Patents by Inventor Dustin James Funk

Dustin James Funk 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).

  • Publication number: 20230054208
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a motor grader with a blade, a drawbar member, and a center shift mounting member associated with a drawbar-circle-moldboard (DCM) includes actuators connecting the blade to the DCM and interconnecting other components of the motor grader. The actuators affect movement of the blade relative to the DCM and affect movement of the other interconnected components relative to each other. Sensors generate signals indicative of a current position of the blade and positions of the other components of the motor grader. An input device receives an operator input indicative of a selection of predefined, diagnostic positions that can be checked visually by the operator for confirmation of proper operation. A controller selectively actuates the actuators based on the selection of a diagnostic position and a signal indicative of the current position of the blade to move the blade and other components of the motor grader into the selected diagnostic position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Kuehn, Michael Charles Gentle, Dustin James Funk, Joshua Leigh Jordan, Cole Thomas Lindeman
  • Publication number: 20220042281
    Abstract: A work machine includes a frame; an engine supported by the frame; a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the frame and driven by the engine; an operator cabin supported by the frame; a plurality of sensors and input devices configured to provide a plurality of signals; and a control module. The control module is configured to receive the plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors and input devices, determine if any of the plurality of signals is a positive signal, where a positive signal indicates that an operator is present in the machine, indicate an ‘operator present’ status if at least one of the plurality of signals remains positive for a debounce time, and indicate a ‘no operator present’ status if none of the plurality of signals remains positive for a threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Gentle, Ethan Michael Tevis, Dustin James Funk, Joshua Leigh Jordan, Kurt William Hoch, Jesse Gerald Grant Fair