Patents by Inventor Randal N. Peterson

Randal N. Peterson 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: 9145660
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and a control valve configured to direct fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a main relief valve movable away from a closed position to pass pressurized fluid to the tank when a pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a first threshold pressure, and a controller in communication with the pump. The controller may be configured to selectively reduce a displacement of the pump after the main relief valve has moved away from the closed position when the pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a second threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Randal N. Peterson, Aleksandar M. Egelja, Rustu Cesur
  • Patent number: 9086081
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the swing motor, and the tank. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the swing motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the swing motor, at least one accumulator valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input indicative of a difference between desired and actual speeds of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating based on the difference. The controller may also be configured to control the at least one accumulator valve to cause the accumulator to selectively receive or supply pressurized fluid only when the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Rustu Cesur, Bryan J. Hillman, Peter Spring, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Randal N. Peterson, Dayao Chen
  • Patent number: 9068575
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool movable to perform an excavation cycle having a plurality of segments, a motor configured to swing the work tool during the excavation cycle, and a pump configured to pressurize fluid directed to drive the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have at least one accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor and to discharge fluid to the motor during the plurality of segments, and a controller configured to implement a plurality of modes of operation. Each of the plurality of modes of operation includes a different combination of segments during which the at least one accumulator receives and discharges fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Pengfei Ma, Randal N. Peterson, Rustu Cesur
  • Publication number: 20150101164
    Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Pengfei MA, Jiao ZHANG, Tonglin SHANG, Peter SPRING, Dayao CHEN, Salik A. SYED, John FERRAZ, JR., Randal N. PETERSON
  • Patent number: 8919113
    Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Pengfei Ma, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Dayao Chen, Salik A. Syed, John Ferraz, Jr., Randal N. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8850806
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool movable through segments of an excavation cycle, a motor configured to swing the work tool during the excavation cycle, at least one accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor and to discharge fluid to the motor during the excavation cycle, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input regarding a current excavation cycle of the work tool, and make a determination based on the input that the current excavation cycle is associated with one of a set of known modes of operation. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one accumulator to receive fluid and discharge fluid during different segments of the excavation cycle based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Pengfei Ma, Randal N. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20140060020
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and a control valve configured to direct fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a main relief valve movable away from a closed position to pass pressurized fluid to the tank when a pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a first threshold pressure, and a controller in communication with the pump. The controller may be configured to selectively reduce a displacement of the pump after the main relief valve has moved away from the closed position when the pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a second threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Randal N. PETERSON, Aleksandar M. EGELJA, Rustu CESUR
  • Publication number: 20140060024
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the swing motor, and the tank. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the swing motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the swing motor, at least one accumulator valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input indicative of a difference between desired and actual speeds of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating based on the difference. The controller may also be configured to control the at least one accumulator valve to cause the accumulator to selectively receive or supply pressurized fluid only when the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Pengfei MA, Tonglin SHANG, Rustu CESUR, Bryan J. HILLMAN, Peter SPRING, Lawrence J. TOGNETTI, Randal N. PETERSON, Dayao CHEN
  • Publication number: 20130000289
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool movable to perform an excavation cycle having a plurality of segments, a motor configured to swing the work tool during the excavation cycle, and a pump configured to pressurize fluid directed to drive the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have at least one accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor and to discharge fluid to the motor during the plurality of segments, and a controller configured to implement a plurality of modes of operation. Each of the plurality of modes of operation includes a different combination of segments during which the at least one accumulator receives and discharges fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Pengfei Ma, Randal N. Peterson, Rustu Cesur
  • Publication number: 20130000094
    Abstract: An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Pengfei MA, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Dayao Chen, Salik A. Syed, John Ferraz, JR., Randal N. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20130004280
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool movable through segments of an excavation cycle, a motor configured to swing the work tool during the excavation cycle, at least one accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor and to discharge fluid to the motor during the excavation cycle, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input regarding a current excavation cycle of the work tool, and make a determination based on the input that the current excavation cycle is associated with one of a set of known modes of operation. The controller may be further configured to cause the at least one accumulator to receive fluid and discharge fluid during different segments of the excavation cycle based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Tonglin Shang, Peter Spring, Pengfei Ma, Randal N. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20120304944
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine, a primary pump coupled to the engine, and a motor fluidly connected to the primary pump. The engine system further includes a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the engine, the heat exchanger configured to accept heated coolant from the engine and deliver cooled coolant to the engine. The engine system also includes a fan driven by the motor in either a forward or a reverse mode of operation, the fan configured to pull air toward the heat exchanger in a first direction during the forward mode of operation to assist in cooling the coolant, and to push air toward the heat exchanger in a second direction opposite the first direction during the reverse mode of operation. The engine system further includes a controller configured to operate the fan in the reverse mode of operation in response to a sensed temperature of the coolant and a speed of the fan in the forward mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan E. Nelson, Randal N. Peterson, Jeremy T. Peterson