Patents by Inventor Claude Wesley Keefer

Claude Wesley Keefer 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: 8498787
    Abstract: A monitor system for an electric cable shovel determines when the shovel has completed a digging operation, and a subsequent dumping operation. The system includes an inclinometer, a current sensor, and a monitor circuit. The inclinometer is mounted on the dipper arm for providing an output indicative of the inclination of the dipper arm. The current sensor senses the level of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor. The monitor circuit determines when the current sensor provides an indication of a current level in excess of a digging current threshold level for a period of time in excess of a predetermined period, and during such period of time the inclinometer indicates that the inclination of the dipper arm is below a digging threshold inclination. In such a case, the monitor circuit provides an output indicating that the shovel has completed a digging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Claude Wesley Keefer
  • Publication number: 20120303224
    Abstract: A monitor system for an electric cable shovel determines when the shovel has completed a digging operation, and a subsequent dumping operation. The system includes an inclinometer, a current sensor, and a monitor circuit. The inclinometer is mounted on the dipper arm for providing an output indicative of the inclination of the dipper arm. The current sensor senses the level of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor. The monitor circuit determines when the current sensor provides an indication of a current level in excess of a digging current threshold level for a period of time in excess of a predetermined period, and during such period of time the inclinometer indicates that the inclination of the dipper arm is below a digging threshold inclination. In such a case, the monitor circuit provides an output indicating that the shovel has completed a digging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR TRIMBLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Claude Wesley Keefer
  • Patent number: 6711838
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the location of a work machine at a work site, where the work machine includes a house, a boom connected to the house, a stick connected to the boom, and a work implement connected to the house. Reference signals are received from an external reference source. The position of a point on the house is determined in response to the received signals. Information about the work machine is determined based on the position of the point on the house. The status of center-of-rotation (COR) information is updated. The system determines if an event has occurred. If an event is determined to have occurred, event reactions occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Michael David Staub, Claude Wesley Keefer
  • Publication number: 20040020083
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the location of a work machine at a work site, where the work machine includes a house, a boom connected to the house, a stick connected to the boom, and a work implement connected to the house. Reference signals are received from an external reference source. The position of a point on the house is determined in response to the received signals. Information about the work machine is determined based on the position of the point on the house. The status of center-of-rotation (COR) information is updated. The system determines if an event has occurred. If an event is determined to have occurred, event reactions occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Michael David Staub, Claude Wesley Keefer