Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm S. Michael Patton
  • Patent number: 6634445
    Abstract: A skid steer vehicle includes a chassis mounted on four sprung suspensions that are controlled by an electronic controller. The controller monitors the speed of the vehicle and locks the suspensions when the vehicle falls below a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Dix, Hong-Chin Lin, Brian E. Felsing, Troy D. Bateman, Anthony J. Lamela, Daniel B. Shore
  • Patent number: 6584710
    Abstract: A skid steer vehicle with sprung suspensions is configured to lock the suspensions whenever the operator manipulates a manual control that generates a signal to move the loader arms or the bucket of the vehicle. The operator control, such as a joystick, sends a signal to an electronic controller indicating that the operator has moved the control and is thereby requesting the loader arms or bucket to move. The electronic controller responds to this signal by moving the loader arms or bucket and simultaneously locking the suspensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Chin Lin, Peter J. Dix, Troy D. Bateman, Brian E. Felsing, Anthony J. Lamela, Daniel B. Shore
  • Patent number: 6571190
    Abstract: A computer calibration method and apparatus for calibrating one or more auxiliary hydraulic valves on a work vehicle includes the steps of selecting a first auxiliary hydraulic valve, applying a valve opening signal to that valve, measuring a pressure in a flow restricted signal circuit coupled to the valve, comparing the first pressure with a predetermined pressure to see if the valve is cracked open and if the valve is not cracked open, incrementing the signal to a second level and repeating the foregoing steps until the first valve cracks open. The final step is saving a value indicative of the signal at which the valve just cracked open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Yanming Hou, Guy T. Stoever, David E. Susag
  • Patent number: 6456898
    Abstract: A press monitoring and control system includes a press machine, a press configuration module and a press controller. The press machine has a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The press configuration module includes an input module that processes a set of input data corresponding to a particular job and generates a data signal corresponding to the set of input data. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the press configuration module. The controller processes the data signal, compares the data signal to a set of parameters corresponding to the particular job, and generates at least one servo signal to adjust at least one servo in response to the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Modesto, Robert Wojczak, Scott Krupp, Yvonne Luzney, Lyle J. Riffel, Thomas P. Zbikowski, Robert B. Mech