Deere & Company

Steven G Brandau

Dwight B Stephenson

James A Miller

Robert L Carmichael

Randy P Schmidt

Larry D Shinn

A control circuit and specific embodiments thereof are provided using a four-port infinitely variable pilot operated pressure-compensator spool valve and a three-port infinitely variable pilot operated load sense spool valve in series to regulate the output pressure of a variable displacement radial piston pump. The valves are so constructed that both must be correctly positioned to put the pump into full stroke, while either valve can de-stroke the pump. The three-port valve is pilot controlled between the load sense pressure and the outlet pressure, while the four-port valve is controlled between the pump inlet and outlet pressures. A check valve and orifice are positioned between the two control valves and the crankcase control line of the pump to assist in stabilizing the pump output. A relief valve is provided on the crankcase line to minimize output spikes. In an alternative embodiment, a single three-port valve is controlled between the inlet and outlet pressures of the pump. A relief valve is provided to vent spikes in the crankcase pressure, allowing down-sizing of the crankcase orifice.

Pressure flow compensating control circuit

A gas-contaminant separator includes inlet ports at the bottom of each leg of an inverted V-shaped housing and an outlet port at the top vertex. The total cross-sectional area of the inlet ports provide flow velocities below two meters per second and of the outlet port provides flow velocities below one and a half meters per second. First baffles are provided proximate the inlet ports to direct gas-contaminant mixtures towards and into a first contact with each other. Second baffles, disposed above the first contact zone cooperate with the housing to define a primary sedimentary precipitation zone and cause first retroversions of the mixtures towards and across the tops of the first baffles with the bulk of the contaminants being centrifugally precipitated by the first retroversions into the primary sedimentary precipitation zone for sedimentary precipitation to the bottoms of the housing. The sides of the housing cooperate with third baffles to cause second retroversions of primarily gas mixtures across the tops of the second baffles and into a second contact with each other. Fourth baffles, disposed above the second contact zone, cooperating with the housing, define a secondary precipitation zone and cause third retroversions of the mixtures towards and across the tops of the third baffles with the remaining contaminants being centrifugally precipitated by the third retroversions into the secondary sedimentary precipitation zone for sedimentary precipitation onto the second baffles. The sides of the housing cooperate with the fourth baffles to cause fourth retroversions of the gases towards the outlet.

Gas-contaminant separator

A gas-oil separator includes a bowl shaped housing open to the bottom for mounting to the rocker arm cover of an internal combustion engine. The housing and an encircling gasket at the bottom is secured to the rocker arm cover by a pair of bolts passing through the top of the housing and threaded to a clamp plate positioned inside of the rocker arm cover. First, second, and third baffles are secured to the clamp plate and sequentially spaced therefrom so as to be disposed within the housing. The clamp plate contains a pair of openings for the flow of mixed engine blow-by gases and oil, and a pair of holes for exit of the separated oil; the housing contains an outlet port proximate the top for the exhaust of the separated blow-by gases. The first baffle plate contains three openings which are completely out of line with the two openings in the clamp plate. The second baffle plate contains a pair of openings which are in line with the openings in the clamp plate and out of line with the openings in the first baffle plate. The third baffle plate contains three openings which are in line with the openings in the first baffle plate and completely out of line with the openings in the clamp plate and the second baffle plate. The openings are positioned so as to cause impactive precipitation of the oil on all three baffle plates and to cause complete retroversions of flow for centrifugal precipitation around the first and second baffle plates and sedimentary precipitation between each of the baffle plates and above the third baffle plate.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Steven G Brandau