Patents by Inventor Adam Martin Nackers
Adam Martin Nackers 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).
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Publication number: 20240410134Abstract: A mechanical swing brake variable control system for an earth-moving machine including an upper revolving car body with swing components mounted on the upper revolving car body, a lower traveling car body with traction components mounted on the lower traveling car body, and a mechanical service brake interconnected with the upper and lower car bodies, controls relative rotation between the upper and lower car bodies. A pressure control device controls a variable pressure applied to the mechanical service brake to vary an amount of swing drive holding torque. An electronic controller monitors and processes signals received from sensors associated with the swing components and machine operator commands, and variably controls the amount of holding torque exerted on the upper revolving car body using the mechanical service brake as a function of one or more of machine roll angle, operational configuration of the swing components, inertial mass of the swing components, and machine operator commands.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: December 12, 2024Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ruemelin, Adam Martin Nackers, Santosh Ram Ancha, Rustin Glenn Metzger, Steven Donald Spencer
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Publication number: 20240328125Abstract: Autonomous systems enable a machine, such as an excavator, to dig in a specified area with little to no human intervention. However, conventional autonomous systems require costly exteroceptive systems to monitor the terrain surface during the autonomous dig operation. Accordingly, embodiments are disclosed for estimating a terrain surface using only proprioceptive sensors, such as the linkage sensors on the work implement of an excavator. The terrain surface may be estimated by fitting a surface to one or more touchpoints collected using the work implement. The estimated terrain surface may be updated during a dig operation using a model of material flow and/or by collecting additional touchpoints. Embodiments enable a remote operator to visualize this terrain surface in a camera view by projecting the estimated terrain surface onto an image plane with a representation that depicts one or more terrain parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2023Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. HODEL, Adam Martin NACKERS, Justin Lee STEINLAGE, Mo WEI, Benjamin FLOYD
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Patent number: 11840826Abstract: A system and method for determining a health status of a hydraulic system is disclosed. The system may comprise a controller configured to receive a request to determine a health status and in response to the request, automatically conduct a health test and determine the health status. The health test may include: move a member or the upper frame; receive information indicative of measurements associated with movement; determine one or more parameters; compare each parameter to a check range or value; and if the pump status, the main control valve leakage status, the in-line relief valve leakage status, the cylinder drift status or the cylinder seal leak status associated with the component is currently failing, predicted to fail or out of specification, identify the component as a service-needed on a display or log and activate an alarm.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Adam Martin Nackers, Christopher Michael Ruemelin, Steven D. Spencer, Rustin Glenn Metzger
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Patent number: 11608610Abstract: A hydraulic system may include a first actuator to control a first linkage member, a second actuator to control a second linkage member, a first primary hydraulic circuit and a first secondary hydraulic circuit that include the first actuator, a second primary hydraulic circuit and a second secondary hydraulic circuit that include the second actuator, a first pump to cause fluid to flow through the first primary hydraulic circuit and the second secondary hydraulic circuit, a second pump to cause fluid to flow through the second primary hydraulic circuit and the first secondary hydraulic circuit, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that an operator assistance mode is enabled, and cause closing of a first valve that controls fluid flow through the first secondary hydraulic circuit and a second valve that controls fluid flow through the second secondary hydraulic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Martin Nackers, Rustin Glenn Metzger, Chris Rustu Cesur, Steven D Spencer
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Patent number: 11585071Abstract: A swing motion control system for an earth-moving machine may include a closed loop hydraulic circuit including a hydrostatic swing pump fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic swing motor configured to control a swing mechanism of the earth-moving machine, a pressure control device configured to control the pressure of fluid supplied to the hydrostatic swing pump for control of the pressure output by the pump, and a controller.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn Metzger, Adam Martin Nackers, Joshua Aaron Fossum, Christopher M. Ruemelin, Corey Lee Gorman
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Publication number: 20230043231Abstract: A hydraulic system may include a first actuator to control a first linkage member, a second actuator to control a second linkage member, a first primary hydraulic circuit and a first secondary hydraulic circuit that include the first actuator, a second primary hydraulic circuit and a second secondary hydraulic circuit that include the second actuator, a first pump to cause fluid to flow through the first primary hydraulic circuit and the second secondary hydraulic circuit, a second pump to cause fluid to flow through the second primary hydraulic circuit and the first secondary hydraulic circuit, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that an operator assistance mode is enabled, and cause closing of a first valve that controls fluid flow through the first secondary hydraulic circuit and a second valve that controls fluid flow through the second secondary hydraulic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Martin NACKERS, Rustin Glenn METZGER, Chris Rustu CESUR, Steven D. SPENCER
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Patent number: 11473271Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn Metzger, Corey Lee Gorman, Adam Martin Nackers
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Patent number: 11198987Abstract: A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydrostatic pump to provide, at a flow rate, a fluid to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydrostatic pump has a displacement, and wherein the hydraulic motor drives a swinging element; a swing circuit pressure sensor to sense a circuit pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a pilot pressure actuator to control, based on a supply pressure, the displacement of the hydrostatic pump; a pilot pressure override valve to control the supply pressure; and a controller configured to adjust, based on sensed signals and with the pilot pressure override valve, the supply pressure, wherein the sensed signals include: a circuit pressure signal based on the circuit pressure sensed by the swing circuit pressure sensor; and a sensed swing speed signal based on a swing speed of the swinging element sensed by one or more machine sensors.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn Metzger, Adam Martin Nackers, Joshua Aaron Fossum, Christopher M. Ruemelin, Corey Lee Gorman
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Publication number: 20210332559Abstract: A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydrostatic pump to provide, at a flow rate, a fluid to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydrostatic pump has a displacement, and wherein the hydraulic motor drives a swinging element; a swing circuit pressure sensor to sense a circuit pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a pilot pressure actuator to control, based on a supply pressure, the displacement of the hydrostatic pump; a pilot pressure override valve to control the supply pressure; and a controller configured to adjust, based on sensed signals and with the pilot pressure override valve, the supply pressure, wherein the sensed signals include: a circuit pressure signal based on the circuit pressure sensed by the swing circuit pressure sensor; and a sensed swing speed signal based on a swing speed of the swinging element sensed by one or more machine sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn METZGER, Adam Martin NACKERS, Joshua Aaron FOSSUM, Christopher M. RUEMELIN, Corey Lee GORMAN
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Publication number: 20210332555Abstract: A swing motion control system for an earth-moving machine may include a closed loop hydraulic circuit including a hydrostatic swing pump fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic swing motor configured to control a swing mechanism of the earth-moving machine, a pressure control device configured to control the pressure of fluid supplied to the hydrostatic swing pump for control of the pressure output by the pump, and a controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2020Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Rustin Glenn METZGER, Adam Martin NACKERS, Joshua Aaron FOSSUM, Christopher M. RUEMELIN, Corey Lee GORMAN
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Publication number: 20210301500Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn METZGER, Corey Lee GORMAN, Adam Martin NACKERS
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Patent number: 11001989Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rustin Glenn Metzger, Corey Lee Gorman, Adam Martin Nackers
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Patent number: 10401176Abstract: A method of determining the real time state of a machine includes receiving acceleration and angular rate of motion measurements from IMU's mounted on components of a machine. Fusing signals received from the IMU's with separate Kalman filter modules by combining an acceleration measurement and an angular rate of motion measurement from each IMU to estimate an output joint angle for the component on which the IMU is mounted. Estimated and measured values of the output joint angle for each component are combined, a kinematic equation is solved to determine a real time value for at least one of position, velocity, and acceleration of the component at successive timesteps, and the determined real time values are applied to control movement of each component.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Martin Nackers, Russell Aaron Schloss, Roberto Martinez, Corey Lee Gorman
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Publication number: 20180372498Abstract: A method of determining the real time state of a machine includes receiving, with at least one processor, from each of a plurality of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU's) mounted on different components of the machine, a time series of signals indicative of acceleration and angular rate of motion measurements for each of the components of the machine on which one or more of the plurality of IMU's are mounted. For each one of the IMU's on a separate component of the machine, the signals received from the IMU are fused with a separate Kalman filter module by combining an acceleration measurement and an angular rate of motion measurement from the IMU to estimate an output joint angle for the component of the machine on which the IMU is mounted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Adam Martin NACKERS, Russell Aaron SCHLOSS, Roberto MARTINEZ, Corey Lee GORMAN
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Patent number: 9765499Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for an excavation machine including a tool linkage system. The hydraulic control system may have a first actuator configured to move a first link of the tool linkage system in response to input from an operator of the excavation machine, and a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the first actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a second actuator configured to move a second link of the tool linkage system in response to input from the operator. In addition, the hydraulic control system may have a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first actuator, and the second actuator. The controller may be configured to automatically affect operation of the first actuator based on the pressure signal at times when movement of the second actuator is being requested by the operator and movement of the first actuator is being requested by the operator at a level less than a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Corey Lee Gorman, Adam Martin Nackers, John J. Krone, Mahmoud M. Tobaa
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Patent number: 9702118Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a first actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump, and an accumulator configured to receive fluid from the first actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a second actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator, and a pilot circuit configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator. The hydraulic system may further have at least one valve movable to provide priority of fluid flow from the accumulator to the pilot circuit over the second actuator when a pressure of the accumulator is less than a low-pressure threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Corey Lee Gorman, John J. Krone, Adam Martin Nackers
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Publication number: 20160138618Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a first actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump, and an accumulator configured to receive fluid from the first actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a second actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator, and a pilot circuit configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator. The hydraulic system may further have at least one valve movable to provide priority of fluid flow from the accumulator to the pilot circuit over the second actuator when a pressure of the accumulator is less than a low-pressure threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Corey Lee Gorman, John J. Krone, Adam Martin Nackers
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Publication number: 20160115669Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for an excavation machine including a tool linkage system. The hydraulic control system may have a first actuator configured to move a first link of the tool linkage system in response to input from an operator of the excavation machine, and a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the first actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a second actuator configured to move a second link of the tool linkage system in response to input from the operator. In addition, the hydraulic control system may have a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first actuator, and the second actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Corey Lee Gorman, Adam Martin Nackers, John J. Krone, Mahmoud M. Tobaa