Patents by Inventor Bradley J. LaForest

Bradley J. LaForest 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).

  • Machine retarder
    Patent number: 7798277
    Abstract: A system is provided for controllably absorbing energy associated with a machine. The system may include a power source configured to provide power to a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to provide a flow of fluid to a hydraulic dissipation circuit and to one or more implement system hydraulic cylinders, and wherein the hydraulic dissipation circuit is configured to generate a load associated with the hydraulic pump. The system may also include at least one valve configured to provide the flow of fluid to the hydraulic dissipation circuit in response to one or more control signals and a controller configured to receive an input signal from an operator actuated device, and generate the one or more control signals based on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Steven J. Juricak, Bradley J. LaForest, Arthur Milkowski, Michael A. Spielman
  • Machine retarder
    Publication number: 20080298977
    Abstract: A system is provided for controllably absorbing energy associated with a machine. The system may include a power source configured to provide power to a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to provide a flow of fluid to a hydraulic dissipation circuit and to one or more implement system hydraulic cylinders, and wherein the hydraulic dissipation circuit is configured to generate a load associated with the hydraulic pump. The system may also include at least one valve configured to provide the flow of fluid to the hydraulic dissipation circuit in response to one or more control signals and a controller configured to receive an input signal from an operator actuated device, and generate the one or more control signals based on the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Steven J. Juricak, Bradley J. LaForest, Arthur Milkowski, Michael A. Spielman