Patents by Inventor Colton Hirman

Colton Hirman 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: 11370617
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Nathan Mashek, Nick Johnson, Ryan Hutar
  • Patent number: 11358805
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Heim, Colton Hirman
  • Patent number: 10794018
    Abstract: A milling assembly for a cold planer including a frame and an actuator assembly having a plurality of movable locking rods for mounting the milling assembly to the frame is disclosed. The milling assembly comprises a drum housing, and a plurality of mounting units fixed to the drum housing for mounting the milling assembly to the frame. The mounting units include a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive a respective end portion of one of the plurality of movable locking rods. In another embodiment, a milling assembly including an actuator assembly with movable locking rods is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Lucian Husar, Nathan L. Mashek, Jason Robert Bjorge
  • Publication number: 20200165072
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Heim, Colton Hirman
  • Publication number: 20200156872
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton HIRMAN, Nathan MASHEK, Nick JOHNSON, Ryan HUTAR
  • Patent number: 10589933
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Nathan Mashek, Nick Johnson, Ryan Hutar
  • Patent number: 10583995
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Heim, Colton Hirman
  • Publication number: 20190389660
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge cud of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton HIRMAN, Nathan MASHEK, Nick JOHNSON, Ryan HUTAR
  • Publication number: 20190389667
    Abstract: Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel HEIM, Colton HIRMAN
  • Publication number: 20190301111
    Abstract: A milling assembly for a cold planer including a frame and an actuator assembly having a plurality of movable locking rods for mounting the milling assembly to the frame is disclosed. The milling assembly comprises a drum housing, and a plurality of mounting units fixed to the drum housing for mounting the milling assembly to the frame. The mounting units include a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive a respective end portion of one of the plurality of movable locking rods. In another embodiment, a milling assembly including an actuator assembly with movable locking rods is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Lucian Husar, Nathan L. Mashek, Jason Robert Bjorge
  • Patent number: 10428471
    Abstract: An example cold planer system includes a machine frame, a milling drum, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a swivel sensor and a control module. The milling drum is rotatably coupled to the machine frame. The first conveyor is configured to convey a milled material away from the milling drum. The second conveyor is configured to convey the milled material from the first conveyor to a discharge location and the second conveyor is pivotably connected to the machine frame. The swivel sensor is configured to generate swivel data corresponding to a swivel position of the second conveyor. The control module is in electrical communication with the swivel sensor, and the control module is configured to receive the swivel data and to control motion of the second conveyor based on the swivel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Eric S. Engelmann, Nicholas J. Argenziano, Timothy M. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 10370193
    Abstract: A construction machine is provided. The machine includes a frame and a power source mounted on the frame. The machine also includes a milling drum configured to be driven by the power source. The machine further includes a conveyor mounted on the frame. The conveyer includes a first conveyor portion having a first end and a second end. The first end is mounted on the frame. The conveyer also includes a second conveyor portion having a third end and a fourth end. The third end is mounted on the second end of the first conveyor portion. The second conveyor portion is configured to move between a working position and a stowed position. The conveyer further includes a magnet member secured to one of the first and second conveyor portion. The magnet member is configured to couple the second conveyor portion to the first conveyor portion in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Colton Hirman
  • Patent number: 10370804
    Abstract: A milling assembly for a cold planer including a frame and an actuator assembly having a plurality of movable locking rods for mounting the milling assembly to the frame is disclosed. The milling assembly comprises a drum housing, and a plurality of mounting units fixed to the drum housing for mounting the milling assembly to the frame. The mounting units include a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive a respective end portion of one of the plurality of movable locking rods. In another embodiment, a milling assembly including an actuator assembly with movable locking rods is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Lucian Husar, Nathan L. Mashek, Jason Robert Bjorge
  • Patent number: 10315858
    Abstract: A cold planer includes a frame and a conveyor system configured to transport milled material. The conveyor system may include a primary conveyor configured to transfer the milled material to a charge end of a secondary conveyor. The cold planer may also include a material deflector having a deflecting surface angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cold planer. The deflecting surface may be configured to deflect at least a portion of the milled material exiting the primary conveyor towards the charge end of the secondary conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpiliar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Colton Hirman
  • Patent number: 10309583
    Abstract: A construction machine includes a frame. The machine includes an engine mounted on the frame. The machine includes a milling tool rotatably mounted on the frame and configured to be selectively coupled to the engine. The machine also includes a conveyor removably mounted on the frame. The machine further includes a support mechanism mounted on the frame. The support mechanism includes a track member secured to the frame. The support mechanism also includes at least one carriage member movably mounted on the track member. The support mechanism further includes an attachment member secured to the at least one carriage member and the conveyor. The attachment member is configured to be selectively unsecured from the conveyor. The support mechanism is configured to move at least a portion of the conveyor relative to the construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Robert D. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20190144208
    Abstract: A construction machine is provided. The machine includes a frame and a power source mounted on the frame. The machine also includes a milling drum configured to be driven by the power source. The machine further includes a conveyor mounted on the frame. The conveyer includes a first conveyor portion having a first end and a second end. The first end is mounted on the frame. The conveyer also includes a second conveyor portion having a third end and a fourth end. The third end is mounted on the second end of the first conveyor portion. The second conveyor portion is configured to move between a working position and a stowed position. The conveyer further includes a magnet member secured to one of the first and second conveyor portion. The magnet member is configured to couple the second conveyor portion to the first conveyor portion in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Colton Hirman
  • Publication number: 20190135553
    Abstract: A cold planer includes a frame and a conveyor system configured to transport milled material. The conveyor system may include a primary conveyor configured to transfer the milled material to a charge end of a secondary conveyor. The cold planer may also include a material deflector having a deflecting surface angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cold planer. The deflecting surface may be configured to deflect at least a portion of the milled material exiting the primary conveyor towards the charge end of the secondary conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Colton HIRMAN
  • Publication number: 20190086026
    Abstract: A construction machine includes a frame. The machine includes an engine mounted on the frame. The machine includes a milling tool rotatably mounted on the frame and configured to be selectively coupled to the engine. The machine also includes a conveyor removably mounted on the frame. The machine further includes a support mechanism mounted on the frame. The support mechanism includes a track member secured to the frame. The support mechanism also includes at least one carriage member movably mounted on the track member. The support mechanism further includes an attachment member secured to the at least one carriage member and the conveyor. The attachment member is configured to be selectively unsecured from the conveyor. The support mechanism is configured to move at least a portion of the conveyor relative to the construction machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Robert D. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20180002876
    Abstract: A milling assembly for a cold planer including a frame and an actuator assembly having a plurality of movable locking rods for mounting the milling assembly to the frame is disclosed. The milling assembly comprises a drum housing, and a plurality of mounting units fixed to the drum housing for mounting the milling assembly to the frame. The mounting units include a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive a respective end portion of one of the plurality of movable locking rods. In another embodiment, a milling assembly including an actuator assembly with movable locking rods is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton Hirman, Lucian Husar, Nathan L. Mashek, Jason Robert Bjorge