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).

  • Patent number: 11885081
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Brian J. Schlenker, Ryan A. Enot
  • Patent number: 11821153
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20230055131
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20230051433
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Brian J. Schlenker, Ryan A. Enot
  • Patent number: 11460052
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Publication number: 20220186447
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11353111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11193246
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Publication number: 20210231134
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Patent number: 10876260
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Publication number: 20200308783
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Brian J. Schlenker, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Publication number: 20200263366
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir, Derek P. Nieuwsma
  • Publication number: 20200256462
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 9797100
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek P. Nieuwsma