Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Herrick

Thomas W. Herrick 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).

  • Apparatus for determining the position of a work implement
    Patent number: 5880681
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a work implement relative to an earthworking machine. An antenna is mounted to the machine and is oriented to transmit a high frequency signal toward the implement and receive a reflected signal back from the implement. An oscillator is electrically coupled to the antenna and energizes the antenna with electrical energy to generate the high frequency signal. The oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency responsive to the inductance of the antenna. A microprocessor based circuit receives the output signal of the oscillator and responsively determines the position of the work implement relative to the machine. The position of the work implement is a function of the frequency of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: George Codina, Thomas W. Herrick, David J. Urbanc