Patents by Inventor Eric J Johannsen
Eric J Johannsen 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: 11972646Abstract: A controller may receive, from a sensor device of a machine, machine drivetrain data indicating a load, on a drivetrain of the machine, over a period of time. The controller may detect, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time. The controller may determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may detect wear of a component of an undercarriage of the machine based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may cause an action to be performed based on determining the wear of the component.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. Johannsen
-
Publication number: 20240011813Abstract: In some implementations, one or more devices may determine whether an electrical circuit is closed or open, the electrical circuit including electrodes of the sensor device, the electrical circuit being closed based on the electrodes being immersed in a lubricant in a cavity of a component of a track assembly of the machine, the electrical circuit being open based on the electrodes not being immersed in the lubricant in the cavity. The one or more devices may generate sensor data based on determining that the electrical circuit is open, the sensor data indicating that a level, of the lubricant in the cavity, does not satisfy a level threshold. The one or more devices may cause the machine to perform an action based on the sensor data indicating that the level does not satisfy the level threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael Stephen GALAT, Eric J. JOHANNSEN, Temitope O. AKINLUA
-
Publication number: 20230365208Abstract: An idler adjustment assembly includes a support block; a first set of one or more adjustment components to move a first wear component between a first plurality of positions that are adjacent to an external surface of a first side of the support block; a second set of one or more adjustment components to move a second wear component between a second plurality of positions that are adjacent to an external surface of a second side of the support block; a first set of one or more alignment components to maintain a first alignment of the first wear component relative to the external surface of the first side of the support block; and a second set of one or more alignment components to maintain a second alignment of the second wear component relative to the external surface of the second side of the support block.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Publication number: 20230366842Abstract: In some implementations, a monitoring system may include a sensor device located on an inner surface of a bushing of a track link. The sensor device may be configured to generate data indicating an amount of strain or wear experienced by a portion of the bushing. The monitoring system may include a wireless communication device communicatively coupled to the sensor device and configured to transmit information indicating the data. The monitoring system may include a controller configured to determine an amount of wear, of the portion of the bushing, based on the data, and generate wear information indicating the amount of wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Patent number: 11704942Abstract: A system may comprise a device. The device may be configured to receive, from one or more sensor devices of the machine, sensor data associated with wear of one or more components of an undercarriage of the machine; and predict, using a machine learning model and the sensor data, an amount wear of the one or more components based on a wear rate of the one or more components. The machine learning model is trained, using training data, to predict the wear rate of the one or more components. The training data includes two or more of: historical sensor data, historical inspection data, or simulation data, of a simulation model, from one or more third devices. The device may perform an action based on the amount of wear.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Li Zhang, Eric J. Johannsen, Yanchai Zhang, Xuefei Hu, Daniel W. Hoyt
-
Publication number: 20230196852Abstract: A controller may receive, from a sensor device of a machine, machine drivetrain data indicating a load, on a drivetrain of the machine, over a period of time. The controller may detect, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time. The controller may determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may detect wear of a component of an undercarriage of the machine based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may cause an action to be performed based on determining the wear of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Publication number: 20230193597Abstract: A component, of a machine, may comprise a body comprising a cavity; and a sensing assembly located in the cavity. The sensing assembly may comprise a strain measurement device configured to generate strain data indicating an amount of strain experienced by a portion of the component. The sensing assembly may further comprises a component controller configured to generate, based on the strain data, wear information indicating an amount of wear of the portion of the component; and cause the wear information to be provided to one or more devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Publication number: 20230105350Abstract: In at least one aspect, a track shoe assembly includes a shoe plate having a shoe plate body including at least one shoe plate attachment surface defining a groove extending along a width of the shoe plate body, and a grouser having a grouser body having at least one grouser attachment surface, a cross-sectional shape of the at least one grouser attachment surface being the same as a cross-sectional shape of the groove defined by the at least one shoe plate attachment surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. JOHANNSEN, Kevin L. STEINER, Jason L. SEBRIGHT, Donovan S. CLARKE
-
Publication number: 20230060000Abstract: A system may include a first device and a second device. The first device may be configured to be associated with a component of a machine. The second device may be configured to provide one or more interrogation magnetic signals to the first device; and determine, based on providing the one or more interrogation magnetic signals, whether a response magnetic signal is received from the first device. The second device may selectively provide first wear information indicating a first amount of wear of the component or second wear information indicating a second amount of wear of the component. The first information may be provided when the response magnetic signal is received from the first device. The second wear information may be provided when the response magnetic signal is not received from the first device. The second amount of wear may exceed the first amount of wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Li Zhang, Eric J. Johannsen
-
Publication number: 20230053156Abstract: In one aspect, a track shoe assembly may include a shoe plate having a shoe plate body including a shoe plate attachment surface, and at least two slots extending through at least the shoe plate attachment surface. The track shoe assembly may also include a grouser having a grouser body having a grouser attachment surface, and at least two tabs, integrally formed with the grouser body, the at least two tabs extending from the grouser attachment surface, and perpendicular to the grouser attachment surface, the at least two tabs of the grouser being configured to be positioned within the at least two slots of the shoe plate. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing a track shoe assembly may include forming a shoe plate as described above, forming a grouser as described above, and attaching the grouser to the shoe plate to thereby form a track shoe assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. STEINER, Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Patent number: 11572076Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain, during an event, pressure data regarding an amount of pressure of fluid associated with a component of the machine. The controller may obtain, during the event, flow data regarding a flow of the fluid associated with the component of the machine. The controller may determine, based on the pressure data and the flow data, an amount of wear of a track of the machine. The controller may perform an action based on the amount of wear of the track of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. Johannsen
-
Publication number: 20230018696Abstract: A ground-engaging track system includes a center tread idler having an inner surface defining an idler axis of rotation, and an outer tread surface. The ground-engaging track system further includes a track contacted by the idler between parallel track chains and defining a track pitch dimension. The outer tread surface defines an outer diameter dimension, and a ratio of the track pitch dimension to the outer diameter dimension is between 28% and 37%. The outer diameter dimension may be one of the outer diameters of Table 1. The idler and track contact during service at fixed bushing-idler contact locations so as to bias wearing away material of the idler to form pockets imparting a sprocketed configuration to the idler during service.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. Johannsen, David Jennings Hakes
-
Publication number: 20220139117Abstract: A system may comprise a device. The device may be configured to receive, from one or more sensor devices of the machine, sensor data associated with wear of one or more components of an undercarriage of the machine; and predict, using a machine learning model and the sensor data, an amount wear of the one or more components based on a wear rate of the one or more components. The machine learning model is trained, using training data, to predict the wear rate of the one or more components. The training data includes two or more of: historical sensor data, historical inspection data, or simulation data, of a simulation model, from one or more third devices. The device may perform an action based on the amount of wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Li Zhang, Eric J. Johannsen, Yanchai Zhang, Xuefei Hu, Daniel W. Hoyt
-
Publication number: 20220063636Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may obtain, during an event, pressure data regarding an amount of pressure of fluid associated with a component of the machine. The controller may obtain, during the event, flow data regarding a flow of the fluid associated with the component of the machine. The controller may determine, based on the pressure data and the flow data, an amount of wear of a track of the machine. The controller may perform an action based on the amount of wear of the track of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Eric J. JOHANNSEN
-
Patent number: 11148736Abstract: A bushing assembly for a track assembly includes a first end element, a second end element, and a central element positioned between the first end element and the second end element. The central element may be interference fit or positioned between the first end element and the second end element, and the central element may include a greater hardness than the first and second end elements. The first end element, the second end element, and the central element form a bushing with a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally through the bushing.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. Johannsen, Chandrasen R. Rathod, Scott Keele, Jason L. Sebright, Roger L. Recker, Arthur Bland, Douglas Trent Weaver, Thomas J. Yaniak
-
Publication number: 20200122792Abstract: A closed-loop seal having an irregularly shaped profile to seal a pivot assembly of a track assembly comprises a body comprising an inner diameter wall, an outer diameter wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, wherein at least one pairing of the inner and outer walls and the first and second sidewalls are non-parallel. The irregularly shaped profile can comprise a curved rectangular profile or a trapezoidal profile. Walls of the body can be joined at curved surfaces having uniform or different radii of curvature. The seal can comprise urethane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Hong Lian, Mark J. Kiesel, Jason L. Sebright, Eric J. Johannsen
-
Publication number: 20200070908Abstract: A bushing assembly for a track assembly includes a first end element, a second end element, and a central element positioned between the first end element and the second end element. The central element may be interference fit or positioned between the first end element and the second end element, and the central element may include a greater hardness than the first and second end elements. The first end element, the second end element, and the central element form a bushing with a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally through the bushing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. JOHANNSEN, Chandrasen R. RATHOD, Scott KEELE, Jason L. SEBRIGHT, Roger L. RECKER, Arthur BLAND, Douglas Trent WEAVER, Thomas J. YANIAK
-
Patent number: 10493574Abstract: A torque monitoring device for a fastener is provided. The torque monitoring device includes a sensing element mounted within the fastener. The sensing element measures a value of fastener elongation. The torque monitoring device also includes a receiving element coupled to a torque machine. The receiving element is communicably coupled with the sensing element. The receiving element is configured to receive the value of fastener elongation from the sensing element. The receiving element is also configured to generate an alert for terminating a torque operation being performed by the torque machine when the value of fastener elongation exceeds a pre-set value of fastener elongation.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. Johannsen, Timothy A. McKinley
-
Publication number: 20190047097Abstract: A torque monitoring device for a fastener is provided. The torque monitoring device includes a sensing element mounted within the fastener. The sensing element measures a value of fastener elongation. The torque monitoring device also includes a receiving element coupled to a torque machine. The receiving element is communicably coupled with the sensing element. The receiving element is configured to receive the value of fastener elongation from the sensing element. The receiving element is also configured to generate an alert for terminating a torque operation being performed by the torque machine when the value of fastener elongation exceeds a pre-set value of fastener elongation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric J. Johannsen, Timothy A. McKinley
-
Publication number: 20170356164Abstract: An ID tag is disposed on a plurality of components of a machine. A controller stores a usage threshold for each component, receives signals from an ID tag reader, and associates an identification number from each ID tag with a component of the machine. The controller determines previous usage data for each component, determines an extent of usage of the machine since generation of the previous usage data, determines current usage data for each component based upon the extent of usage of the machine and the previous usage data, and compares the current usage data for each component to the usage threshold for each component. The controller generates an alert for each component in which the current usage data for that component exceeds its usage threshold and transmits the alert to a system remote from the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2016Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Recker, Eric J. Johannsen, David M. Longanbach, Asif Khan