Patents by Inventor Brian P. Neathery
Brian P. Neathery 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: 20230033010Abstract: A first method of protecting an engine and a transmission of a marine vessel during gear shifts and a second method of programming one or more Shift Protection Sequences (SPS) are disclosed. The first method includes receiving a Shift Request (SR) and activating a SPS from among a plurality of enabled SPS. The second method includes configuring a Shift Protection Type (SPT); enabling and configuring a plurality of required and SPS variables; and, optionally, enabling and configuring a plurality of optional SPS variables. The SPT may be a Basic Shift Protection (BSP), which includes time-based SPS; or the SPT may be an Advanced Shift Protection (ASP), which includes alternate time-based and operating-variable based SPS. The SPS of the ASP may be incrementally programmed and added to the BSP.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Merritt P. Callaghan, Cameron S. Gandy, Brian P. Neathery
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Publication number: 20230028865Abstract: A marine vessel includes a hull, an operator station having an operator interface configured to receive a mode input and a lever position input, a left propulsion system, a right propulsion system, and a control module. Each of the propulsion systems includes an engine, a transmission, a troll valve configured to adjust clutch slip, a shaft, a shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of the shaft, and a propeller. The control module is configured to receive the mode input and the lever position input from the operator interface, receive signals from the left shaft sensor indicating a left shaft speed, receive signals from the right shaft sensor indicating a right shaft speed, determine if the vessel is operating in a trolling state, and determine if a sync mode is active, based on the mode input. If the sync mode is active and the vessel is in a trolling state, the speed of the left shaft and the right shaft are synchronized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian P. Neathery, Cameron S. Gandy
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Publication number: 20230014852Abstract: A marine propulsion control system for use with a marine vessel includes an engine in electronic communication an engine controller, and a transmission having a gearbox and an oil pressure sensor in electronic communication with the engine controller and configured to measure a transmission oil pressure. The gearbox includes a feedback sensor configured to transmit a gear state. A propulsion device is rotatably connected to the gearbox, and a shaft fixedly attached to the propulsion device and rotatably coupled to the gearbox. The shaft includes a shaft rotation sensor configured to measure a rotational direction of the shaft. A propulsion control processor is in electronic communication with the engine controller, the shaft rotation sensor and the gearbox, and is configured to determine a current gear of the marine vessel based on the rotational direction of the shaft and one or more of the gear state and the transmission oil pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian P. NEATHERY, Cameron S. GANDY
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Publication number: 20220380014Abstract: A marine propulsion control system for use with a marine vessel, includes a port side engine in electronic communication with a port side engine controller and a starboard side engine in electronic communication with a starboard side engine controller. A control station includes a port lever configured to control a throttle of the port side engine, a starboard lever configured to control a throttle of the starboard side engine, and a user interface. A propulsion control processor is in electronic communication with the port side engine controller, the starboard side engine controller, and control station. In a synchronized operating mode, the propulsion control processor transmits a throttle instruction to the port side engine controller and the starboard side engine controller pursuant to a throttle position of a master lever corresponding to the first of the port lever and starboard lever to be actuated upon activation of the synchronized operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian P. NEATHERY, Cameron S. GANDY
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Publication number: 20220380013Abstract: An advanced control station system for a marine vessel. The control station provides a motor-controlled lever head with the ability to control the amount of pressure required to move the lever head as well as the ability to set adjustable detents within the range of motion of the lever head. The advanced control station further provides for electronic communication between multiple stations controls so that the throttle and transmission settings from one control station can be synchronized during a control station transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian P. Neathery, Cameron S. Gandy, Merritt P. Callaghan
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Patent number: 11040762Abstract: A propulsion system for a marine vessel having a first driveline assembly having a first engine and a first motor-generator, a second driveline assembly having a second engine and second motor-generator, and a controller configured to operate of the assemblies in a split mode. The split mode includes the first driveline assembly being driven by the first engine without torque assistance from the first motor-generator and the second driveline assembly being driven by the second motor-generator without torque assistance from the second engine and includes the first motor generator providing electrical power to the marine vessel grid for consumption.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Candace L. Marquis, Merritt P. Callaghan, Adnan Kadribasic, Per Jonas Granath, Brian P. Neathery, Mark I. Harrison
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Publication number: 20210114706Abstract: A propulsion system for a marine vessel having a first driveline assembly having a first engine and a first motor-generator, a second driveline assembly having a second engine and second motor-generator, and a controller configured to operate of the assemblies in a split mode. The split mode includes the first driveline assembly being driven by the first engine without torque assistance from the first motor-generator and the second driveline assembly being driven by the second motor-generator without torque assistance from the second engine and includes the first motor generator providing electrical power to the marine vessel grid for consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Candace L. Marquis, Merritt P. Callaghan, Adnan Kadribasic, Per Jonas Granath, Brian P. Neathery, Mark I. Harrison
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Patent number: D973570Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian P. Neathery, Adnan Kadribasic, Cameron S. Gandy, Karl Johan Emil Rosen