Patents by Inventor Ralph D. Price

Ralph D. Price 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: 6971446
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system for controlling the air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air conditioning control system is capable of determining the occupancy status of various locations in the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system alters the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the vehicle interior based at least partially upon the occupancy of those areas of the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system delivers increased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is of a comfortable temperature. The air conditioning control system delivers decreased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is most likely to be of an uncomfortable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph D. Price, Rodney A. Laukhuf
  • Publication number: 20030172156
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system for controlling the air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air conditioning control system is capable of determining the occupancy status of various locations in the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system alters the flow rate of conditioned air to various portions of the vehicle interior based at least partially upon the occupancy of those areas of the vehicle interior. The air conditioning control system delivers increased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is of a comfortable temperature. The air conditioning control system delivers decreased amounts of conditioned air to the occupied portions of the vehicle interior when the conditioned air is most likely to be of an uncomfortable temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph D. Price, Rodney A. Laukhuf
  • Patent number: 6050377
    Abstract: A rotational shift control for a vehicle transmission includes a control shaft adapted for being operably coupled to the transmission, an interlock member moveable supported adjacent the control shaft and a clutch pedal operably coupled to the interlock member. The control shaft includes a non-cylindrical outer circumferential surface and is rotatable about an axis between a neutral position and a geared position. The interlock member is moveable in a direction along the axis and includes a locking surface opposite the non-cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The interlock member moves between a first engaged position in which the locking surface engages the control shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft and a second disengaged position in which the locking surface disengages the control shaft to enable rotation of the shaft between the neutral position and the geared position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Russell E. Cederberg, Timothy A. Averkamp, Ralph D. Price
  • Patent number: 5921619
    Abstract: An air handling system for the cab of a vehicle includes a cab roof having inner and outer roof members spaced from each other so as to form a first chamber. The cab roof has a first plurality of openings around its periphery through which air may be drawn into the first chamber. The cab roof together with a headliner for the cab form a second chamber. A first opening in the inner roof member allows air to flow into the second chamber, and an air handling unit located between the headliner and the cab roof receives air from the second chamber and discharges it through a first opening in the headliner into the cab interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Russell E. Cederberg, Alan G. Leupold, Ralph D. Price
  • Patent number: 5797649
    Abstract: A folding seat assembly has a seat mounted for pivoting movement toward and away from a back-support section. The seat includes a first panel and a second panel mounted for pivoting movement with respect to the first panel so that the two-panel seat "folds in half." The seat support pedestal also folds in half and the back-support section pivots for stowage. The stowed, folded seat assembly is nominally one-half of the width of the same seat assembly unfolded for use. A new method for folding an auxiliary seat assembly for stowing includes folding the seat second panel toward the first panel to form a folded seat. The folded seat is then urged against the back-support section and for stowing, both the seat and support section are depressed against the vehicle component, e.g., a fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Snell, Jr., Bryan L. Nannet, Ralph D. Price
  • Patent number: 5514048
    Abstract: A directional control system for an off-highway implement including a self-propelled engine with a transmission assembly connected thereto for operation in a multitude of speed ranges. The directional control system includes an electrical power source, and a directional selector that is movable to any of three different positions corresponding to forward, neutral, and reverse modes of operation for the implement. The directional control system includes a controller having forward and reverse actuators for conditioning the transmission assembly for operation in forward and reverse modes. The controller is also capable of conditioning the transmission assembly for operation in a neutral mode. An electrical system is connected between the power source and the controller for deriving the control signals used to condition the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Eric D. Jacobson, Ralph D. Price
  • Patent number: 5373924
    Abstract: A shift mechanism for conditioning a transmission assembly of an off-highway implement. The transmission assembly includes a clutch assembly having a manually actuated clutch pedal for facilitating shifting of the transmission from a neutral condition to any of a plurality of drive conditions. The shift mechanism includes a shift lever mounted for movement toward and away from a neutral position corresponding to the neutral condition of the transmission assembly and a shifting assembly connected to the transmission assembly and mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel. The shifting assembly is moved in response to shifting movements of the shift lever from for conditioning the transmission assembly into any of the plurality of drive conditions depending on the direction of movement of the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. McKee, Ralph D. Price, Francis A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4966044
    Abstract: A single lever directional control system for positively conditioning a tractor transmission for either a forward or reverse mode of operation. The control system includes a controller for engaging the transmission in either of two modes of operation as a function of the electrical signals directed to the controller, an electrical switch for directing electrical signals to the controller as a function of the operative state of the switch, and an over-center control lever for controlling the operative state of the switch. The over-centering of the control lever positively positions the lever in either of two positions corresponding to the two modes of operation of the transmission. Precise shifting of the transmission is facilitated by configuring the control lever for movement in two distinct directions of movement to shift the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Barry A. Bowman, Stanley J. Jeziorski, Francis A. Peterson, Ralph D. Price