Patents by Inventor Casey Alan Otten

Casey Alan Otten 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: 12366241
    Abstract: An example system includes a fluid end having a block, a fluid inlet formed in the block, and a fluid outlet formed in the block. The system also includes an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet and the intake manifold. The system further includes a valve fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, the valve configured to control fluid flow through the fluid conduit, an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to position the valve in an open position or a closed position, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to send one or more signals to the actuator, causing the actuator to position the valve in the open position or the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yuesheng He, Todd Ryan Kabrich, Casey Alan Otten
  • Publication number: 20240167470
    Abstract: An example system includes a fluid end having a block, a fluid inlet formed in the block, and a fluid outlet formed in the block. The system also includes an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet and the intake manifold. The system further includes a valve fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, the valve configured to control fluid flow through the fluid conduit, an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to position the valve in an open position or a closed position, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to send one or more signals to the actuator, causing the actuator to position the valve in the open position or the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: YUESHENG HE, Todd Ryan Kabrich, Casey Alan Otten
  • Patent number: 11916382
    Abstract: A system may determine configuration information associated with a power system for a work site that includes one or more power sources. The system may determine respective operation parameters of the one or more power sources and one or more performance criteria associated with the power system. The system may determine a baseline operation plan for the power system. The system may identify an optimization analysis technique and may process, using the optimization analysis technique, the configuration information associated with the power system, the respective operation parameters of the one or more power sources, and the one or more performance criteria associated with the power system to generate the optimized operation plan for the power system. The system may cause, based on the baseline operation plan for the power system and the optimized operation plan for the power system, one or more actions to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Syed Ameenuddin Hussain, Baoyang Deng, Zhijun Cai, Shiferaw D. Beyene, Casey Alan Otten, Perry Converse, Theodore E. Wiersema, Michael A. Snopko
  • Patent number: 11898551
    Abstract: An example system includes a fluid end having a block, a fluid inlet formed in the block, and a fluid outlet formed in the block. The system also includes an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet and the intake manifold. The system further includes a valve fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, the valve configured to control fluid flow through the fluid conduit, an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to position the valve in an open position or a closed position, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to send one or more signals to the actuator, causing the actuator to position the valve in the open position or the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yuesheng He, Todd Ryan Kabrich, Casey Alan Otten
  • Publication number: 20230332592
    Abstract: An example system includes a fluid end having a block, a fluid inlet formed in the block, and a fluid outlet formed in the block. The system also includes an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet and the intake manifold. The system further includes a valve fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, the valve configured to control fluid flow through the fluid conduit, an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to position the valve in an open position or a closed position, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and configured to send one or more signals to the actuator, causing the actuator to position the valve in the open position or the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yuesheng He, Todd Ryan Kabrich, Casey Alan Otten
  • Patent number: 11746634
    Abstract: A method may include receiving power supply-related information, cost-related information, power demand-related information, and operational priority or site configuration-related information associated with hydraulic fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing rigs may be each associated with a fuel consumption component or an emissions component. The method may further include receiving operational data and determining operational parameters based on the operational data and emissions output predictions for the hydraulic fracturing rigs. The method may further include outputting the operational parameters to a computing device or a controller. The method may further include, based on outputting the operational parameters, receiving operational feedback data and determining whether to modify the operational parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Perry D. Converse, Casey Alan Otten, Joseph C. Bufkin, Zhijun Cai, Baoyang Deng
  • Publication number: 20230228178
    Abstract: A method may include receiving power supply-related information, cost-related information, power demand-related information, and operational priority or site configuration-related information associated with hydraulic fracturing rigs. The hydraulic fracturing rigs may be each associated with a fuel consumption component or an emissions component. The method may further include receiving operational data and determining operational parameters based on the operational data and emissions output predictions for the hydraulic fracturing rigs. The method may further include outputting the operational parameters to a computing device or a controller. The method may further include, based on outputting the operational parameters, receiving operational feedback data and determining whether to modify the operational parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Perry D. CONVERSE, Casey Alan OTTEN, Joseph C. BUFKIN, Zhijun CAI, Baoyang DENG
  • Patent number: 11697985
    Abstract: An automated hydraulic fracturing system and method for controlling various aspects of a fracking operation is disclosed. A master controller receives various operating parameters, such as desired operating conditions, information about a fracking site, information about trailers and/or other equipment at the fracking site, and/or sensor signals. The master controller may access one or more trailer model(s) that model various parameters of equipment (e.g., engines, transmissions, pumps, trailers, etc.) at the fracking site as a function of controlled operating conditions. The master controller uses the trailer models in conjunction with operating parameters to generate control signals that automatically control the various equipment at the fracking site to optimize various desired outcomes, such as reduced operating costs, reduced emissions, reduced idle time, increased efficiency, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Zhijun Cai, Perry Dwain Converse, Erik L Olsen, Casey Alan Otten
  • Publication number: 20220178235
    Abstract: An automated hydraulic fracturing system and method for controlling various aspects of a fracking operation is disclosed. A master controller receives various operating parameters, such as desired operating conditions, information about a fracking site, information about trailers and/or other equipment at the fracking site, and/or sensor signals. The master controller may access one or more trailer model(s) that model various parameters of equipment (e.g., engines, transmissions, pumps, trailers, etc.) at the fracking site as a function of controlled operating conditions. The master controller uses the trailer models in conjunction with operating parameters to generate control signals that automatically control the various equipment at the fracking site to optimize various desired outcomes, such as reduced operating costs, reduced emissions, reduced idle time, increased efficiency, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Zhijun Cai, Perry Dwain Converse, Erik L. Olsen, Casey Alan Otten