Patents by Inventor Kevin D. Ehrenhardt

Kevin D. Ehrenhardt 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: 8678478
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Jones, Brett D. Ellen, Ronald B. Warnat, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt
  • Patent number: 8336292
    Abstract: An exhaust component for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust component may have a housing at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet, and a treatment device supported by the housing in communication with exhaust passing from the inlet to the outlet. The exhaust component may also have a life indicator permanently associated with at least one of the housing and the treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason K. Bloms, Mohamed Daoud, Antony J. Eager, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Tazio S. Grivetti, David J. Kapparos, Matthew E. Leustek, Anthony C. Rodman, Richard Severns, II, Yanchai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100147640
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Jones, Brett D. Ellen, Ronald B. Warnat, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt
  • Publication number: 20100115920
    Abstract: An exhaust component for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust component may have a housing at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet, and a treatment device supported by the housing in communication with exhaust passing from the inlet to the outlet. The exhaust component may also have a life indicator permanently associated with at least one of the housing and the treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Jason K. Bloms, Mohamed Daoud, Anthony J. Eager, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Tazio S. Grivetti, David J. Kapparos, Matthew E. Leustek, Anthony C. Rodman, Richard Severns, II, Yanchai Zhang
  • Patent number: 6640271
    Abstract: A engine controller includes a connector having pins that provide an electrical connection between devices external to the controller and internal electrical components. The programming tool is used to program the controller to assign particular pins to transmit or receive certain signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Prasad V. Parupalli
  • Publication number: 20020103955
    Abstract: A engine controller includes a connector having pins that provide an electrical connection between devices external to the controller and internal electrical components. The programming tool is used to program the controller to assign particular pins to transmit or receive certain signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Prasad V. Parupalli
  • Patent number: 6019702
    Abstract: An automatic elevated idle speed control is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine on a vehicle. The control includes an electronic controller connected with an engine speed determining means, and a sensor that determines the power requirements of a PTO device and produces a signal. The control automatically varies an engine speed command based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, James W. Landes, Prasad V. Parupalli
  • Patent number: 5740044
    Abstract: A control for limiting the torque output of an engine when operating in a PTO mode is provided. The control includes a microprocessor connected to a PTO on/off switch, a set/resume switch and a torque limit on/off switch. When the torque limit switch is in an on position, the microprocessor limits the maximum torque output to an operator programmed value. The operator can reprogram the torque limit value with a programming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Gregory S. Gauger, Prasad V. Parupalli, Thomas R. Sandborg
  • Patent number: 5668536
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the level of fluid, including a two electrode device being disposed in the fluid and a microprocessor. The microprocessor being connected to the two electrode device and delivering alternating current thereto. The microprocessor reads the voltage across the device, compares the voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and produces a warning signal in response to the fluid level being below a predetermined fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Gottshall, Timothy A. Boston, Kevin D. Ehrenhardt
  • Patent number: 5611751
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a power take off ("PTO") controller used on a vehicle. The controller includes a PTO on/off switch, a brake/clutch ignore switch, and a PTO set/resume switch connected to an electronic controller. The controller sets the engine speed command to a PTO default speed in response to the PTO on/off switch being in an on position. By placing the brake/clutch ignore switch in an ignore position, the vehicle operator can use the brake or clutch without affecting the PTO engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Ehrenhardt, Gregory S. Gauger, Prasad V. Parupalli, Thomas R. Sandborg