Patents by Inventor Andy Publes

Andy Publes 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).

  • Publication number: 20240052826
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may monitor, in connection with a fluid pump driven by a motor that is controlled by a variable frequency drive and over a time period, a torque of the motor to obtain torque data, a speed of the motor to obtain speed data, and a pressure of the fluid pump to obtain pressure data. The controller may determine that the fluid pump is associated with a leak of a particular severity level based on the torque data indicating a deviation that satisfies a first threshold, the speed data indicating a deviation that satisfies a second threshold, and the pressure data indicating a deviation that satisfies a third threshold. The controller may perform at least one operation based on the particular severity level of the leak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yuesheng HE, Andy PUBLES, Mark C. PAUL, Mark Francis GRIMES
  • Publication number: 20240026876
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain a set of measurement values associated with the dual-pump single-power source system, wherein the set of measurement values includes at least one of one or more speed measurements associated with a clutch that is coupled to a power source and a first pump of the dual-pump single-power source system, a measurement value indicating an output speed of the power source, or a first crank angle associated with the first pump and a second crank angle associated with a second pump of the dual-pump single-power source system. The controller may detect that the clutch is experiencing slippage based on comparing at least two measurement values of the set of measurement values. The controller may perform an action to cause the clutch to disengage a mechanical connection between the first pump and the power source while the power source is running and is mechanically connected to the second pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas J. PETERSON, David Alexandru VOICULESCU, Andy PUBLES, Mark Francis GRIMES
  • Publication number: 20240026875
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain an indication of a first crank angle associated with a first pump, of a dual-pump single-power source system, that is mechanically connected to a power source of the dual-pump single-power source system via a first clutch. The controller may obtain an indication of a second crank angle associated with a second pump, of the dual-pump single-power source system, that is mechanically connected to the power source via a second clutch. The controller may determine that a difference between the first crank angle and the second crank angle is outside of a tolerance of a crank angle difference value. The controller may modulate a fluid pressure associated with at least one of the first clutch or the second clutch to cause the difference between the first crank angle and the second crank angle to be within the tolerance of the crank angle difference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas J. PETERSON, David Alexandru VOICULESCU, Andy PUBLES, Mark Francis GRIMES
  • Patent number: 11859480
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring, for two or more well heads of a hydraulic fracturing system, an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, and one or more missile valves. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and multiple well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on an operation schedule for the hydraulic fracturing system and based on monitoring the operation or the state, fluid pressures at the two or more well heads for continuous pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Kabrich, Andy Publes, Casey A. Otten, Brandon J. Mabe, Perry D. Converse, Jason T. Herlehy
  • Patent number: 11802468
    Abstract: A method may include receiving information related to operation or a configuration of a hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include a plurality of electric power source outputs and a plurality of hydraulic fracturing rigs. The method may further include performing, based on the information, asymmetric power management of the plurality of electric power source outputs. The method may further include performing, based on the information, asymmetric load management of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing rigs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Publes, Casey A. Otten, Perry D. Converse, Yanchai Zhang, Zhijun Cai, Baoyang Deng, Christopher G. Y. Haddad, Jason T. Herlehy, Todd R. Kabrich, Nausheen Ahmad, Joseph C. Bufkin
  • Publication number: 20230287776
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring, for two or more well heads of a hydraulic fracturing system, an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, and one or more missile valves. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and multiple well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on an operation schedule for the hydraulic fracturing system and based on monitoring the operation or the state, fluid pressures at the two or more well heads for continuous pumping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Todd R. KABRICH, Andy PUBLES, Casey A. OTTEN, Brandon J. MABE, Perry D. CONVERSE, Jason T. HERLEHY
  • Publication number: 20230287760
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of a hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, and one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more missile valves, one or more zipper piping and zipper valve sets, one or more well head valves, and one or more well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on monitoring the operation or the state, the one or more subsystems within operating limits or based on operating expectations to cause or prevent an occurrence of one or more well integrity-related events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Todd R. KABRICH, Andy PUBLES, Casey A. OTTEN, Brandon J. MABE, Perry D. CONVERSE, Jason T. HERLEHY, Joseph C. BUFKIN
  • Publication number: 20230287775
    Abstract: A controller that is associated with a pump system causes a power ramp rate of a motor of the pump system to have an initial power ramp rate. The controller monitors, after causing the power ramp rate of the motor to have the initial power ramp rate, a frequency of a power bus. One or more power sources provide power to the pump system via the power bus. The controller causes, based on monitoring the frequency of the power bus, the power ramp rate of the motor to be modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andy PUBLES, Mark Francis GRIMES, Riadh BENGUEDDA, Yuesheng HE, Mark C. PAUL, Todd Ryan KABRICH
  • Publication number: 20230287768
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring, for a well head of a hydraulic fracturing system, an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, and one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more missile valves, one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and one or more well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on an operation schedule for the hydraulic fracturing system and based on monitoring the operation or the state, the state or equipment changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Todd R. KABRICH, Andy PUBLES, Casey A. OTTEN, Brandon J. MABE, Perry D. CONVERSE, Jason T. HERLEHY
  • Publication number: 20230287777
    Abstract: A method may include receiving information related to operation or a configuration of a hydraulic fracturing system, The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, and one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more missile valves, one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and one or more well heads. The method may further include optimizing the operation of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system using a particle swarm algorithm. The method may further include outputting one or more control signals to the one or more subsystems based on optimizing the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Todd R. KABRICH, Andy PUBLES, Casey A. OTTEN, Brandon J. MABE, Perry D. CONVERSE, Jason T. HERLEHY, Joseph C. BUFKIN
  • Patent number: 11753911
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring, for a well head of a hydraulic fracturing system, an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, and one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more missile valves, one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and one or more well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on an operation schedule for the hydraulic fracturing system and based on monitoring the operation or the state, the state or equipment changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Kabrich, Andy Publes, Casey A. Otten, Brandon J. Mabe, Perry D. Converse, Jason T. Herlehy
  • Patent number: 11746635
    Abstract: A method may include receiving information related to operation or a configuration of a hydraulic fracturing system, The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, and one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more missile valves, one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and one or more well heads. The method may further include optimizing the operation of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system using a particle swarm algorithm. The method may further include outputting one or more control signals to the one or more subsystems based on optimizing the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Kabrich, Andy Publes, Casey A. Otten, Brandon J. Mabe, Perry D. Converse, Jason T. Herlehy, Joseph C. Bufkin
  • Publication number: 20230243348
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain a setting for a target discharge pressure associated with a fluid pump driven by a motor that is controlled by a variable frequency drive (VFD). The target discharge pressure may be for use in a pressure test of a system that includes the fluid pump. The controller may determine a target torque for the motor that achieves the target discharge pressure. The controller may cause, via the VFD and in connection with the pressure test, adjustment to a speed of the motor to achieve the target torque for the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andy PUBLES, Mark C. PAUL, Mark Francis GRIMES, Todd Ryan KABRICH, Riadh BENGUEDDA
  • Publication number: 20230243350
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may monitor, during a ramp up period of a fluid pump driven by a motor that is controlled by a variable frequency drive (VFD), an intake pressure of the fluid pump and a discharge pressure of the fluid pump. The controller may detect, based on monitoring the intake pressure and the discharge pressure, whether the intake pressure satisfies an intake pressure threshold or the discharge pressure satisfies a discharge pressure threshold. The controller may cause, via the VFD, reduction of a torque of the motor based on the intake pressure satisfying the intake pressure threshold or the discharge pressure satisfying the discharge pressure threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Ryan KABRICH, Andy PUBLES, Mark Francis GRIMES, Yuesheng HE
  • Publication number: 20230243351
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain a setting for a maximum discharge pressure associated with a fluid pump that is to be allowed during a hydraulic fracturing operation. The fluid pump may be driven by a motor that is controlled by a variable frequency drive (VFD). The controller may determine a maximum torque for the motor that achieves the maximum discharge pressure. The controller may cause, via the VFD, adjustment to a speed of the motor to maintain a torque of the motor at or below the maximum torque for the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis GRIMES, Andy PUBLES, Mark C. PAUL
  • Publication number: 20230235653
    Abstract: A method may include receiving information related to operation or a configuration of a hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include a plurality of electric power source outputs and a plurality of hydraulic fracturing rigs. The method may further include performing, based on the information, asymmetric power management of the plurality of electric power source outputs. The method may further include performing, based on the information, asymmetric load management of the plurality of hydraulic fracturing rigs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andy PUBLES, Casey A. OTTEN, Perry D. CONVERSE, Yanchai ZHANG, Zhijun CAI, Baoyang DENG, Christopher G. Y. HADDAD, Jason T. HERLEHY, Todd R. KABRICH, Nausheen AHMAD, Joseph C. BUFKIN
  • Publication number: 20230228177
    Abstract: A method may include receiving a set of inputs for operation of at least one electric hydraulic fracturing rig and at least one mechanical hydraulic fracturing rig of a hydraulic fracturing system. The method may further include optimizing operation of the at least one electric hydraulic fracturing rig and the at least one mechanical hydraulic fracturing rig based on at least the set of inputs. The method may further include iterating the optimization using a cost function for an operation mode of the hydraulic fracturing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai ZHANG, Erik L. OLSEN, Casey A. OTTEN, Andy PUBLES
  • Patent number: 11686186
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may monitor an available power supply of at least one power source for a system for hydraulic fracturing, and a current power demand of the system. The controller may determine, based on monitoring the available power supply and the current power demand, whether a relationship between the current power demand and the available power supply is indicative of an impending power failure. The controller may cause, based on determining that the relationship between the current power demand and the available power supply indicates the impending power failure, reduction of flow rates of one or more fluid pumps of the system to reduce the current power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Publes, Mark Francis Grimes, Todd Ryan Kabrich, Mark C. Paul, Riadh Benguedda
  • Publication number: 20160252033
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method to operate an engine including a first set of cylinders and a second set of cylinders with the help of an engine control module (ECM). The ECM determines a current engine speed, a current engine load, and a current degree of rotation. If the current engine load is below a threshold load that corresponds to the current engine speed, the ECM selects a cylinder cutout strategy. The ECM initiates the cylinder cutout strategy wherein the fuel supply is cutout alternatively between the first set of cylinders and the second set of cylinders at a predetermined degree of rotation. The fuel injection is modified by a predetermined amount to a set of non-cutout cylinders. The ECM deactivates the cylinder cutout strategy when the current engine load exceeds the threshold load that corresponds to the current engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Dye, Andy Publes, Arthur L. Gilliam, Dustin K. Fee, Kirti C. Tamhane