Patents by Inventor Allen J. DeClerk

Allen J. DeClerk 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: 11746498
    Abstract: A system and method for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a working machine adapted to handle or process ground material. The system and method can identify compliance with operating instructions for operating the working machine and/or can uniquely characterize functions of the working machine based on external factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gautham Subramanian, Bradley K. Bomer, Shane C. McBride, Allen J. Declerk
  • Publication number: 20220284360
    Abstract: Enhanced tracking of quarry and mining machine operation is described herein. The method and system generate productivity metrics for a production asset cycle that comprises a plurality of serially connected segments. More particularly the method includes acquiring a production data point associated with a mobile asset. The method further includes assigning a temporal production status to the data point based upon the temporal instance data and at least one of a supplemental production data taken from the group consisting of: a current zone within a worksite occupied by the mobile asset, a machine state reported by the mobile asset, and a time-correlated production cycle-segment status of a further mobile asset interacting with the mobile asset. The disclosure provides, in another aspect, a method for visualizing aggregated production events for a mobile asset operated within a repeating production cycle comprising a plurality of serially connected segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Chad T. Brickner, Nicholas A. Hanauer, Timothy E. Noon, Vishnu Gaurav Selvaraj, Bradley K. Bomer, Allen J. DeClerk, Eric J. Spurgeon, Arun P. Alayamani
  • Publication number: 20220188722
    Abstract: Performance quantifying and reporting for machine assets includes storing, in a work plan, asset tag assignments for a plurality of assets, and receiving location information, for example, indicative of a segment of a work cycle, being worked on by an asset. Attributes of an asset, including an inferred occurrence or non-occurrence of an asset-to-asset interaction, are based upon the location information and matching of role-based asset tags between or amongst assets. Performance history of the asset is quantified and reported based on the identified attributes for displaying, on a user interface, machine asset performance metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Prasad ALAYAMANI, Allen J DECLERK, Chad Timothy BRICKNER, Nicholas Adam HANAUER, Chetna VARMAN, Vishnu Gaurav SELVARAJ, Timothy Edward NOON, Eric J. SPURGEON, Bradley K. BOMER, Umasri DEVIREDDY
  • Publication number: 20220170240
    Abstract: A system and method for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a working machine adapted to handle or process ground material. The system and method can identify compliance with operating instructions for operating the working machine and/or can uniquely characterize functions of the working machine based on external factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gautham SUBRAMANIAN, Bradley K. BOMER, Shane C. MC BRIDE, Allen J. DECLERK
  • Patent number: 11288614
    Abstract: Performance quantifying and reporting for machine assets includes storing, in a work plan, asset tag assignments for a plurality of assets, and receiving location information, for example, indicative of a segment of a work cycle, being worked on by an asset. Attributes of an asset, including an inferred occurrence or non-occurrence of an asset-to-asset interaction, are based upon the location information and matching of role-based asset tags between or amongst assets. Performance history of the asset is quantified and reported based on the identified attributes for displaying, on a user interface, machine asset performance metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Prasad Alayamani, Allen J DeClerk, Chad Timothy Brickner, Nicholas Adam Hanauer, Chetna Varman, Vishnu Gaurav Selvaraj, Timothy Edward Noon, Eric J. Spurgeon, Bradley K. Bomer, Umasri Devireddy
  • Publication number: 20210374633
    Abstract: Performance quantifying and reporting for machine assets includes storing, in a work plan, asset tag assignments for a plurality of assets, and receiving location information, for example, indicative of a segment of a work cycle, being worked on by an asset. Attributes of an asset, including an inferred occurrence or non-occurrence of an asset-to-asset interaction, are based upon the location information and matching of role-based asset tags between or amongst assets. Performance history of the asset is quantified and reported based on the identified attributes for displaying, on a user interface, machine asset performance metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Prasad Alayamani, Allen J DeClerk, Chad Timothy Brickner, Nicholas Adam Hanauer, Chetna Varman, Vishnu Gaurav Selvaraj, Timothy Edward Noon, Eric J. Spurgeon, Bradley K. Bomer, Umasri Devireddy
  • Publication number: 20210279684
    Abstract: A machine system includes machine assets structured for material handling at a work site, and an asset management system including a display and at least one computer. The at least one computer is structured to display a graphical map representation of the work site based upon stored terrain data on the display. The at least one computer is further structured to populate the graphical map representation with a posteriori contextual image cues, and update a performance tracking plan based upon at least one of a zone or a boundary at the work site as specified by a user. The at least one computer is still further structured to store a history of asset performance at the work site based upon the updated performance tracking plan. Related methodology and control logic are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Adam Hanauer, Timothy Edward Noon, Chad Timothy Brickner, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Patent number: 10364548
    Abstract: A method of controlling machines for performing operations at a worksite is disclosed. The method includes receiving pre-construction terrain data, design terrain data, and resource data and then defining a plurality of constraints based on the data. Operations of the machines are simulated based on the data. The method includes estimating process variables associated with the operations and defining and scheduling tasks to be performed by the machines. The method includes collecting real time data from the worksite and updating the estimated process variables and the scheduled tasks of the machines based on the collected real time data. Instructions are then provided to the machines for executing the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Liqun Chi, Sanat A. Talmaki, Paul T. Corcoran, Scott A. Leman, Brad L. Holsapple, Mark W. Whiting, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Publication number: 20180044888
    Abstract: A method of controlling machines for performing operations at a worksite is disclosed. The method includes receiving pre-construction terrain data, design terrain data, and resource data and then defining a plurality of constraints based on the data. Operations of the machines are simulated based on the data. The method includes estimating process variables associated with the operations and defining and scheduling tasks to be performed by the machines. The method includes collecting real time data from the worksite and updating the estimated process variables and the scheduled tasks of the machines based on the collected real time data. Instructions are then provided to the machines for executing the tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Liqun Chi, Sanat A. Talmaki, Paul T. Corcoran, Scott A. Leman, Brad L. Holsapple, Mark W. Whiting, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Patent number: 9822509
    Abstract: A method of controlling machines for performing operations at a worksite is disclosed. The method includes receiving pre-construction terrain data, design terrain data, and resource data and then defining a plurality of constraints based on the data. Operations of the machines are simulated based on the data. The method includes estimating process variables associated with the operations and defining and scheduling tasks to be performed by the machines. The method includes collecting real time data from the worksite and updating the estimated process variables and the scheduled tasks of the machines based on the collected real time data. Instructions are then provided to the machines for executing the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Liqun Chi, Sanat A. Talmaki, Paul T. Corcoran, Scott A. Leman, Brad L. Holsapple, Mark W. Whiting, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Publication number: 20170314232
    Abstract: A method of controlling machines for performing operations at a worksite is disclosed. The method includes receiving pre-construction terrain data, design terrain data, and resource data and then defining a plurality of constraints based on the data. Operations of the machines are simulated based on the data. The method includes estimating process variables associated with the operations and defining and scheduling tasks to be performed by the machines. The method includes collecting real time data from the worksite and updating the estimated process variables and the scheduled tasks of the machines based on the collected real time data. Instructions are then provided to the machines for executing the tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Liqun Chi, Sanat A. Talmaki, Paul T. Corcoran, Scott A. Leman, Brad L. Holsapple, Mark W. Whiting, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Patent number: 9169605
    Abstract: A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material includes a compactor and a compaction sensor system. A controller is configured to determine an empirical state of compaction of the work material based upon signals from the compaction sensor system and the characteristics of a machine associated with the compaction sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Corcoran, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Publication number: 20140348587
    Abstract: A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material includes a compactor and a compaction sensor system. A controller is configured to determine an empirical state of compaction of the work material based upon signals from the compaction sensor system and the characteristics of a machine associated with the compaction sensor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Corcoran, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Publication number: 20120107045
    Abstract: A compactor system includes a tipped drum having a plurality of tips, and a drum axle rotatably coupling the tipped drum to a frame. The compactor system further includes a sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a height of the drum axle above a surface of a material substrate, and an electronic control unit configured to output a compaction progress signal responsive to inputs from the sensor. Related methods of preparing a work area with a compactor system, and determining a compaction state of a material substrate, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Allen J. DeClerk, Paul T. Corcoran