Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Surma

Ronald D. Surma 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: 4584472
    Abstract: Information related to the position of a control member of a vehicle is required for control of power delivered to the vehicle motors. Available linear position encoders are expensive and prone to damage in an industrial environment. The instant apparatus provides a simple and durable linear position encoder having a piston adapted to move within a housing. A plurality of sensors are each positioned along a different housing pathway and a plurality of sensible members are each positioned along a different piston pathway. In response to movement of the piston within the housing the sensors deliver respective position signals to an electric circuit means, which, in turn, delivers respective coded digital signals to a vehicle controller. The apparatus is digital in design and is of simple, rugged, and inexpensive construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Caterpillar Industrial Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne T. Wiblin, Ronald D. Surma, Grant C. Melocik