Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Shaffer

Kevin R. Shaffer 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: 20240127804
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer readable medium embodiments for machine learning systems to process interactive communications between at least two participants. Speech and text within the interactive communications are analyzed using machine learning models to infer insights located within the interactive communications. The inferred insights are converted to descriptive text or audio and tagged to the interactive communication as graphics or audio whispers reflecting the insights added to the interactive communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Anup SHIRODKAR, Thomas ZAHORIK, Matthew C. FORD, Miguel DE LA ROCHA, Sara R. MCDOLE, Robert L. SCHOLTZ, III, Raghav SAHAI, Kevin T. SHAFFER, Trent F. HODGES, Avinash KAWALE, David ABER
  • Patent number: 6591484
    Abstract: A piston insertion machine for inserting piston assemblies into respective cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The piston insertion machine eliminates the need for individually lifting and inserting the piston assemblies into the respective cylinders. The piston insertion machine includes a barrel assembly for holding the piston assembly. A first set of components pivot the piston barrel assembly (and thus the piston assembly) from an upright position to a horizontal position. Another component inserts the piston assembly into the cylinder of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6516511
    Abstract: A piston ring compressor having position sensors for aligning a piston assembly with a cylinder of an engine block. The position sensors enable a piston assembly to be properly aligned with the cylinder prior to inserting the piston assembly into the cylinder without damaging either the piston assembly or the cylinder. The position sensors are linear variable distance transducer which are used to align the centerline of the piston ring compressor with the centerline of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Publication number: 20020189081
    Abstract: A piston insertion machine for inserting piston assemblies into respective cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The piston insertion machine eliminates the need for individually lifting and inserting the piston assemblies into the respective cylinders. The piston insertion machine includes a barrel assembly for holding the piston assembly. A first set of components pivot the piston barrel assembly (and thus the piston assembly) from an upright position to a horizontal position. Another component inserts the piston assembly into the cylinder of the engine block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6467155
    Abstract: A transfer control system for enabling technicians to insert a piston assembly into a cylinder of an engine block. The transfer control system ensures that only one technician at a single time is capable of controlling the insertion of the piston assembly into the cylinder of the engine block. The transfer control system has a proximity sensor and a first control system in communication with the proximity sensor. A second control system is in communication with the first control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6438833
    Abstract: A control system and method of use for aligning a piston assembly with a cylinder of an engine block. The control system enables the piston assembly to be properly aligned with the cylinder prior to inserting the piston assembly into the cylinder. The control system includes an apparatus which compares positional information associated with the piston assembly and an apparatus which instructs movement of the piston assembly with respect to the cylinder in response to the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6389667
    Abstract: A piston ring compressor for compressing a piston ring about a circumference of a piston so that the piston can be inserted into a cylinder. The piston ring compressor includes a wall forming a hollow shaped member and an inner compression surface formed about the interior portion of the hollow shaped member. The inner compression surface has a diameter which gradually decreases from a second end to a first end. The piston ring compressor applies an even compressive force about the piston ring as the piston ring and piston are slid through the piston ring compressor from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6367141
    Abstract: A method of inserting a piston assembly into a cylinder of an engine block. The method eliminates the need for a technician to individually lift and insert the piston assemblies into the respective cylinders. The method for inserting the piston assembly into the cylinder aligns the piston assembly with the cylinder and inserts the piston assembly into the cylinder by pivoting the piston assembly from an upright position to a horizontal position, and inserting the piston assembly into the cylinder of the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters