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).
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Patent number: 8901760Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jackson Wai, Robert R. Sychra, Robert W. Lindsey, Thomas M. Sopko, Bruce H. Hein
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Publication number: 20140210208Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Jackson Wai, Robert R. Sychra, Robert W. Lindsey, Thomas M. Sopko, Bruce H. Hein
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Patent number: 8441827Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra, Keith E. Dixler, Jon N. Husser
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Patent number: 7869208Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Jon Husser, Keith E. Dixler, Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra
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Patent number: 7834573Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Robert W. Lindsey, Robert R. Sychra
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Publication number: 20100232111Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra, Keith E. Dixler, Jon N. Husser
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Publication number: 20100165575Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Jon Husser, Keith E. Dixler, Thomas M. Baker, Robert R. Sychra
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Publication number: 20090033357Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Lindsey, Robert R. Sychra
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Patent number: 7307396Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2004Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Sychra, Daniel F. Stanek, William J. Tate
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Patent number: 6212483Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 1998Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin J. Carew, Robert R. Sychra
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Patent number: 6164117Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Shawn C. Passwater, Stephen K. Phelps, Robert R. Sychra
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Patent number: 5994865Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Stephen K. Phelps, Robert R. Sychra
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Patent number: 5731761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Sychra