Patents by Inventor Derek P. Nieuwsma
Derek P. Nieuwsma 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: 11885081Abstract: A milling machine includes a rotor drive transmission having a plurality of gears disposed between a prime mover and a cutting rotor. The rotor drive transmission is associated with a rotor transmission hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic gearshift actuator to engage the plurality of gears in one or more gear ratios and a gearshift directional control valve to direct hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic gearshift actuator. In occurrence of a fault condition, the rotor transmission hydraulic circuit includes a gearshift trapping valve to maintain hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic gear actuator and the engaged gear ratio of the rotor drive transmission.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Brian J. Schlenker, Ryan A. Enot
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Patent number: 11821153Abstract: A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
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Publication number: 20230055131Abstract: A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
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Publication number: 20230051433Abstract: A milling machine includes a rotor drive transmission having a plurality of gears disposed between a prime mover and a cutting rotor. The rotor drive transmission is associated with a rotor transmission hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic gearshift actuator to engage the plurality of gears in one or more gear ratios and a gearshift directional control valve to direct hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic gearshift actuator. In occurrence of a fault condition, the rotor transmission hydraulic circuit includes a gearshift trapping valve to maintain hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic gear actuator and the engaged gear ratio of the rotor drive transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Brian J. Schlenker, Ryan A. Enot
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Patent number: 11460052Abstract: A hydraulic system for controlling a hydraulic circuit of a working machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system can include a first hydraulic cylinder assembly, a second hydraulic cylinder assembly, a third hydraulic cylinder assembly and a valve. When coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly, the third hydraulic cylinder assembly can be configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid between the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly to limit an extent of travel of the first piston and an extent of travel of the second piston.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20220186447Abstract: A milling machine includes a cutting rotor accommodated in a rotor enclosure having side plates that are vertically adjustable with respect to a machine frame. To adjust the vertical elevation of the side plates, a plurality of sensors is mounted on the machine frame and associated with an electronic controller that measures and processes the vertical distance between the side plates and work surface. The electronic controller operates a hydraulic system to adjust the vertical distance between the side plates and the work surface. To accommodate changes in work surface topography, the hydraulic system includes a float circuit with an accumulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Matthew-David S. Frantz
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Patent number: 11353111Abstract: A rotary mixer can include a frame, a rotor attached to the frame, four wheels attached to the frame for moving the rotary mixer, and a drive system for driving the four wheels, the drive system can include four independent hydrostatic drive loops, each of the independent hydrostatic drive loops associated with one of the wheels such that each one of the independent hydrostatic drive loops independently drives one of the four wheels; wherein the drive system includes a pressure balance mode of operation for relatively good traction ground or road conditions, and a wheel speed synchronization mode of operation for relatively poor traction ground or road conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Olson, Corwin E. Storer, Ryan A. Enot, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Rustin G. Metzger, Nathaniel S. Doy
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Patent number: 11193246Abstract: A road work machine comprises a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs connecting the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, respectively, a hydraulic system to control heights of the plurality of vertically moveable legs, pressure sensors for sensing hydraulic pressures in the plurality of vertically movable legs, and a controller configured to, in response to signals received from the pressure sensors, generate a control signal. A method for ride control can comprise adjusting an attitude of the machine in response to sensed pressures.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20210231134Abstract: A hydraulic system for controlling a hydraulic circuit of a working machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system can include a first hydraulic cylinder assembly, a second hydraulic cylinder assembly, a third hydraulic cylinder assembly and a valve. When coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly, the third hydraulic cylinder assembly can be configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid between the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly to limit an extent of travel of the first piston and an extent of travel of the second piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Patent number: 10876260Abstract: An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension and a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground. The implement may also include a plurality of ground sensors configured for capturing distance measurements to determine the position of the frame relative to the surface and a control and monitor system configured for establishing a nominal scratch position of the tool relative to the surface based on the distance measurements. A method of controlling a rotor tool depth of a milling machine and a method of operating a milling machine are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20200308783Abstract: An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension and a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground. The implement may also include a plurality of ground sensors configured for capturing distance measurements to determine the position of the frame relative to the surface and a control and monitor system configured for establishing a nominal scratch position of the tool relative to the surface based on the distance measurements. A method of controlling a rotor tool depth of a milling machine and a method of operating a milling machine are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20200263366Abstract: A road work machine comprises a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs connecting the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, respectively, a hydraulic system to control heights of the plurality of vertically moveable legs, pressure sensors for sensing hydraulic pressures in the plurality of vertically movable legs, and a controller configured to, in response to signals received from the pressure sensors, generate a control signal. A method for ride control can comprise adjusting an attitude of the machine in response to sensed pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma
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Publication number: 20200256462Abstract: A rotary mixer can include a frame, a rotor attached to the frame, four wheels attached to the frame for moving the rotary mixer, and a drive system for driving the four wheels, the drive system can include four independent hydrostatic drive loops, each of the independent hydrostatic drive loops associated with one of the wheels such that each one of the independent hydrostatic drive loops independently drives one of the four wheels; wherein the drive system includes a pressure balance mode of operation for relatively good traction ground or road conditions, and a wheel speed synchronization mode of operation for relatively poor traction ground or road conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Olson, Corwin E. Storer, Ryan A. Enot, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Rustin G. Metzger, Nathaniel S. Doy
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Patent number: 9797100Abstract: A milling machine has a frame, a rotor, a mixing chamber with a front door and a rear door, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the frame, the rotor, the front door, and the rear door, and configured to operate the milling machine in a travel mode and a work mode. When the travel mode is actuated, the controller raises the rotor to a predetermined position, closes the front door and the rear door, and raises the frame to a predetermined height. When the work mode is actuated, the controller lowers the frame to a predetermined height, lowers the rotor to a predetermined position, and opens the front door and the rear door to predetermined positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma