Patents by Inventor Benjamin Thomas Schafer

Benjamin Thomas Schafer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230332382
    Abstract: A wear member includes an attachment portion, and a wear portion extending from the attachment portion that defines a wear surface. The wear portion has a dispersible wear indicator that is disposed in the wear portion, and that is spaced a predetermined distance away from the wear surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruno Parzynski, JR., Thomas Marshall Congdon, Benjamin Thomas Schafer
  • Patent number: 10544860
    Abstract: A construction machine having a frame and at least one compaction member is provided. The machine also includes a propulsion system having a hydraulic motor adapted to rotate the compaction member. The propulsion system also includes a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to the hydraulic motor via a high pressure line and a low pressure line. The high pressure line allows flow of a fluid at high pressure from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The low pressure line allows flow of the fluid at low pressure from the hydraulic motor to the hydraulic pump. The propulsion system further includes a hydraulic valve fluidly coupled to the low pressure line and a casing of the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic valve selectively allows flow of a portion of the fluid at low pressure from the low pressure line to the casing for cooling of the hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Aaron Greene, Derek Kenneth Huhn, Benjamin Thomas Schafer
  • Publication number: 20190162296
    Abstract: A construction machine having a frame and at least one compaction member is provided. The machine also includes a propulsion system having a hydraulic motor adapted to rotate the compaction member. The propulsion system also includes a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to the hydraulic motor via a high pressure line and a low pressure line. The high pressure line allows flow of a fluid at high pressure from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The low pressure line allows flow of the fluid at low pressure from the hydraulic motor to the hydraulic pump. The propulsion system further includes a hydraulic valve fluidly coupled to the low pressure line and a casing of the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic valve selectively allows flow of a portion of the fluid at low pressure from the low pressure line to the casing for cooling of the hydraulic motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Aaron Greene, Derek Kenneth Huhn, Benjamin Thomas Schafer
  • Patent number: 9175449
    Abstract: A transmission system is provided for transmitting power from an engine to a milling rotor in a cold planer. The transmission system includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a shaft. The first circuit is disposed in a first plane and configured to be operatively driven by the engine. The second circuit is disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane and configured to operatively drive the milling rotor. The shaft couples the first circuit to the second circuit wherein the engine and the milling rotor are axially offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Schafer, Jason Robert Bjorge
  • Patent number: 9016800
    Abstract: A cold planer is disclosed. The cold planer may have a frame, a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gear box connected to the drum. The cold planer may also have a drive pulley connected to the gear box, a primary motor, and a drive belt connecting the primary motor to the drive pulley. The cold planer may further have a service pulley connected to the gear box, a service motor, and a service belt that connects the service motor to the service pulley. The cold planer may additionally have the gear box being configured to transfer motion from the drive pulley and the service pulley to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Schafer, Kevin J. Rodel
  • Publication number: 20150035341
    Abstract: A cold planer is disclosed. The cold planer may have a frame, a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gear box connected to the drum. The cold planer may also have a drive pulley connected to the gear box, a primary motor, and a drive belt connecting the primary motor to the drive pulley. The cold planer may further have a service pulley connected to the gear box, a service motor, and a service belt that connects the service motor to the service pulley. The cold planer may additionally have the gear box being configured to transfer motion from the drive pulley and the service pulley to the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas SCHAFER, Kevin J. Rodel
  • Patent number: 8905488
    Abstract: A cold planer is disclosed. The cold planer may have a frame, a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gear box connected to the drum. The cold planer may also have a drive pulley connected to the gear box, a primary motor, and a drive belt connecting the primary motor to the drive pulley. The cold planer may further have a service pulley connected to the gear box, a service motor, and a service belt that connects the service motor to the service pulley. The cold planer may additionally have the gear box being configured to transfer motion from the drive pulley and the service pulley to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Schafer, Kevin J Rodel
  • Publication number: 20140265525
    Abstract: A transmission system is provided for transmitting power from an engine to a milling rotor in a cold planer. The transmission system includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a shaft. The first circuit is disposed in a first plane and configured to be operatively driven by the engine. The second circuit is disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane and configured to operatively drive the milling rotor. The shaft couples the first circuit to the second circuit wherein the engine and the milling rotor are axially offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Schafer, Jason Robert Bjorge
  • Publication number: 20140232169
    Abstract: A cold planer is disclosed. The cold planer may have a frame, a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gear box connected to the drum. The cold planer may also have a drive pulley connected to the gear box, a primary motor, and a drive belt connecting the primary motor to the drive pulley. The cold planer may further have a service pulley connected to the gear box, a service motor, and a service belt that connects the service motor to the service pulley. The cold planer may additionally have the gear box being configured to transfer motion from the drive pulley and the service pulley to the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Schafer, Kevin J. Rodel