Patents by Inventor Rustin G. Metzger

Rustin G. Metzger 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: 11389953
    Abstract: A construction system includes an excavator having a hydraulically controlled linkage and a hydraulic robot. The hydraulic robot includes a plurality of arms extending from a base, each arm having a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic robot further includes a robot control system directing movement of the plurality of arms and an end effector platform movable by rotation of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Cai, Daniel P. Sergison, Daniel J. Martinez, Corey L. Gorman, Rustin G. Metzger, Eric A. Reiners
  • Patent number: 11353111
    Abstract: A rotary mixer can include a frame, a rotor attached to the frame, four wheels attached to the frame for moving the rotary mixer, and a drive system for driving the four wheels, the drive system can include four independent hydrostatic drive loops, each of the independent hydrostatic drive loops associated with one of the wheels such that each one of the independent hydrostatic drive loops independently drives one of the four wheels; wherein the drive system includes a pressure balance mode of operation for relatively good traction ground or road conditions, and a wheel speed synchronization mode of operation for relatively poor traction ground or road conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Olson, Corwin E. Storer, Ryan A. Enot, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Rustin G. Metzger, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Publication number: 20200256462
    Abstract: A rotary mixer can include a frame, a rotor attached to the frame, four wheels attached to the frame for moving the rotary mixer, and a drive system for driving the four wheels, the drive system can include four independent hydrostatic drive loops, each of the independent hydrostatic drive loops associated with one of the wheels such that each one of the independent hydrostatic drive loops independently drives one of the four wheels; wherein the drive system includes a pressure balance mode of operation for relatively good traction ground or road conditions, and a wheel speed synchronization mode of operation for relatively poor traction ground or road conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Olson, Corwin E. Storer, Ryan A. Enot, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Rustin G. Metzger, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Publication number: 20200246967
    Abstract: A construction system includes an excavator having a hydraulically controlled linkage and a hydraulic robot. The hydraulic robot includes a plurality of arms extending from a base, each arm having a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic robot further includes a robot control system directing movement of the plurality of arms and an end effector platform movable by rotation of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CAI, Daniel P. SERGISON, Daniel J. MARTINEZ, Corey L. GORMAN, Rustin G. METZGER, Eric A. REINERS
  • Publication number: 20170175867
    Abstract: A hydro-mechanical transmission assembly includes a hydrostatic pump-motor assembly having a variable displacement hydrostatic pump. The pump has a primary input shaft configured to be operatively driven by a prime mover. The hydrostatic pump-motor assembly also includes a hydraulic motor fluidly coupled to and operatively driven by the hydrostatic pump. The motor has a primary output shaft that is bi-directionally rotatable with change in displacement of the pump. The primary output shaft is coupled to a secondary input shaft of a multi-speed transmission, wherein the multi-speed transmission includes one of: a counter-shaft transmission system, a multi-stage planetary gear set, and a power-shift transmission system that includes a combination of the counter-shaft transmission system and the multi-stage planetary gear set. This way, a secondary output shaft of the multi-speed transmission is configured to operate with discrete speed ratios in relation to the primary output shaft of the hydraulic motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gross, Randall T Anderson, Rustin G Metzger, Matthew T Bober, Amogh A Deo, Guillaume Raffin, Robert A Jackson
  • Patent number: 9347554
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive system for a machine is disclosed. The hydrostatic drive system includes a pump, a hydraulic motor configured to receive a pressurized fluid from the pump and a controller operably connected to the pump and the hydraulic motor. The controller is configured to receive an input signal indicative of a current machine speed and a desired machine speed. Further, the controller is configured to output a motor displacement command signal and a pump displacement command signal to adjust a displacement of the hydraulic motor and the pump respectively based on the input signal to maintain at least one of constant machine speed or constant acceleration or constant deceleration during adjustment of the pump displacement and the motor displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rustin G. Metzger, Carl Moberg, Corwin E. Storer, Paul A. Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20150210156
    Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of fans associated with a cooling package is provided. The method includes providing a first airflow through a first heat exchanger using a first fan. The method includes regulating a speed of the first fan. The method also includes providing a second airflow through a second heat exchanger using a second fan. The second heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first heat exchanger. The method further includes regulating a speed of the second fan. The regulation of the speed of the second fan is configured to control a recirculation of at least a portion of the first airflow through the second fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Vivekanandhan Sundararaj, Rustin G. Metzger
  • Patent number: 8948984
    Abstract: An operator interface assembly for a machine is disclosed. The operator interface assembly comprises a base, an operator input device operable to move in a first direction in relation to the base to a second position and a third position, a first biasing member including a first spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the first spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at a first position and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, a second biasing member including a second spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the second spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at the second position, the second position different than the first position, and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, and a position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
  • Publication number: 20140260221
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive system for a machine is disclosed. The hydrostatic drive system includes a pump, a hydraulic motor configured to receive a pressurized fluid from the pump and a controller operably connected to the pump and the hydraulic motor. The controller is configured to receive an input signal indicative of a current machine speed and a desired machine speed. Further, the controller is configured to output a motor displacement command signal and a pump displacement command signal to adjust a displacement of the hydraulic motor and the pump respectively based on the input signal to maintain at least one of constant machine speed or constant acceleration or constant deceleration during adjustment of the pump displacement and the motor displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rustin G. Metzger, Carl Moberg, Corwin E. Storer, Paul A. Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20130317695
    Abstract: An operator interface assembly for a machine is disclosed. The operator interface assembly comprises a base, an operator input device operable to move in a first direction in relation to the base to a second position and a third position, a first biasing member including a first spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the first spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at a first position and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, a second biasing member including a second spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the second spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at the second position, the second position different than the first position, and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, and a position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar INc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
  • Patent number: 8543298
    Abstract: An operator interface assembly for a machine includes a base, an operator input device, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The operator input device is operable to move in a direction in relation to the base. The first biasing member is operable to contact the operator input device at a first position and resist movement of the operator input device in the direction. The second biasing member is operable to contact the operator input device at a second position and resist movement of the operator input device in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
  • Publication number: 20120310490
    Abstract: An operator interface assembly for a machine includes a base, an operator input device, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The operator input device is operable to move in a direction in relation to the base. The first biasing member is operable to contact the operator input device at a first position and resist movement of the operator input device in the direction. The second biasing member is operable to contact the operator input device at a second position and resist movement of the operator input device in the direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault