Patents by Inventor Jason W. Kopacz

Jason W. Kopacz 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: 9045871
    Abstract: A paving machine including an adjustable screed assembly is provided. Actuators adjust the screed assembly into the plurality of different configurations. Sensors sense a respective configuration parameter indicative of the configuration of the screed assembly. A controller is configured to save a first set of parameters including the configuration parameters and save a second set of parameters including the configuration parameters in response. The controller is configured to recall one of the first set or second set of parameters, and adjust automatically the configuration of the screed assembly to correspond to the configuration parameters included in the recalled first set or second set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Rick L. Mings, Jameson M. Smieja, Toby A. Frelich, Igor S. Ramos, Anthony P. Steinhagen, Jason W. Kopacz, Chad M. Thiesse, Ryan T. Thiesse, Bradley D. Anderson, Daniel D. Podany, Kea V. Chin
  • Publication number: 20140377003
    Abstract: A screed includes a frame and a plate. The frame includes a bottom surface and a plurality of mounting members. The plurality of the mounting members project from the bottom surface. At least one of the plurality of the mounting members is longitudinally and transversely offset relative to the other mounting members. Further, the plate is coupled to the frame by the plurality of the mounting members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Timothy L. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 8864410
    Abstract: A walkway for a screed includes a main walkway and an extender walkway coupled to the main walkway and an extender frame of the screed. The extender walkway is slidable relative to the main walkway along a sliding direction. Further, the extender walkway and the extender frame are pivotable relative to each other about a walkway pivot axis, the walkway pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Jameson M. Smieja, Steven M. Haas, Kevin J. Magee, Anthony P. Steinhagen
  • Publication number: 20140301784
    Abstract: A walkway for a screed includes a main walkway and an extender walkway coupled to the main walkway and an extender frame of the screed. The extender walkway is slidable relative to the main walkway along a sliding direction. Further, the extender walkway and the extender frame are pivotable relative to each other about a walkway pivot axis, the walkway pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Jameson M. Smieja, Steven M. Haas, Kevin J. Magee, Anthony P. Steinhagen
  • Publication number: 20140186115
    Abstract: A paving machine including an adjustable screed assembly is provided. Actuators adjust the screed assembly into the plurality of different configurations. Sensors sense a respective configuration parameter indicative of the configuration of the screed assembly. A controller is configured to save a first set of parameters including the configuration parameters and save a second set of parameters including the configuration parameters in response. The controller is configured to recall one of the first set or second set of parameters, and adjust automatically the configuration of the screed assembly to correspond to the configuration parameters included in the recalled first set or second set of parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Rick L. Mings, Jameson M. Smieja, Toby A. Frelich, Igor S. Ramos, Anthony P. Steinhagen, Jason W. Kopacz, Chad M. Thiesse, Ryan T. Thiesse, Bradley D. Anderson, Daniel D. Podany, Kea V. Chin
  • Patent number: 8517630
    Abstract: Asphalt paving machine includes screed assembly, plurality of lower and upper plate fasteners, and upper and lower screed plates, each having openings, and an electric heater at least partially disposed between the plates. Upper and lower plate fasteners extend into openings of the respective upper and lower screed plates and bores of a frame portion of the screed assembly to couple the plates to the frame portion. The upper plate fasteners couple the upper screed plate to the frame portion independently of the lower screed plate, so the lower plate is displaceable from the upper plate and the frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Jason W. Kopacz, Tobin D. Rasmusson, Timothy L. Wehrenberg
  • Publication number: 20130142571
    Abstract: Asphalt paving machine includes screed assembly, plurality of lower and upper plate fasteners, and upper and lower screed plates, each having openings, and an electric heater at least partially disposed between the plates. Upper and lower plate fasteners extend into openings of the respective upper and lower screed plates and bores of a frame portion of the screed assembly to couple the plates to the frame portion. The upper plate fasteners couple the upper screed plate to the frame portion independently of the lower screed plate, so the lower plate is displaceable from the upper plate and the frame portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Jason W. Kopacz, Tobin D. Rasmusson, Timothy L. Wehrenberg
  • Patent number: 8371770
    Abstract: A tamper bar mechanism includes a drive shaft with an eccentric section on the shaft. A tamper drive member is driven by the eccentric section and drives a tamper bar between an upper position and a lower position to define a tamper stroke length. A stroke adjustment link is operatively connected to the tamper drive member and a stroke adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the stroke adjustment link to adjust an angular orientation of the stroke adjustment link relative to the path of travel of the tamper bar and adjust a length of the tamper stroke length. A paving machine and a method of adjusting the tamper stroke length are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Tobin D. Rasmusson, Luke E. Graham, Jason W. Kopacz, Anthony Steinhagen
  • Patent number: 8297875
    Abstract: A system and method to control heating of a screed assembly in a paving machine is disclosed. The system and method includes providing a plurality of screed elements in communication with a respective one of a plurality of circuit breakers through a respective one of a plurality of relays. The system and method additionally includes providing a control system in communication with the plurality of screed elements and the plurality of relays and, receiving inputs by the control system to generate an output signal based upon the inputs. Heating of each of the plurality of screed elements is accomplished in response to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Anthony P. Steinhagen, Jameson M. Smieja
  • Patent number: D672790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Joseph P. Spree, Tobin D. Rasmusson, Tony P. Steinhagen, Joe A. Frerich, Brett W. Engel, Douglas W. Halverson
  • Patent number: D673981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Joseph P. Spree, Tobin D. Rasmusson, Tony P. Steinhagen, Joe A. Frerich, Brett W. Engel, Douglas W. Halverson
  • Patent number: D696699
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Tobin D. Rasmusson
  • Patent number: D697091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Kopacz, Tobin D. Rasmusson