Patents by Inventor Bryan J. Downing

Bryan J. Downing 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: 12104335
    Abstract: A paving machine includes a tractor portion, a screed assembly, a lifting assembly configured to move the screed assembly from a raised position to a lowered position, an operator interface configured to receive input from an operator, and a control module. The tractor portion includes a plurality of tractor sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone. The screed assembly is configured to be towed behind the tractor portion, and includes a plurality of screed sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Thiesse, Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Ricky Leon Mings, Ronald D. Wilson, Bryan J. Downing, Mathew Hedrington
  • Patent number: 12031278
    Abstract: A screed assembly is disclosed. The screed assembly has a screed frame that includes a main screed. Attached to the main screed is a drop arm that is used to attach the screed assembly to a work machine. An actuator device of the screed assembly adjust the main screed from a neutral position to a nulled position by rotating the main screed around an axis of the pivot pin. The screed assembly may further include a controller that determines whether the main screed is in the neutral position and adjust the main screed to the nulled position by sending a null adjustment signal to the actuator device, and the actuator device moving the main screed from the neutral position to the nulled position in response to the null adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Thiesse, Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Ronald D. Wilson, Bryan J. Downing, Ricky Leon Mings, Mathew Hedrington
  • Publication number: 20230097444
    Abstract: A paving machine can include a frame; a screed coupled to the frame, the screed including one or more screed plates; one or more movable extender mechanisms located at a back end of each screed plate and configured to extend and retract up and down beneath the screed plate; and a controller configured to extend the one or more extender mechanisms a pre-determined distance before the screed begins a paving operation and to retract the one or more extender mechanisms after the screed has begun the paving operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chad M. Thiesse, Bradley D. Anderson, Ryan T. Thiesse, Ronald D. Wilson, Rick L. Mings, Bryan J. Downing, Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Mathew J. Hedrington
  • Publication number: 20220412019
    Abstract: A screed assembly is disclosed. The screed assembly has a screed frame that includes a main screed. Attached to the main screed is a drop arm that is used to attach the screed assembly to a work machine. An actuator device of the screed assembly adjust the main screed from a neutral position to a nulled position by rotating the main screed around an axis of the pivot pin. The screed assembly may further include a controller that determines whether the main screed is in the neutral position and adjust the main screed to the nulled position by sending a null adjustment signal to the actuator device, and the actuator device moving the main screed from the neutral position to the nulled position in response to the null adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. THIESSE, Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Ronald D. Wilson, Bryan J. Downing, Ricky Leon Mings, Mathew Hedrington
  • Publication number: 20220403607
    Abstract: A paving machine includes a tractor portion, a screed assembly, a lifting assembly configured to move the screed assembly from a raised position to a lowered position, an operator interface configured to receive input from an operator, and a control module. The tractor portion includes a plurality of tractor sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone. The screed assembly is configured to be towed behind the tractor portion, and includes a plurality of screed sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Thiesse, Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Ricky Leon Mings, Ronald D. Wilson, Bryan J. Downing, Mathew Hedrington
  • Patent number: 11453983
    Abstract: A compactor vibration system, apparatus, and method that selectively provide access to vibration control settings. The control can include receiving a setting for a first set of selectable amplitudes of vibration force at which to operate a vibratory system for a first predetermined amount of time, operating the vibratory system during the first predetermined amount of time by inducing the vibration force at amplitudes by the vibratory system, wherein the amplitudes of the vibration force are selected from among the first set of selectable amplitudes, and after the first predetermined amount of time, changing the setting to a second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first set of selectable amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, John Lee Marsolek, Michael William Ries, Bryan J. Downing
  • Publication number: 20220025589
    Abstract: A compactor vibration system, apparatus, and method that selectively provide access to vibration control settings. The control can include receiving a setting for a first set of selectable amplitudes of vibration force at which to operate a vibratory system for a first predetermined amount of time, operating the vibratory system during the first predetermined amount of time by inducing the vibration force at amplitudes by the vibratory system, wherein the amplitudes of the vibration force are selected from among the first set of selectable amplitudes, and after the first predetermined amount of time, changing the setting to a second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first set of selectable amplitudes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, John Lee Marsolek, Michael William Ries, Bryan J. Downing
  • Patent number: 10843670
    Abstract: A work machine includes a power generator configured to generate power to propel the machine, a brake system, an operator seat, one or more sensors, and a controller. The operator seat is rotatably mounted to the machine. The one or more sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of an orientation of the operator seat relative to a direction of travel of the machine. The controller is coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to determine that the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel based on the one or more signals and automatically actuate the brake system if the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel for more than a first threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Petersen, Rolf af Klinteberg, Kyle D. Hendricks, Bryan J. Downing, Jeremy W. Lee, Mathew J. Hedrington
  • Publication number: 20200017077
    Abstract: A work machine includes a power generator configured to generate power to propel the machine, a brake system, an operator seat, one or more sensors, and a controller. The operator seat is rotatably mounted to the machine. The one or more sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of an orientation of the operator seat relative to a direction of travel of the machine. The controller is coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to determine that the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel based on the one or more signals and automatically actuate the brake system if the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel for more than a first threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Petersen, Rolf af Klinteberg, Kyle D. Hendricks, Bryan J. Downing, Jeremy W. Lee, Mathew J. Hedrington
  • Patent number: 9139964
    Abstract: A compactor includes a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, an exhaust system coupled to the engine and configured to remove heated exhaust air from the engine, a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material, and an air system. The air system couples the exhaust system to the compacting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, Bryan J. Downing, Keng Y. Low, Jon M. Scharf
  • Publication number: 20150167258
    Abstract: A compactor includes a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, an exhaust system coupled to the engine and configured to remove heated exhaust air from the engine, a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material, and an air system. The air system couples the exhaust system to the compacting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, Bryan J. Downing, Keng Y. Low, Jon M. Scharf
  • Patent number: 8635903
    Abstract: A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, James A. Aardema, Kristopher A. Hanson, Bryan J. Downing
  • Publication number: 20110302998
    Abstract: A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Kristopher A. Hanson, Nicholas A. Oetken, James A. Aardema, Bryan J. Downing