Patents by Inventor Rex Glover
Rex Glover 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).
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Patent number: 11401754Abstract: Systems and methods for drill head position determination are disclosed. A method for determining a position of a drill head of a drilling machine may include: retrieving a stored rotational position of at least one sheave and a stored position of the drill head; measuring the rotational position of the at least one sheave using a sheave sensor; initially calibrating the rotational position of the at least one sheave before the drill head moves; dynamically determining the position of the drill head based on the rotational position of the at least one sheave while the drill head is moved; and storing the rotational position of the at least one sheave and the position of the drill head during a shutdown event of the drilling machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Carl J. Moberg, Rex A. Glover
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Patent number: 11384633Abstract: A drill head position determination system may include a mast, a drill head movably attached to the mast, and a drill drive assembly configured to move the drill head up and down along a length of the mast. The drill head may be configured to rotate a drill string. The drill drive assembly may include at least one sheave and a cable system wound about the at least one sheave. The drill head position determination system may further include a sheave sensor operatively coupled to the at least one sheave and configured to determine a position of the drill head based on a measured rotational position of the at least one sheave.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Fernando R. Gonzalez, Rex Glover, Stephen M. Hancock
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Patent number: 11220872Abstract: A drilling machine includes a mast, a rotary head movably coupled to the mast, a drill string component having a pair of opposed flat surfaces, and a securing structure including engagement surfaces shaped to engage the opposed flat surfaces and secure the drill string component from rotating. The drilling machine also includes a controller configured to track a rotational location of the flat surfaces of the drill string component during rotation of the drill string component. The controller is further configured to receive tracking information from a sensor associated with the rotary head and control the rotary head to align the opposed flat surfaces for engagement by the securing structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Timo Diekmann, Ross L. Hoult, Carl J. Moberg, Rex Glover, Hyppolite Kuissi, Samuel C. Taylor, Ahsan Shahid
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Publication number: 20210222542Abstract: Systems and methods for drill head position determination are disclosed. A method for determining a position of a drill head of a drilling machine may include: retrieving a stored rotational position of at least one sheave and a stored position of the drill head; measuring the rotational position of the at least one sheave using a sheave sensor; initially calibrating the rotational position of the at least one sheave before the drill head moves; dynamically determining the position of the drill head based on the rotational position of the at least one sheave while the drill head is moved; and storing the rotational position of the at least one sheave and the position of the drill head during a shutdown event of the drilling machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Carl J. MOBERG, Rex A. GLOVER
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Patent number: 10851590Abstract: A mobile drilling machine may include a drilling mast including a mast frame. The mobile drilling machine may further include a rotary head movably mounted on the mast frame, the rotary head controllable to rotate a drill string at a desired drill string rotation speed. The rotary head may further be controllable to move up and down the mast frame at a desired drill string feed speed. Additionally, the mobile drilling machine may include a joystick movable to control the desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed of the rotary head. A controller of the mobile drilling machine may be configured to receive a current desired drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed information from the joystick and lock the current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed upon activation of a switch mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLCInventors: Rex Glover, Ahsan Shahid, Hyppolite Kuissi
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Publication number: 20200370420Abstract: A drill head position determination system is disclosed. The drill head position determination system may include a mast, a drill head movably attached to the mast, and a drill drive assembly configured to move the drill head up and down along a length of the mast. The drill head may be configured to rotate a drill string. The drill drive assembly may include at least one sheave and a cable system wound about the at least one sheave. The drill head position determination system may further include a sheave sensor operatively coupled to the at least one sheave and configured to determine a position of the drill head based on a measured rotational position of the at least one sheave.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Fernando R. GONZALEZ, Rex GLOVER, Stephen M. HANCOCK
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Publication number: 20200308917Abstract: A drilling machine includes a mast, a rotary head movably coupled to the mast, a drill string component having a pair of opposed flat surfaces, and a securing structure including engagement surfaces shaped to engage the opposed flat surfaces and secure the drill string component from rotating. The drilling machine also includes a controller configured to track a rotational location of the flat surfaces of the drill string component during rotation of the drill string component. The controller is further configured to receive tracking information from a sensor associated with the rotary head and control the rotary head to align the opposed flat surfaces for engagement by the securing structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicants: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbHInventors: Timo Diekmann, Ross L. Hoult, Carl J. Moberg, Rex Glover, Hyppolite Kuissi, Samuel C. Taylor, Ahsan Shahid
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Patent number: 10683712Abstract: A method for monitoring a cable of an implement system. The implement system includes a drilling device, a tensioning device and the cable, the cable coupled to the drilling device and the tensioning device in a taut configuration to define a first length. The method includes determining, by a controller, an increment in the first length of the cable. The method further includes comparing, by the controller, the increment in the first length with a threshold value; and generating, by the controller, a warning signal if magnitude of the increment is greater than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Demick, Rex Glover
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Publication number: 20200173234Abstract: A mobile drilling machine may include a drilling mast including a mast frame. The mobile drilling machine may further include a rotary head movably mounted on the mast frame, the rotary head controllable to rotate a drill string at a desired drill string rotation speed. The rotary head may further be controllable to move up and down the mast frame at a desired drill string feed speed. Additionally, the mobile drilling machine may include a joystick movable to control the desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed of the rotary head. A controller of the mobile drilling machine may be configured to receive a current desired drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed information from the joystick and lock the current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed upon activation of a switch mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: Rex GLOVER, Ahsan SHAHID, Hyppolite KUISSI
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Publication number: 20190218902Abstract: A method for monitoring a cable of an implement system. The implement system includes a drilling device, a tensioning device and the cable, the cable coupled to the drilling device and the tensioning device in a taut configuration to define a first length. The method includes determining, by a controller, an increment in the first length of the cable. The method further includes comparing, by the controller, the increment in the first length with a threshold value; and generating, by the controller, a warning signal if magnitude of the increment is greater than the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Demick, Rex Glover
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Patent number: 10118656Abstract: A machine includes a front section having front wheels, a rear section having rear wheels, and a pivot that couples the front section to the rear section as well as a hydraulic steering circuit that moves the front section relative to the rear section about the pivot. The machine also includes a stabilizer and further includes a directional control valve that selectively depressurizes the hydraulic steering circuit according to a state of the stabilizer.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLCInventors: James Robert Szalko, Patrick W. Sullivan, Rex Glover, Justin B. Eaton, Paul A. Dvorak
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Patent number: 10046944Abstract: A system for managing an underground mining machine is disclosed. The system may include a reel-in switch located in an operator station configured to generate plurality of reel-in signals, and a reel-out switch located in the operator station configured to generate a reel-out signal. The system may additionally include an electronic controller in electrical communication with the reel-in switch and the reel-out switch. The electronic controller may be configured to receive the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch and enter into two or more reeling-in modes in response to the plurality of reel-in signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLCInventors: James R. Szalko, Rex A. Glover
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Publication number: 20170190356Abstract: A machine includes a front section having front wheels, a rear section having rear wheels, and a pivot that couples the front section to the rear section as well as a hydraulic steering circuit that moves the front section relative to the rear section about the pivot. The machine also includes a stabilizer and further includes a directional control valve that selectively depressurizes the hydraulic steering circuit according to a state of the stabilizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining America LLCInventors: James Robert Szalko, Patrick W. Sullivan, Rex Glover, Justin B. Eaton, Paul A. Dvorak
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Publication number: 20170190540Abstract: A system for managing an underground mining machine is disclosed. The system may include a reel-in switch located in an operator station configured to generate plurality of reel-in signals, and a reel-out switch located in the operator station configured to generate a reel-out signal. The system may additionally include an electronic controller in electrical communication with the reel-in switch and the reel-out switch. The electronic controller may be configured to receive the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch and enter into two or more reeling-in modes in response to the plurality of reel-in signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC.Inventors: James R. Szalko, Rex A. Glover
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Patent number: 7761254Abstract: A machine having an operator interface for requesting an action from an actuator of the machine includes a movable component of the operator interface. The movable component is movable among at least two positions. One of a magnet and a Hall effect sensor is positioned to move in response to movement of the movable component. The other of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor has a stationary position relative to the movable component. A pulse width modulator is operably coupled to the Hall effect sensor for producing a first pulse width modulated signal. The first pulse width modulated signal is altered in response to movement of one of the Hall effect sensor and the magnet relative to the other. An electronic controller is in communication with the pulse width modulator and the actuator and is configured to actuate the actuator in response to evaluation of the first pulse width modulated signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Stephen Fouts, Matthew Vande Wiele, Rex Glover, Curtis Johnson, Kenneth Her, Roger Obourn, Dan Shearer
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Publication number: 20080278218Abstract: A machine having an operator interface for requesting an action from an actuator of the machine includes a movable component of the operator interface. The movable component is movable among at least two positions. One of a magnet and a Hall effect sensor is positioned to move in response to movement of the movable component. The other of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor has a stationary position relative to the movable component. A pulse width modulator is operably coupled to the Hall effect sensor for producing a first pulse width modulated signal. The first pulse width modulated signal is altered in response to movement of one of the Hall effect sensor and the magnet relative to the other. An electronic controller is in communication with the pulse width modulator and the actuator and is configured to actuate the actuator in response to evaluation of the first pulse width modulated signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Stephen Fouts, Matthew Vande Wiele, Rex Glover, Curtis Johnson, Kenneth Her, Roger Obourn, Dan Shearer