Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Tognetti

Lawrence J. Tognetti 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: 9388829
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use in a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool, a motor configured to swing the work tool, a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, and a control valve operable to control fluid flow from the pump to the motor and from the motor to the tank via first and second chamber passages to affect motion of the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have an accumulator, and an accumulator circuit configured to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor to the accumulator for storage and to direct stored fluid from the accumulator to the motor to assist the motor. The hydraulic control system may further have a selector valve configured to selectively connect a higher pressure one of the first and second chamber passages with the accumulator, and a single pressure relief valve disposed within the accumulator circuit and configured to relief pressure from opposing sides of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Pengfei Ma, Dayao Chen, John Ferraz, Jr., Tetsuya Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9328744
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, and a fluid actuator. The hydraulic control system may further have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the fluid actuator and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the fluid actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the accumulator, a charge valve, a discharge valve, and a controller in communication with the control valve, the charge valve, and the discharge valve. The controller may be configured to detect stall of the fluid actuator, to make a comparison of the pressure of the accumulator with a threshold pressure, and to selectively move the charge valve to charge the accumulator or move the discharge valve to discharge the accumulator during the stall based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rustu Cesur, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Pengfei Ma, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang
  • Patent number: 9091286
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, an actuator, and a control valve configured to direct fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank. The hydraulic control system may also have a pressure sensor to generate a first signal indicative of a pressure differential across the control valve, an operator input device to generate a second signal indicative of a desired movement of the actuator, and a controller. The controller may be configured to make a first determination of an opening amount of the control valve based on the second signal, and to make a second determination based on the first signal of whether the opening amount will result in overspeeding of the actuator. The controller may also be configured to reduce the opening amount based on the second determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rustu Cesur, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang, Bryan J. Hillman, Peter Spring, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Pengfei Ma
  • Patent number: 9086081
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the swing motor, and the tank. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the swing motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the swing motor, at least one accumulator valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input indicative of a difference between desired and actual speeds of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating based on the difference. The controller may also be configured to control the at least one accumulator valve to cause the accumulator to selectively receive or supply pressurized fluid only when the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Rustu Cesur, Bryan J. Hillman, Peter Spring, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Randal N. Peterson, Dayao Chen
  • Patent number: 8984873
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner, and an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Opdenbosch, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Patent number: 8978374
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump and a variable-displacement second pump. The hydraulic system also includes a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a second actuator and a variable-displacement rotary actuator that are each selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Opdenbosch, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Patent number: 8978373
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, a variable-displacement second pump, and a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a second actuator selectively connected either to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a variable-displacement rotary actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Opdenbosch, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Patent number: 8881518
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, a variable-displacement second pump, and a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a second actuator selectively connected either to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a variable-displacement rotary actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Opdenbosch, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Patent number: 8776511
    Abstract: A swing energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The swing energy recovery system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a motor driven by a flow of pressurized fluid from the pump, and an energy recovery arrangement configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor. The swing energy recovery system may also have a pressure relief valve associated with the motor, and a controller in communication with the energy recovery arrangement and the pressure relief valve. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust a setting of the pressure relief valve based on an operating condition of the energy recovery arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Dayao Chen, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Jeffrey L. Kuehn
  • Patent number: 8756930
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a first pump with variable displacement and being load-sense controlled, and a first hydraulic circuit associated with the first pump. The hydraulic system may also have a second pump with variable displacement and being electro-hydraulically controlled, and a second hydraulic circuit associated with the second pump. The hydraulic system may further have a flow-sharing valve arrangement configured to selectively share fluid flow between the first and second hydraulic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan A. Johnson, Jason L. Brinkman, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Chris R. Cesur, Peter Spring, Jiao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140060031
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, and a fluid actuator. The hydraulic control system may further have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the fluid actuator and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the fluid actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the accumulator, a charge valve, a discharge valve, and a controller in communication with the control valve, the charge valve, and the discharge valve. The controller may be configured to detect stall of the fluid actuator, to make a comparison of the pressure of the accumulator with a threshold pressure, and to selectively move the charge valve to charge the accumulator or move the discharge valve to discharge the accumulator during the stall based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Rustu Cesur, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Pengfei Ma, Jiao Zhang, Tonglin Shang
  • Publication number: 20140060025
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, an actuator, and a control valve configured to direct fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank. The hydraulic control system may also have a pressure sensor to generate a first signal indicative of a pressure differential across the control valve, an operator input device to generate a second signal indicative of a desired movement of the actuator, and a controller. The controller may be configured to make a first determination of an opening amount of the control valve based on the second signal, and to make a second determination based on the first signal of whether the opening amount will result in overspeeding of the actuator. The controller may also be configured to reduce the opening amount based on the second determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Rustu CESUR, Jiao ZHANG, Tonglin SHANG, Bryan J. HILLMAN, Peter SPRING, Lawrence J. TOGNETTI, Pengfei MA
  • Publication number: 20140060023
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use in a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool, a motor configured to swing the work tool, a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, and a control valve operable to control fluid flow from the pump to the motor and from the motor to the tank via first and second chamber passages to affect motion of the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have an accumulator, and an accumulator circuit configured to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor to the accumulator for storage and to direct stored fluid from the accumulator to the motor to assist the motor. The hydraulic control system may further have a selector valve configured to selectively connect a higher pressure one of the first and second chamber passages with the accumulator, and a single pressure relief valve disposed within the accumulator circuit and configured to relief pressure from opposing sides of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Lawrence J. TOGNETTI, Pengfei MA, Dayao CHEN, John FERRAZ, JR., Tetsuya YOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20140060024
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the swing motor, and the tank. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the swing motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the swing motor, at least one accumulator valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input indicative of a difference between desired and actual speeds of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating based on the difference. The controller may also be configured to control the at least one accumulator valve to cause the accumulator to selectively receive or supply pressurized fluid only when the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Pengfei MA, Tonglin SHANG, Rustu CESUR, Bryan J. HILLMAN, Peter SPRING, Lawrence J. TOGNETTI, Randal N. PETERSON, Dayao CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140033690
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a hydraulic actuator, and at least one valve configured to regulate fluid flows associated with the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system may also have an operator interface device configured to generate a position signal indicative of a desired movement velocity of the hydraulic actuator, a mode switch movable to generate a mode signal indicative of desired operation in one of a normal control mode and a fine control mode, and a controller. The controller may be configured to move the at least one valve to a first position based on the position signal when the mode signal indicates desired operation in the normal mode, and to move the at least one valve to a second position based on the position signal when the mode signal indicates desired operation in the fine control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Bryan J. Hillman, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Rustu Cesur
  • Publication number: 20130098016
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, a variable-displacement second pump, and a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a second actuator selectively connected either to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a variable-displacement rotary actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Patrick OPDENBOSCH, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Publication number: 20130098019
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump and a variable-displacement second pump. The hydraulic system also includes a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a second actuator and a variable-displacement rotary actuator that are each selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Patrick OPDENBOSCH, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Publication number: 20130098020
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump, an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner, and an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Patrick OPDENBOSCH, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Bryan J. Hillman
  • Publication number: 20130000290
    Abstract: A swing energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The swing energy recovery system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a motor driven by a flow of pressurized fluid from the pump, and an energy recovery arrangement configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor. The swing energy recovery system may also have a pressure relief valve associated with the motor, and a controller in communication with the energy recovery arrangement and the pressure relief valve. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust a setting of the pressure relief valve based on an operating condition of the energy recovery arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jiao ZHANG, Dayao Chen, Pengfei Ma, Tonglin Shang, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Jeffrey L. Kuehn
  • Publication number: 20120301325
    Abstract: A pump system is disclosed. The pump system may have a pump with a displacement that is variable, and an actuator movable to adjust the displacement of the pump. The pump system may also have an electro-hydraulic valve fluidly connected to the actuator and configured to control movement of the actuator, and a variable resistor mechanically connected to at least one of the actuator and the pump. The variable resistor may be adjustable by movement of the at least one of the actuator and the pump to vary a current passing through the electro-hydraulic valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan E. NELSON, Lawrence J. Tognetti, Jeffrey L. Kuehn