Patents by Inventor James A. Aardema
James A. Aardema 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: 20200282167Abstract: A nasal cannula for an oxygen delivery system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cannula having an end configured to attach to an oxygen source and a face piece configured to deliver a fluid from the oxygen source to a user. A magnetic coupling is arranged along the cannula.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Cody James Aardema, Perry Karl Jagger
-
Patent number: 9975538Abstract: A controller-implemented method of controlling a machine having a rotor coupled to an engine through a variable transmission is provided. The controller-implemented method may include receiving a desired rotor speed, determining an engine load of the engine, adjusting an engine speed of the engine based on the engine load and one or more predefined efficiency points, and adjusting a gear ratio of the variable transmission based on the engine speed and the desired rotor speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventor: James A. Aardema
-
Patent number: 9651067Abstract: A system can include one or more valve arrangements with a working chamber to receive a working fluid at a first pressure, and a control chamber to receive fluid at a second pressure. A dynamic seal can be disposed on a land of a valve element. The valve arrangement may include a sleeve against which the dynamic seal is slidably engaged. The valve element may include a check stem. A pressure compensating system may be in communication with bores formed in with the valve element. A pressure system to monitor dynamic seal wear may be in communication with the control chamber of the valve arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Eric C. Hughes, Mikhail A. Sorokine, James A. Aardema, Thomas J. Hajek, Aleksandra M. Egelja
-
Publication number: 20160339917Abstract: A controller-implemented method of controlling a machine having a rotor coupled to an engine through a variable transmission is provided. The controller-implemented method may include receiving a desired rotor speed, determining an engine load of the engine, adjusting an engine speed of the engine based on the engine load and one or more predefined efficiency points, and adjusting a gear ratio of the variable transmission based on the engine speed and the desired rotor speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.Inventor: James A. Aardema
-
Patent number: 9464580Abstract: A prime mover transfers power to a separate hydraulic circuits via a power take off (PTO). In some situations, a peak torque demand in one of the hydraulic circuits may cause the total torque of all hydraulic circuits to exceed a rated torque at the PTO. An apparatus measures hydraulic fluid pressure in a first hydraulic circuit and adjusts the hydraulic fluid pressure in a second hydraulic circuit. Because pressure is directly correlated to torque at a pump, by adjusting the pressure in the second circuit based on the current pressure in the first hydraulic circuit, the total torque may be capped below the maximum torque rating at the PTO. The first hydraulic circuit may have a higher priority function, such as steering, compared to that of the second hydraulic circuit which may, for example, power a tool.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: James A. Aardema, Eric Engelmann
-
Publication number: 20150345628Abstract: A power management system is provided. The power management system includes a power generation apparatus and a pump drivably coupled to the power generation apparatus. The power management system also includes a valve in fluid communication with the pump. The valve and the pump are components of a hydraulic circuit. The power management system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the valve. The controller is configured to selectively regulate the valve in order to control a pressure in the hydraulic circuit in a predetermined manner such that a torque load placed on the power generation apparatus by the pump lies below a threshold torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, James A. Aardema
-
Publication number: 20150184680Abstract: A prime mover transfers power to a separate hydraulic circuits via a power take off (PTO). In some situations, a peak torque demand in one of the hydraulic circuits may cause the total torque of all hydraulic circuits to exceed a rated torque at the PTO. An apparatus measures hydraulic fluid pressure in a first hydraulic circuit and adjusts the hydraulic fluid pressure in a second hydraulic circuit. Because pressure is directly correlated to torque at a pump, by adjusting the pressure in the second circuit based on the current pressure in the first hydraulic circuit, the total torque may be capped below the maximum torque rating at the PTO. The first hydraulic circuit may have a higher priority function, such as steering, compared to that of the second hydraulic circuit which may, for example, power a tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc.Inventors: James A. Aardema, Eric Engelmann
-
Publication number: 20140034135Abstract: A system can include one or more valve arrangements with a working chamber to receive a working fluid at a first pressure, and a control chamber to receive fluid at a second pressure. A dynamic seal can be disposed on a land of a valve element. The valve arrangement may include a sleeve against which the dynamic seal is slidably engaged. The valve element may include a check stem. A pressure compensating system may be in communication with bores formed in with the valve element. A pressure system to monitor dynamic seal wear may be in communication with the control chamber of the valve arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Eric C. Hughes, Mikhail A. Sorokine, James A. Aardema, Thomas J. Hajek, Aleksandra M. Egelja
-
Patent number: 8635903Abstract: A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, James A. Aardema, Kristopher A. Hanson, Bryan J. Downing
-
Patent number: 8631650Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed having at least two hydraulic circuits. The disclosed system apportions flow between the two hydraulic circuits based on an assumed flow rate that is held constant in both power-limited and non-power-limited conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael T. Verkuilen, John J. Krone, Douglas W. Koehler, James A. Aardema
-
Patent number: 8479504Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a source of pressurized fluid and a fluid actuator with a first chamber. The hydraulic system also has a first valve configured to selectively fluidly communicate the source with the first chamber. The first valve further includes a first element movable between a flow passing, at which fluid from the source flows to the first chamber, and a flow blocking position, at which fluid from the source is blocked from the first chamber and a second element configured to selectively drain a control passageway associated with the first element to cause the first element to move. The hydraulic system further has a proportional pressure compensating valve configured to control a pressure of a fluid directed between the source and the first valve dependent upon the pressure of the control passageway.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Philippe Vande Kerckhove, James A. Aardema, Pengfei Ma, Kalpesh Patel
-
Publication number: 20130136535Abstract: A method of controlling a paving process is disclosed. The method may include mixing at least one capsule that at least partially encloses a dye within a paving material and dispensing the paving material at a desired location. The method may also include performing a compacting process on the paving material and monitoring for a presence of the dye at a surface of dispensed paving material. The method may further include controlling the compacting process based on the presence of the dye.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: James A. Aardema, Aaron Kenneth Amstutz
-
Publication number: 20110302998Abstract: A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Kristopher A. Hanson, Nicholas A. Oetken, James A. Aardema, Bryan J. Downing
-
Publication number: 20110072809Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed having at least two hydraulic circuits. The disclosed system apportions flow between the two hydraulic circuits based on an assumed flow rate that is held constant in both power-limited and non-power-limited conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael Todd Verkuilen, John J. Krone, Douglas W. Koehler, James A. Aardema
-
Publication number: 20100107623Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a source of pressurized fluid and a fluid actuator with a first chamber. The hydraulic system also has a first valve configured to selectively fluidly communicate the source with the first chamber. The first valve further includes a first element movable between a flow passing, at which fluid from the source flows to the first chamber, and a flow blocking position, at which fluid from the source is blocked from the first chamber and a second element configured to selectively drain a control passageway associated with the first element to cause the first element to move. The hydraulic system further has a proportional pressure compensating valve configured to control a pressure of a fluid directed between the source and the first valve dependent upon the pressure of the control passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicants: Caterpillar Inc., Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.Inventors: Philippe Vande Kerckhove, James A. Aardema, Pengfei Ma, Kalpesh Patel
-
Publication number: 20070290152Abstract: A valve has a valve body including a main chamber having a first port and a second port, and a main poppet disposed within the main chamber. The main poppet includes a first surface forming a control chamber within the main chamber. The valve has a first passage communicating the control chamber with the first port, and a second passage communicating the control chamber with the second port. The valve also includes a pilot valve having a pilot poppet for controlling fluid flow from the control chamber to the first port through a third passage, and to the second port through a fourth passage, respectively. The valve may further have a feedback spring coupled between the main poppet and the pilot poppet to provide a force relative to a distance between the main poppet and the pilot poppet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2006Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventors: Pengfei Ma, Philippe Vande Kerckhove, James A. Aardema, Mark P. Vonderwell
-
Patent number: 7293579Abstract: A poppet valve arrangement is provided and has a poppet slideably disposed therein. The poppet has an odd number of integral guide legs formed thereon about the periphery of the poppet. The odd number of integral guide legs are evenly spaced from one another and are of a size sufficient to permit fluid to freely flow thereby when unseated. The integral guide legs also function to permit the poppet to freely slide, without binding, within a bore of the poppet valve arrangement. The poppet having integral guide legs is compact, versatile, cost effective to produce and has good strength.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James A. Aardema, Rudy V. Mills, David P. Smith
-
Publication number: 20060005885Abstract: A poppet valve arrangement is provided and has a poppet slideably disposed therein. The poppet has an odd number of integral guide legs formed thereon about the periphery of the poppet. The odd number of integral guide legs are evenly spaced from one another and are of a size sufficient to permit fluid to freely flow thereby when unseated. The integral guide legs also function to permit the poppet to freely slide, without binding, within a bore of the poppet valve arrangement. The poppet having integral guide legs is compact, versatile, cost effective to produce and has good strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: James Aardema, Rudy Mills, David Smith
-
Patent number: 6199378Abstract: A control arrangement operates in conjunction with a control scheme to control the maximum pressure level within a conduit network of a fluid system without the need to have high flow pressure relief valves. The control arrangement provides a low flow pressure relief valve connected in parallel with an electrically actuated valve mechanism to trim any over-pressure conditions so that the control scheme has more time to move the electrically actuated valve mechanism to a flow bypassing, pressure relieving position.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James A. Aardema, Thomas J. Hajek, Jr., Douglas W. Koehler, Edward W. Mate, Vincent Triffaux
-
Patent number: 5960695Abstract: A system and method for controlling an independent metering valve operating in a hydraulic circuit determines a displacement command for one or more metering valves to provide desired flows through the metering valves and desired pressure drops across the metering valves. The system determines the displacement command based on a mode of operation of the hydraulic circuit and a velocity for a hydraulic device controlled by the hydraulic circuit. The system determines the displacement command further based on an amount of flow available to the hydraulic circuit. The system allows the hydraulic circuit to be electronically controlled thereby providing flexibility not found in conventional hydraulic control systems.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: James A. Aardema, Douglas W. Koehler