Patents by Inventor Chad Fluent

Chad Fluent 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: 11286626
    Abstract: A surface compactor machine includes a compacting surface for compacting a substrate, a first motor, a second motor, a support assembly, and a controller. The first motor rotates a first eccentric shaft. The second motor rotates a second eccentric shaft. The support assembly is connected to the first and second eccentric shafts to transfer vibration forces to the compacting surface. The controller controls speed of at least one of the first and second motors so that a rotational speed of the second eccentric shaft is an integer, greater than 1, times faster than a rotational speed of the first eccentric shaft to generate a composite displacement waveform that vibrates the compacting surface upwards and downwards, wherein the composite displacement waveform includes a zero amplitude coordinate, a wave section located above the zero amplitude coordinate, and a wave section located below the zero amplitude coordinate that is asymmetric relative to the wave section located above the zero amplitude coordinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Christopher Grove, Robert Heinl, Chad Fluent
  • Publication number: 20210395959
    Abstract: A surface compactor machine includes a compacting surface for compacting a substrate, a first motor, a second motor, a support assembly, and a controller. The first motor rotates a first eccentric shaft. The second motor rotates a second eccentric shaft. The support assembly is connected to the first and second eccentric shafts to transfer vibration forces to the compacting surface. The controller controls speed of at least one of the first and second motors so that a rotational speed of the second eccentric shaft is an integer, greater than 1, times faster than a rotational speed of the first eccentric shaft to generate a composite displacement waveform that vibrates the compacting surface upwards and downwards, wherein the composite displacement waveform includes a zero amplitude coordinate, a wave section located above the zero amplitude coordinate, and a wave section located below the zero amplitude coordinate that is asymmetric relative to the wave section located above the zero amplitude coordinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Grove, Robert Heinl, Chad Fluent
  • Publication number: 20060147265
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control system for sensing the vibration amplitude on a vibration compacting machine. In addition, the control system modifies the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly based on the vibration amplitude of the eccentric assembly. In one embodiment, the control system modifies the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly to match the optimum speed for adjusted vibration amplitude when the eccentric assembly is adjusted to increase or decrease the vibration amplitude. Reducing the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly at high vibration amplitudes minimizes wear to each of the load bearing components in the vibration compacting machine resulting in an extended service life for the vibration compacting machine. Similarly, increasing the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly at low vibration amplitudes increases the effectiveness of the vibration compacting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Chad Fluent, Michael Scotese
  • Publication number: 20060034661
    Abstract: An operator station is for a compacting vehicle having a frame and at least one compacting drum connected with the frame. The station includes a base plate rotatably connected with the frame and an operator cab slidably connected with the base plate. The cab includes a housing bounding an interior chamber and an operator seat disposed within the chamber. A first actuator is configured to linearly displace the housing with respect to the base plate along a horizontal axis and a second actuator is configured to rotatably displace the base plate about a vertical axis. The cab is linearly displaceable along the horizontal axis between most proximal and most distal positions with respect to the vertical axis and the base plate is rotatably displaceable between a first position where a front wall faces toward a vehicle front and a second position where the front wall faces toward a vehicle side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Christopher Junga, Chad Fluent, Richard Whitfield