Patents Represented by Attorney Steven M Hanley
  • Patent number: 7731614
    Abstract: A differential assembly includes an electrically operated input device and a first planetary assembly in driving engagement with the input device. The first planetary assembly is drivingly connected to a first output assembly. A second planetary assembly is in driving engagement with the first planetary assembly and the second planetary assembly is drivingly connected to a second output assembly. The first planetary assembly co-acts with the second planetary assembly to provide substantially the same torque to the first and second output assemblies and the first and second planetary assemblies include axes of rotation substantially aligned with an axis of rotation of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kent A. Casey, James E. Winzeler
  • Patent number: 7210585
    Abstract: An edge filter assembly is disclosed. The edge filter assembly may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The edge filter assembly may further include a filter element disposed within the housing including first and second filter plates and first and second spacers disposed between the first and second filter plates. The spacers and filter plates may be configured and arranged to form a flow channel extending generally radially within the housing and defined between the first and second filter plates and the first and second spacers. The flow channel may have an inner flow gate and an outer flow gate. The inner flow gate may be disposed radially inward of the outer flow gate and may have a different cross-sectional configuration than the outer flow gate. The first filter plate may have an axial projection extending therefrom generally aligned with a fluid path within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Thomas J Hajek
  • Patent number: 7182708
    Abstract: A final drive assembly for transmitting torque between an input and an output includes a compound gear assembly. The compound gear assembly includes at least three planetary gear trains and is in driving engagement with the input. Each planetary gear train of the at least three planetary gear trains is adapted to coactively and drivingly engage the output, wherein torque generated by the input is distributed to the output by each of the planetary gear trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: James E. Winzeler
  • Patent number: 6848255
    Abstract: A fan drive system includes a pump, at least one implement arrangement in fluid communication with the pump and a fan drive unit driveably connected to the pump. The fan drive unit is in fluid communication with the pump through a modulation valve. A signal operator is structured and arranged to receive at least one implement signal and a fan drive signal and generate a load signal output, wherein the pump is adapted to modify an output flow of the pump in response to the load signal. A control valve is urged to respond under the influence of a sensed condition and is in fluid communication with the modulation valve and the signal operator through a signal conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Michael P. Chiaramonte
  • Patent number: 6640950
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission is provided. A command is received to engage a clutch having a chamber. A control valve is opened to allow pressurized fluid to flow from a fluid supply line into the clutch chamber. The pressure of the fluid within the fluid supply line is monitored as fluid flows through the control valve to enter the clutch chamber. A rate of change in the volume of fluid entering the chamber is determined based on the sensed pressure of the fluid within the fluid supply line. A fill point of the clutch chamber is detected when the rate of change in the volume of fluid entering the chamber is less than a volume differential threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith F. Harvey, Javad Hosseini, Ken Liesener, Brad McCunn, Gregory Menke
  • Patent number: 6631653
    Abstract: A single lever control assembly that limits motion due to the inherent design of the assembly. In other words, no additional components are required to limit the motion of the single lever control assembly. The assembly includes two U-shaped members each having a base and parallel legs extending from the base, a lever connected to one of the U-shaped members and a pivot block interconnecting the parallel legs for allowing the U-shaped members to rotate relative to one another. The assembly has at least one of the parallel legs having a projection that engages one of the parallel legs of the other U-shaped member. In general, the single lever control assembly is a type of modified universal joint whose movement is limited by a projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad T. Brickner, John R. Connolly, Paul Gilbert, Thomas J. Hajek, Jr., Rudy V. Mills, David P. Smith
  • Patent number: 6616575
    Abstract: A drive line assembly for a work machine is disclosed. The drive line assembly includes an engine driving an engine output shaft and an engine speed sensor which generates engine speed signals indicative of a speed of the engine output shaft. The drive line assembly further includes a fuel injector operable to regulate fuel flow to the engine and a transmission driven by the engine output shaft and having a number of gear ratios. The drive line assembly yet further includes a controller operable to store a predetermined maximum efficiency curve of engine speed versus torque output and determine the engine speed from the engine speed signals. The controller is further operable to limit the fuel flow the fuel injector supplies to the engine to cause the engine to operate along the predetermined maximum efficiency curve for the engine speed. The controller is yet further operable to control shift points between the number of gear ratios based on the predetermined maximum efficiency curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Timothy A. Lorentz
  • Patent number: 6557822
    Abstract: A flow amplifying poppet valve is useful in hydraulic circuits requiring low leakage when in a loaded condition. Undesirable pressure fluctuations effect the stability of the poppet. Tilting of the poppet valve within the bore increases friction that degrades repeatability. The subject invention provides a flow amplifying poppet valve that dampens valve oscillation caused by pressure fluctuations and provides for a constant guide length to prevent poppet valve tilting in the bore. The flow amplifying poppet valve assembly comprises a poppet valve slidably disposed within a bore that includes a poppet seat for engaging the valve seat to meter the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The poppet valve and bore have radially overlapping shoulders movable axially toward and away from each other to define a pressure chamber that accumulates fluid for dampening poppet valve oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kazunori Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6509733
    Abstract: The present fluid cylinder includes a cylinder body having a cylindrical internal cavity therein with a longitudinal axis therethrough, the internal cavity being adapted for disposition of a piston and rod assembly for axial movement therein. The cylinder includes a member such as an end cap enclosing an axial end of the internal cavity, the member having a sensor port or passage therethrough extending between an internal opening communicating with the internal cavity and an external opening. A sensor is disposed in the internal opening of the sensor port or passage, and a sensor electronics module is disposed therein between the sensor and the external opening. The sensor is operable for sensing an axial distance of the piston or the rod from a predetermined location when disposed in the internal cavity and outputting signals representative of the distance to the sensor electronics module which includes circuitry for retrieving the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James F. Blubaugh, Hans P. Dietz, Wayne W. Lark, David J. McIntyre, Thomas G. Skinner, Sean P. Wiltz
  • Patent number: 6343250
    Abstract: A transmission assembly includes a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the pump, a speed sensor operable to sense the speed of an output shaft of the motor, a first actuator for setting displacement of the pump in a positive displacement range in response to a first actuator command and a second actuator for setting displacement of the pump in a negative displacement range in response to a second actuator command. A controller is operable to transmit first actuator commands to the first actuator and transmit second actuator commands to the second actuator in response to operator inputs. The operator inputs require that the displacement of the pump to move from the positive displacement range to the negative displacement range. The controller generates first actuator commands which cause the first actuator to set the displacement to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Kuras, Charles E. Rose
  • Patent number: 6321534
    Abstract: A ride control system adapted for use in a fluid system of a machine to cushion the ride of the machine, the machine having a frame with an actuator arrangement disposed between the frame and a load to raise the load relative to the frame, the actuator arrangement having a raise port and being operative in a raise mode to raise the load to a desired height in response to pressurized fluid being directed to the raise port from a source of the pressurized fluid, the ride control system including an accumulator arrangement and a valve arrangement connected between the accumulator arrangement, the actuator arrangement, and the source of pressurized fluid, and operative to selectively connect the accumulator arrangement to the raise port of the actuator arrangement when in the raise mode while maintaining the load at the desired height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. A'Hearn, Thomas J. Hajek, Jr., Michael D. Hudson, Lawrence F. Schexnayder, Srikrishnan T. Tolappa