Patents by Inventor Alan D. Gustafson

Alan D. Gustafson 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).

  • Patent number: 11691683
    Abstract: A track roller assembly for a work machine including a track roller frame with drive and idler wheels and an endless track disposed about the wheels, mid-rollers located between the drive and idler wheels, each mid-roller having a shaft mounted on a bogie frame and a pair of mid-roller hubs having roller wheels mounted on the shaft, one mid-roller hub and wheel on either side of the bogie frame, each mid-roller hub having a guide facing guide blocks, an alignment sensing mechanism to detect misalignment of the track, where the alignment sensing mechanism includes at least one sensor paddle mounted on the bogie frame such that a lobe of the sensor paddle resides adjacent the guide blocks such that sideways movement of the endless track belt causes the guide blocks to contact the sensor paddle before contacting the mid-rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Derek D. Hruska, Troy Daniel Schultz, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20230017575
    Abstract: A track roller assembly for a work machine includes a track roller frame with drive and idler wheels and an endless track disposed about the wheels. Mid-rollers are located between the drive and idler wheels. Each mid-roller has a shaft mounted on a bogie frame and a pair of mid-roller hubs having roller wheels attached thereon mounted on the shaft, with one mid-roller hub and wheel on either side of the bogie frame. Each mid-roller hub has a guide facing the guide blocks. The track roller assembly has an alignment sensing mechanism to detect misalignment of the track. An adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the alignment of the track in relation to the drive and idler wheels. A controller receives input from the sensor when the sensor paddle is moved to the misaligned position and causes the adjustment mechanism to adjust the alignment of the endless track belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Derek D. HRUSKA, Troy Daniel Schultz, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20230020781
    Abstract: A track roller assembly for a work machine including a track roller frame with drive and idler wheels and an endless track disposed about the wheels, mid-rollers located between the drive and idler wheels, each mid-roller having a shaft mounted on a bogie frame and a pair of mid-roller hubs having roller wheels mounted on the shaft, one mid-roller hub and wheel on either side of the bogie frame, each mid-roller hub having a guide facing guide blocks, an alignment sensing mechanism to detect misalignment of the track, where the alignment sensing mechanism includes at least one sensor paddle mounted on the bogie frame such that a lobe of the sensor paddle resides adjacent the guide blocks such that sideways movement of the endless track belt causes the guide blocks to contact the sensor paddle before contacting the mid-rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Derek D. HRUSKA, Troy Daniel Schultz, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 11554822
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly for a work machine including a drive wheel; front and rear idler wheels; an endless track belt about the drive and idler wheels; mid-rollers located between the front and rear idler wheels to engage the endless track belt; a track roller frame mounted on the machine at a main pivot, between front and rear ends of an elongate member, with the front idler wheel connected near the front end of the roller frame; a major bogie connected to the roller frame at a major bogie pivot, and the rear idler wheel connected to a trailing arm of the major bogie; a minor bogie, mounted on a forward arm of the major bogie, and pivotably connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot, and including front and rear axles, supported by a suspension that provides damping between the front and rear axles and the minor bogie pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Evan Thomas Smith, Alan D. Gustafson, Derek D. Hruska
  • Publication number: 20220049726
    Abstract: An apparatus having an accumulator fluidly coupled to a cylinder having a moveable rod and a pressure relief valve, the cylinder configured to produce an increase in resistance to retraction of the cylinder by re-routing fluid flow to the accumulator through the pressure relief valve after the rod has reached a defined retraction distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Evan Thomas SMITH, Derek D. HRUSKA, Alan D. GUSTAFSON
  • Publication number: 20210394838
    Abstract: There is described a wheel for use with an endless track system, the wheel comprising at least three substantially identical segments. Each of the segments comprising a support portion, a circumferential flange, and a rim portion. The rim portion is affixed to an outer face of the circumferential flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Derek D. HRUSKA, Alan D. GUSTAFSON
  • Publication number: 20210197907
    Abstract: A track roller assembly for a work machine includes a drive and idler wheels and an endless track belt disposed about the wheels. The idler wheel is mounted on a track roller frame track roller frame with a swing link. The work machine has an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the alignment of the endless track belt in relation to the drive and idler wheels. The adjustment mechanism includes a transverse pivot pin connected to a downward projecting lobe of the swing link. A lever is connected to the pivot pin. The adjustment mechanism includes a drive mechanism, wherein a proximal end of the lever interacts with the drive mechanism such that the drive mechanism controls a position of the lever, wherein movement of the lever moves the pivot pin causing an adjustment in the position of the idler wheel and the alignment the endless track belt that rides thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Derek D. HRUSKA, Troy Daniel Schultz, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10745069
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly of a work machine includes a drive wheel, front and rear idler wheels and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. A belt disposed about the drive and idler wheels. A roller frame defines a main pivot axis located between front and rear ends. The front idler wheel is connected to the front end of the track roller frame. A major bogie having a forward bogie arm and a trailing bogie arm pivotably connects to the roller frame. The rear idler wheel connects to the trailing bogie arm. The major bogie pivot is offset from the main pivot along the roller frame such that the major bogie pivot is between the main pivot and the rear end of the roller frame. A minor bogie is connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot defining a minor bogie pivot axis with the mid-rollers mounted on the minor bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10704818
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamic power allocation in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is provided. The method includes a TRS power source operating in an operational state. The method also includes monitoring an amount of current being drawn from one or more generator powered components of the TRS. Also, the method includes calculating, via a TRS controller of the TRS, a maximum available horsepower amount based on the amount of current being drawn from the one or more generator powered components. Further, the method includes controlling, via the TRS controller, an amount of horsepower directed to a compressor of the TRS based on the maximum available horsepower amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Nelson, Dean M. Parker, Titilope Z. Sule, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10654533
    Abstract: A debris ejector attached to the hub-facing surface of the rim of a tracked work vehicle. The debris ejector has a leading face that is shaped so to slope from a base adjacent the hub-facing surface towards a ridge of the debris ejector and also slant from an inner end of the debris ejector adjacent the inner edge of the rim to an outer end adjacent the outer edge of the rim such that the shape of the leading face redirects debris so that the debris moves away from the hub-facing surface and away from the disk as the wheel rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Gustafson, Derek Hruska
  • Publication number: 20200148290
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly for a work machine including a drive wheel; a front idler wheel rotatable on a front axle; a rear idler wheel rotatable on a rear axle; an endless track belt about the drive and idler wheels; a number of mid-rollers located between the front and rear idler wheels to engage the endless track belt on a lower run; a track roller frame pivotably mounted on the work machine at a main pivot, including an elongate member with a front end and a rear end with the main pivot located between the front end and the rear end and the front idler wheel connected near the front end of the track roller frame; a major bogie including forward and trailing bogie arms, the major bogie pivotably connected to the track roller frame at a major bogie pivot, and the rear idler wheel connected to the trailing bogie arm; a minor bogie, mounted on the forward bogie arm, the minor bogie pivotably connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot, and including a minor bogie suspension, a minor bogie front axle,
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Evan Thomas SMITH, Alan D. GUSTAFSON, Derek D. HRUSKA
  • Patent number: 10640161
    Abstract: A mid-roller for a tracked work vehicle has a shaft and a pair of hubs assembled about the shaft, each hub having a cylindrical housing with a flange portion projecting radially outward. Each mid-roller also has a pair of metallic roller wheels mounted on the pair of hubs, each roller wheel having a radial face connected to the flange portion of its respective hub and an outer cylindrical housing symmetrical with the shaft axis defining an outer peripheral surface having an elastomeric coating bonded thereon configured to engage the inner surface of the endless track belt. Each mid-roller also has a pair of non-metallic, ring-shaped reduced-friction guides. Each roller wheel has one of said reduced-friction guides mounted thereon such that the reduced-friction guide interacts with track guide blocks such that the reduced-friction guide is configured to be the point of contact between the mid-roller and the track guide blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10336161
    Abstract: A method for freeze protection for a temperature control system, and a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of a temperature-controlled space at a set point temperature. The method includes monitoring a discharge air temperature, monitoring a return air temperature, setting a target temperature to equal the set point temperature, controlling the return air temperature at the target temperature, and adjusting the target temperature based on the return air temperature when the discharge air temperature drops to one of at or below freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ulrich Fink, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20190137157
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamic power allocation in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is provided. The method includes a TRS power source operating in an operational state. The method also includes monitoring an amount of current being drawn from one or more generator powered components of the TRS. Also, the method includes calculating, via a TRS controller of the TRS, a maximum available horsepower amount based on the amount of current being drawn from the one or more generator powered components. Further, the method includes controlling, via the TRS controller, an amount of horsepower directed to a compressor of the TRS based on the maximum available horsepower amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew S. NELSON, Dean M. PARKER, Titilope Z. SULE, Alan D. GUSTAFSON
  • Publication number: 20190118879
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly of a work machine includes a drive wheel, front and rear idler wheels and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. A belt disposed about the drive and idler wheels. A roller frame defines a main pivot axis located between front and rear ends. The front idler wheel is connected to the front end of the track roller frame. A major bogie having a forward bogie arm and a trailing bogie arm pivotably connects to the roller frame. The rear idler wheel connects to the trailing bogie arm. The major bogie pivot is offset from the main pivot along the roller frame such that the major bogie pivot is between the main pivot and the rear end of the roller frame. A minor bogie is connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot defining a minor bogie pivot axis with the mid-rollers mounted on the minor bogie.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10266217
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly of a work machine includes a drive wheel, front and rear idler wheels and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. A belt disposed about the drive and idler wheels. A roller frame defines a main pivot axis located between front and rear ends. The front idler wheel is connected to the front end of the track roller frame. A major bogie having a forward bogie arm and a trailing bogie arm pivotably connects to the roller frame. The rear idler wheel connects to the trailing bogie arm. The major bogie pivot is offset from the main pivot along the roller frame such that the major bogie pivot is between the main pivot and the rear end of the roller frame. A minor bogie is connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot defining a minor bogie pivot axis with the mid-rollers mounted on the minor bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20190100262
    Abstract: A debris ejector attached to the hub-facing surface of the rim of a tracked work vehicle. The debris ejector has a leading face that is shaped so to slope from a base adjacent the hub-facing surface towards a ridge of the debris ejector and also slant from an inner end of the debris ejector adjacent the inner edge of the rim to an outer end adjacent the outer edge of the rim such that the shape of the leading face redirects debris so that the debris moves away from the hub-facing surface and away from the disk as the wheel rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Alan D. Gustafson, Derek HRUSKA
  • Publication number: 20190047643
    Abstract: A mid-roller for a tracked work vehicle has a shaft and a pair of hubs assembled about the shaft, each hub having a cylindrical housing with a flange portion projecting radially outward. Each mid-roller also has a pair of metallic roller wheels mounted on the pair of hubs, each roller wheel having a radial face connected to the flange portion of its respective hub and an outer cylindrical housing symmetrical with the shaft axis defining an outer peripheral surface having an elastomeric coating bonded thereon configured to engage the inner surface of the endless track belt. Each mid-roller also has a pair of non-metallic, ring-shaped reduced-friction guides. Each roller wheel has one of said reduced-friction guides mounted thereon such that the reduced-friction guide interacts with track guide blocks such that the reduced-friction guide is configured to be the point of contact between the mid-roller and the track guide blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 10174979
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamic power allocation in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is provided. The method includes a TRS power source operating in an operational state. The method also includes monitoring an amount of current being drawn from one or more generator powered components of the TRS. Also, the method includes calculating, via a TRS controller of the TRS, a maximum available horsepower amount based on the amount of current being drawn from the one or more generator powered components. Further, the method includes controlling, via the TRS controller, an amount of horsepower directed to a compressor of the TRS based on the maximum available horsepower amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew S. Nelson, Dean M. Parker, Titilope Z. Sule, Alan D. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20180354568
    Abstract: An undercarriage assembly of a work machine includes a drive wheel, front and rear idler wheels and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. A belt disposed about the drive and idler wheels. A roller frame defines a main pivot axis located between front and rear ends. The front idler wheel is connected to the front end of the track roller frame. A major bogie having a forward bogie arm and a trailing bogie arm pivotably connects to the roller frame. The rear idler wheel connects to the trailing bogie arm. The major bogie pivot is offset from the main pivot along the roller frame such that the major bogie pivot is between the main pivot and the rear end of the roller frame. A minor bogie is connected to the major bogie at a minor bogie pivot defining a minor bogie pivot axis with the mid-rollers mounted on the minor bogie.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventor: Alan D. Gustafson