Patents by Inventor Christopher L. Wynkoop

Christopher L. Wynkoop 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: 20240157809
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor driving a hydraulic pump for a battery-powered electric mobile machine includes receiving one or more command signals for one or more hydraulically-driven systems. The method also includes determining a minimum pump speed for each of the one or more hydraulically-driven systems, and determining a highest minimum pump speed for the one or more hydraulically-driven systems. The method further includes converting the highest minimum pump speed to an electric motor command, and sending the electric motor command to the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew OLSON, Dustin D. DENNING, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Srikar THADUVAYI, Karl P. SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20240157798
    Abstract: A controller of a machine identifies that a battery of the machine is connected to an electrical power connector component. The controller then causes one or more charging components of the battery of the machine to be enabled, then cause one or more electrical components associated with the battery of the machine to be enabled, then causes one or more cooling components of the machine to be enabled, then causes one or more propulsion components of the machine to be disabled, then causes one or more accumulator components of a hydraulic system of the machine to bleed, and then causes one or more non-accumulator components of the hydraulic system of the machine to be enabled. In this way, the controller causes the battery of the machine to enter into a charging state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Dale DENNING, Jason Lee MILLER, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Srikar THADUVAYI, Brett Michael NEE
  • Publication number: 20240157940
    Abstract: As part of a start-up sequence, a controller of a machine causes one or more activation components of a battery of the machine to be enabled, then causes one or more electrical components associated with the battery to be enabled, then causes one or more non-accumulator components of a hydraulic system to be enabled, then causes one or more accumulator components of the hydraulic system to charge, and then causes one or more propulsion components to be enabled. As part of a shut-down sequence, the controller causes the one or more propulsion components to be disabled, then causes the one or more accumulator components of the hydraulic system to bleed, then causes the one or more non-accumulator components of the hydraulic system to be disabled, and then causes the one or more electrical components associated with the battery to be disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lee MILLER, Luke T. MELCHIOR, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Dustin Dale DENNING, Brett Michael NEE, Peter H. HUANG
  • Patent number: 11572069
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Abhishek Awana, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Mariappan Paramasivan
  • Patent number: 11566703
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210316731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas HARPER, Abhishek AWANA, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Mariappan PARAMASIVAN
  • Publication number: 20210262565
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210061199
    Abstract: A machine includes an engine, an electronic display device, and a controller configured to: receive one or more signals indicating an identification of a machine operator; retrieve a name of the operator associated with the identification of the operator in a first data set of machine operators; retrieve one or more saved machine parameters associated with the name of the operator in a second data set of machine parameters; and set one or more current machine parameters to the one or more saved machine parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Wynkoop, Steven A. Bettenhausen, Keven K. Lockwood, Derek J. Light, Robert E. Shockency, JR., Adam P. Roesner
  • Patent number: 8769928
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passage, a reduction catalyst disposed within the exhaust passage, and an injection device configured to inject reductant into the exhaust passage. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a concentration of an exhaust constituent and the reductant, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the injection device. The controller may be configured to make a comparison of a value indicative of a rate of change of the signal for a period of time with a threshold amount, and make a determination of whether the sensor is sensing a concentration of the exhaust constituent or the reductant based on the comparison. The controller may also be configured to adjust operation of the injection device based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary L. Yeager, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Amit Jayachandran
  • Patent number: 8413424
    Abstract: An engine exhaust aftertreatment system including an catalyst-based device configured to reduce an amount of NOx in exhaust gases produced by an engine using reductant stored in the catalyst-based device. The system includes a controller configured to determine a starting quantity of stored reductant in the catalyst-based device at the start of the engine. The starting quantity is based on a shutdown quantity of stored reductant in the catalyst-based device determined at the shutdown of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Lou Kesse, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Patent number: 8185359
    Abstract: A method for transforming machine sensor data between a time domain and a combustion pulse domain is disclosed. The method may include determining a number of pulse events per rotation of a shaft and determining a sampling rate per pulse event. The method may also include sampling one or more sensors at the sampling rate per pulse event. The method also may include transforming the samples into the combustion pulse domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, James R. Mason, Amit Jayachandran, Mary Lou Kesse, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Publication number: 20120073265
    Abstract: An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have an exhaust passage, a reduction catalyst disposed within the exhaust passage, and an injection device configured to inject reductant into the exhaust passage. The exhaust system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a concentration of an exhaust constituent and the reductant, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the injection device. The controller may be configured to make a comparison of a value indicative of a rate of change of the signal for a period of time with a threshold amount, and make a determination of whether the sensor is sensing a concentration of the exhaust constituent or the reductant based on the comparison. The controller may also be configured to adjust operation of the injection device based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Mary L. YEAGER, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Amit Jayachandran
  • Patent number: 7917333
    Abstract: A method for providing a virtual sensor network based system. The method may include obtaining project data descriptive of a virtual sensor network to be used in a control system of a machine; establishing a virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the project data. Each virtual sensor may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include recording model information, measurement data, and performance information of the virtual sensor network including the plurality of virtual sensors; creating one or more calibration certificates of the virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the model information, the measurement data, and the performance information; and generating a documentation package associated with the virtual sensor network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Mary L. Kesse, Amit Jayachandran, James Mason, Tim Felty, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Publication number: 20100186383
    Abstract: An engine exhaust aftertreatment system including an catalyst-based device configured to reduce an amount of NOx in exhaust gases produced by an engine using reductant stored in the catalyst-based device. The system includes a controller configured to determine a starting quantity of stored reductant in the catalyst-based device at the start of the engine. The starting quantity is based on a shutdown quantity of stored reductant in the catalyst-based device determined at the shutdown of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Lou Kesse, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Publication number: 20100050025
    Abstract: A method for providing a virtual sensor network based system. The method may include obtaining project data descriptive of a virtual sensor network to be used in a control system of a machine; establishing a virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the project data. Each virtual sensor may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include recording model information, measurement data, and performance information of the virtual sensor network including the plurality of virtual sensors; creating one or more calibration certificates of the virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the model information, the measurement data, and the performance information; and generating a documentation package associated with the virtual sensor network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Mary L. Kesse, Amit Jayachandran, James Mason, Tim Felty, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Publication number: 20100004901
    Abstract: A method for transforming machine sensor data between a time domain and a combustion pulse domain is disclosed. The method may include determining a number of pulse events per rotation of a shaft and determining a sampling rate per pulse event. The method may also include sampling one or more sensors at the sampling rate per pulse event. The method also may include transforming the samples into the combustion pulse domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, James R. Mason, Amit Jayachandran, Mary Lou Kesse, Christopher L. Wynkoop