone in the compressor the pressure of which is lower than the pressure in the discharge chamber. The oil reservoir chamber thus supplies the separated oil to the low pressure zone. The oil separation device is arranged in the discharge passage in such a manner as to define the separation chamber. The oil separation device centrifugally separate the oil from the refrigerant gas by causing swirling of the refrigerant gas that has been sent to the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Akinobu Kanai, Osamu Nakayama, Naoki Koeda
  • Patent number: 7739870
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes a fixed displacement pump operable to produce a high pressure flow and a fixed displacement motor. A fluid flow path is disposed between the pump and the motor. The fluid flow path is integrated into a housing containing at least one of the pump and the motor. A single control valve controls the direction and the speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Carlson, Thomas D. Blum, Tandrea Lea Sperfslage
  • Publication number: 20100097038
    Abstract: Electronic control for a hydraulic system to drive an auxiliary power source is provided, with an application as a system for controlling the operation of a hydraulically driven AC generator. The system includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor drivably connected to the generator, and a fluid circuit for circulating fluid from the pump to the motor and back. The feedback circuit contains a feedback conduit to feedback the motor. The system also includes a proportional servo control valve assembly for controlling the fluid conduits and a control circuit for controlling the control valve assembly to thereby control the flow of fluid to the motor. Sensors for measuring the operating parameters of the system and an operator interface module are both able to influence the operation of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: NARTRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mario P. Boisvert, Thomas Kienitz, John M. Washeleski
  • Patent number: 7690198
    Abstract: A drivetrain for use in a mobile vehicle is disclosed. The drivetrain may have a housing, a first hydraulic pump connected to the housing, and a second hydraulic pump connected to the housing. The second hydraulic pump may be in axial alignment with the first hydraulic pump. The drivetrain may also have a first motor fluidly connected to the first hydraulic pump, and a second motor fluidly connected to the second hydraulic pump. The first and second motors may have an axial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial alignment of the first and second hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Paul Alan Rousseau, Justin Douglas Speichinger
  • Patent number: 7654083
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus includes a first housing having a plurality of cooling fins, an axle rotatably mounted in the first housing, a hydraulic stepless speed change assembly disposed within the first housing. The axle driving apparatus also includes a second housing having a plurality of cooling fins, an axle rotatably mounted in the second housing, a hydraulic stepless speed change assembly disposed within the second housing. A connecting means, such as a bar and/or plate connects the first and second housings. The plurality of cooling fins on the first housing has a different configuration that the plurality of cooling fins on the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Iida, Fumitoshi Ishino, Manabu Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7487636
    Abstract: In a hydraulic drive apparatus such as a transaxle, a rotatable hydraulic pump and rotatable hydraulic motor are disposed in a housing forming a sump. A hydraulic mounting member such as a center section is disposed in the sump and includes a pump mounting surface for the pump and a motor mounting surface for the motor, with hydraulic porting formed in the center section for connecting the mounting surfaces. The center section includes a channel formed on an external surface thereof, and at least one of the housing members is engaged to the center section to close the channel and form a fluid passage in the center section. This engagement is either direct, such as through sealant, or indirect through a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Craig Wigness, Thomas J. Langenfeld, Shane A. Deters
  • Patent number: 7441406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid circuit for load displacement, having a fluid supply line for conveying fluid from a fluid tank by means of a fluid pump to at least one fluid store of a consumer, and having a fluid return line, through which fluid can be returned, driven by the consumer, from the store to the tank, a valve being provided in the fluid supply line which allows a fluid supply flow to pass through from the tank to the store and blocks a fluid return flow from the store to the tank, the fluid circuit also comprising at least one switchable valve which can be switched between a return flow passage position and a return flow blocking position, and being distinguished by the fact that the switchable valve is in that section of the fluid return line which is separate from the fluid supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Konrad Stingl
  • Patent number: 7354511
    Abstract: A hydraulic unit for industrial trucks, comprising a motor pump unit which is directly attached to a tank, a reflux filter which has an elongate filter casing for a filtering element adapted to be introduced into the tank through an opening, a hose coupling, and an outlet opening, wherein the filtering element is disposed in the flow path between the hose coupling and the outlet opening, a reflux hose between the motor pump unit and the hose coupling, and a closure for the reflux filter, wherein the reflux hose extends within the tank and the hose coupling is disposed within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Jungheiurich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marion Becker
  • Patent number: 7343740
    Abstract: A filter-integrated orifice element is provided which can reduce manufacturing costs and assembling costs in a hydraulic circuit for which size reduction is desirable. A filter-integrated orifice element is obtained by integrating a filter for removing an obstacle which could block an orifice with an orifice member. The filter-integrated orifice element may be used in a slow return valve in a hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitake Sakai, Osamu Sato
  • Patent number: 7331176
    Abstract: With regard to a transaxle comprising a housing, which houses a hydrostatic stepless transmission constructed by fluidly connecting a hydraulic pump with a hydraulic motor and an axle drivingly connected to the transmission, the housing is constructed by detachably joining a first housing element with a second housing element through a joint surface in parallel to the lengthwise direction of the axle, a counter shaft, drivingly interposed between the hydrostatic stepless transmission and the axle in the housing, is located its axis in the first housing element, a leg member is engaged with the first housing element, and one of ends of the leg member is engaged with a part of the counter shaft, and the other end of the leg member is engaged with the second housing element so as not to be movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: Kanzaki Koyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumoto Mizukawa, Masaru Iida, Donald Wieber
  • Patent number: 7290389
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive system (11) of the type including a hydrostatic pump-motor unit (35) having a pumping mode in which the unit pressurizes, from its port (A), a high pressure accumulator (41), and a motoring mode, in which the unit is driven by pressurized fluid from the high pressure accumulator. The system also includes a low pressure accumulator (39) in communication with the opposite port (B) of the pump-motor unit (35), and a filter circuit (107) disposed therebetween. The filter circuit (107) defines an unrestricted first flow path from the low pressure accumulator to the port (B) when the unit is in the pumping mode, and a second flow path from the port (B) to the low pressure accumulator when the unit is in the motoring mode. The second flow path comprises one path portion (125) through a filter shut-off valve (121) and a filter (127) in series, and in parallel therewith, another path portion through a controlled flow restriction (135).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney V. Singh
  • Patent number: 7261123
    Abstract: A reservoir tank of power steering system for a car includes an inlet port delivering oil through a swirl prevention member. The oil is then allowed to flow so swirl does not form in the oil flow of a reservoir tank. Furthermore, bubble formation in the oil is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Min Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 7234299
    Abstract: An integrated hydraulic transaxle (IHT) comprises a hydrostatic transmission (HST), an axle driven by the HST, and a housing incorporating the HST and the axle. The HST includes a variable displacement hydraulic pump driven by a prime mover, and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump has a trunnion type movable swash plate. The internal displacement of the hydraulic motor is larger than the internal displacement of the hydraulic pump so as to increase the hydraulic deceleration activity of the HST. In the IHT, a mechanical deceleration drive train is interposed between the hydraulic motor and the axle. The mechanical deceleration activity of the mechanical deceleration drive train is reduced so far as the increase of the hydraulic deceleration activity of the HST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Ryota Ohashi, Hiroshi Tottori
  • Patent number: 7232518
    Abstract: A filter device includes at least one filter unit (10), connectable to a hydraulic circuit (14), with at least one supply line (16), one discharge line (18), and at least one cooling unit (22). The cooling unit is connected to a secondary branch line (20), is connected to the hydraulic unit (14) parallel to the supply line (16), and is supplied with a hydraulic medium by a switching device (24) once a predetermined temperature threshold value of the hydraulic medium to be cooled is attained. A permanent supply (36) for the cooling unit (22) is provided in the direction of flow of the hydraulic medium in the supply line (18) before the switching device (24). This permanent supply (36), connected in parallel to the switching device (24), flows into the secondary branch line (20) to control the volume flow in reverse flow according to the fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Wilkendorf
  • Patent number: 7210294
    Abstract: An expansion sump is provided in the axle horn of a hydraulic apparatus, and a cap member seals the expansion sump from the main sump. An arcuate sealed fluid passage is provided between the periphery of the cap member and the housing. The sealed fluid passage cooperates with a first passage between the expansion sump and the sealed fluid passage and a second passage between the main sump and the sealed fluid passage to form a siphon to permit fluid communication between the two sumps. The hydraulic apparatus may also have an oil filter removably mounted on the external surface of the housing and a removable shield adjacent thereto, with an engagement member formed on the shield to prevent the oil filter from being removed from the housing with the shield in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Thomas J. Langenfeld, Scott W. Keller, Shane A. Deters
  • Patent number: 7069675
    Abstract: In a power tilt apparatus in which an operation state of a cylinder apparatus is switched between an extension side and a compression side in accordance with an oil feeding direction of a pump apparatus by a switching valve apparatus provided in a pipe passage connecting the cylinder apparatus and the pump apparatus, where a sintered body filter is provided in the middle of the pipe passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Nishi, Shu Someya
  • Patent number: 7028471
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprises a housing whose interior space serves as a fluid sump, a pair of first and second fluid passages disposed in the housing, the pair of first and second fluid passages interposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor so as to constitute a closed fluid circuit of an HST. A charge fluid passage is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with each of the first and second fluid passages for supplying fluid from the fluid sump into the closed fluid circuit. A drain fluid passage including an orifice is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with at least one of the first and second fluid passages so that, when hydraulic pressure in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is increased beyond its neutral level, excessive fluid in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is drained through the drain fluid passage to the fluid sump, thereby expanding the neutral zone of the HST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6978608
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a hydraulic unit for a plastics processing machine, in particular a hydraulically actuated injection molding machine. In accordance with the invention, the drive mechanism of a pump of a hydraulic circuit is provided inside the tank to ensure optimum acoustic and vibration attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventor: Joerg Dantlgraber
  • Patent number: 6913040
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid reservoir apparatus for an automotive power steering system comprises a filter chamber, and a filter parallel to a vertical axis and dividing the filter chamber into an upstream region and a downstream region. The reservoir apparatus also includes a stagnant fluid well apart from the filter chamber, and a de-aeration zone overlying the filter chamber. A vent is provided between the upstream region and the de-aeration zone. Fluid recycled to the reservoir apparatus contains entrained gas. The filter separates the gas from the fluid within the upstream region, whereupon the gas is vented to the de-aeration zone and separates from the fluid circulated to the stagnant fluid well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Crossman, Neil Lauer, Stuart Dale Barter
  • Patent number: 6880334
    Abstract: In a hydrostatic transmission or integrated hydrostatic transaxle having a housing forming an oil sump and a hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor mounted in the sump and connected through hydraulic porting, a filter housing or other structure defining an internal volume is mounted adjacent to the check valves for the hydraulic porting. Oil passing into this internal volume is filtered to prevent the introduction of contaminants into the hydraulic porting. A himney is formed as part of the filter housing and extends upwards therefrom, and is open to the internal volume. The chimney also includes an opening to permit air to escape to the oil sump, to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the hydraulic porting through the check valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Eric S. Phanco, Raymond M. Hauser, Lonnie E. Holder
  • Patent number: 6849179
    Abstract: An internal filter that may be installed or removed from the outside of the housing. The internal filter may also cooperate with an inlet passage for a charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael Taylor, Jeffrey A. Wilson, Neil Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 6840042
    Abstract: An internal filter that may be installed or removed from the outside of the housing. The internal filter may also cooperate with an inlet passage for a charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael Taylor, Jeffrey A. Wilson, Thomas Kopel, Neil Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 6758112
    Abstract: In a power transmission arrangement, a working unit includes a hydraulic power unit and a valve unit enclosed in a first bulging portion of a transmission case closer to an upper side or on a top surface thereof and connected with each other along a vehicle lengthwise direction. The first bulging portion is closer to a first lateral side along the vehicle width direction of the transmission case, while a hydraulic pump is located closer to a second lateral side. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from the transmission case, around a lower side of the hydraulic pump, through a suction port thereof, and discharged to a suction port of the valve unit. The hydraulic power unit includes a cylinder tube and piston, extending in the lengthwise direction, and support shaft, extending along the width direction, which is supported by the transmission case and connected to a lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Patent number: 6681569
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a hydrostatic transaxle comprising a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication via porting formed in a center section. The filter assembly includes an upper filter member having a generally horizontally oriented filter media adapted to be positioned adjacent to the center section. A lower filter member is attached to the upper filter member to form a filter housing having an interior area such that make-up fluid enters the interior area substantially via the filter media. A conduit places the interior area of the filter housing in fluid communication with the porting of the center section through which make-up fluid is allowed to enter the porting of the center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Patnership
    Inventors: Eric S. Phanco, Patricia J. Given, Adam W. Wahner
  • Publication number: 20030226354
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a hydraulic system from a fluid reservoir includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a first conduit fluidly connected to the pump inlet and fluidly connectable to the fluid reservoir, and a second conduit fluidly connected to the pump outlet and fluidly connectable to the system. The apparatus also includes an accumulator operatively connected to the second conduit, a third conduit interconnecting the first conduit and the second conduit, and an electrically actuated fill valve operatively disposed in the third conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Nippert, Kevin J. Graf
  • Patent number: 6652245
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston pump for a hydraulic, slip-controlled vehicle brake system. The piston pump has a piston, which is inserted with a part of its length into a sleeve. A tubular filter that encompasses the piston is attached to the sleeve and constitutes a captive retainer, which secures the piston in a captive fashion in the sleeve. In order to reduce an axial mobility of a sealing ring that seals the piston in the pump housing, the invention proposes attaching the filter, which limits the axial mobility of the sealing ring, to the sleeve in an axially mobile fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hauser, Norbert Alaze, Thorsten Duermeier, Ursula Eckstein, Erika Mank
  • Patent number: 6647720
    Abstract: A hydrostatic unit for a hydro-mechanical torque division transmission for a work vehicle having a mounting frame (10, 12) in which the shafts (18, 20) of hydrostatic devices (22, 24) are arranged parallel to one another are supported by bearing units (14, 16, 42, 48). The mounting frame (10, 12), the hydrostatic units (22, 24), the input shaft (36), the output shafts (44, 50, 56, 64) and the bearing units (14, 16, 42, 48, 54) together form a functioning hydrostatic module which can be pre-assembled. By supporting an input shaft (36) of the hydrostatic unit on the mounting frame (10, 12) by a bearing unit (38) such that it can rotate and is connected to the shaft (18) of the pump (22), a hydrostatic unit is provided that can be used in many different transmission applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Uli Otten
  • Patent number: 6508059
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission comprises a housing whose interior space serves as a fluid sump, a pair of first and second fluid passages disposed in the housing, the pair of first and second fluid passages interposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor so as to constitute a closed fluid circuit of an HST. A charge fluid passage is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with each of the first and second fluid passages for supplying fluid from the fluid sump into the closed fluid circuit. A drain fluid passage including an orifice is disposed in the housing so as to be connected with at least one of the first and second fluid passages so that, when hydraulic pressure in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is increased beyond its neutral level, excessive fluid in the at least one of the first and second fluid passages is drained through the drain fluid passage to the fluid sump, thereby expanding the neutral zone of the HST.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takada, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6467263
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a hydraulic pump and motor mechanism having a pump, a motor and at least one fluid passageway therebetween, a source of transmission fluid, at least one projection attached to the hydrostatic pump and motor mechanism which has a suction port therein, and a filter assembly comprising a filter element attached to an impermeable wall. The pump and motor are fluidly connected through the passageway and the passageway is in fluid communication with the source of transmission fluid through the suction port. The impermeable wall includes at least one hole therethrough and the projection extends through the hole and is sealingly engaged with the impermeable wall. Substantially all transmission fluid received by the pump and motor mechanism is passed through the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Johnson, Richard T. Ruebusch
  • Patent number: 6449948
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit cleaning apparatus has a hydraulic circuit that includes an oil pump, an oil passage to which the oil pressure ejected from the oil pump is supplied, and a pressure regulator device connected to the oil passage for regulating the oil pressure in the oil passage. The apparatus cleans the hydraulic circuit by using a cleaning liquid. A discharge oil passage is connected to a discharge port of the pressure regulator device, so that the cleaning liquid is discharged out of the hydraulic circuit via the discharge oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Soga, Ryoji Habuchi, Hiroshi Morioka, Shinji Kasuga, Hideki Yasue
  • Publication number: 20020104314
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a hydraulic pump and motor mechanism having a pump, a motor and at least one fluid passageway therebetween, a source of transmission fluid, at least one projection attached to the hydrostatic pump and motor mechanism which has a suction port therein, and a filter assembly comprising a filter element attached to an impermeable wall. The pump and motor are fluidly connected through the passageway and the passageway is in fluid communication with the source of transmission fluid through the suction port. The impermeable wall includes at least one hole therethrough and the projection extends through the hole and is sealingly engaged with the impermeable wall. Substantially all transmission fluid received by the pump and motor mechanism is passed through the filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin L. Johnson, Richard T. Ruebusch
  • Patent number: 6382245
    Abstract: A generally ring-shaped intermediate member having a bracket-mounting portion is interposed between an upper tank having an inflow pipe and a lower tank having an outflow pipe. A resinous reservoir tank according to the invention is formed by connecting and integrating the upper tank, the intermediate member and the lower tank. When connecting the upper tank, the intermediate member and the lower tank, their relative angles in the rotational direction are set appropriately. Thus, the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe can be oriented in desired directions with respect to the intermediate member, which is fixed in position by the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 6382148
    Abstract: An oil pressure control apparatus which includes a source of hydraulic pressure introducing the hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic actuator which is actuated by hydraulic pressure, a fluid passage which is connected between the source of hydraulic pressure and the hydraulic actuator for introducing and discharging hydraulic pressure from the source of hydraulic pressure to the actuator, a control valve which is disposed in the fluid passages for controlling the hydraulic pressure and a filter is disposed in a position that is between the actuator and the control valve. Thereby, the control valve is capable to be operated smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Maeyama, Masanori Koda
  • Patent number: 6374603
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit includes first and second pumps, a first discharge passage receiving hydraulic fluid discharged from the first pump and communicating with a main gallery, a second discharge passage receiving hydraulic fluid discharged from the second pump and communicating with an actuator, a communication passage ensuring communication between the first and second discharge passages, and a relief valve arranged with the communication passage to be opened at a predetermined pressure for the second discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Unisia JECS Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Morita, Takehisa Kondoh, Yasushi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020035833
    Abstract: A hydrostatic unit for a hydro-mechanical torque division transmission for a work vehicle having a mounting frame (10, 12) in which the shafts (18, 20) of hydrostatic devices (22, 24) are arranged parallel to one another are supported by bearing units (14, 16, 42, 48). The mounting frame (10, 12), the hydrostatic units (22, 24), the input shaft (36), the output shafts (44, 50, 56, 64) and the bearing units (14, 16, 42, 48, 54) together form a functioning hydrostatic module which can be pre-assembled. By supporting an input shaft (36) of the hydrostatic unit on the mounting frame (10, 12) by a bearing unit (38) such that it can rotate and is connected to the shaft (18) of the pump (22), a hydrostatic unit is provided that can be used in many different transmission applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: Uli Otten
  • Patent number: 6324842
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus including a housing which houses an input shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation, axles having a lateral axis of rotation and a power-take-off shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation. The housing may include a first housing member, a second housing member and a third housing member longitudinally joined with one another. A partition is disposed at a vertical center of the first and second housing members and divides the interior thereof into a first and a second chamber. A third chamber is formed between the second and third housing members. An hydrostatic transmission is disposed in the first chamber. A transmitting mechanism drivingly connecting the hydrostatic transmission with the axles is disposed in the second chamber. Another transmitting mechanism drivingly connecting the input shaft with the power-take-off shaft is disposed in the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 6311724
    Abstract: A reservoir is provided having an upper reservoir body connected to a lower reservoir body. The reservoir includes and inlet port and an outlet port that are separated by a filter, which filters fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet. In addition, a re-circulating cover is provided to separate fluid returning through the inlet port from the fluid in the main reservoir chamber. A re-circulating cover is provided that defines a re-circulating chamber. Fluid communication between the main reservoir chamber and the re-circulating chamber is restricted by the re-circulating cover until the main reservoir fluid reaches a predetermined temperature threshold. Accordingly, a given quantity of fluid is re-circulated from the inlet port to the outlet port and is continuously warmed before mixing with main reservoir fluid. Such a reservoir design helps to eliminate cold start up noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Key Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Tracey, Thomas W. Hagan, Donald P. Rubin