Patents by Inventor Paul J. KOENEN

Paul J. KOENEN 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: 12203227
    Abstract: In a rotary mixer having a floating ground guard mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame and relative to the rotor, an actuator configured to provide movement in at least a vertical plane relative to the frame, and a ground guard dislodging tool coupled to the floating ground guard. The ground guard dislodging tool and the actuator are disposed such that the actuator engages and exerts a force on the ground guard dislodging tool to move the floating ground guard in a downward direction relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Heim, Todd R. Dunsmoor, Paul J. Koenen
  • Publication number: 20240093441
    Abstract: In a rotary mixer having a floating ground guard mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame and relative to the rotor, an actuator configured to provide movement in at least a vertical plane relative to the frame, and a ground guard dislodging tool coupled to the floating ground guard. The ground guard dislodging tool and the actuator are disposed such that the actuator engages and exerts a force on the ground guard dislodging tool to move the floating ground guard in a downward direction relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Heim, Todd R. Dunsmoor, Paul J. Koenen
  • Patent number: 11891762
    Abstract: Systems and methods can sense, using a vibration sensor disposed relative to a rotor of a milling machine, vibration associated with a cutting operation of the rotor of the milling machine; and determine during the cutting operation whether the sensed vibration associated with the cutting operation of the rotor indicates now that the rotor is cutting a second material different from a first material being previously cut by the rotor during the cutting operation. The second material can be harder than the first material. Cutting operations of the milling machine can be controlled based on identification of the rotor cutting the second material. The cutting operations can include speed of the milling machine, cutting level and/or depth of the rotor, and/or rotational speed of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Carr, Paul J. Koenen, Gianfranco Perri, Nathan Louis Mashek
  • Patent number: 11851832
    Abstract: A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Daniel Reed, Brian Joe Schlenker, Paul J Koenen
  • Publication number: 20230349111
    Abstract: A machine for roadwork can include a frame, a power source, and a milling rotor that can be operatively connected to the power source and the frame. The machine for roadwork can also include at least one camera and an image processor. The at least one camera can be configured to capture one or more images of the milling rotor. The image processor can be in communication with the at least one camera. The image processor may be configured to analyze the one or more images of the milling rotor captured by the at least one camera. The image processor may also be configured to determine a scratch height of the milling rotor based on one or more images. The scratch height can define a height of the milling rotor on condition that the milling rotor is in contact with a surface of the roadway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Koenen, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Publication number: 20230193572
    Abstract: A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Garrett Daniel Reed, Brian Joe Schlenker, Paul J. Koenen
  • Publication number: 20230175212
    Abstract: Systems and methods can sense, using a vibration sensor disposed relative to a rotor of a milling machine, vibration associated with a cutting operation of the rotor of the milling machine; and determine during the cutting operation whether the sensed vibration associated with the cutting operation of the rotor indicates now that the rotor is cutting a second material different from a first material being previously cut by the rotor during the cutting operation. The second material can be harder than the first material. Cutting operations of the milling machine can be controlled based on identification of the rotor cutting the second material. The cutting operations can include speed of the milling machine, cutting level and/or depth of the rotor, and/or rotational speed of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin CARR, Paul J. KOENEN, Gianfranco PERRI, Nathan Louis MASHEK
  • Patent number: 10640932
    Abstract: A spray system for a cold planer machine includes a spray bank disposed inside a housing and arranged to spray fluid directed at a drum and a spray controller. The spray controller is configured to receive an indication of either one of a milling operation and a plunge cut operation is occurring and actuate fluid spray via the spray bank based at least in part on the received indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Hogan, Eric S. Engelmann, Timothy J. Lindholm, Paul J. Koenen, Timothy Michael O'Donnell, Ryan Adam Enot
  • Publication number: 20200002902
    Abstract: A spray system for a cold planer machine is disclosed. The spray system includes a spray bank disposed inside a housing and arranged to spray fluid directed at a drum and a spray controller. The spray controller is configured to receive an indication indicative of either one of a milling operation and a plunge cut operation is occurring and actuate fluid spray via the spray bank based at least in part on the received indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Hogan, Eric S. Engelmann, Timothy J. Lindholm, Paul J. Koenen, Timothy Michael O'Donnell, Ryan Adam Enot
  • Patent number: 10370802
    Abstract: A cold planer machine may include a frame, a ground engaging member, a retracting vertical actuator system to raise and lower the frame, and a housing. The housing includes a vertical wall movable relative to the frame and a position detector to determine a relative vertical distance between the vertical wall and the frame. A drum in the housing is connected to the frame and rotates about a drum axis to plane the road surface. A spray bank disposed inside the housing is arranged to spray a fluid at the drum. A controller is configured to actuate fluid spray via the spray bank based at least in part on determining that the relative vertical distance is above a first threshold height value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Hogan, Eric S. Engelmann, Timothy J. Lindholm, Paul J. Koenen, Timothy Michael O'Donnell, Ryan Adam Enot
  • Patent number: 10309066
    Abstract: A control system, apparatus, and method for controlling operations of a milling machine are described. Data corresponding to a ventilation mode and a conveyor delay amount set by an operator of the milling machine is stored in memory. Control of transition of operation of the milling machine from a milling mode to a standby mode is according to a first predetermined sequence of operations responsive to a first input at a control panel of the milling machine. Further, control of transition of operation of the milling machine from the standby mode to the milling mode is according to a second predetermined sequence of operations, which is in reverse order relative to the first predetermined sequence of operations, in response to the first input at the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Tim J. Lindholm, Eric S. Engelmann, Nathan L. Mashek, Paul J. Koenen, Lee M. Hogan
  • Publication number: 20180127930
    Abstract: A control system, apparatus, and method for controlling operations of a milling machine are described. Data corresponding to a ventilation mode and a conveyor delay amount set by an operator of the milling machine is stored in memory. Control of transition of operation of the milling machine from a milling mode to a standby mode is according to a first predetermined sequence of operations responsive to a first input at a control panel of the milling machine. Further, control of transition of operation of the milling machine from the standby mode to the milling mode is according to a second predetermined sequence of operations, which is in reverse order relative to the first predetermined sequence of operations, in response to the first input at the control panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Tim J. LINDHOLM, Eric S. ENGELMANN, Nathan L. MASHEK, Paul J. KOENEN, Lee M. HOGAN