Patents by Inventor Ken L. Stratton

Ken L. Stratton 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: 10570582
    Abstract: A machine includes a power generation system; a propulsion system; a work implement coupled to a body of the machine via a linkage that includes at least one actuator; a perception system configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a position of the machine relative to a material receptacle; and a controller operatively coupled to the perception system, the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the perception system, determine a location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle based at least in part on the signal from the perception system, and actuate at least one of the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator based on the determined location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Berry, Qi Wang, Joseph E. Forcash, Ken L. Stratton, Paul E. Rybski
  • Publication number: 20180142441
    Abstract: A machine includes a power generation system; a propulsion system; a work implement coupled to a body of the machine via a linkage that includes at least one actuator; a perception system configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a position of the machine relative to a material receptacle; and a controller operatively coupled to the perception system, the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the perception system, determine a location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle based at least in part on the signal from the perception system, and actuate at least one of the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator based on the determined location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Berry, Qi Wang, Joseph E. Forcash, Ken L. Stratton, Paul E. Rybski
  • Patent number: 8838320
    Abstract: A system and method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line determine a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects and uses the determined position of the off-highway truck and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line. Based on the relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the off-highway truck is automatically steered to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line, e.g., to maintain an electrical power flow from the trolley line to the off-highway truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ken L. Stratton, Eric J. Ruth
  • Patent number: 8818593
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically guiding an off-highway truck having a pantograph over a route having at least one trolley-powered section. While the off-highway truck is operated over the route by a human operator, its position and the state of the pantograph at each position are recorded to produce a recorded sequence. The recorded sequence is retrieved and the off-highway truck is automatically controlled to sequentially match each position and each pantograph state at the associated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J Ruth, Ken L Stratton
  • Publication number: 20130282211
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically guiding an off-highway truck having a pantograph over a route having at least one trolley-powered section. While the off-highway truck is operated over the route by a human operator, its position and the state of the pantograph at each position are recorded to produce a recorded sequence. The recorded sequence is retrieved and the off-highway truck is automatically controlled to sequentially match each position and each pantograph state at the associated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric J. Ruth, Ken L. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20130261868
    Abstract: A system and method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line determine a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects and uses the determined position of the off-highway truck and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line. Based on the relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the off-highway truck is automatically steered to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line, e.g., to maintain an electrical power flow from the trolley line to the off-highway truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Ken L. Stratton, Eric J. Ruth
  • Patent number: 5467829
    Abstract: An automatic lift and tip coordination system for use in connection with an off-highway vehicle having an implement causes an automatic adjustment to the implement lift actuators in response to an operator change in the implement tip angle so that the implement height remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Barton, Kevin J. Lueschow, Ken L. Stratton
  • Patent number: 5462125
    Abstract: An off-highway vehicle having an earth moving implement has a tilt function associated with the implement. For example, a bulldozer has a tilt function associated with the bulldozer blade. The vehicle has a processor adapted to receive a position signal from a position sensor associated with the tilt function of the implement. The operator engages a switch to activate an automatic tilt function. A selector switch is provided so that the operator can select between a plurality of pre-set blade angles. The selector switch outputs a target position signal associated with a pre-set angle to the processor. The processor automatically calculates a command signal for the tilt function based on the difference between the position signal and the target position signal. The processor issues the command signal to the tilt function causing the tilt function to move the implement to the pre-set angle associated with the switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ken L. Stratton, Kevin J. Lueschow, James C. Barton, Thomas G. Hayes