Patents by Inventor Kyle B. Walton

Kyle B. Walton 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: 11828696
    Abstract: Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G Wear, Tom K. Shim, Richard A. Carpenter, Kyle B. Walton
  • Patent number: 11434814
    Abstract: A turbocharger for a machine is disclosed. The turbocharger may comprise a turbine section including a turbine housing and a turbine wheel, a compressor section including a compressor housing and a compressor wheel with a plurality of blades, and a shaft rotatably coupling the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel. The turbocharger may further comprise a health sensor mounted to the compressor housing and including a plurality of wire loops. The plurality of wire loops may be consecutively broken upon impact with the blades of the compressor wheel or a structure assembled on the compressor wheel as the turbocharger wears over time. The health monitor may be configured to detect a number of wire loops broken by impact with the blades of the compressor wheel or the structure, and the number of wire loops broken may indicate a wear condition of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Gibbs Sidles, Kyle B. Walton
  • Publication number: 20220187187
    Abstract: Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. WEAR, Tom K. SHIM, Richard A. CARPENTER, Kyle B. WALTON
  • Publication number: 20210134075
    Abstract: A computer implemented preventative maintenance schedule can includes a plurality of predetermined maintenance intervals. A replaceable maintenance item may be initially assigned to an initially assigned maintenance interval. A performance data associated with the replaceable maintenance item may be measured and an estimated end of useful life may be determined based on the performance data. The estimated end of useful life is compared to the assigned maintenance interval and, if warranted, the assigned maintenance schedule is modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Carpenter, Kyle B. Walton, John J. Krone, Venkata Dandibhotla, Yanchai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200208571
    Abstract: A turbocharger for a machine is disclosed. The turbocharger may comprise a turbine section including a turbine housing and a turbine wheel, a compressor section including a compressor housing and a compressor wheel with a plurality of blades, and a shaft rotatably coupling the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel. The turbocharger may further comprise a health sensor mounted to the compressor housing and including a plurality of wire loops. The plurality of wire loops may be consecutively broken upon impact with the blades of the compressor wheel or a structure assembled on the compressor wheel as the turbocharger wears over time. The health monitor may be configured to detect a number of wire loops broken by impact with the blades of the compressor wheel or the structure, and the number of wire loops broken may indicate a wear condition of the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Gibbs Sidles, Kyle B. Walton
  • Publication number: 20080295492
    Abstract: An injector cleaning system for use with an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The injector cleaning system may have a supply of injection fluid and an injector configured to receive and inject the injection fluid. The injector cleaning system may also have a pressure sensor associated with the injector to generate a signal indicative of the pressure of the injection fluid supplied to the injector. The injector cleaning system may further have a controller in communication with the injector and the pressure sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a pressure decay rate of injection fluid supplied to the injector during a normal injection event based on the signal. The controller may be further configured to compare the determined pressure decay rate to an expected pressure decay rate, and supply cleaning fluid to the injector based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin James Karkkainen, Curtis John Graham, Xiaohui Gong, Kyle B. Walton, Tamara S. Hofstetter