Eaton Corporation

Donald M Haarstad

Dwight B Stephenson

Herman P Schutten

Philip Jon Haarstad

Timothy A Hjelsand

Douglas M Gage

Dennis N Harvey

Shawn Patterson

Bernard J Larson

Anthony Todd Hessburg

Karen J Radford

Ching Hung

Laura K Y Haarstad

Heidi J Hung

Rockford Kenneth White

Elizabeth Kate Radzwill

Jinbo Wang

Molly Haarstad

Connie Marie Haarstad

Benjamin Haarstad

Alexander Haarstad

Lucas G Haarstad

Paul A Haarstad

Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for an adjustable firmness mattress are provided. An example rectangular shaped adjustable firmness mattress extends lengthwise from a head end to a foot end, widthwise from a first side to a second side, and depth-wise from a top side to a bottom side. The example mattress may include an adjustable firmness support layer disposed between the bottom side of the mattress and the top side of the mattress. The adjustable firmness support layer may include at least one rotatable assembly having an orientation-specific firmness, a bridge assembly disposed between the at least one rotatable assembly and the top side of the mattress; and a support assembly disposed between the at least one rotatable assembly and the bottom side of the mattress.

Adjustable firmness mattress system

A two speed gerotor motor in which the rotary disk valve (47) and the balancing ring (67) cooperate with a control valve assembly (87) to define four different fluid zones arranged within a housing (21) in a generally concentric pattern to provide a relatively compact arrangement. Among the four fluid zones one (95) is always connected to an inlet (51) while another (101) is always connected to an outlet (53). The middle two zones (97, 99) communicate with each other in the high speed, low torque mode. Operatively associated with the control valve assembly (87) is a shuttle valve (103) such that high pressure is always communicated to the middle two zones, such that high pressure is always circulated within the gerotor gear set (17) in the high speed, low torque mode. The control valve (87) includes a spool valve (107) including dampening passages (123, 125, 127) which dampen or cushion the shifting of the spool valve between the high speed and low speed conditions.

Two speed gerotor motor with pressurized recirculation

A fluid controller (17) of the dynamic load sensing and flow amplification type, and including a main fluid path (35,39) having a main variable flow control orifice (43), and a fluid meter (37). Dynamic signal fluid enters a load sensing port (29) of the controller and flows through the fluid meter (37) before the main orifice (43) opens, as the controller valving is displaced from neutral to an operating position (FIG. 5). In accordance with the invention, in addition to the normal load sensing drain orifice (LD1) which closes just about the time the main orifice (43) opens, there is provided a load sensing drain orifice (LD2) which remains open somewhat after the main orifice (43) and an amplification orifice (50) open, to prevent build-up of pressure upstream of the fluid meter (37). As a result, there is no flow through the fluid meter (37) until after the amplification orifice (50) opens, and the flow amplification capability appears to the operator to come on instantaneously.

Dynamic load signal fluid controller with instant on flow amplification

A fluid controller (15) for use with an unequal area cylinder (25) having a rod end area A and a head end area B. The controller valving (27) includes, in one embodiment, a flow amplification path (101) for only one direction of steering. In another embodiment, the controller valving (27) includes flow amplification in both directions of steering, but with the ratios being different. In either case, the ratio of flow to the head end to flow to the rod end equals the ratio B/A, whereby the fluid controller requires the same number of turns, lock-to-lock, for either direction of steering.

Steering control unit with flow amplification for unequal area cylinder

An open-center fluid controller (15) is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid to a steering cylinder (25). The controller includes a fluid meter (29) and valving arrangement (27), including a valve spool (43) and a sleeve (45), which define a main fluid path. The main path includes a fixed flow control orifice (86), a variable flow control orifice (87), the fluid meter (29), and a variable flow control orifice (89). In accordance with the invention, the spool and sleeve define an amplification fluid path (101), including a variable amplification orifice (99), in parallel with the main fluid path, and disposed to amplify the flow of fluid through the meter (29). In order to facilitate manual steering, the amplification orifice (99) reaches its maximum flow area when the spool and sleeve are in a normal operating position (FIG. 6). The amplification orifice then decreases and closes as the displacement between the spool and sleeve reach a maximum displacement (FIG. 7). As a result, the amplification fluid path (101) is closed at maximum valve displacement, thus making it possible to manually steer the vehicle.

Open-center steering control unit with flow amplification

A fluid controller (17) is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid to a steering cylinder (19). The controller includes a fluid meter (51) and a valving arrangement (49) including a valve spool (65) and a sleeve (67), which define a main fluid path including a main variable flow control orifice (121), the fluid meter (51), a variable flow control orifice (123), the steering cylinder (19), and a variable flow control orifice (125). In accordance with the invention, the spool and sleeve define an amplification fluid path including a variable amplification orifice (129) in parallel with the main fluid path, and disposed to amplify the flow of fluid through the meter. In one embodiment of the invention, the amplification fluid path communicates with the main fluid path upstream of the main variable flow control orifice, and at a location downstream of the fluid meter, but upstream of the variable flow control orifice (123). In order to facilitate manual steering using the fluid controller of the invention, the amplification orifice (129) reaches its maximum flow area when the spool and sleeve are still several degrees away from their maximum displacement. The amplification orifice then decreases and closes as the spool and sleeve reach maximum displacement. As a result, the amplification fluid path is closed at maximum valve displacement, and therefore does not act as a short-circuit, making it impossible to manually steer.

Steering control unit with both flow amplification and manual steering

A fluid controller (17) is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid to a steering cylinder (19). The controller includes a fluid meter (51) and a valving arrangement (49) including a valve spool (65) and a sleeve (67). The valving (49) defines a main fluid path including a main variable flow control orifice (121), a variable flow control orifice (123), the fluid meter (51), the steering cylinder (19), and a variable flow control orifice (125). In accordance with the invention, the valving (49) defines a dampening fluid path including a variable dampening orifice (133), the dampening fluid path being in parallel with the main fluid path to dampen pressure spikes in the main fluid path. The size of the variable dampening orifice (133), and the flow therethrough, is a function of the relative displacement between the spool (65) and sleeve (67), whereby the timing and amount of the dampening flow and the relationship thereof to the gain curve of the main fluid path can be selected as desired.

Fluid controller and dampening fluid path

A fluid controller (17) is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid to a steering cylinder (19). The controller includes a fluid meter (51) and a valving arrangement (49) including a valve spool (65) and a sleeve (67), which define a main fluid path including a main variable flow control orifice (121), the fluid meter (51), a variable flow control orifice (123), the steering cylinder (19), and a variable flow control orifice (125). In accordance with the invention, the spool and sleeve define an amplification fluid path including a variable amplification orifice (129) in parallel with the main fluid path, and disposed to amplify the flow of fluid through the meter. In one embodiment of the invention, the amplification fluid path communicates with the main fluid path upstream of the main variable flow control orifice, and at a location downstream of the fluid meter, but upstream of the variable flow control orifice (123). The amplification fluid path provides an amplification ratio which can be made to vary, in any desired manner, as a function of valving displacement.

Steering control unit with flow amplification

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Chaska, MN, United States of America

Donald M Haarstad