Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Palmer

Thomas G. Palmer 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: 9014931
    Abstract: A system for selecting shift schedules of a transmission of a vehicle configured to change gears according to two or more shift schedules includes a controller. The controller is configured to estimate mass of the vehicle based on a plurality of accelerations of the vehicle from a standstill, and estimate a road load of the vehicle based on the estimated mass. The controller is also configured to estimate a grade of terrain over which the vehicle is travelling based on the estimated mass of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to select between at least a first shift schedule and a second shift schedule based on at least one of the estimated mass of the vehicle, characteristics of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, the estimated grade of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, and functions capable of being performed by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Palmer, James H. DeVore
  • Patent number: 8849528
    Abstract: A system for selecting shift schedules of a transmission of a vehicle includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of acceleration of the vehicle prior to a change of a gear of the transmission. The controller is further configured to estimate tractive effort of the vehicle following the change of the gear of the transmission, the tractive effort estimation being based on at least an estimation of a road load on the vehicle. The controller is further configured to select between a first shift schedule and a second shift schedule based on the tractive effort estimation, wherein, if the tractive effort estimation is less than a threshold value, the controller selects the first shift schedule, and if the tractive effort estimation is at least equal to the threshold value, the controller selects the second shift schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20140172253
    Abstract: A system for selecting shift schedules of a transmission of a vehicle configured to change gears according to two or more shift schedules includes a controller. The controller is configured to estimate mass of the vehicle based on a plurality of accelerations of the vehicle from a standstill, and estimate a road load of the vehicle based on the estimated mass. The controller is also configured to estimate a grade of terrain over which the vehicle is travelling based on the estimated mass of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to select between at least a first shift schedule and a second shift schedule based on at least one of the estimated mass of the vehicle, characteristics of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, the estimated grade of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, and functions capable of being performed by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. PALMER, James H. DeVORE
  • Publication number: 20130173124
    Abstract: A system for selecting shift schedules of a transmission of a vehicle includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of acceleration of the vehicle prior to a change of a gear of the transmission. The controller is further configured to estimate tractive effort of the vehicle following the change of the gear of the transmission, the tractive effort estimation being based on at least an estimation of a road load on the vehicle. The controller is further configured to select between a first shift schedule and a second shift schedule based on the tractive effort estimation, wherein, if the tractive effort estimation is less than a threshold value, the controller selects the first shift schedule, and if the tractive effort estimation is at least equal to the threshold value, the controller selects the second shift schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas G. Palmer