Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Rhoades

Christopher A. Rhoades 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).

  • System and method to prevent shift hunting in a powertrain
    Patent number: 8568271
    Abstract: A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain including an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset is disclosed. The method includes operating the engine at a first substantially constant speed, detecting a shift condition, and operating the engine at a second substantially constant speed as a function of detecting the shift condition. The second speed is different than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D Beyer, Christopher A Rhoades
  • System and Method to Prevent Shift Hunting in a Powertrain
    Publication number: 20120270699
    Abstract: A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain including an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset is disclosed. The method includes operating the engine at a first substantially constant speed, detecting a shift condition, and operating the engine at a second substantially constant speed as a function of detecting the shift condition. The second speed is different than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREVENT SHIFT HUNTING
    Publication number: 20120065853
    Abstract: A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset. The engine is operated at a first substantially constant speed. A first transmission shift condition is detected. A desired transmission output torque is determined. The transmission is operated at a transmission torque different than the desired torque as a function of the first shift condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREVENT SHIFT HUNTING IN A POWERTRAIN
    Publication number: 20120065854
    Abstract: A method for preventing shift hunting in a powertrain is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine and a transmission having a variator, a first gearset, and a second gearset. The engine is operated at a first substantially constant speed. A first transmission shift condition is detected. One or more shift hunting prevention methods are selected as a function of operating parameters from a group of shift hunting prevention methods. The one or more shift hunting prevention methods are implemented as a function of detecting the first transmission shift condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades