Patents by Inventor Curtis John Caldwell
Curtis John Caldwell 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: 11970374Abstract: A pipelayer machine may comprise a machine chassis; an operator cabin supported by the machine chassis; an engine supported by the machine chassis; and a boom coupled to the machine chassis. The operator cabin may include a seat assembly. The operator cabin may be stationary with respect to the machine chassis. The pipelayer machine may comprise a front portion and a rear portion. The engine may be provided in the rear portion. The boom may be provided forward with respect to the seat assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Donald L. Vance, Benjamin Barbier
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Patent number: 11970375Abstract: A pipelayer machine may comprise a machine chassis; a towing winch assembly coupled to the machine chassis; an operator cabin supported by the machine chassis; an engine supported by the machine chassis; and a boom coupled to the machine chassis. The pipelayer machine may comprise a front portion and a rear portion. The towing winch assembly may be provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine. The operator cabin may be provided between the towing winch assembly and the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Donald L Vance, Benjamin Barbier
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Patent number: 11884518Abstract: A pipelayer machine includes a propulsion system, a ranging, and a controller in communication with the propulsion system and the ranging system. The controller is configured to receive a predetermined distance that the pipelayer machine is to maintain between the pipelayer machine and an adjacent pipelayer machine, determine, via the ranging system, a first distance between the pipelayer machine and the adjacent pipelayer machine, and determine that a difference between the first distance and the predetermined distance is outside of a predetermined tolerance range. The controller is further configured to modify a speed of the propulsion system based at least in part on determining that the difference is outside of the predetermined tolerance range, wherein modifying the speed of the propulsion system causes acceleration or deceleration of the pipelayer machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Aaron J. Gnagey
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Patent number: 11821172Abstract: A controller may obtain, from one or more first devices of a first machine, first information regarding a load associated with a first portion of an object. The first portion, of the object, may be carried by an implement of the first machine and a second portion, of the object, may be carried by an implement of a second machine. The controller may obtain, from one or more second devices of the first machine, second information regarding an orientation of the first machine. The controller may determine, based on the first information and a threshold derived based on the second information, that a load drop condition is satisfied; perform a first action associated with dropping the load; and transmit, to the second machine, information regarding the first action to cause the second machine to perform a second action.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel W. Hoyt, Curtis John Caldwell, Aaron J. Gnagey
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Publication number: 20230109258Abstract: A pipelayer machine may comprise a machine chassis; a towing winch assembly coupled to the machine chassis; an operator cabin supported by the machine chassis; an engine supported by the machine chassis; and a boom coupled to the machine chassis. The pipelayer machine may comprise a front portion and a rear portion. The towing winch assembly may be provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine. The operator cabin may be provided between the towing winch assembly and the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John CALDWELL, Donald L. VANCE, Benjamin BARBIER
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Publication number: 20230105579Abstract: A pipelayer machine may comprise a machine chassis; an operator cabin supported by the machine chassis; an engine supported by the machine chassis; and a boom coupled to the machine chassis. The operator cabin may include a seat assembly. The operator cabin may be stationary with respect to the machine chassis. The pipelayer machine may comprise a front portion and a rear portion. The engine may be provided in the rear portion. The boom may be provided forward with respect to the seat assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John CALDWELL, Donald L. VANCE, Benjamin BARBIER
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Patent number: 11511976Abstract: A system for determining a lifting capacity of a pipelayer is provided. The system includes a load sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a load suspended from a lifting hook, an angle sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of a chassis relative to ground surface, a boom position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a boom relative to an undercarriage, and a counterweight position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a counterweight relative to the undercarriage. The system further includes a controller configured to receive the signal from each of the load sensor, the angle sensor, the boom position sensor, and the counterweight position sensor. The controller is also configured to determine the lifting capacity of the pipelayer based, at least in part, on the received signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Sean D. Lawson, Robert Jackson, Shikha Pokharel Thapa, Aaron Gnagey
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Publication number: 20220112686Abstract: A controller may obtain, from one or more first devices of a first machine, first information regarding a load associated with a first portion of an object. The first portion, of the object, may be carried by an implement of the first machine and a second portion, of the object, may be carried by an implement of a second machine. The controller may obtain, from one or more second devices of the first machine, second information regarding an orientation of the first machine. The controller may determine, based on the first information and a threshold derived based on the second information, that a load drop condition is satisfied; perform a first action associated with dropping the load; and transmit, to the second machine, information regarding the first action to cause the second machine to perform a second action.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel W. HOYT, Curtis John CALDWELL, Aaron J. GNAGEY
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Patent number: 11148915Abstract: A boom assembly for a pipelayer includes a boom member having a first end and a second end. The boom assembly includes a first boom block adapted to be removably coupled to the second end of the boom member. The boom assembly includes a second boom block adapted to be removably coupled to a chassis of the pipelayer. The boom assembly includes a first hook block adapted to be removably coupled to the second end of the boom member. The boom assembly includes a second hook block adapted to be operably coupled to the first hook block. The boom assembly also includes a first lifting connector disposed on the first boom block and a second lifting connector disposed on the first hook block. Each of the first lifting connector and the second lifting connector is adapted to removably receive a lifting strap therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Curtis John Caldwell
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Publication number: 20210238016Abstract: A pipelayer machine includes a propulsion system, a ranging, and a controller in communication with the propulsion system and the ranging system. The controller is configured to receive a predetermined distance that the pipelayer machine is to maintain between the pipelayer machine and an adjacent pipelayer machine, determine, via the ranging system, a first distance between the pipelayer machine and the adjacent pipelayer machine, and determine that a difference between the first distance and the predetermined distance is outside of a predetermined tolerance range. The controller is further configured to modify a speed of the propulsion system based at least in part on determining that the difference is outside of the predetermined tolerance range, wherein modifying the speed of the propulsion system causes acceleration or deceleration of the pipelayer machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Aaron J. Gnagey
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Publication number: 20210101788Abstract: A system for determining a lifting capacity of a pipelayer is provided. The system includes a load sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a load suspended from a lifting hook, an angle sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of a chassis relative to ground surface, a boom position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a boom relative to an undercarriage, and a counterweight position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a counterweight relative to the undercarriage. The system further includes a controller configured to receive the signal from each of the load sensor, the angle sensor, the boom position sensor, and the counterweight position sensor. The controller is also configured to determine the lifting capacity of the pipelayer based, at least in part, on the received signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Caldwell, Sean D. Lawson, Robert Jackson, Shikha Pokharel Thapa, Aaron Gnagey
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Publication number: 20210087026Abstract: A boom assembly for a pipelayer includes a boom member having a first end and a second end. The boom assembly includes a first boom block adapted to be removably coupled to the second end of the boom member. The boom assembly includes a second boom block adapted to be removably coupled to a chassis of the pipelayer. The boom assembly includes a first hook block adapted to be removably coupled to the second end of the boom member. The boom assembly includes a second hook block adapted to be operably coupled to the first hook block. The boom assembly also includes a first lifting connector disposed on the first boom block and a second lifting connector disposed on the first hook block. Each of the first lifting connector and the second lifting connector is adapted to removably receive a lifting strap therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Curtis John Caldwell