Patents by Inventor Christopher Grove

Christopher Grove 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: 12578056
    Abstract: An eccentric shaft assembly includes a first eccentric shaft including an interior surface forming a recess therein, an exterior surface, at least one first fluid inlet extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, at least one first fluid outlet extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface. The eccentric shaft assembly further includes a second eccentric shaft disposed in the recess of the first eccentric shaft that includes a second bearing surface engaging the first bearing subassembly opposite the first bearing surface and at least one first fan blade for rotating about an axis of rotation to force a fluid to enter the recess through the first fluid inlet(s) and exit the recess through the first fluid outlet(s), to lubricate and/or cool a bearing subassembly disposed between the first eccentric shaft and the second eccentric shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Christopher Grove
  • Patent number: 11286625
    Abstract: A vibration assembly for a surface compactor machine includes a support subassembly connected to the compacting surface of the surface compactor machine. A primary eccentric shaft is disposed around a secondary eccentric shaft, with the primary and secondary eccentric shafts both rotatable about a common axis of rotation. One or more of primary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the primary eccentric shaft and the support subassembly for supporting the primary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft. One or more secondary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the secondary eccentric shaft and the primary eccentric shaft for supporting the secondary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Michael Macdonald, Christopher Grove
  • 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: 20210003248
    Abstract: An eccentric shaft assembly includes a first eccentric shaft including an interior surface forming a recess therein, an exterior surface, at least one first fluid inlet extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, at least one first fluid outlet extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface. The eccentric shaft assembly further includes a second eccentric shaft disposed in the recess of the first eccentric shaft that includes a second bearing surface engaging the first bearing subassembly opposite the first bearing surface and at least one first fan blade for rotating about an axis of rotation to force a fluid to enter the recess through the first fluid inlet(s) and exit the recess through the first fluid outlet(s), to lubricate and/or cool a bearing subassembly disposed between the first eccentric shaft and the second eccentric shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher Grove
  • Publication number: 20200354902
    Abstract: A vibration assembly for a surface compactor machine includes a support subassembly connected to the compacting surface of the surface compactor machine. A primary eccentric shaft is disposed around a secondary eccentric shaft, with the primary and secondary eccentric shafts both rotatable about a common axis of rotation. One or more of primary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the primary eccentric shaft and the support subassembly for supporting the primary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft. One or more secondary bearing subassemblies is disposed between the secondary eccentric shaft and the primary eccentric shaft for supporting the secondary eccentric shaft during rotation of the primary eccentric shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Macdonald, Christopher Grove
  • Patent number: 10106936
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor includes a drum, a frame supporting the drum, an eccentric shaft configured to be rotated by a vibration motor, and a primary eccentric weight attached to the eccentric shaft inside the drum. At least one active isolation eccentric weight is located outside the drum so that when the eccentric shaft is rotated, a phase of a vibration generated by the at least one active isolation eccentric weight is substantially opposite to that of a vibration generated by the primary eccentric weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Michael Macdonald, Christopher Grove
  • Publication number: 20180171567
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor is described that includes a drum, a frame supporting the drum, an eccentric shaft configured to be rotated by a vibration motor, and a primary eccentric weight attached to the eccentric shaft inside the drum. At least one active isolation eccentric weight is located outside the drum so that when the eccentric shaft is rotated, a phase of a vibration generated by the at least one active isolation eccentric weight is substantially opposite to that of a vibration generated by the primary eccentric weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Michael Macdonald, Christopher Grove