Patents by Inventor Jameson Michael Smieja

Jameson Michael Smieja 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: 20240092154
    Abstract: A canopy system for a work machine includes a canopy assembly movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The canopy assembly includes a main canopy panel and a canopy wing, such that the canopy wing is movable relative to the main canopy panel between an extended position and a retracted position. The canopy system also includes a sensor system that generates a detection signal indicative of a presence of an object proximate to the work machine, and a controller communicably. The controller includes a memory and a processor. The processor receives the detection signal from the sensor system, determines a location of the object based on the detection signal, and generates a first control signal to partially move the canopy assembly towards the lowered position and away from the operator station or partially move the canopy wing towards the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 11746483
    Abstract: A milling machine can include a frame; a milling assembly coupled to the frame and including a drum housing and a cutting rotor located within the drum housing, the cutting rotor including a plurality of cutting bits configured to cut into a surface to define a cut surface; and a secondary edge cutter separate from the plurality of cutting bits and located to cut an edge of the cut surface such that the edge of the cut surface cut by the secondary edge cutter defines a sharper edge than the edge of the cut surface cut by the plurality of cutting bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Nicholas B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11732426
    Abstract: A method of removing cutting bits from a milling work machine includes engaging a cutting bit connected to a rotary drum of the machine with a bit removal tool, actuating the bit removal tool to disconnect the bit from the machine, sensing a plurality of characteristics of removing the bit from the machine, and determining that the bit has been disconnected from the machine based on the sensed characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Johnson, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 11686054
    Abstract: A milling machine can include a frame; a cutting rotor attached to the frame, the cutting rotor including a plurality of cutting bits positioned along a length of the cutting rotor; a plurality of temperature sensors positioned to determine a temperature proximate one or more of the plurality of cutting bits; a spray system coupled to the frame and including a spray bar having a plurality of nozzles configured to spray a cooling fluid on the cutting rotor; and a controller to receive the temperatures of the one or more cutting bits, the controller configured to determine whether more or less cooling fluid is needed for the cutting rotor based on the temperature proximate the one or more cutting bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Heath Daryl Wilson
  • Publication number: 20230120467
    Abstract: A milling machine can include a frame; a milling assembly coupled to the frame and including a drum housing and a cutting rotor located within the drum housing, the cutting rotor including a plurality of cutting bits configured to cut into a surface to define a cut surface; and a secondary edge cutter separate from the plurality of cutting bits and located to cut an edge of the cut surface such that the edge of the cut surface cut by the secondary edge cutter defines a sharper edge than the edge of the cut surface cut by the plurality of cutting bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Nicholas B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230111274
    Abstract: A milling machine can include a frame; a cutting rotor attached to the frame, the cutting rotor including a plurality of cutting bits positioned along a length of the cutting rotor; a plurality of temperature sensors positioned to determine a temperature proximate one or more of the plurality of cutting bits; a spray system coupled to the frame and including a spray bar having a plurality of nozzles configured to spray a cooling fluid on the cutting rotor; and a controller to receive the temperatures of the one or more cutting bits, the controller configured to determine whether more or less cooling fluid is needed for the cutting rotor based on the temperature proximate the one or more cutting bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Heath Daryl Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220184757
    Abstract: A method of removing cutting bits from a milling work machine includes engaging a cutting bit connected to a rotary drum of the machine with a bit removal tool, actuating the bit removal tool to disconnect the bit from the machine, sensing a plurality of characteristics of removing the bit from the machine, and determining that the bit has been disconnected from the machine based on the sensed characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Johnson, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 9267246
    Abstract: A screed assembly is disclosed for use with a paving machine having a machine frame. The screed assembly may have a main frame operatively connected to the machine frame, and a sub-frame with a body and a screed plate. The screed assembly may also have a vibration isolator disposed between the main frame and the sub-frame, and at least one adjustment mechanism disposed between the body and the screed plate. The at least one adjustment mechanism may be configured to adjust a flatness of the screed plate. The screed assembly may further have a vibration device connected to the body of the sub-frame and configured to vibrate the sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Joseph Arthur Frerich, Timothy Lee Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20150337503
    Abstract: A screed assembly is disclosed for use with a paving machine having a machine frame. The screed assembly may have a main frame operatively connected to the machine frame, and a sub-frame with a body and a screed plate. The screed assembly may also have a vibration isolator disposed between the main frame and the sub-frame, and at least one adjustment mechanism disposed between the body and the screed plate. The at least one adjustment mechanism may be configured to adjust a flatness of the screed plate. The screed assembly may further have a vibration device connected to the body of the sub-frame and configured to vibrate the sub-frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael SMIEJA, Joseph Arthur FRERICH, Timothy Lee WEHRENBERG
  • Patent number: 9151003
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of an endgate of a screed paving machine using a control device is disclosed. The at least one control device may have a plurality of endgate controls and may be employed for issuing commands to a controller by an operator for controlling operation of the at least one endgate and operate the at least one endgate in an up mode and a down mode, changing the fore/aft pitch of the at least one endgate in tilt-up and tilt-down modes and operating the at least one endgate in auto-on and auto-off modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Edward Graham, Ricky Mings, Todd Michael Jennings, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 8979423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling material feed for asphalt pavers. The material feed system includes a screed, feeder conveyor and a spreader auger. A sensor measures a material volume and transmits this information to an electronic control module (ECM). This information may be used as the target material volume, which the ECM may use to calculate a corresponding conveyor speed and auger speed. The sensor monitors the material volume as paving commences, and the ECM maintains the initial calibrated target size by adjusting the auger and conveyor rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Publication number: 20140260751
    Abstract: An operator interface having actuators associated therewith for controlling functions of a paving machine. The operator interface includes an interactive display and a configurable lockout control associated therewith. The interactive display is enabled to allow an operator to configure the configurable lockout control by selecting at least one function that is locked out of control by an associated actuator when the lockout control is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Ricky L. Mings, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 8825312
    Abstract: A height adjustment system for a paving screed apparatus and a method for adjusting the height of the endgates of a screed system are disclosed. In a disclosed system, the system includes an endgate coupled to a biasing element, such as a spring or a hydraulic cylinder and rod. The biasing element is coupled to an actuator. The actuator is linked to a controller. The biasing element is moveable between a compressed position and an extended position with a setpoint range disposed between the compressed and extended positions. The biasing element is also associated with a sensor for measuring vertical displacement of the biasing element, pressure or load on the biasing element with respect to the setpoint range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Luke Edward Graham, Tobin Rasmusson, Steven Michael Haas, Jason William Kopacz
  • Publication number: 20140099165
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling material feed for asphalt pavers. The material feed system includes a screed, feeder conveyor and a spreader auger. A sensor measures a material volume and transmits this information to an electronic control module (ECM). This information may be used as the target material volume, which the ECM may use to calculate a corresponding conveyor speed and auger speed. The sensor monitors the material volume as paving commences, and the ECM maintains the initial calibrated target size by adjusting the auger and conveyor rotational speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Publication number: 20140064847
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of an endgate of a screed paving machine using a control device is disclosed. The at least one control device may have a plurality of endgate controls and may be employed for issuing commands to a controller by an operator for controlling operation of the at least one endgate and operate the at least one endgate in an up mode and a down mode, changing the fore/aft pitch of the at least one endgate in tilt-up and tilt-down modes and operating the at least one endgate in auto-on and auto-off modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Luke Edward Graham, Ricky Mings, Todd Michael Jennings, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 8591145
    Abstract: A screed has an extendible frame portion that includes a catch engaging surface of an extension mounting system. The extendible frame portion is expandable along a lateral extension axis and pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the lateral extension axis. A screed extension has a screed extension frame supporting a mounting catch of the extension mounting system. In a mounting configuration, the extendible frame portion is pivoted to a lowered mounting position, and the extendible frame portion is axially expanded to an extended mounting position in which the catch engaging surface and the mounting catch are vertically aligned. In a lifted configuration, the extendible frame portion is pivoted to a raised lifting position, the catch engaging surface and the mounting catch are in mating engagement, and the screed extension is supported on the extendible frame portion using the extension mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Wayne Engel, Karl E. Lindenmuth, Andy L. Vering, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Publication number: 20130294833
    Abstract: A screed has an extendible frame portion that includes a catch engaging surface of an extension mounting system. The extendible frame portion is expandable along a lateral extension axis and pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the lateral extension axis. A screed extension has a screed extension frame supporting a mounting catch of the extension mounting system. In a mounting configuration, the extendible frame portion is pivoted to a lowered mounting position, and the extendible frame portion is axially expanded to an extended mounting position in which the catch engaging surface and the mounting catch are vertically aligned. In a lifted configuration, the extendible frame portion is pivoted to a raised lifting position, the catch engaging surface and the mounting catch are in mating engagement, and the screed extension is supported on the extendible frame portion using the extension mounting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Brett Wayne Engel, Karl E. Lindenmuth, Andy L. Vering, Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Publication number: 20130253780
    Abstract: A height adjustment system for a paving screed apparatus and a method for adjusting the height of the endgates of a screed system are disclosed. In a disclosed system, the system includes an endgate coupled to a biasing element, such as a spring or a hydraulic cylinder and rod. The biasing element is coupled to an actuator. The actuator is linked to a controller. The biasing element is moveable between a compressed position and an extended position with a setpoint range disposed between the compressed and extended positions. The biasing element is also associated with a sensor for measuring vertical displacement of the biasing element, pressure or load on the biasing element with respect to the setpoint range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Jameson Michael Smieja, Luke Edward Graham, Tobin Rasmusson, Steven Michael Haas, Jason William Kopacz