Patents by Inventor Brian D. Rockwood

Brian D. Rockwood 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: 10094216
    Abstract: A milling depth compensation system for milling rock determines a target position of a machine, an initial position of the work surface, and a target pose of the machine based on the target position of the machine and the initial position of the work surface. An actual pose of the machine is determined and differences between the actual pose and the target pose are used to determine a dynamic milling path of a milling tool. The dynamic milling path includes movement of the milling tool along a first path, a second path, and a third path. Command signals are generated to move the milling tool along the dynamic milling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Carl J. Moberg, Thomas Temmann, Frank Kuehnemund, Martin Teiner, Paul Kornev, Rene Bilsing, Brent Duppong, Brian D. Rockwood, Bjoern-Andre Huehn, Oliver Kortmann
  • Publication number: 20180023390
    Abstract: A milling depth compensation system for milling rock determines a target position of a machine, an initial position of the work surface, and a target pose of the machine based on the target position of the machine and the initial position of the work surface. An actual pose of the machine is determined and differences between the actual pose and the target pose are used to determine a dynamic milling path of a milling tool. The dynamic milling path includes movement of the milling tool along a first path, a second path, and a third path. Command signals are generated to move the milling tool along the dynamic milling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Moberg, Thomas Temmann, Frank Kuehnemund, Martin Teiner, Paul Kornev, Rene Bilsing, Brent Duppong, Brian D. Rockwood, Bjoern-Andre Huehn, Oliver Kortmann
  • Publication number: 20120123652
    Abstract: A drive system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The drive system may have an engine, a mechanical step-change transmission operatively connected to and driven by the engine, and a controller in communication with the engine and the mechanical step-change transmission. The controller may be configured to receive a first operator input to store as a target a current groundspeed of the mobile machine and a current gear selection of the mechanical step-change transmission, and receive a second operator input to recall the target when at least one of the groundspeed of the mobile machine and the gear selection of the mechanical step-change transmission is different from the target. The controller may further be configured to adjust a speed of the engine and a gear selection of the mechanical step-change transmission to achieve the recalled target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Brian D. ROCKWOOD, Pierre Barriol, Guillaume Raffin, Chintan G. Kothari, Thomas L. Twigger
  • Patent number: 6473679
    Abstract: An angular velocity control for a boom of a machine is disclosed and a method for controlling the angular velocity of a boom of a machine. The angular velocity control includes a calculator that detects input signals from an operator control lever, a boom angle sensor, a cylinder length sensor, a chassis cant sensor, and a chassis tilt sensor. Movement of the operator control lever allows an operator to pre-select a desired angular velocity. Based on the geometry of the boom to the machine the calculator calculates a boom gain associated with the current boom angle. The calculator then calculates a necessary cylinder velocity to achieve the desired angular velocity. The calculator sends a control signal to an electrohydraulic control module which in turn sends a signal to an electrohydraulic valve associated with a boom lift cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. Tady, Brian D. Rockwood, Everett G. Brandt
  • Patent number: 6434437
    Abstract: A boom control apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling a boom of a machine. The boom control apparatus includes a boom angle sensor, a boom length sensor, a chassis pitch angle sensor, a chassis roll angle sensor, and a control lever. All of the sensors generate signals associated with the values of their measured parameters. Movement of the control lever along a first axis generates a first pivot velocity signal for a desired pivot velocity of the boom. Movement of the control lever along a second axis generates a first telescoping velocity signal for a desired telescoping velocity of the boom. An electrohydraulic control module detects the signals from the sensors and the control lever. The electrohydraulic control module generates a second pivot velocity signal or a second telescoping velocity signal. The second signals are directly proportional to the first signals and inversely proportional to the signals generated by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Everett G. Brandt, Brian D. Rockwood, Stephen T. Tady
  • Patent number: 6374147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing coordinated control of a work implement of a work machine. The implement includes a boom having a first end portion and a second end portion, with the first end portion pivotally connected to the frame and the second end portion pivotally connected to a load-engaging member. The apparatus includes a boom position sensor adapted for providing a boom position signal, and an input device adapted for delivering a desired boom velocity signal indicative of the desired velocity of the boom. The desired velocity of the boom includes a desired angular velocity and a desired linear velocity. The apparatus receives the boom position signal and the desired boom velocity signal, and determines an actual velocity of the boom as a function of the boom position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6374153
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing coordinated control of a work implement of a work machine. The implement includes a boom having a first end portion and a second end portion, with the first end portion pivotally connected to the frame and the second end portion pivotally connected to a load-engaging member. The apparatus includes a position sensor adapted for providing a position signal, and an input device adapted for delivering a desired velocity signal indicative of the desired velocity of the load-engaging member. The desired velocity includes a desired angular velocity and a desired linear velocity. The apparatus receives the position signal and the desired velocity signal, and determines an actual path of travel of the load-engaging member, and a desired path of travel of the load-engaging member. The apparatus further modifies the desired angular velocity and the desired linear velocity in response to a deviation between the actual and desired paths of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Everett G. Brandt, Brian D. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6282891
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling fluid flow from a hydraulic fluid supply via a single hydraulic pump in an electrohydraulic system having multiple hydraulic cylinders connected to the hydraulic pump and corresponding work implements includes input devices for generating input signals representative of a desired amount of movement of at least two of the work implements. A controller, coupled to the input devices and the cylinders, determines a scaling factor for each of the hydraulic circuits associated with each of the cylinders for compensating the hydraulic circuit for receiving less than maximum fluid flow from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6088644
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus and method for determining a path or series of paths at a work site for a mobile machine capable of operating autonomously or semi-autonomously is provided. The present invention determines a series of rows that are substantially parallel to the machine's heading. The width of the rows is based on the width of the path worked by one or more of the machine's work implements. The work site is bounded by three or more corner points and the perimeter of the work site is defined by boundary lines connecting the corner points. A first line substantially perpendicular to the machine's heading is calculated starting at an initial corner point and ending at a terminal point along the line having a distance approximately equal to the width of the path. A second line parallel to the machine's heading and passing through the terminal point is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Everett G. Brandt, Robert J. McGee, Brian D. Rockwood
  • Patent number: 6085130
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for transitioning a mobile machine from a first path to a second path within a work area includes selecting from among one or more transition schemes, wherein the transitions schemes are composed of one or more interim paths between the first path and the second path. The desired transition scheme is chosen by evaluating one or more performance criteria including whether the interim paths overshoot the second path and whether the interim paths remain within a perimeter surrounding the work area. Additional performance criteria that may be evaluated include the number of interim paths the mobile machine must follow to transition from the end of the first path to the beginning of the second path, the number of heading changes required by the candidate transition scheme, and the amount of the first path and the second path that is traversed by the mobile machine as a result of the candidate transition scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Everett G. Brandt, Robert J. McGee, Brian D. Rockwood