Patents by Inventor Brad Van De Veer

Brad Van De Veer 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: 9797113
    Abstract: An implement valve layout associated with a machine, such as a motor grader, is provided to perform control and actuation of valves associated with a hydraulic valve block. The implement valve layout may include a control lever system having linkages and bell cranks for actuating valves of the hydraulic valve block located below a floor of the narrow front cab. An auxiliary implement valve layout may provide a second control lever system including linkages that actuate additional valves associated with the hydraulic valve block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Tolkacz, Kevin Welty, Brad Van De Veer
  • Publication number: 20160130783
    Abstract: An implement valve layout associated with a machine, such as a motor grader, is provided to perform control and actuation of valves associated with a hydraulic valve block. The implement valve layout may include a control lever system having linkages and bell cranks for actuating valves of the hydraulic valve block located below a floor of the narrow front cab. An auxiliary implement valve layout may provide a second control lever system including linkages that actuate additional valves associated with the hydraulic valve block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Tolkacz, Kevin Welty, Brad Van De Veer
  • Publication number: 20160130782
    Abstract: An implement valve layout associated with a machine, such as a motor grader, is provided to perform control and actuation of valves associated with a hydraulic valve block. The implement valve layout may include a control lever system having linkages and bell cranks for actuating valves of the hydraulic valve block located below a floor of the narrow front cab. An auxiliary implement valve layout may provide a second control lever system including linkages that actuate additional valves associated with the hydraulic valve block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Tolkacz, Kevin Welty, Brad Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 9290910
    Abstract: Activation of an automatic articulation control function in an articulated machine is delayed until error conditions are cleared or a steering angle to alignment angle mismatch is corrected. A controller monitors a selector setting indicating a desire to activate the automatic articulation control function. The controller also evaluates whether conditions such as low ground speed, loss of signal from needed sensors, or articulation misalignment are present. If so, the conditions are monitored and when corrected, the automatic articulation control function is activated. An indicator may be set to inform an operator that the automatic articulation control function is pending activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Brad Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 9234330
    Abstract: When engaged, an articulation controller automatically adjusts an angle of articulation between a front frame and a rear frame of a motor grader based on a steering angle of the front wheels. If a groundspeed of the motor grader exceeds a threshold groundspeed, the articulation controller enters a mode that only allows decreasing the angle of articulation of the motor grader. When the angle of articulation reaches zero, the articulation controller disengages until the groundspeed is reduced below the threshold groundspeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Brad Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 9217238
    Abstract: A controller monitors groundspeed in an articulated machine and selectively disables an automatic articulation control function when the groundspeed is at or near zero. If there is an indication that an operator may not be aware that the automatic articulation control function is active by comparing when a on switch was activated compared to a machine power cycle or an operator not being present, the automatic articulation control function may be inactivated until the on switch is toggled. If the articulated machine is in neutral and the groundspeed is at or near zero, the automatic articulation control function may disabled. If the groundspeed is at or near zero but the transmission is not in neutral, the machine may simply be stalled to due working conditions and the automatic articulation control function may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Matt I. Moul, Brad Van De Veer, Eric C. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20150259880
    Abstract: Activation of an automatic articulation control function in an articulated machine is delayed until error conditions are cleared or a steering angle to alignment angle mismatch is corrected. A controller monitors a selector setting indicating a desire to activate the automatic articulation control function. The controller also evaluates whether conditions such as low ground speed, loss of signal from needed sensors, or articulation misalignment are present. If so, the conditions are monitored and when corrected, the automatic articulation control function is activated. An indicator may be set to inform an operator that the automatic articulation control function is pending activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Brad Van De Veer
  • Publication number: 20150259883
    Abstract: When engaged, an articulation controller automatically adjusts an angle of articulation between a front frame and a rear frame of a motor grader based on a steering angle of the front wheels. If a groundspeed of the motor grader exceeds a threshold groundspeed, the articulation controller enters a mode that only allows decreasing the angle of articulation of the motor grader. When the angle of articulation reaches zero, the articulation controller disengages until the groundspeed is reduced below the threshold groundspeed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Brad Van De Veer
  • Publication number: 20150259881
    Abstract: A controller monitors groundspeed in an articulated machine and selectively disables an automatic articulation control function when the groundspeed is at or near zero. If there is an indication that an operator may not be aware that the automatic articulation control function is active by comparing when a on switch was activated compared to a machine power cycle or an operator not being present, the automatic articulation control function may be inactivated until the on switch is toggled. If the articulated machine is in neutral and the groundspeed is at or near zero, the automatic articulation control function may disabled. If the groundspeed is at or near zero but the transmission is not in neutral, the machine may simply be stalled to due working conditions and the automatic articulation control function may be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Matt I. Moul, Brad Van De Veer, Eric C. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20150004566
    Abstract: A method for coaching an operator of a machine is disclosed. The method includes the controller collecting actual data related to an operation of the machine performed by the operator. The controller determines a type of operation being performed based on the actual data. The controller compares the actual data to expected data for the type of operation. The controller flags a coaching point based on the comparison of actual data to expected data, and the controller provides an image of the machine relating to the coaching point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley K. Bomer, Michael Braunstein, Brad Van De Veer, Zhijun Cai
  • Publication number: 20150004572
    Abstract: A method for coaching an operator of an earthmoving machine is disclosed. The machine may have a controller in communication with a plurality of sensors configured to generate actual data indicative of real-time parameters associated with an operation of the machine. In this aspect, the method comprises the controller receiving actual data related to the operation of the machine performed by the operator. The controller determines a type of operation being performed based on the actual data. The controller compares the actual data to expected data for the type of operation being performed as preprogrammed in a memory associated with the controller. The controller provides notification of performance to the operator in real-time based on the comparison of the actual data to expected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley K. Bomer, Zhijun Cai, Brad Van De Veer, Jeffrey Stephen Alig, Rohan Raosaheb Chougule
  • Publication number: 20150004573
    Abstract: A method is provided for coaching an operator of an earthmoving machine having a controller. The method may include the controller presenting a list of coaching points to the operator. The controller receives input to execute a coaching point selected by the operator. The controller accesses memory to retrieve a predetermined method for execution of the coaching point. The controller manipulates the machine to execute the coaching point according to the predetermined method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley Bomer, Zhijun Cai, Brad Van De Veer, Jeffrey Stephen Alig, Michael Braunstein
  • Publication number: 20070046070
    Abstract: A vehicle cab includes a floor, a roof, a front support operably coupling the floor and the roof, and at least two side supports operably coupling the floor and the roof. The vehicle cab further includes a door operably coupled to one of the at least two side supports. The door extends from adjacent the floor toward the roof. The door includes a window extending in a substantially uninterrupted manner from a lower edge of the door toward an upper edge of the door. The front support is located along a centrally-located, longitudinal axis of the vehicle cab, such that when the door is in a closed position, the door extends along a line oriented at an angle oblique with respect the longitudinal axis of the vehicle cab between the front support and the side support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Aaron Hayes, Daniel Whiting, Christopher Derham, Brad Van De Veer
  • Patent number: D760725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Brush, Brad Van De Veer, Nathaniel Doy, Joseph Faivre
  • Patent number: D886161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Huliyar, Bradley Boone, Aaron Dunaway, Brad Van De Veer, Christian Ritchie
  • Patent number: D887453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Huliyar, Sharon Tao, Bradley Boone, Brad Van de Veer, Christian Ritchie