Patents Examined by Michael Goodwin
  • Patent number: 11851832
    Abstract: A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Daniel Reed, Brian Joe Schlenker, Paul J Koenen
  • Patent number: 11846076
    Abstract: A self-propelled milling machine has a machine frame 4 supported by running gears 6A, 6B, a working device 5 provided on the machine frame 4 for working the ground, and a conveyor device 12 for removing material. The conveyor device 12 has a boom 13 which is mounted on the machine frame 4 so as to pivot about an axis of rotation X which is perpendicular to the machine frame. The pivoting apparatus 16 for the boom 13 is characterised by at least one mechanism 16A, 16B having a plurality of mechanism links and the joints A, B, C, D connecting them and at least one linear drive 17A, 17B for driving at least one of the mechanism links. The mechanism may be designed as a planar four-link pivot joint mechanism 16A, 16B, the machine frame 4 forming a mechanism link of the pivot joint mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventors: Winfried von Schönebeck, Sascha Schwippert
  • Patent number: 11840810
    Abstract: When removing portions of a work surface at a worksite with a machine (e.g., such as a cold planer), is useful to know the actual cut depths on each edge of the cold planer and/or the volume of material that has been removed from a work surface. However, determining actual cut depths and/or volume removed is difficult, costly, and can be inaccurate, resulting in increased costs and inefficiencies at the worksite. Accordingly, the present disclosure describes systems and methods for enabling automatic control of cut depth of a machine via a machine-controlled feedback loop and improved determinations of actual volume of material removed by the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Conwell K Rife, Eric Steven Engelmann
  • Patent number: 11821153
    Abstract: A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11813772
    Abstract: A concrete cutting machine, for wet and dry dual-use cutting, includes a saw blade, which is configured to cut concrete, a motor, which is configured to drive the saw blade to rotate about a first axis, and a bottom plate, which is configured to support the motor and the saw blade. The bottom plate is formed with a first cutting space for the saw blade to pass through. The concrete cutting machine further includes a sliding plate assembly, which is at least partially disposed in the first cutting space, to form a second cutting space smaller than the first cutting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bun Hiong Chua, Monteverde Richard, Ran Lan, Hua Zhang, Meixiong Lai
  • Patent number: 11802384
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an earth working method for removing earth material by means of a tool (14) rotating around a working axis (R); the rotating tool (14) being carried by a machine frame (20) of an earth working machine (10); the machine frame (20) standing on a substrate (U) by way of a rollable propelling unit (13) and being driven by a propulsion drive apparatus (25, HM) to perform a propelled motion relative to the substrate (U) in a propulsion direction (VR); the propulsion direction (VR) enclosing with the working axis (R) an angle (?) different from 90°; and the present invention further relates to an earth working machine embodied to execute the earth working method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Sebastian Winkels
  • Patent number: 11802385
    Abstract: A machine for road work for road work, the machine can comprise: a frame, a drive system including a power source carried by the frame, a milling system driven by the power source and a controller. The milling system can comprise: a rotor configured to rotate and remove an amount of material from a working area; a drive member coupling the rotor to be driven by the power source; a tensioner assembly configured to tension the drive member; and a sensor configured to measure the tension of the drive member. The controller can be configured to, in response to a signal received from the sensor, determine if the rotor has encountered an object capable of damaging the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Schlenker
  • Patent number: 11788412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for recovering a continuous miner arrangement from a tunnel. The system includes a coupler for coupling the continuous miner arrangement to a pulling apparatus. The pulling apparatus pulls the continuous miner arrangement from the tunnel. Advantageously, the pulling apparatus may pull the continuous miner arrangement from the tunnel, either fully or partially until the continuous miner arrangement may once again retract from the tunnel under its own power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: UNDERGROUND EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Mapp, Brian MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11767645
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine, having a milling drum housing having a sealing device which has a sealing element arranged in the working direction of the construction machine behind the milling drum, an adjustment device for adjusting the height position of the sealing element, and a controller for controlling the adjustment device of the sealing element. The sealing device has a scraper element, which is pivotably arranged on the sealing element such that the scraper element rests on the milled material and is pivoted in relation to the milling drum on the basis of the height of the milled material. The height position of the sealing element is adjusted on the basis of the pivot position of the scraper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Salz, Martin Quadt
  • Patent number: 11761156
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, stabilizer, recycler or surface miner, comprising a machine frame (2), and at least one working device (6), in particular milling drum, which is arranged in a housing (4) open towards the bottom that is at least partially closed on at least one side by at least one edge protector (8) height-adjustable relative to the machine frame (2), wherein, for the purpose of height adjustment, at least one first lifting device (10) is provided, the first end (15) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (16) of which is connected to the height-adjustable edge protector (8), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a second lifting device (12) is provided, the first end (18) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (20) of which is connected to a first end (22) of a transmission device (14), which is in turn connected, with a second end (24), to the height-adjustable edge p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Andreas Salz
  • Patent number: 11761334
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a current excitation source, a roadheader telescopic protection cylinder, an electric rotating apparatus, auxiliary cutting teeth, a cutting head entity, a transmission shaft, an optical fiber ring protective housing, an optical fiber ring, an optical fiber current sensor control unit and a recovery electrode. The apparatus transmits an auxiliary current Ie and a monitoring current Id to a coal seam. The auxiliary current Ie and the monitoring current Id are homologous currents that are incompatible, and the auxiliary current Ie squeezes the monitoring current Id, so the monitoring current Id monitors the environment of the coal seam. The monitoring current Id flows to the coal seam as, and a return current If flows through the transmission shaft and a roadheader expansion part. The optical fiber ring measures the return current If, when the roadheader is heading forward and encounters abnormal geological bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shaoyi Xu, Zhencai Zhu, Wei Li, Wenting Lu, Gang Shen, Songyong Liu, Fangfang Xing, Hongxiang Jiang, Lei Si
  • Patent number: 11746653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mining system. The system includes a continuous miner for forming plunge tunnels from a roadway. A flexible conveyor system is coupled to the continuous miner for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels. A controller is provided for controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path. Advantageously, the controller may control the drive and steering (including turning maneuvers) of the continuous miner and each conveyor module of the flexible conveyor system along the predetermined path to avoid striking either any adjacent equipment (e.g. another conveyor), or the ‘ribs’ of a plunge tunnel being mined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Underground Extraction Technologies Pty LTD
    Inventors: Michael Mapp, Brian MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11746481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ground milling machine, comprising: a machine frame supported by front and rear travel units and at least partially height-adjustable; a milling drum housing arranged on the machine frame, comprising a milling drum that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation perpendicular to the milling direction; a retaining device arranged in front of the milling drum housing in the milling direction with an adjustment device that enables the height adjustment of the retaining device in relation to the milling drum housing and the machine frame; and a ground contact device arranged in front of the milling drum housing in the milling direction with a contact runner and a mounting lever. The contact runner is adjustable in relation to the retaining device within a height-adjustment range and is mounted on the retaining device by way of the mounting lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventors: Gerome Dzomo, Thomas Thelen
  • Patent number: 11739624
    Abstract: Processes and configurations for subterranean resource extraction are provided. The processes include installing borehole strings, such as by drilling a plurality of boreholes, for example, first and second boreholes, that extend from a surface region into a resource deposit. The first and second boreholes are situated adjacent to each other. Portions of the first and second boreholes laterally extend in a penannularly fashion and connect terminally at a nodal space situated within the resource deposit. Carrier fluid is injected from the surface along fluid paths defined by the boreholes to in situ leach resource materials from the resource deposit into the carrier fluid, and carrier fluid containing the resource materials is brought back to surface for resource extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: 102062448 Saskatchewan Ltd.
    Inventors: Bradley V. A. Fettis, Donald Joseph Larmour, Don John Gendzwill
  • Patent number: 11732426
    Abstract: A method of removing cutting bits from a milling work machine includes engaging a cutting bit connected to a rotary drum of the machine with a bit removal tool, actuating the bit removal tool to disconnect the bit from the machine, sensing a plurality of characteristics of removing the bit from the machine, and determining that the bit has been disconnected from the machine based on the sensed characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Johnson, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 11725352
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle mounted hydro demolition system comprising ultra-high pressurized water through a rotating nozzle water jet for cutting concrete, including a water supply, a vacuum blower, and a vacuum container that has offset with a dewatering bag so that incoming water can be pumped off as wastewater. A remote control gives an operator immediate adjustments of the rotational speed of the nozzle; the transverse traversing speed of the nozzle; the forward advancement of the vehicle; the number of traverses the head traverses before the vehicle advances its predetermined step; the pressure of the high-pressure pump; the amount of vacuum cfm's the blowers are producing; the steering of the vehicle; and the traversing distance of the rotating nozzle. By manipulating the above parameters the depth of removal is predictable and provides a consistent depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Waterblasting LLC
    Inventor: James P. Crocker
  • Patent number: 11725351
    Abstract: A bearing component for mounting a replaceable milling drum on an earth working machine includes an annular connecting flange having a central axis. A bearing stem protrudes from the connecting flange axially in a first direction to a first axial end, the bearing stem having an outer surface including at least first and second cylindrical bearing surfaces axially spaced from each other. The bearing stem further includes a centering recess open at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, the centering recess including an opening angle decreasing in steps so that the centering recess tapers in the first direction, the centering recess forming a portion of the central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Karsten Buhr, Markus Frankemölle, Thomas Lehnert, Andreas Salz, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11725350
    Abstract: A method for controlling the height adjustment of a height-adjustable running gear of a self-propelled ground milling machine, and to a ground milling machine, in particular a road miller, comprising a machine frame, front and rear traction devices, wherein at least one rear traction device is connected to the machine frame by means of a height-adjustable lifting device, a milling drum mounted on the machine frame, a frame tilt sensor arranged on the machine frame and intended for detecting the tilt of the machine frame in the working direction, at least one ground-contact-element tilt sensor, arranged on a ground contact element, which is adjustable relative to the machine frame, and intended for detecting the tilt of the ground contact element in the working direction, and also a control unit, which controls the at least one rear height-adjustable lifting device depending on tilt data determined by means of the frame tilt sensor and the ground-contact-element tilt sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventor: Jonathan Stahl
  • Patent number: 11697909
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine comprising a working device (e.g. milling drum) and a profile sensor device arranged in front of the milling drum as seen in the direction of travel, the following features are achieved: the profile sensor device measures ground pavement profile data in at least one first location, wherein at least one second sensor device is provided which, after the construction machine has traversed a section corresponding to the distance between the milling drum and the profile sensor device, measures or otherwise determines, in at least one point associated with the first location, at least one distance value between the ground surface and the milling drum, wherein a machine control system correlates the determined distance value for the at least one point with a corresponding at least one point associated with the measured ground profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Stefan Wagner
  • Patent number: 11692320
    Abstract: A milling machine is provided comprising a frame including a plurality of height-adjustable legs; a rotor; a rotor chamber including a movable front wall, a movable rear wall, and a pair of movable side walls; and a controller. The controller is configured to enable a rotor chamber binding control during on a lowering of the rotor towards a ground surface; automatically raising at least one of the front wall or the rear wall during the lowering of the rotor; and disable the rotor chamber binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Austin R. Bies