Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080260488 | PIN AND GROMMET FASTENER ASSEMBLY - A fastener assembly configured to secure a first panel to a second panel includes a pin and a grommet. The pin includes a shaft connected to a tip. The grommet is configured to snapably secure into a hole of a panel. The grommet includes a central passage. The shaft is adjustably secured within the central passage, such that the shaft is allowed to shift a fixed distance within the central passage in a first direction, but is locked in place in the central passage with respect to a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. | 10-23-2008 |
20090188198 | ROOF DITCH MOLDING RETAINER - A molding retainer is provided for securing a molding to a return flange in a roof ditch. The retainer generally includes a throat, a stop, a molding seat and a molding clip. In the case of a discontinuous flange having individual flange coupons, the throat may define a through-hole that fits over each flange coupon. The throat may include a plurality of fingers adapted to snap fit into windows in the flange coupons, with the fingers being mounted at different heights to accommodate variations in the placement of the windows. In the case of a continuous flange, the throat may define a channel that fits over the flange. The stop engages the floor of the roof ditch to provide a reference point for the height of the molding, and the molding clip engages and holds the molding. | 07-30-2009 |
20120174345 | MULTI-PIECE SNAP CLIP FASTENER - A multi-piece snap-in fastener adapted to adjoin a surface element to a backing panel. The fastener includes a docking base of tray-like construction including a pair of opposing lateral sidewalls including at least one inboard protuberance element projecting in overlying relation to the interior surface. A displaceable clip head including at least one male projection element extending outwardly from one side of a support platform is configured for insertion in nesting relation between the lateral sidewalls. The support platform includes outboard protuberance elements projecting outwardly from lateral sides of the support platform such that upon insertion of the support platform between the lateral sidewalls, the outboard protuberance elements are disposed in underlapping relation to opposing inboard protuberance elements projecting from the lateral sidewalls. | 07-12-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090255245 | HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INCLUDING PRIORITY BASED VALVE SEQUENCING - An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves. | 10-15-2009 |
20090255246 | HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INCLUDING OPEN LOOP AND CLOSED LOOP VALVE CONTROL SCHEMES - An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target value of a hydraulic system operating parameter and is configured to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the target value. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve. | 10-15-2009 |
20090257891 | HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VALVE PHASING - An exemplary hydraulic system includes a first digital valve fluidly connectable to a first hydraulic load and a pump. The first valve is operable to fluidly connect the first hydraulic load to the pump. A second digital valve is fluidly connectable to a second hydraulic load and the pump. The second valve is operable to fluidly connect the second hydraulic load to the pump. The system includes a first sensor for detecting a pump discharge pressure and a second sensor for detecting an inlet pressure of the first hydraulic load. A controller is configured to determine a time delay based on the pump discharge pressure and the first hydraulic load inlet pressure and to send a control signal instructing the second valve to commence opening at a time substantially equal to the time delay after commencing closing the first valve. | 10-15-2009 |
20090260352 | HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAVING LOAD SENSING CAPABILITIES - An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply, and an orifice disposed in a flow path between the hydraulic load and the digital valve. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target pressure drop across the orifice and is configured to determine an actual pressure drop across the orifice and formulate a control signal based on the target pressure drop and the actual pressure drop. The controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve. | 10-22-2009 |
20100012204 | VALVE MANIFOLD - A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position. | 01-21-2010 |
20130276921 | VALVE MANIFOLD - A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position. | 10-24-2013 |
20130291714 | HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INCLUDING PRIORITY BASED VALVE SEQUENCING - An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves. | 11-07-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130061587 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING ENERGY AND LEVELING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LOADS - A hydraulic system including an accumulator and a hydraulic transformer is disclosed. The hydraulic transformer includes first and second variable displacement pump/motor units mounted on a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft has an end adapted for connection to an external load. The first variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to a pump and a second side that fluidly connects to a tank. The second variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to the accumulator and a second side that fluidly connects with the tank. | 03-14-2013 |
20130061588 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING INERTIAL ENERGY - A hydraulic system adapted to recover inertial energy is disclosed. The hydraulic system includes a pump, a variable displacement pump/motor having an input/output shaft, an accumulator, and a valve arrangement. The valve arrangement is operable in: a) a first mode where the variable displacement pump/motor is driven by the pump to rotate the input/output shaft and the load; b) a second mode where the variable displacement pump/motor uses inertial energy from a deceleration of the load to charge the accumulator; and c) a third mode where the variable displacement pump/motor is driven by the accumulator to rotate the input/output shaft and the load. The hydraulic system also includes a controller for controlling operation of the pump, the variable displacement pump/motor and the valve arrangement. | 03-14-2013 |
20130232963 | DIGITAL HYDRAULIC TRANSFORMER AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING ENERGY AND LEVELING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LOADS - A hydraulic system that includes a rotating group with a plurality of fluid chambers and a plurality of valve sets that valve a corresponding one of the fluid chambers is disclosed. The hydraulic system may function as a hydraulic transformer. The hydraulic system may transfer energy between a high pressure fluid supply (e.g., from a pump), an accumulator, a hydraulic component (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic motor, and/or a hydraulic pump-motor), and/or an input/output shaft. The hydraulic system may include a single rotating group with a common axis. Each of the valve sets may include a first valve that fluidly connects to the pump, a second valve that fluidly connects to a tank, a third valve that fluidly connects to the accumulator, and a fourth valve that fluidly connects to the hydraulic component. The valves may have a valving period set to less than half or one-third of a rotational period of the rotating group. The valves may have a frequency of greater than 100 Hertz and may be digitally controlled. | 09-12-2013 |
20140166114 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING ENERGY AND LEVELING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LOADS - A control system for a hydraulic system including an accumulator and a hydraulic transformer coordinates flow sharing within the hydraulic system. The hydraulic transformer includes first and second variable displacement pump/motor units mounted on a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft has an end adapted for connection to a first external load. The first variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to a pump and a second side that fluidly connects to a tank. The second variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to the accumulator and a second side that fluidly connects with the tank. A second external load may be hydraulically connected to the hydraulic system. Energy may be transferred to/from the pump, the accumulator, the first external load, and/or the second external load, as directed by the control system. | 06-19-2014 |