Patents by Inventor Kurt D. Smeltzer

Kurt D. Smeltzer 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).

  • Inverter location and orientation within a mobile machine
    Patent number: 11821173
    Abstract: A mobile machine includes front and rear ends, a frame, rotatably supported ground engaging mechanisms, and an electrical drive system. The electrical drive system includes a source of electrical energy, an inverter, at least one electric motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ground engaging mechanisms, a plurality of first electric cables electrically coupling the source of electrical energy to the inverter, and a plurality of second electric cables electrically coupling the inverter to the electric motor. The inverter is disposed in the mobile machine in a vertical orientation at the rear end of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Stoecker, David A. Gleissner, Lance M. Cowper, Kurt D. Smeltzer
  • Inverter Location and Orientation Within a Mobile Machine
    Publication number: 20210087789
    Abstract: A mobile machine includes front and rear ends, a frame, rotatably supported ground engaging mechanisms, and an electrical drive system. The electrical drive system includes a source of electrical energy, an inverter, at least one electric motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ground engaging mechanisms, a plurality of first electric cables electrically coupling the source of electrical energy to the inverter, and a plurality of second electric cables electrically coupling the inverter to the electric motor. The inverter is disposed in the mobile machine in a vertical orientation at the rear end of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Stoecker, David A. Gleissner, Lance M. Cowper, Kurt D. Smeltzer