Patents by Inventor Brian J. Schlenker
Brian J. Schlenker 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).
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Publication number: 20200308783Abstract: An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension and a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground. The implement may also include a plurality of ground sensors configured for capturing distance measurements to determine the position of the frame relative to the surface and a control and monitor system configured for establishing a nominal scratch position of the tool relative to the surface based on the distance measurements. A method of controlling a rotor tool depth of a milling machine and a method of operating a milling machine are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20200263366Abstract: A road work machine comprises a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs connecting the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, respectively, a hydraulic system to control heights of the plurality of vertically moveable legs, pressure sensors for sensing hydraulic pressures in the plurality of vertically movable legs, and a controller configured to, in response to signals received from the pressure sensors, generate a control signal. A method for ride control can comprise adjusting an attitude of the machine in response to sensed pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20200248763Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary mixer is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Ryan A. Enot, Jacob M. Saari, Derek Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan
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Publication number: 20180135257Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a generally cylindrical rotor having a drive end and a bearing end opposite to the drive end. The rotor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a transmission contained substantially within the rotor at the drive end. The transmission has an input shaft and an output shaft offset from the input shaft. The output shaft is operatively coupled to the rotor and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor assembly further includes a bearing assembly contained substantially within the rotor at the bearing end. The rotor assembly has a mounting axis and a bearing axis offset from the mounting axis. The bearing assembly further has a rotatable bearing operatively coupled to the rotor and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. SCHLENKER, Jason W. MUIR, Roger Hedlund
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Patent number: 9797100Abstract: A milling machine has a frame, a rotor, a mixing chamber with a front door and a rear door, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the frame, the rotor, the front door, and the rear door, and configured to operate the milling machine in a travel mode and a work mode. When the travel mode is actuated, the controller raises the rotor to a predetermined position, closes the front door and the rear door, and raises the frame to a predetermined height. When the work mode is actuated, the controller lowers the frame to a predetermined height, lowers the rotor to a predetermined position, and opens the front door and the rear door to predetermined positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Patent number: 9605393Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Publication number: 20160251810Abstract: A rotary mixer for leveling a work surface includes an attachment device configured to be detachably coupled to a frame of the rotary mixer and an implement detachably coupled to the attachment device. The rotary mixer further includes an actuator configured to move the attachment device between a first position and a second position relative to the frame. The implement is configured to be in contact with the work surface in the second position of the attachment device to level the work surface during operation of the rotary mixer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, John E. Jorgensen, Jason W. Muir, Eric S. Engelmann
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Publication number: 20150376847Abstract: An additive mixing and delivery system for a rotary mixer is provided. The additive mixing and delivery system includes an onboard slurry tank, an additive pump, a water pump, a spray unit, and a rotor. The onboard slurry tank receives additive and water. The onboard slurry tank mixes the additive with water to form a slurry. The additive pump delivers the additive to the onboard slurry tank. The water pump delivers the water to the onboard slurry tank. The spray unit delivers the slurry from the onboard slurry tank to a work surface. The rotor includes a number of cutting tools to disintegrate the work surface to form a disintegrated work surface. Further, the slurry is mixed with the disintegrated work surface to form an additive laden work surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.Inventor: Brian J. Schlenker
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Publication number: 20150275443Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Patent number: 9103079Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Publication number: 20150117951Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Patent number: 8870297Abstract: A kicker paddle is disclosed for use with a reclaiming drum. The kicker paddle may have a block with a first end and a second end. The kicker paddle may also have a mounting mechanism located between the first and second ends. The kicker paddle may be symmetric relative to a plane passing through the mounting mechanism that is parallel to the first and second ends.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nicholas R. Pederson, Brian J. Schlenker, Maria L. Biberdorf, Jason W. Muir
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Patent number: 8851792Abstract: A rotary mixer herein includes: a rotor chamber configured to receive a first surface and produce a reclaimed surface, the rotor chamber including: a front door, a rear door, and a rotor; a particle size detector configured to detect a particle size of the reclaimed surface; and an electronic control module (ECM) electronically coupled to the rotor chamber and the particle sensor, the ECM configured to: receive a particle size from the particle sensor, compare the detected particle size to a desired particle size, adjust the degree of pulverization of the reclaimed surface according to the difference between the detected particle size and the desired particle size.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Brent P. Bachmeier, Jason W. Muir, Mario J. Souraty, Maria L. Biberdorf
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Publication number: 20140270950Abstract: A rotary mixer herein includes: a rotor chamber configured to receive a first surface and produce a reclaimed surface, the rotor chamber including: a front door, a rear door, and a rotor; a particle size detector configured to detect a particle size of the reclaimed surface; and an electronic control module (ECM) electronically coupled to the rotor chamber and the particle sensor, the ECM configured to: receive a particle size from the particle sensor, compare the detected particle size to a desired particle size, adjust the degree of pulverization of the reclaimed surface according to the difference between the detected particle size and the desired particle size.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Brent P. Bachmeier, Jason W. Muir, Mario J. Souraty, Maria L. Biberdorf
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Patent number: 8807868Abstract: A machine for receiving a ground layer, breaking up the ground layer into pieces, and producing a reclaimed layer incorporating the pieces, the machine including: a frame; a rotor coupled to the frame; a mixing chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, the mixing chamber having an interior surface; a first member coupled to the interior surface and having an edge, the first member being moveable between a first position and a second position; and a gap length between the edge and the rotor, the gap length including: a first length when the first member is in the first position; and a second length when the first member is in the second position, the second length being greater than the first length.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Patent number: 8794869Abstract: A rotary mixer herein includes: a rotor chamber configured to receive a first surface and produce a reclaimed surface, the rotor chamber including: a front door, a rear door, and a rotor; a particle size detector configured to detect a particle size of the reclaimed surface; and an electronic control module (ECM) electronically coupled to the rotor chamber and the particle sensor, the ECM configured to: receive a particle size from the particle sensor, compare the detected particle size to a desired particle size, adjust the degree of pulverization of the reclaimed surface according to the difference between the detected particle size and the desired particle size.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Brent P. Bachmeier, Jason W. Muir, Mario J. Souraty, Maria L. Biberdorf
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Publication number: 20140169882Abstract: A machine for receiving a ground layer, breaking up the ground layer into pieces, and producing a reclaimed layer incorporating the pieces, the machine including: a frame; a rotor coupled to the frame; a mixing chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, the mixing chamber having an interior surface; a first member coupled to the interior surface and having an edge, the first member being moveable between a first position and a second position; and a gap length between the edge and the rotor, the gap length including: a first length when the first member is in the first position; and a second length when the first member is in the second position, the second length being greater than the first length.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Publication number: 20130334866Abstract: A kicker paddle is disclosed for use with a reclaiming drum. The kicker paddle may have a block with a first end and a second end. The kicker paddle may also have a mounting mechanism located between the first and second ends. The kicker paddle may be symmetric relative to a plane passing through the mounting mechanism that is parallel to the first and second ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: Nicholas R. PEDERSON, Brian J. Schlenker, Maria L. Biberdorf, Jason W. Muir
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Publication number: 20130287494Abstract: A rotary mixer herein includes: a rotor chamber configured to receive a first surface and produce a reclaimed surface, the rotor chamber including: a front door, a rear door, and a rotor; a particle size detector configured to detect a particle size of the reclaimed surface; and an electronic control module (ECM) electronically coupled to the rotor chamber and the particle sensor, the ECM configured to: receive a particle size from the particle sensor, compare the detected particle size to a desired particle size, adjust the degree of pulverization of the reclaimed surface according to the difference between the detected particle size and the desired particle size.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Brent P. Bachmeier, Jason W. Muir, Mario J. Souraty, Maria L. Biberdorf