Patents by Inventor Benjamin D. Drake

Benjamin D. Drake 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: 9725883
    Abstract: A control system for a machine having a power source configured to provide power, a number of implements including a work implement, configured to provide operations, and a number of power transmitting paths configurable to selectively make power available to the implements to perform operations. The control system may include a control arrangement configured to regulate the power source to provide a first level of available power, to configure a first power transmitting path to make a percentage A1 of said first level of power available to provide a first operation, and to configure a second power transmitting path to make a percentage A2 of said first level of power available to provide a second operation, at least the second operation being a work operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Drake, Philip F. Lange
  • Publication number: 20120055051
    Abstract: A tool control system for a scraper is disclosed. The tool control system may have a tool, a first tool actuator configured to move the tool, and a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal. The tool control system may also have a tool member operatively connected to the tool, a second tool actuator connectable to the tool member in a plurality of configurations to move the tool member, and a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal. The tool control system may further have a controller configured to make a comparison of the first and second signals, and to determine a current connection configuration based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Eric N. Polston, Keith R. Kosowski, Ryan A. Kingdon, Ramona D. Cone, Yan Ma, Christopher A. Wahlmark, Donna K. Laube, Ashok Krishnan, Benjamin D. Drake, Ang Qian, Steven R. Krause
  • Publication number: 20120059553
    Abstract: A tool control system for a scraper is disclosed. The tool control system may have a tool, a first tool actuator configured to move the tool, and a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal. The tool control system may also have a tool member operatively connected to the tool, a second tool actuator connectable to the tool member in a plurality of configurations to move the tool member, and a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal. The tool control system may further have a controller configured to make a comparison of the first and second signals, and to determine a current connection configuration based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Eric N. Polston, Keith R. Kosowski, Ryan A. Kingdon, Romona D. Cone, Yan Bai Ma, Christopher A. Wahlmark, Donna K. Laube, Ashok Krishnan, Benjamin D. Drake, Ang Qian, Steven R. Krause
  • Publication number: 20090223214
    Abstract: A control system for a machine having a power source configured to provide power, a number of implements including a work implement, configured to provide operations, and a number of power transmitting paths configurable to selectively make power available to the implements to perform operations. The control system may include a control arrangement configured to regulate the power source to provide a first level of available power, to configure a first power transmitting path to make a percentage A1 of said first level of power available to provide a first operation, and to configure a second power transmitting path to make a percentage A2 of said first level of power available to provide a second operation, at least the second operation being a work operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Drake, Philip F. Lange
  • Patent number: 6975930
    Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a mechanism is provided. A first rate limit is assigned to a first input device that is operable to generate a first signal to control the operation of the mechanism. A second rate limit is assigned to a second input device that is operable to generate a second signal to control the operation of the mechanism. At least one of the first and second input devices are manipulated to effect a desired change in the operation of the mechanism. A maximum allowable rate of change in the operation of the mechanism is identified based on the first and second signals and the first and second rate limits. A rate of change in the operation of the mechanism to achieve the desired change in the operation of the mechanism is determined based on a comparison of the maximum allowable rate of change in the operation of the mechanism with a last used rate of change in the operation of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Drake, Timothy M. Gutzwiller, Michael F. Coffman, Timothy A Feucht