Patents by Inventor Ernest Everett Stoops
Ernest Everett Stoops 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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Publication number: 20230257951Abstract: In some implementations a lift assembly for a snow wing assembly may include a first lifting mechanism, coupled to the motor grader, configured to lift the snow wing assembly a first portion of a bench height associated with a moldboard via a first hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include a second lifting mechanism, coupled to the first lifting mechanism and the moldboard, configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly a second portion of the bench height via a second hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include one or more valves included in a hydraulic circuit of the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder, configured to divert a flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit away from a first stage hydraulic cylinder and to a second stage hydraulic cylinder, based on a pressure value associated with the first stage hydraulic cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2022Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. KOVALICK, Bruce Raymond VAHLING, Ernest Everett STOOPS
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Patent number: 11578471Abstract: A circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders is disclosed. The circle drive system includes a hydraulic motor that is configured to receive a pressurized fluid and generate a torque for a rotation of a circle and a moldboard. The circle drive system also includes a gearbox to transfer the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to the circle. Further, the circle drive system includes a clutch connected to the hydraulic motor at one end and to the gearbox at another end. In addition, the circle drive system also includes a hydraulic circuit having a pressure relief valve to relieve the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the pressurized fluid exceeds a predefined threshold. The pressure relief valve thereby, limits the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to less than or equal to a torque capacity of the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric Matthew Gray, Ernest Everett Stoops, Nathaniel Keith Harshman
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Publication number: 20220049456Abstract: A circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders is disclosed. The circle drive system includes a hydraulic motor that is configured to receive a pressurized fluid and generate a torque for a rotation of a circle and a moldboard. The circle drive system also includes a gearbox to transfer the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to the circle. Further, the circle drive system includes a clutch connected to the hydraulic motor at one end and to the gearbox at another end. In addition, the circle drive system also includes a hydraulic circuit having a pressure relief valve to relieve the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the pressurized fluid exceeds a predefined threshold. The pressure relief valve thereby, limits the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to less than or equal to a torque capacity of the clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric Matthew Gray, Ernest Everett Stoops, Nathaniel Keith Harshman
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Patent number: 10981554Abstract: A system for delivering fluid in a machine is provided. The system includes a pump, a first valve disposed downstream of the pump, a check valve disposed downstream of the first valve, at least one accumulator disposed downstream of the check valve, and an auxiliary system disposed upstream of the check valve. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive a signal indicative of a fluid demand from the auxiliary system. The control unit is also configured to selectively control the first valve in a first position to limit flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system, and in a second position to allow flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system based, at least in part, on the received signal. The check valve limits flow of a fluid from the at least one accumulator to the auxiliary system.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Adam J. Adeeb, Steven Edward Johnson, Anthony Joseph Weltzer, Ernest Everett Stoops
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Patent number: 10889965Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a pair of cylinders of an articulation system includes a pump, a reservoir, a directional control valve (DCV), a pair of actuator valves (AVs) and an articulation charge circuit (ACC). The DCV is fluidly coupled to the pump, the reservoir and the pair of cylinders via a supply line, a fluid return line and a pair of cylinder supply lines (CSLs) respectively. Each CSL has a load check valve (LCV) therein. The AVs are fluidly coupled with the DCV and the pump via a pilot supply line (PSL) for actuating movement of the DCV. The ACC, associated with the PSL and each cylinder supply line downstream of the associated LCV, charges a corresponding CSL with fluid from the PSL for increasing a pressure in the corresponding CSL when the pressure in the corresponding CSL falls below the pressure of fluid associated with the PSL.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Travis Neale Richards, Ernest Everett Stoops, Michael Lemoyne Repscher, Matthew David Roley, Ramalho Stive, Michael Robert Kunde, Dwanz Mwalimu Mwasi, Charles Eric Nail, Bart Jerome Bradford
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Publication number: 20200392702Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a pair of cylinders of an articulation system includes a pump, a reservoir, a directional control valve (DCV), a pair of actuator valves (AVs) and an articulation charge circuit (ACC). The DCV is fluidly coupled to the pump, the reservoir and the pair of cylinders via a supply line, a fluid return line and a pair of cylinder supply lines (CSLs) respectively. Each CSL has a load check valve (LCV) therein. The AVs are fluidly coupled with the DCV and the pump via a pilot supply line (PSL) for actuating movement of the DCV. The ACC, associated with the PSL and each cylinder supply line downstream of the associated LCV, charges a corresponding CSL with fluid from the PSL for increasing a pressure in the corresponding CSL when the pressure in the corresponding CSL falls below the pressure of fluid associated with the PSL.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Travis Neale Richards, Ernest Everett Stoops, Michael Lemoyne Repscher, Matthew David Roley, Ramalho Stive, Michael Robert Kunde, Dwanz Mwalimu Mwasi, Charles Eric Nail, Bart Jerome Bradford
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Patent number: 10745885Abstract: A system for operating a circle drive gear of a machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, an implement control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bi-directional hydraulic motor located downstream of the implement control valve and fluidly coupled to the implement control valve via a first delivery line and a second delivery line. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotatively driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. A brake is disposed on the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and engages with the output shaft with the help of a spring force for reducing a rotational speed of the output shaft in a brake engage state. The brake operatively disengages from the output shaft in a brake release state with the help of fluid pressure in at least one of the first delivery line and the second delivery line.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ernest Everett Stoops, William Norbert O'Neill, Bruce Raymond Vahling
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Publication number: 20190186101Abstract: A system for operating a circle drive gear of a machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, an implement control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bi-directional hydraulic motor located downstream of the implement control valve and fluidly coupled to the implement control valve via a first delivery line and a second delivery line. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotatively driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. A brake is disposed on the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and engages with the output shaft with the help of a spring force for reducing a rotational speed of the output shaft in a brake engage state. The brake operatively disengages from the output shaft in a brake release state with the help of fluid pressure in at least one of the first delivery line and the second delivery line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ernest Everett Stoops, William Norbert O'Neill, Bruce Raymond Vahling
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Publication number: 20180354485Abstract: A system for delivering fluid in a machine is provided. The system includes a pump, a first valve disposed downstream of the pump, a check valve disposed downstream of the first valve, at least one accumulator disposed downstream of the check valve, and an auxiliary system disposed upstream of the check valve. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive a signal indicative of a fluid demand from the auxiliary system. The control unit is also configured to selectively control the first valve in a first position to limit flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system, and in a second position to allow flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system based, at least in part, on the received signal. The check valve limits flow of a fluid from the at least one accumulator to the auxiliary system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Adam J. Adeeb, Steven Edward Johnson, Anthony Joseph Weltzer, Ernest Everett Stoops