Patents by Inventor Chad L. Fluent

Chad L. 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: 7674070
    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 the 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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Chad L. Fluent, Michael J. Scotese
  • Patent number: 7004275
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Junga, Chad L. Fluent, Richard Eugene Whitfield
  • Patent number: 6827524
    Abstract: A controller is for a vehicle wetting system including a fluid supply and a delivery line having an inlet connected with the supply and an outlet located to direct fluid onto a compacting drum. The controller includes a regulator configured to adjust a fluid flow rate through the outlet. A speed sensor connected with the vehicle senses vehicle speed. Further, a logic circuit connected with the sensor and the regulator automatically operates the regulator such that the regulator adjusts the flow rate to be generally proportional to the vehicle speed. Alternatively, the logic circuit permits flow through the outlet for a predetermined drum displacement and alternately interrupts flow for a predetermined period of time. The regulator is either a shunt line and a valve adjusting flow through the shunt line to adjust flow through the outlet or a pump regulator controlling flow from a pump in the delivery line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Dale W. Starry, Jr., Kenneth E. Gasper, Steve Kunkel Yates, Chad L. Fluent
  • Patent number: 6814174
    Abstract: A seat assembly is for a construction vehicle, preferably a compacting vehicle, and includes a base attached to the vehicle and having an axis and a rail movably connected with the base so as to be angularly displaceable about the base axis. The rail has a longitudinal centerline extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the base axis. A seat carriage is movably connected with the rail so as to be linearly displaceable along the rail centerline. A linkage is connected with the base and with the seat carriage and is configured to linearly displace the carriage along the rail centerline when the rail angularly displaces about the base axis, preferably between a most proximal position with respect to the base axis and a most distal position with respect to the axis. Preferably, the linkage includes a cam connected with the base and a follower connected with the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Chad L. Fluent, Richard E. Whitfield, Christopher L. Junga
  • Publication number: 20040018053
    Abstract: A controller is for a vehicle wetting system including a fluid supply and a delivery line having an inlet connected with the supply and an outlet located to direct fluid onto a compacting drum. The controller includes a regulator configured to adjust a fluid flow rate through the outlet. A speed sensor connected with the vehicle senses vehicle speed. Further, a logic circuit connected with the sensor and the regulator automatically operates the regulator such that the regulator adjusts the flow rate to be generally proportional to the vehicle speed. Alternatively, the logic circuit permits flow through the outlet for a predetermined drum displacement and alternately interrupts flow for a predetermined period of time. The regulator is either a shunt line and a valve adjusting flow through the shunt line to adjust flow through the outlet or a pump regulator controlling flow from a pump in the delivery line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Dale W. Starry, Kenneth E. Gasper, Steve Kunkel Yates, Chad L. Fluent
  • Publication number: 20030026657
    Abstract: The vibration compacting machine includes a frame, a leading drum and a trailing drum. The leading and trailing drums are rotatably mounted to the frame. The leading drum includes a first eccentric assembly that is rotatably mounted inside of the leading drum and the trailing drum includes a second eccentric assembly that is rotatably mounted inside the trailing drum. A first motor rotates the first eccentric assembly and a second motor rotates the second eccentric assembly. Rotations of the eccentric assemblies transfers vibrations to the drums to compact a ground surface. A control adjusts the speed of the first and second motor relative to one another to keep the first eccentric assembly from running in phase with the second eccentric assembly. The control also delays starting the second eccentric assembly relative to the first eccentric assembly to minimize horsepower drain on the engine of the vibration compacting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Gasper, Dale W. Starry, Chad L. Fluent