JAMES DANIEL WARD, APSW
Social Work at Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI

6392516, May 21, 2002

Nov 22, 2000

09/721030

James R. Ward - Milwaukee WI
Derek A. Dahlgren - Wauwatosa WI
Thomas J. Stobbs - late of Brookfield WI

TLX Technologies - Waukesha WI

H01F 300

335255, 335220, 335278

A latching solenoid includes a pole member, an armature movable relative to the pole member, a solenoid coil assembly for positioning the armature relative to the pole member, and a magnetic flux shunt structure. The shunt structure bridges the air gap between the pole face and the armature face, providing a low reluctance magnetic flux path between the pole member and the armature to increase the attractive force between the armature and the pole member. The shunt structure can be a saturation tip formed integrally with the armature or a separate flux shunt member configured as a ring which is fixed to the armature. The armature can be maintained latched by the effects of residual magnetism or by a permanent magnet.

6305583, Oct 23, 2001

Feb 11, 2000

9/502681

James R. Ward - Milwaukee WI
Thomas J. Stobbs - Brookfield WI

TLX Technologies - Waukesha WI

B67D 506, F16K 3106

222504

A valve for dispensing a viscous fluid, includes a valve body defining a fluid chamber and a stepped armature within the fluid chamber. The armature has a large diameter portion maintained spaced apart from an inner surface of the valve body, defining a first air gap therebetween, and a second, smaller diameter portion which engages an inner surface of the valve body, supporting the armature within the valve body and defining a second lower reluctance air gap. A solenoid coil energized by a peak and hold drive current produces an electromagnetic field for moving the armature relative to the magnetic pole piece and the valve body. The second portion of the armature becomes magnetically saturated during the peak portion of the drive current, causing magnetic flux to be diverted through the first portion of the armature. The second portion of the armature comes out of saturation during the hold portion of the drive current, allowing a portion of the magnetic flux to be passed through the lower reluctance air gap.

6198369, Mar 6, 2001

Dec 4, 1998

9/205920

James R. Ward - Milwaukee WI
Derek A. Dahlgren - Wauwatosa WI

TLX Technologies - Waukesha WI

H01F 708

335220

A proportional actuator for proportional control includes a saturation tip formed on the movable armature the solenoid coil is a step-wound coil, providing clearance for the saturation tip, allowing the coaxial diameters the magnetic pole piece and of the armature to be increased for an actuator of a given size so that the amount of force which can be produced by this type of magnetic circuit is related to the coaxial diameters of the magnetic pole piece and the armature, the configuration of the armature provides significantly higher magnetic force attraction between the magnetic pole piece and the armature because of the increased coaxial diameters of the armature and the pole piece. In addition, because of the increased diameter of the armature, the surface area of the armature that is exposed to the saturation tip is increased, thereby increasing the amount of flux that is coupled to the magnetic pole piece by the saturation tip. The proportional actuator is described with reference to applications in proportional control valves.

5531422, Jul 2, 1996

Apr 12, 1994

8/226743

James R. Ward - Milwaukee WI
Thomas J. Stobbs - Brookfield WI

Applied Power Inc. - Butler WI

F16K 3900

251282

A double latching hydraulic valve of the type that either stays open or stays closed at high pressures and only changes state (between open or closed) at low pressures has three ports, with a main valve between the first and second ports which is opened or closed by a poppet. The first port is always in communication with a pressure chamber which biases the poppet against the main valve seat, and the pressure chamber is placed in communication with the third port, which can be connected to tank pressure, only in the open position of the poppet. Thus, a high pressure is provided in the pressure chamber to keep the poppet closed at high pressures, and a low pressure is provided in the pressure chamber to keep the poppet open at high pressures, without excessive leakage through the valve when it is closed.

5377720, Jan 3, 1995

Nov 18, 1993

8/154235

Thomas J. Stobbs - Brookfield WI
James R. Ward - Milwaukee WI

Applied Power Inc. - Butler WI

F15B 13044

13762565

A hydraulic pressure reducing and relieving valve has a body with input, control and relief ports, a tubular spool slidably received within the body for selectively providing communication between the ports, and a tubular quill within the spool which the spool can slide over. The quill has a lumen which provides communication from one end of the spool to the other, so as to pressure balance the spool with relief pressure, and together with the spool defines a feedback chamber in communication with the control port which generates a force on the spool which opposes the operating force exerted on the spool by a solenoid. The spool may also be biased by a spring in the feedback chamber.