Patents Represented by Attorney Steve M Hanley
  • Patent number: 6609716
    Abstract: A wiper seal for a hydraulic component is provided. The wiper seal includes a support member with a first leg that has an inner surface, a first end, and a second end and that extends substantially parallel to a reference axis. The support member further includes a second leg that has an outer surface extending substantially perpendicular to the reference axis from the first end of the first leg. The wiper seal also includes a body portion that defines an opening therethrough and includes an outer peripheral surface configured to receive the inner surface of the first leg of the support member. A first radial face extends substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the second leg and a second radial face extends generally perpendicular to the reference axis from the second end of the first leg of the support member. The second radial face includes a cutout defining a first cavity. An inner surface defines a first sealing lip adjacent the first radial face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony David Friend, Steven Louis Arianoutsos, Bart James Ferrero
  • Patent number: 6609369
    Abstract: A pressure compensator for use in a control system for an electro hydraulic-implemented work element being operated through the use of operator input control mechanisms generating operator input signals upon the application thereof, the control system including an actuator coupled thereto for controlling the operation thereof, the pressure compensator determining a pressure compensator coefficient to be applied to an operator input signal to compensate for changes of pressure drop across a valve in communication with the actuator. The pressure compensator coefficient is used to produce an input flow control signal for inputting to the valve to control the amount of hydraulic fluid that flows therethrough to the actuator so that a desired velocity of the actuator is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Douglas W. Koehler, Michael R. Schwab, Jiao Zhang
  • Patent number: 6596792
    Abstract: This thermoplastic composition and process for making articles of the same includes a thermoplastic matrix that includes a resin and filler materials wherein the filler materials includes a combination of fibers, at least one lubricant, and thermally conductive material, for improving tribological performance of thermoplastic materials. In the alternative, a thermally conductive lubricant may be substituted for the combination of the lubricant and the thermally conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Kristy J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6572344
    Abstract: A fluid translating device is provided that includes a first member having fluid inlet/outlet ports and a second member having a plurality of pistons disposed therein secured to a stationary central shaft. A camplate and port plate is disposed in the fluid translating device about the stationary central shaft and located between the first and second members. The camplate is in communication with the fluid inlet/outlet ports and the plurality of pistons is in mating contact with the port plate. An outer input/output member is secured about the camplate and is rotatably disposed about the first and second members to form a compact arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hajek, Jr., David P. Smith
  • Patent number: 6564830
    Abstract: An accumulator assembly for managing pressurized fluid includes a housing and a partition provided in the housing moveable in response to fluid pressure imparted on the partition. A deflection member is disposed in the housing and is displaceable between a first position and a second position. The deflection member includes at least one deflection element including a first end and a second end and a flexing portion therebetween. The deflection member provides a resistive force between the first and the second positions of the deflection member in response to movement of the partition. The resistive force is substantially constant between the first and said second positions of the deflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: David P. Smith
  • Patent number: 6564915
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a PTO clutch of a transmission subject to a varying inertial load. The method includes providing a signal to a pressure control valve selectively engaged with the PTO clutch configured to engage a drive source of the transmission with an implement. The signal to the pressure control valve is modulated based on a single predetermined profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Timothy A. Lorentz, Kevin A. Vernagus
  • Patent number: 6546957
    Abstract: A joystick controller is provided in a hydraulic circuit having a pair of hydraulic actuators and oriented with respect to the operator so that movement of a control lever of the joystick controller relative to a reference axis oriented perpendicular to the operator results in control signals being generated and delivered to the first and second main control valves so that the respective cylinders are moved in a direction that is intuitive to the operator. For example, forward movement of the control lever results in both hydraulic actuators moving in the same forward or downward direction and movement of the control lever rearwardly results in both actuators moving in the rearward or upward direction. Likewise, movement of the control lever along an axis that is oriented forty five degrees from the reference axis results in control of one of the actuators independent of the other one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hajek, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6548573
    Abstract: A water and mud repellant compound is provided for frictionally engaged rubber surfaces, such as treads, and, in particular, to a compound for use in the manufacture of a rubber track belt on a mobile track system of a tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Carl H. Rempert
  • Patent number: 6530859
    Abstract: A final drive assembly for transmitting torque from a drive source to an output device is provided. The final drive assembly includes a non-rotatable housing, a rotatable shaft defining an outer surface, a gear assembly, at least one bearing assembly, and a bushing. The gear assembly is configured to be couple to the drive source. The gear assembly is coupled to the housing and coupled to the shaft through a rotatable member. The rotatable member is configured to transmit torque from the drive source to the shaft and to provide relative radial movement between the shaft and the rotatable member. The bearing assembly is coupled to the housing and configured to rotatably support the rotatable member. The bushing is radially disposed between the rotatable member and the outer surface of the shaft. The bushing, which is configured to transmit substantially all of an external load exerted on the shaft to the rotatable member, is fixedly coupled to one of the rotatable member or the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Michael W. Boston, Randall R. Bendtsen
  • Patent number: 6517080
    Abstract: A material comprised of two different polymers so that the material exhibits anisotropic properties. The anisotropic properties exhibit hardness and wear resistance along with flexibility. The anisotropic material is made up of a hard segment polymer and a soft segment polymer having contact with each other. This anisotropic material can be used to make seals, which exhibit these same properties and are therefore appropriate for use in high-pressure situations, where they will have a longer life than seals currently on the market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Pressler
  • Patent number: 6447423
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) an input shaft driven by an engine, (ii) an output shaft, (iii) an operator input for generating speed commands, and (iv) a controller operable to receive said speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. An upper transmission ratio limit is defined by first engine speed and a lower transmission ratio limit is defined by a second engine speed. When the speed command requires a transmission ratio command greater than the upper transmission ratio limit, the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the upper transmission ratio limit, whereas when the speed command requires a transmission ratio command less than the lower transmission ratio limit the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the lower transmission ratio limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Howard N. Cannon, Larry E. Kendrick
  • Patent number: 6424902
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission includes an input shaft driven by an engine, an output shaft, an operator input for generating speed commands and a controller operable to receive the speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. Torque of the output shaft is limited in a torque limited region near zero speed of the output shaft and the transmission ratio command is modified in the torque limited region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Kuras
  • Patent number: 6402660
    Abstract: A transmission assembly driven by an engine is disclosed. The transmission assembly includes a hydrostatic transmission having a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, a mechanical transmission coupled to the hydrostatic transmission for selecting a first gear range and a second gear range, and a controller for receiving operator inputs and generating a displacement command operable to control a displacement of the variable displacement pump. The controller determines the actual displacement. The controller determines a displacement shift level from the actual displacement. The controller executes a shift from the first gear range to the second gear range when the actual displacement reaches displacement shift level. A method of controlling a transmission assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Cronin, Brian D. Kuras
  • Patent number: 6385970
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling load on an engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuously variable transmission driven by the engine. The apparatus further includes an engine speed sensor being adapted to sense the output speed of the engine and produce an engine speed signal indicative of the engine output speed and a travel speed sensor being adapted to sense the travel speed of the machine and produce a travel speed signal indicative of the machine travel speed. The apparatus yet further includes an electronic controller operable to compare the engine speed signal to an underspeed value and produce an integral error signal indicative of the difference between the engine speed signal and the underspeed value, supply an integral gain value based on the machine travel speed, modify the integral error signal through a proportional plus integral feedback controller to produce an underspeed request signal, and produce a command signal based on the underspeed request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Kuras, Charles E. Rose, Kevin J. Lueschow
  • Patent number: 6357230
    Abstract: A hydraulic ride control system is disclosed and adapted to control the ride of a machine having a load. The ride control includes an accumulator arrangement that is selectively connected with the actuator that is carrying the load to provide a cushion ride during traveling and to enable the pressure in the accumulator arrangement to be maintained substantially the same as the pressure in the actuator when raising the load and to permit the pressure in the accumulator arrangement to be lowered to that of the pressure in the actuator in the event the load is lessened. The ride control system also provides an arrangement that permits the accumulator arrangement to be bled down whenever the machine becomes disabled or when the machine is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. A'Hearn, David J. Carlson, Thomas J. Hajek, Jr., Andy Hatcher, Michael D. Hudson, Patrick Quinn, Srikrishnan T. Tolappa