Patents Examined by Michael Goodwin
  • Patent number: 11072893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11066916
    Abstract: An injection device, which comprises a nozzle and which is used for an underground coal gasification process; the nozzle and the injection device are used for continuously injecting a high-concentration oxidant into an underground coal layer during the underground coal gasification process, in which case the high-concentration oxidant may be used safely and steadily to obtain a high-quality and stable product gas, while a retraction cycle and/or a retraction distance of a retraction method in the existing technology may be greatly shortened, thus achieving the continuous and steady operation of the underground coal gasification process. Also disclosed is a method for operating the injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZHONGWEI (SHANGHAI) ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD
    Inventors: Zhenhua Min, Yuanli Wang, Casper Jan Hendrik Burger
  • Patent number: 11047235
    Abstract: A cutting head for cutting apparatus suitable for creating tunnels or subterranean roadways and the like. The cutting head includes a rotatable cutting head body and a plurality of cutting units mounted thereon. The cutting units include at least first and second different types of cutting units. The first type of cutting unit has a first rotatable cutter having a first disc body and a first arrangement of buttons for abrading rock. The first buttons are mounted in a radially peripheral portion of the disc body and protrude outwardly therefrom. The second type of cutting unit has a second rotatable cutter having a second disc body and a second arrangement of buttons. The second buttons are mounted in a radially peripheral portion of the disc body and protrude outwardly therefrom. The different types of cutting units differ from one another by at least the arrangements of their buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
    Inventors: Luis Garcia, Guenther Staber
  • Patent number: 11035232
    Abstract: An industrial machine including a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid of the industrial machine. Wherein the characteristic is indicative of a contaminant level. The controller has an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the contaminant level, compare the contaminant level to a threshold, and upon the contaminant level crossing the threshold perform at least one selected from a group consisting of output an alert, and commence a shutdown procedure of the industrial machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL UNDERGROUND MINING LLC
    Inventors: Edward F. Niederriter, Philip Rosenstern, Shawn Franklin, Troy Amsler
  • Patent number: 11021953
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to material-removal systems and cutting tools that may be used in the material-removal systems. More specifically, for example, the material-removal systems, and particularly the cutting tools thereof, may engage and fail target material. In some instances, the material-removal systems may be used in mining operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell R. Myers, Grant K. Daniels, Heath C. Whittier
  • Patent number: 11015303
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system for removing road material. In an embodiment, the system may include a milling drum and at least one pick mounted on the milling drum. Furthermore, the pick may include polycrystalline diamond at least partially forming one or more working surfaces of the pick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Regan Leland Burton, Andrew E. Dadson, Mohammad N. Sani
  • Patent number: 11015306
    Abstract: In an automotive milling machine, comprising a machine frame, comprising a controller for the travelling and milling operation, comprising a working drum, comprising a transport conveyor, where the transport conveyor is slewable, relative to the machine frame, about a first axis extending essentially horizontally under an elevation angle, and sideways about a second axis extending orthogonally to the first axis under a slewing angle, where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle at a specified conveying speed, and where the controller continuously controls positioning of the milled material automatically via, as a minimum, the slewing angle of the transport conveyor, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller specifies and monitors limit values for a maximum permissible slewing angle range for slewing the transport conveyor variable in accordance with the current operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista
  • Patent number: 11002134
    Abstract: Apparatus for splitting rock, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drill assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the drill assembly comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive element for selectively rotating the shaft and a drill bit mounted to the distal end of the shaft for drilling a hole into rock; a splitter assembly mounted to the housing and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing, the splitter assembly comprising a tether and a wedge, the tether and the wedge being configured to be moved independently relative to one another; wherein the wedge comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the wedge being wider than the distal end of the wedge; wherein the tether comprises a radially-reduced profile when the wedge is disposed proximal to the tether, and wherein the tether comprises a radially-expanded profile after the wedge is moved distally relative to the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: L. Curtis Beaton
  • Patent number: 10995615
    Abstract: A system for mining site production planning includes a control system configured to specify a problem-solving technique and associated optimization problem for a mining site by setting production goals and priorities for each of loading tools, processors, production arcs, and materials of the mining site, sorting the production arcs in an order based on travel distances, modifying the order based on the production goals for each of the loading tools, processors, production arcs, and/or materials, and further modifying the order based on set priorities for the loading tools, processors, production arcs, and/or materials. In addition, target values are set for each of the loading tools, processors, and production arcs according to their order of the sorted production arcs. The control system is further configured to solve the optimization problem to produce production values for each of the loading tools, processors, and production arcs based on the target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin E. Gates
  • Patent number: 10982541
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the heading of a mining machine while the mining machine performs a cutting operation. One system includes a cutting system and a set of left and right tracks of the mining machine. The system also includes a lidar sensor mounted to the mining machine. The system also includes an electronic processor configured to receive the data from the lidar sensor. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a current heading of the mining machine based on the data received from the lidar sensor and compare the current heading to a target heading of the mining machine. In response to the current heading not being different from the target heading of the mining machine by a predetermined amount, the electronic processor is configured to control the mining machine to adjust the current heading of the mining machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL UNDERGROUND MINING LLC
    Inventors: Lee Davis, Daniel C. Ferguson, Eric Humenay, Rick Rogers
  • Patent number: 10982397
    Abstract: A milling rotor includes a drum having a cylindrical wall disposed about a central axis of the drum. The milling rotor also includes a series of milling bit assemblies arranged in a spiral pattern on an outer surface of the cylindrical wall. The series of milling bit assemblies is configured to commence from a lateral plane that is transverse to the central axis of the drum and located partway along a length of the cylindrical wall. The series of milling bit assemblies is also configured to terminate proximate an end of the cylindrical wall. Each milling bit assembly is positioned such that an angle subtended by the series of milling bit assemblies with the lateral plane increases with increasing distance from the end of the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton John Hirman, Jeffrey Wayne Hoyle
  • Patent number: 10968577
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool combination consisting of a chisel holder, which can be fastened to a milling drum of a soil tillage machine, and at least one leading and one trailing chisel, which are retained on the chisel holder, wherein the trailing chisel is arranged after the leading chisel, based on a working movement of the tool combination in use in the soil tillage machine, and wherein each chisel has a chisel tip having a cutter. According to the invention the trailing chisel tip of the trailing chisel has, at least in some areas, a greater hardness than the leading chisel tip of the leading chisel. Thus stoppage times of the soil tillage machine for maintenance can be reduced and the loss of chisels can at least be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Karsten Buhr, Andreas Jost, Thomas Lehnert, Sebastian Hofrath, Martin Lenz
  • Patent number: 10968740
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interchangeable chisel holder (40) which can be fixed to a milling drum (15) of a ground-working machine (10), having a forward chisel holder (42) for the interchangeable holding of a forward chisel (20), preferably a round-shaft chisel, and having a rearward chisel (30, 31), which is held on the interchangeable chisel holder (40), wherein, as based on a working movement (76) of the interchangeable chisel holder (40) when used in the ground-working machine (10), the rearward chisel (30, 31) is arranged behind the forward chisel holder (42). In such an interchangeable candleholder (40) provision can be made, according to the invention, for the rearward chisel (30, 31) to be held on the interchangeable chisel holder (40) axially and fixed in the circumferential direction of the chisel holder. Maintenance-induced stoppages of the ground-working machine can thus be reduced and the loss of chisels can at least be lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Karsten Buhr, Andreas Jost, Thomas Lehnert, Sebastian Hofrath, Martin Lenz
  • Patent number: 10968575
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10), for example a road milling machine (10), recycler, stabilizer, or surface miner, having a propelling unit (22) and a machine frame (12) carried by the propelling unit (22), comprises a working apparatus (32) for earth working; an operator's platform (24), having an operating console (26) for controlling at least one functional device (32, 39) of the earth working machine (10), being provided on the machine frame (12). Provision is made according to the present invention that the earth working machine (10) comprises, in the region of the operator's platform (24), a seat mount arrangement (66) that is embodied to be brought into releasable mounting engagement with a counterpart mount arrangement (76) of an operating seat (62, 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Cyrus Barimani, Stephan Drumm, Alexander Körtgen
  • Patent number: 10947677
    Abstract: In an automotive milling machine, with a height-adjustable machine frame, with a controller for the travelling and milling operation, with a working drum, with a slewable transport conveyor device arranged in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the direction of travel of the milling machine, where the last or single transport conveyor of the transport conveyor device as seen in the direction of transport is slewable sideways, relative to the machine frame, about an essentially vertical axis under a slewing angle, and about an axis orthogonal to the axis under an elevation angle, and where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material at a specified conveying speed onto a point of impingement on a loading surface of a transport vehicle, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller comprises a detection and control system which continuously locates the alterable position of the loading surface of the transport vehicle and of the transport conveyor relative to the m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10927515
    Abstract: A self-propelled milling machine includes a controller which continuously locates an alterable position of a loading surface and of a slewable transport conveyor relative to a machine frame, or the position of the loading surface relative to the transport conveyor, and automatically controls one or more of the slewing angle, the elevation angle and the conveying speed of the transport conveyor, wherein discharged milling material impinges on pre-calculated points of impingement within the loading surface. The controller determines correction factors for the control parameter(s) as a function of a transverse inclination about the longitudinal central axis of the loading surface, a position angle between the longitudinal central axis of the loading surface and the longitudinal central axis of the transport conveyor or that of the machine frame, and/or the position of the pre-calculated point of impingement relative to an end of the loading surface lying on the longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Cyrus Barimani, Christian Berning, Tobias Krista, Bernd Walterscheid
  • Patent number: 10920588
    Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling a pitch angle of a shearer. A controller receives a sensor signal indicative of the pitch angle of the shearer, and receives a target pitch profile defining a plurality of target pitch angles for different sections of a mineral face. The controller determines a pitch difference between the pitch angle and a target pitch angle of the shearer, determines a pitch correction height corresponding to a new height for a floor cutter of the shearer based on the pitch difference, and changes a height of the floor cutter based on the pitch correction height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Ley, Matthew Beilstein, Colten LeViere
  • Patent number: 10920524
    Abstract: A composite cone assembly for use with a frac or bridge plug system is discussed herein having shaped outer contours and the strength needed for high pressure applications but with reduced machining requirements by forming part of the cone assembly from a high strength fiber material and the contoured surface from molding, such as from injection molding or compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CCDI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Sherlin
  • Patent number: 10900356
    Abstract: Mineral bits (10, 100) and associated mounts (30, 116, 200) for use during excavation and mining operations are disclosed. An exemplary bit (10) has a front region (12) and an opposite rear region (14) and comprises a head portion (16) and a mounting portion (18) secured to the head portion (16). The mounting portion (18) can be configured to be releasably retained by a mount (30). A rounded transition (22) disposed in the front region (12) of the bit between the head portion (16) and the mounting portion (18) provides a clearance (C) between the head portion (16) and the mount (16). Mineral bits (10, 100) disclosed can be inserted into and withdrawn from mounts (30, 1 16, 200) by linear and/or rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIERE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY LIMITED
    Inventor: Oswald D. Zaayman
  • Patent number: 10895152
    Abstract: Breaking rock and concrete, based upon a Controlled-Foam Injection or PCF (Penetrating Cone Fracture) uses a high-pressure fluid to pressurize a pre-drilled hole. A high pressure seal is formed between the injection barrel and walls of the pre-drilled hole in the material to be broken. A leak-free poppet valve holds a fluid in a pressure vessel before rapid discharge. Variable charges of foam/water are generated and delivered to the breaker. The injection barrel is prefilled with a low viscosity fluid. An annular reverse acting poppet valve allows concurrent injection of chemical additives and/or micro particles to modify foam viscosity during its high pressure release into the material to be broken. A high pressure foam generator is compact and reliable. Removal and wash-out of the seal frees the injection barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: CFI Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chapman Young, III, J. Roberto Frias