Patents by Inventor Joe Helfrich

Joe Helfrich 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: 8606451
    Abstract: An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool includes a bus, an engine, a generator, an energy storage device, and a controller. The bus is for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool. The engine is for providing a power output and the generator is coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus. The energy storage device is configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and is further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator. The controller is configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus. In response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Omar Abdel-Baqi, Adel Nasiri, Peter Miller, Joe Helfrich
  • Publication number: 20120086220
    Abstract: An energy system for heavy equipment having an actuator for operating a tool includes a bus, an engine, a generator, an energy storage device, and a controller. The bus is for providing electricity to the actuator as a function of operation of the tool. The engine is for providing a power output and the generator is coupled to the engine and configured to provide electricity to the bus. The energy storage device is configured to receive electricity from the bus for storage of energy, and is further configured to provide electricity to the bus to supplement the electricity provided by the generator. The controller is configured to change the power output of the engine as a function of electrical demand on the bus. In response to a change in the electrical demand, the controller is configured to change the power output of the engine at a rate that is less than a maximum capability of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Omar Abdel-Baqi, Adel Nasiri, Peter Miller, Joe Helfrich