Patents by Inventor Christopher Rhoades
Christopher 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).
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Patent number: 8897976Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian Lister, Christopher Rhoades, Michael Beyer, Michael Barngrover
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Patent number: 8862351Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission (100) for a machine is disclosed. The transmission includes a variator (104). The transmission is operated in a first operating range (301). It is determined whether a current speed ratio is within a first predetermined range of a speed ratio associated with a first synchronous point (304) lying between the first operating range (301) and the second operating range (302). A desired speed ratio is determined and it is determined if the desired speed ratio is within a second predetermined range of the speed ratio. A shift between the first and second operating ranges (301, 302) is prevented and the variator (104) is controlled to hold the current speed ratio if the desired speed ratio is within the second predetermined range or the rate of acceleration of the machine is below the threshold acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael Beyer, Adam Vaccari, Christopher Rhoades, Adam Nackers, Brian Lister, Mike Barngrover
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Patent number: 8781696Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission having a first input connected to an engine output shaft, and a variator. The variator includes a pump connected to the engine output shaft and a motor connected to a second input of the transmission. The pump has a variable setting that is determinable by a position of a pump actuator in response to a command signal. A controller associated is disposed to control operation of the variator, at least in part, by providing the command signal to the pump actuator. The command signal is determined based on an operator command and on a compensation term, which depends on a correlation function of a parameter related to the speed ratio between a pump speed and a motor speed and a flow characteristic of the pump actuator.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Beyer, Chad T. Brickner, Christopher Rhoades
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Publication number: 20130325271Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Brian Lister, Christopher Rhoades, Michael Beyer, Michael Barngrover
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Publication number: 20130325270Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission (100) for a machine is disclosed. The transmission includes a variator (104). The transmission is operated in a first operating range (301). It is determined whether a current speed ratio is within a first predetermined range of a speed ratio associated with a first synchronous point (304) lying between the first operating range (301) and the second operating range (302). A desired speed ratio is determined and it is determined if the desired speed ratio is within a second predetermined range of the speed ratio. A shift between the first and second operating ranges (301, 302) is prevented and the variator (104) is controlled to hold the current speed ratio if the desired speed ratio is within the second predetermined range or the rate of acceleration of the machine is below the threshold acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Michael Beyer, Adam Vaccari, Christopher Rhoades, Adam Nackers, Brian Lister, Mike Barngrover
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Publication number: 20130325272Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission having a first input connected to an engine output shaft, and a variator. The variator includes a pump connected to the engine output shaft and a motor connected to a second input of the transmission. The pump has a variable setting that is determinable by a position of a pump actuator in response to a command signal. A controller associated is disposed to control operation of the variator, at least in part, by providing the command signal to the pump actuator. The command signal is determined based on an operator command and on a compensation term, which depends on a correlation function of a parameter related to the speed ratio between a pump speed and a motor speed and a flow characteristic of the pump actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Michael D. Beyer, Chad T. Brickner, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: 8568271Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D Beyer, Christopher A Rhoades
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Publication number: 20120270699Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades
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Publication number: 20120065854Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades
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Publication number: 20120065853Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Stoller, Adam J. Vaccari, Michael D. Beyer, Christopher A. Rhoades
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Patent number: 6446747Abstract: A control element arrangement is disclosed for controlling a motor vehicle without conventional pedals and steering wheel. Two control elements are provided which can be operated independently of one another, in which case at least the longitudinal speed and/or at least the steering angle can be controlled optionally by operating one or the other control element. As a result, with respect to the longitudinal and/or the lateral dynamic control, on the one hand, a redundancy is created which increases the operating reliability and, on the other hand, the control-comfort-increasing possibility is created of being able to guide the vehicle alternated by means of one or the other control element.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Manfred Müller, Werner Reichelt, Peter Frank, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: 5845735Abstract: A control element arrangement is disclosed for controlling a motor vehicle without conventional pedals and steering wheel. Two control elements are provided which can be operated independently of one another, in which case at least the longitudinal speed and/or at least the steering angle can be controlled optionally by operating one or the other control element. As a result, with respect to the longitudinal and/or the lateral dynamic control, on the one hand, a redundancy is created which increases the operating reliability and, on the other hand, the control-comfort-increasing possibility is created of being able to guide the vehicle alternately by means of one or the other control element.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1996Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Daimler-Benz AGInventors: Manfred Muller, Werner Reichelt, Peter Frank, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: 5551746Abstract: A side window arrangement is disclosed which has main and auxiliary window cutouts which are separated from one another and are arranged one behind the other in the opening direction of the window, a window side pane having an opening which can be moved into the auxiliary window cutout. The auxiliary window cutout serves as a ventilation cutout located underneath the main window cutout. This arrangement contrasts with known side windows, which, when opened by a small gap to ventilate the vehicle internal space, causes the occupants of the vehicle to be adversely affected by air eddying occurring at head level and by aerodynamic noise. In the case of obliquely previously known arranged side windows, water enters when it is raining even if the windows are only opened slightly.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Christopher Rhoades, Lucian Reindl, Harald Leschke
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Patent number: D580826Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Christopher Rhoades, Gorden Wagener
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Patent number: D406804Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bruno Sacco, Harald Leschke, Guenter Hoelzel, Michael Kraemer, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: D406805Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bruno Sacco, Harald Leschke, Guenter Hoelzel, Michael Kraemer, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: D412146Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Daimler-Benz AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bruno Sacco, Harald Leschke, Guenter Hoelzel, Michael Kraemer, Christopher Rhoades
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Patent number: D807786Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Matthias Beiling, Lilia Chernaeva, Volker Leutz, Michael Pacher, Christopher Rhoades