Patents by Inventor Robert Nicholas Harper

Robert Nicholas Harper 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: 11572069
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Abhishek Awana, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Mariappan Paramasivan
  • Patent number: 11566703
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210316731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas HARPER, Abhishek AWANA, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Mariappan PARAMASIVAN
  • Publication number: 20210262565
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210025136
    Abstract: A method of reducing fuel consumption in a machine with an internal combustion engine. The machine has a hybrid mode in which the engine is used for simultaneous ground propulsion via a torque convertor and hydraulic implement propulsion via a hydraulic pump. The engine controller uses a first engine map that defines primary operating constraints. The method comprises: obtaining an initial torque limit from a torque limit profile providing operating constraints that fall within the primary operating constraints. The method further comprises: implementing a torque limit that corresponds to the initial torque limit value such that in an event that a torque demand exceeds the torque limit then the engine speed will drop below the desired engine speed. The method further comprises, in an event that torque converter speed ratio between engine and ground propulsion drops below a speed ratio threshold, removing the torque limit profile and reverting to primary operating constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Nicholas HARPER
  • Publication number: 20140137545
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed towards a hydraulic system for providing auxiliary drive to a powertrain (11) and a hydraulic circuit (12) by storing and releasing hydraulic fluid using an accumulator (29). A hydraulic drive system (10) comprises an engine (14), a hydraulic machine (22) operably connected to the engine (14), a pump (17), an accumulator (29) and at least one valve (20, 27). The pump (17) is driven by the engine (14) and is configured to control a hydraulic circuit (12). The accumulator (29) is fluidly connected to the hydraulic circuit (21) and the hydraulic machine (22). In one instance, the at least one valve (20, 27) is operable to direct pressurised fluid from at least one of the hydraulic machine (22) and the pump (17) to charge the accumulator (29). Alternatively, the at least one valve (20, 27) is operable to direct pressurised fluid from the accumulator (29) to at least one of the hydraulic machine (22) and the hydraulic circuit (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Smith, Robert Nicholas Harper