Patents by Inventor Lucas B. Waltz

Lucas B. Waltz 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).

  • Patent number: 9394151
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and control the operation of the at least one valve using the estimated movable assembly speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 9296598
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may measure an electric current flow into and/or out of the hydraulic system motor and reduce an operating speed of the hydraulic system motor if the electric current flow into and/or out of the hydraulic system motor is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 9290366
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a power unit; a work assembly coupled to the power unit comprising a first auxiliary device; and a fluid supply system. The fluid supply system may comprise: pump structure for supplying a fluid; a first manifold apparatus located on the power unit; a second manifold apparatus located on the work assembly; and fluid supply line structure coupled between the first and second manifolds. The first manifold may receive fluid from the pump structure and comprise valve structure for maintaining fluid pressure at an output port of the first manifold apparatus at a commanded pressure substantially equal to or greater than an operating pressure of the first auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Jones, Jr., Karl L. Dammeyer, Darrin R. Ihle, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20160011595
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, a method for environmental based localization may include capturing an input image of a ceiling comprising a plurality of skylights. Features can be extracted from the input image. The features can be grouped into a plurality of feature groups such that each of the feature groups is associated with one of the skylights. Line segments can be extracted from the features of each feature group, automatically, with one or more processors executing a feature extraction algorithm on each feature group separately. At least two selected lines of the line segments of each feature groups can be selected. A centerline for each of the feature groups can be determined based at least in part upon the two selected lines. The center line of each of the feature groups can be associated with one of the skylights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: CROWN EQUIPMENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Bell, Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Jacob Thomson
  • Patent number: 9206023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using unique landmarks to position industrial vehicles during start-up. In one embodiment, a method of using pre-positioned objects as landmarks to operate an industrial vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a start-up scenario from sensor data, wherein the start-up scenario comprises a unique marker start-up or a pre-positioned object start-up. in response to the identified start-up scenario, either a unique marker or pre-positioned object is identified within a physical environment, wherein the pre-positioned object or unique marker corresponds with a sub-area of the physical environment. The industrial vehicle pose is determined in response to the identity of the pre-positioned object or unique marker and the industrial vehicle is operated based on the determined industrial vehicle pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Lisa Wong, Andrew Evan Graham, Christopher W. Goode, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20150344278
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a first member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure first member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and may control the operation of the at least one valve using a comparison involving the estimated movable assembly speed and a determined speed, and the comparison may not involve use of an operator commanded speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 9170581
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, a method for environmental based localization may include capturing an input image of a ceiling comprising a plurality of skylights. Features can be extracted from the input image. The features can be grouped into a plurality of feature groups such that each of the feature groups is associated with one of the skylights. Line segments can be extracted from the features of each feature group, automatically, with one or more processors executing a feature extraction algorithm on each feature group separately. At least two selected lines of the line segments of each feature groups can be selected. A centerline for each of the feature groups can be determined based at least in part upon the two selected lines. The center line of each of the feature groups can be associated with one of the skylights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Mark Bell, Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Jacob Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150226560
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for presenting information from a management server on a mobile client device to facilitate the management of industrial vehicles. Embodiments of the system can include a plurality of industrial vehicles communicatively coupled to the management server, and a mobile client device communicatively coupled to the management server. The mobile client device can include a display, a wireless communication circuit, and one or more client processors. Encoded objects, vehicular objects, or combinations thereof can be presented upon the display of the mobile client device to present information from the management server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Lisa Wong
  • Publication number: 20150226561
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for presenting information from a management server on a mobile client device to facilitate the management of industrial vehicles. Embodiments of the system can include a plurality of industrial vehicles communicatively coupled to the management server, and a mobile client device communicatively coupled to the management server. The mobile client device can include a display, a wireless communication circuit, and one or more client processors. Encoded objects, vehicular objects, or combinations thereof can be presented upon the display of the mobile client device to present information from the management server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Lisa Wong
  • Publication number: 20150227862
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for showing information from a management server on a mobile client device to facilitate the management of industrial vehicles. Embodiments of the system can include a plurality of industrial vehicles communicatively coupled to the management server, and a mobile client device communicatively coupled to the management server. The mobile client device can include a display, a wireless communication circuit, and one or more client processors. Encoded objects, vehicular objects, or combinations thereof can be shown upon the display of the mobile client device to show information from the management server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Lisa Wong
  • Patent number: 9056754
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using dynamically placed pre-positioned objects as landmarks to operate an industrial vehicle is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Lisa Wong, Andrew Evan Graham, Christopher W. Goode, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 9002626
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a vehicular navigation control interface are included in the present disclosure. Some embodiments include a navigation system and a vehicle with a vehicle control module (VCM), a navigation control module (NCM), and a navigation control interface, where the VCM receives a manual command from an operator to implement a manual control function. In some embodiments the NCM receives an automatic command from the navigation system to implement an automatic control function via the VCM and the navigation control interface directly connects the VCM and the NCM to facilitate communication between the VCM and NCM for implementing automatic mode and for reporting implementation of a manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Company
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Bing Zheng, Thomas L. Mallak, Steve Mangette
  • Publication number: 20150094900
    Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, a method for environmental based localization may include capturing an input image of a ceiling comprising a plurality of skylights. Features can be extracted from the input image. The features can be grouped into a plurality of feature groups such that each of the feature groups is associated with one of the skylights. Line segments can be extracted from the features of each feature group, automatically, with one or more processors executing a feature extraction algorithm on each feature group separately. At least two selected lines of the line segments of each feature groups can be selected. A centerline for each of the feature groups can be determined based at least in part upon the two selected lines. The center line of each of the feature groups can be associated with one of the skylights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Mark Bell, Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Jacob Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150064668
    Abstract: Dynamic industrial vehicle monitoring for modification of vehicle operator behavior comprises identifying a metric that characterizes an event associated with the operation of an industrial vehicle, the metric having at least one behavior modification action and at least one performance parameter to evaluate the event against. Monitoring operation of the industrial vehicle is carried out for the event. Upon detecting an occurrence of the event, event data is recorded that characterizes a response of a vehicle operator to the event. The recorded event data is evaluated against at least one performance parameter associated with the corresponding metric to determine whether the vehicle operator demonstrated appropriate behavior for the event. A vehicle operator score is updated based upon the evaluation and the updated vehicle operator score is communicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Lewis H. Manci, Philip W. Swift, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 8935058
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and control the operation of the at least one valve using the estimated movable assembly speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 8924103
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided including: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further includes lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and calculate an updated pump volumetric efficiency using the estimated movable assembly speed and a determined movable assembly speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 8892294
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for providing vehicle control limits. One embodiment of a system includes a navigation system and a vehicle that includes a memory component that stores a program. Embodiments of the system are configured to receive an indication for automatic control of the vehicle, receive a route for the vehicle to reach a destination for completing a work order from the navigation system, and determine a vehicle limit, wherein the vehicle limit is based on a current state of the vehicle. Some embodiments are configured to communicate the vehicle limit from a vehicle control module (VCM) to a navigation control module (NCM), determine, via the NCM, an automatic command based on the destination and the vehicle limit and send the automatic command to a motor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Bing Zheng, Thomas L. Mallak, Steve Mangette
  • Publication number: 20140326542
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may measure an electric current flow into and/or out of the hydraulic system motor and reduce an operating speed of the hydraulic system motor if the electric current flow into and/or out of the hydraulic system motor is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20140326541
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided including: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further includes lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and calculate an updated pump volumetric efficiency using the estimated movable assembly speed and a determined movable assembly speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20140330488
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member; a movable assembly coupled to the support structure; a hydraulic system; and a control system. The support structure further comprises lift apparatus to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor, a pump coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and control the operation of the at least one valve using the estimated movable assembly speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Karl L. Dammeyer, Eric D. Holbrook, Darrin R. Ihle, Marc A. McClain, Lucas B. Waltz