Patents by Inventor Michael S. Contratto

Michael S. Contratto 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: 9464684
    Abstract: A component vibration control system is disclosed. The vibration control system includes a first physical end stop, a second physical end stop, a damper assembly, a position sensor configured to determine a component position, and a processor in communication with the position sensor and the damper assembly. The processor is configured to set a first virtual end stop position, regulate a damping force of the damper assembly as the component moves toward the first virtual end stop position, and determine a second virtual end stop position based on a first distance of the component from a set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Contratto, William T. Larkins
  • Patent number: 8682539
    Abstract: A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on machine operation are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so are the damping and stiffness properties of the controllable mount. With other operations such as roading or working on a flat surface, the feedback afforded by the mounts is not as important as operator comfort, in which case the current applied to the coils can be lowered and thus the mount can be made more relaxed. The machine of the present disclosure identifies the machine operation being performed through sensors, predictive algorithms, implement position, and operator input and sets the current and properties of the controllable mounts accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Jones, Ronald B. Warnat, Brett D. Ellen, Nathan S. Pauli, Michael S. Contratto
  • Patent number: 8682528
    Abstract: A suspension system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The suspension system may have a seat operatively connected to a cabin floor of the mobile machine, a cylinder connected between the seat and the cabin floor, and a spring associated with the cylinder. The suspension system may also have at least one valve configured to regulate fluid flow into and out of the cylinder, and a controller in communication with the at least one valve. The controller may be configured to detect a failure condition of the suspension system. In response to detection of the failure condition, the controller may be further configured to cause the at least one valve to move to a default position at which fluid flow into and out of the cylinder is restricted by an amount that still allows fluid flow through the at least one valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Contratto, John C. Spangler, Jr., Charles E. Lewis, II, Florin M. Marcu, Kristen A. Gerstner
  • Publication number: 20130158791
    Abstract: A suspension system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The suspension system may have a seat operatively connected to a cabin floor of the mobile machine, a cylinder connected between the seat and the cabin floor, and a spring associated with the cylinder. The suspension system may also have at least one valve configured to regulate fluid flow into and out of the cylinder, and a controller in communication with the at least one valve. The controller may be configured to detect a failure condition of the suspension system. In response to detection of the failure condition, the controller may be further configured to cause the at least one valve to move to a default position at which fluid flow into and out of the cylinder is restricted by an amount that still allows fluid flow through the at least one valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Michael S. CONTRATTO, John C. Spangler, JR., Charles E. Lewis, II, Florin M. Marcu, Kristen A. Gerstner
  • Publication number: 20130153320
    Abstract: A suspension system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The suspension system may have at least one sensor configured to detect a performance parameter of the mobile machine, and a seat operatively connected to a cabin floor of the mobile machine. The suspension system may also have a cylinder connected between the seat and the cabin floor, and a spring associated with the cylinder. The suspension system may additionally have a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to make a classification of an operation currently being performed by the mobile machine based on input from the at least one sensor, and to select for use in controlling movement of at least one of the cylinder and the spring one of a plurality of available maps stored in the memory of the controller based on the classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Michael S. CONTRATTO, Charles E. Lewis, II, John C. Spangler, JR., Johnathan C. Catton
  • Publication number: 20100161182
    Abstract: A component vibration control system is disclosed. The vibration control system includes a first physical end stop, a second physical end stop, a damper assembly, a position sensor configured to determine a component position, and a processor in communication with the position sensor and the damper assembly. The processor is configured to set a first virtual end stop position, regulate a damping force of the damper assembly as the component moves toward the first virtual end stop position, and determine a second virtual end stop position based on a first distance of the component from a set position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Michael S. Contratto, William T. Larkins
  • Publication number: 20100152978
    Abstract: A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts to maintain ideal snubbing height and provide mount diagnostics are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. The pin may be held in the housing with a limited degree of play by an elastomeric member and in so doing hold the pin at the ideal snubbing height. Over time the elastomeric member may degrade and begin to sag. Sensors associated with the housing may monitor this sag and if necessary energize a field across the rheological fluid or pressurize gas within the housing so as to adjust to the position of the pin back to the ideal snubbing height. The data gathered by the sensors can also be stored and used to determine the remaining serviceable life of the controllable mount and diagnose when it should be replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Steven D. Jones, Ronald B. Warnat, Brett D. Ellen, Nathan S. Pauli, Michael S. Contratto
  • Publication number: 20100152979
    Abstract: A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on machine operation are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so are the damping and stiffness properties of the controllable mount. With certain machine operations such as fine grading, plowing and loading, this may be helpful to the operator to more quickly or effectively perform the given task. With other operations such as roading or working on a flat surface, the feedback afforded by the mounts is not as important as operator comfort, in which case the current applied to the coils can be lowered and thus the mount can be made more relaxed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Steven D. Jones, Ronald B. Warnat, Brett D. Ellen, Nathan S. Pauli, Michael S. Contratto