Patents by Inventor Robert R. Sychra

Robert R. Sychra 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: 8901760
    Abstract: A machine is described that includes an electric drive for propelling the machine along a ground surface. The machine includes an electric power supply system configured to deliver operating electrical power to the electric drive. The electric power system includes a first generator and a second generator. The electric power system also includes a first rectifier coupled to the first generator and having a first direct current (DC) output and a second rectifier coupled to the second generator and having a second DC output. Both the first DC output and the second DC output are coupled to the single DC bus, thereby providing an arrangement for the first rectifier and the second rectifier to simultaneously provide power to the single DC bus. The electrical power system also includes a first inverter/controller coupled to the single DC bus and configured to provide a controlled alternating current to a first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson Wai, Robert R. Sychra, Robert W. Lindsey, Thomas M. Sopko, Bruce H. Hein
  • Publication number: 20140210208
    Abstract: A machine is described that includes an electric drive for propelling the machine along a ground surface. The machine includes an electric power supply system configured to deliver operating electrical power to the electric drive. The electric power system includes a first generator and a second generator. The electric power system also includes a first rectifier coupled to the first generator and having a first direct current (DC) output and a second rectifier coupled to the second generator and having a second DC output. Both the first DC output and the second DC output are coupled to the single DC bus, thereby providing an arrangement for the first rectifier and the second rectifier to simultaneously provide power to the single DC bus. The electrical power system also includes a first inverter/controller coupled to the single DC bus and configured to provide a controlled alternating current to a first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jackson Wai, Robert R. Sychra, Robert W. Lindsey, Thomas M. Sopko, Bruce H. Hein
  • Patent number: 8441827
    Abstract: A power converter assembly includes a housing and at least one transistor module. The housing has a liquid cooled heat transfer surface. The at least one transistor module is mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra, Keith E. Dixler, Jon N. Husser
  • Patent number: 7869208
    Abstract: Assembling a power converter for a multiple phase electric drive propulsion system in a machine includes arranging a plurality of rectangular capacitor units of a capacitor subassembly for conditioning electrical power in the power converter in a first packaging arrangement. In the first packaging arrangement, major capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are co-linear with one another and minor capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another. Assembling the power converter further includes arranging a plurality of IGBT modules of a transistor subassembly for power switching in the power converter in a second packaging arrangement. In the second packaging arrangement major module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another and minor module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are co-linear with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Jon Husser, Keith E. Dixler, Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra
  • Patent number: 7834573
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system has an electric machine coupled to provide power to or receive power from a DC bus and a controller in communication with the electric machine and the DC bus. The controller is configured to receive a voltage from the DC bus, compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine, and take a precaution based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Robert W. Lindsey, Robert R. Sychra
  • Publication number: 20100232111
    Abstract: A power converter assembly includes a housing and at least one transistor module. The housing has a liquid cooled heat transfer surface. The at least one transistor module is mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra, Keith E. Dixler, Jon N. Husser
  • Publication number: 20100165575
    Abstract: Assembling a power converter for a multiple phase electric drive propulsion system in a machine includes arranging a plurality of rectangular capacitor units of a capacitor subassembly for conditioning electrical power in the power converter in a first packaging arrangement. In the first packaging arrangement, major capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are co-linear with one another and minor capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another. Assembling the power converter further includes arranging a plurality of IGBT modules of a transistor subassembly for power switching in the power converter in a second packaging arrangement. In the second packaging arrangement major module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another and minor module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are co-linear with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Jon Husser, Keith E. Dixler, Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra
  • Publication number: 20090033357
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system has an electric machine coupled to provide power to or receive power from a DC bus and a controller in communication with the electric machine and the DC bus. The controller is configured to receive a voltage from the DC bus, compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine, and take a precaution based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Robert W. Lindsey, Robert R. Sychra
  • Patent number: 7307396
    Abstract: A protection system for an electrical device may include at least one temperature sensitive element located in a region adjacent to a component of the electrical device and configured to provide an output related to an actual temperature in the region. The system may also include a controller configured to determine the actual temperature in the region based on the output of the at least one temperature sensitive element and to determine a predicted temperature of the component based on the actual temperature in the region and on a predetermined heat dissipation characteristic of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Sychra, Daniel F. Stanek, William J. Tate
  • Patent number: 6212483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of providing diagnostic information to an operator of a work machine. Whether the work machine control system is in diagnostic messaging mode is determined. At least one diagnostic fault parameter descriptive message is read from a memory. The diagnostic fault parameter descriptive message is provided to the operator. Preferably, diagnostic messaging mode is determined by whether the work machine control system is in service mode and whether the diagnostic text function is selected. Advantageously, a component identification number descriptive message is provided in a first character display and a failure mode indicating number descriptive message is provided in a second character display of an operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Carew, Robert R. Sychra
  • Patent number: 6164117
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an inclination sensor construction that is capable of determining the pitch and roll of a machine or machine implement. Moreover, the present invention may be employed to detect the pitch and roll of a blade of a motor grader or bulldozer. The invention is directed to a method of detecting the native inaccuracy of an inclination sensor and providing compensation values to correct for errors in the sensor output, and to an inclination sensor construction that makes use of such compensation values to produce highly accurate inclination sensor construction outputs, and contemplates the inclusion in the inclination sensor construction of a microprocessor that has stored therein compensation values that are utilized during operation of the inclination sensor construction to correct the native outputs of individual transducers to take into account recognized inaccuracies of such native outputs relative to actual inclination values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn C. Passwater, Stephen K. Phelps, Robert R. Sychra
  • Patent number: 5994865
    Abstract: An earth moving or construction equipment implement control system is disclosed. The control system includes a fuzzy logic controller that is connected to an electro-hydraulic valve. An implement position sensing system senses the height of the implement. A set point is compared to the implement position to produce an implement position error signal which is an input to the fuzzy logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Phelps, Robert R. Sychra
  • Patent number: 5731761
    Abstract: An inclination sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes two temperature controlled inclination devices that are mounted orthogonal to each other. The inclination devices include an oven, a resistive element attached to the oven, an inclination transducer mounted in the oven and a thermistor being mounted to the oven. The thermistor produces a signal representative of the actual temperature of the oven. A microprocessor receives the actual temperature signal of each inclination device and produce heating signals to energize the corresponding resistive elements to control the temperature of the respective ovens to a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Sychra