Patents by Inventor Eric Matthew Gray

Eric Matthew Gray 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).

  • Circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders
    Patent number: 11578471
    Abstract: A circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders is disclosed. The circle drive system includes a hydraulic motor that is configured to receive a pressurized fluid and generate a torque for a rotation of a circle and a moldboard. The circle drive system also includes a gearbox to transfer the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to the circle. Further, the circle drive system includes a clutch connected to the hydraulic motor at one end and to the gearbox at another end. In addition, the circle drive system also includes a hydraulic circuit having a pressure relief valve to relieve the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the pressurized fluid exceeds a predefined threshold. The pressure relief valve thereby, limits the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to less than or equal to a torque capacity of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Gray, Ernest Everett Stoops, Nathaniel Keith Harshman
  • CIRCLE DRIVE SYSTEM WITH CLUTCH PROTECTION IN MOTOR GRADERS
    Publication number: 20220049456
    Abstract: A circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders is disclosed. The circle drive system includes a hydraulic motor that is configured to receive a pressurized fluid and generate a torque for a rotation of a circle and a moldboard. The circle drive system also includes a gearbox to transfer the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to the circle. Further, the circle drive system includes a clutch connected to the hydraulic motor at one end and to the gearbox at another end. In addition, the circle drive system also includes a hydraulic circuit having a pressure relief valve to relieve the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the pressurized fluid exceeds a predefined threshold. The pressure relief valve thereby, limits the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to less than or equal to a torque capacity of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Gray, Ernest Everett Stoops, Nathaniel Keith Harshman