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).
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Patent number: 11389953Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Zhijun Cai, Daniel P. Sergison, Daniel J. Martinez, Corey L. Gorman, Rustin G. Metzger, Eric A. Reiners
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Patent number: 11353111Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20200256462Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20200246967Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Zhijun CAI, Daniel P. SERGISON, Daniel J. MARTINEZ, Corey L. GORMAN, Rustin G. METZGER, Eric A. REINERS
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Publication number: 20170175867Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael Gross, Randall T Anderson, Rustin G Metzger, Matthew T Bober, Amogh A Deo, Guillaume Raffin, Robert A Jackson
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Patent number: 9347554Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin G. Metzger, Carl Moberg, Corwin E. Storer, Paul A. Dvorak
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Publication number: 20150210156Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Avinash R. Manubolu, Vivekanandhan Sundararaj, Rustin G. Metzger
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Patent number: 8948984Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
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Publication number: 20140260221Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin G. Metzger, Carl Moberg, Corwin E. Storer, Paul A. Dvorak
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Publication number: 20130317695Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Caterpillar INc.Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
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Patent number: 8543298Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault
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Publication number: 20120310490Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Kontz, Jeffrey L. Kuehn, Rustin G. Metzger, David E. Ault