Patents by Inventor Ronald L. Satzler

Ronald L. Satzler 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: 9937969
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle having a full-track design with a vehicle structure on each side of which, relative to a vehicle longitudinal axis, a track roller unit is arranged. The track roller unit has roller unit body to which a front deflector roll, a rear deflector roller and a plurality of yoke-type track rollers arranged therebetween are coupled, and an endlessly closed track belt that wraps around the rollers/roller. All the rollers are suspended with respect to the roller unit body in that assigned to a roller or a group of rollers in each case is a spring element, which is acted upon by fluid, for the suspension thereof with respect to the roller unit body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Obermeier-Hartmann, Hendrik Schulze Zumkley, Thomas Schulte, Ronald L. Satzler, David C. Janzen, Carolin Hammacher
  • Publication number: 20160280292
    Abstract: A two track tractor with an active suspension system for reducing pitch jerk and a method of operation thereof utilizes a position sensor between a nose of the tractor and a front axle assembly connected to a forward rolling element. The gap between the nose and the front axle is continually measured and an average gap value is produced. An active suspension system is controlled by a microprocessor to vary the pitch angle between the tractor body and the axle assembly in order to maintain a target nose gap while limiting the pitch jerk experienced by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 9359021
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor includes a pair of track assemblies including rubber treads with track bars, a front wheel assembly and a controller. The track assemblies are interconnected by respective front and rear axles extending substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel. The controller automatically controls a load imposed on the front wheel assembly in order to control the load imposed at the front axle of the track assemblies to minimize rubber tread wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: David C. Janzen, Ronald L. Satzler
  • Publication number: 20160023695
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle having a full-track design with a vehicle structure on each side of which, relative to a vehicle longitudinal axis, a track roller unit is arranged. The track roller unit has roller unit body to which a front deflector roll, a rear deflector roller and a plurality of yoke-type track rollers arranged therebetween are coupled, and an endlessly closed track belt that wraps around the rollers/roller. All the rollers are suspended with respect to the roller unit body in that assigned to a roller or a group of rollers in each case is a spring element, which is acted upon by fluid, for the suspension thereof with respect to the roller unit body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Obermeier-Hartmann, Hendrik Schultze Zumkley, Thomas Schulte, Ronald L. Satzler, David C. Janzen, Carolin Hammacher
  • Publication number: 20140216828
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor includes a pair of track assemblies including rubber treads with track bars, a front wheel assembly and a controller. The track assemblies are interconnected by respective front and rear axles extending substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel. The controller automatically controls a load imposed on the front wheel assembly in order to control the load imposed at the front axle of the track assemblies to minimize rubber tread wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: CLAAS INDUSTRIETECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: David C. Janzen, Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 8727047
    Abstract: A tractor configuration includes a mainframe structure, a control station having a means of controlling the tractor, an undercarriage system having one left side and one right side track assembly, a wheel mechanism containing one or more wheels located forward of the track assemblies, a power train for forcing both track assemblies to travel at the same or different speeds, a controller responsible for exerting force to transfer vertical load back and forth between the front portion of the track assemblies and the wheel mechanism and controlling the amount of weight carried by the wheel mechanism. The controller causes or allows the wheel or wheels of the wheel mechanism to follow the tractor's curved path caused by track speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: David C. Janzen, Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 8626408
    Abstract: An integrated system for row-producing in agriculture fields comprises several implements each having an elevated central frame, an undercarriage assembly with a rear active steering system and the undercarriage assembly is rear located and being behind the structures of toolbar and row units. The rear active steering system controlled by a GPS system comprises a steer angle sensor and a closed loop continuous feedback system, with the purpose of keeping a precise lateral location. This integrated system also comprises an active toolbar height controlling system. When needed, the undercarriage assembly can be disconnected from the implement. This integrated system functions to reduce compactions in the field and ensure lateral accuracy of the implement movement. The integrated system works as a strip tiller, and as a planter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald L. Satzler, David C. Janzen
  • Patent number: 7628235
    Abstract: A track roller unit for a vehicle has at least one pivotable subframe, at least one further pivotable subframe, wherein each of the subframes rotatably accommodates at least one land wheel, at least one subframe is pivotably mountable on the vehicle, and at least the further substrate is pivotally mounted on the one subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald L. Satzler, David C. Jansen
  • Patent number: 7354222
    Abstract: A belted asphalt compactor and method are provided. The compactor includes a first unit with a roller frame. A second unit is coupled to the first unit, and is generally identical thereto. At least one mid roller and two end rollers are mounted in the roller frames, and a compactor belt extends about the rollers. Load adjusters are associated with each of the units and operable distribute a load among the rollers. A steering system is operable to rotate one of the first unit and the second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Publication number: 20070236085
    Abstract: A track roller unit for a vehicle has at least one pivotable subframe, at least one further pivotable subframe, wherein each of the subframes rotatably accommodates at least one land wheel, at least one subframe is pivotably mountable on the vehicle, and at least the further substrate is pivotally mounted on the one subframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: RONALD L. SATZLER, David C. Janzen
  • Patent number: 6681867
    Abstract: A ground engaging tool that oscillates in a motion, relative to the ground, that is substantially vertically upward, and then downward and forward in a direction in which the apparatus is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 6618967
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a work implement having a ground engaging tool is provided. A swing command is supplied to a swing assembly to move the ground engaging tool in an arcuate path about a vertical axis. A crowd command is determined based on the velocity of the swing assembly and is calculated to generate a resulting net movement of the ground engaging tool toward a predetermined end point. The crowd command is supplied to a crowd mechanism to move the ground engaging tool towards the predetermined end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Ronald L. Satzler, Michael I. Cline
  • Publication number: 20030115779
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a work implement having a ground engaging tool is provided. A swing command is supplied to a swing assembly to move the ground engaging tool in an arcuate path about a vertical axis. A crowd command is determined based on the velocity of the swing assembly and is calculated to generate a resulting net movement of the ground engaging tool toward a predetermined end point. The crowd command is supplied to a crowd mechanism to move the ground engaging tool towards the predetermined end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Satzler, Michael I. Cline
  • Patent number: 6518913
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method adapted for locating objects under a body of water comprising a frame structure (12) and at least one sensor assembly (16) connected thereto. The sensor assembly (16) is pivotally coupled to the frame structure (12) and includes a rigid member (20) and a geographic location system receiver (42) connected thereto. An arm member (22) is connected to the rigid member (20) and an object detection device (38) is associated with the arm member (22). The object detection device (38) is operable to detect a density change indicative of an object under the body of water, said object detection device (38) being further operable to emit a signal (46) indicative of the detection of an object under the body of water relative thereto based density change sensed thereby; and its position is known relative to the position of the GPS receiver (42). The geographic location receiver (42) is operable to emit a signal (50) indicative of the present position of the receiver (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Publication number: 20020195259
    Abstract: A ground engaging tool that oscillates in a motion, relative to the ground, that is substantially vertically upward, and then downward and forward in a direction in which the apparatus is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 6213870
    Abstract: A rotating concave grain threshing system has a rotor positioned within a concave. The rotor and concave are each rotatable in different preselected speeds and directions through respective transmissions connected to a power source. Measurements are taken corresponding to a physical property of the crop being harvested and the torque induced on the concave. A signal is generated and is responsive to changes in the measurements and delivered to a controller. The controller will then create a controlling signal corresponding to a difference between the desired physical property and the measured physical property and/or the desired torque and the measured torque being greater than a preselected amount. An actuator receives the controlling signal and changes the speed of the concave in response to the magnitude of the received controlling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 5989142
    Abstract: Continuously driven machine steering differentials have heretofore been complex for counter-rotating a pair of oppositely located planetary elements. The planetary steering differential includes a differential powered by a transmission input and a planetary gearing mechanism which receives an input from a steering motor for interacting with the outputs to achieve a steering correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 5971082
    Abstract: A hitch module for a track-type work machine in which the pivot point of a towed work implement is varied by selectively positioning a pair of links joining the work machine to a hitch frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 5878569
    Abstract: The energy conversion system of the subject invention converts the energy from a source of pressurized fluid, such as a free-piston engine and a storage accumulator, to a work system at various pressure levels. This is accomplished by providing power modifying units which act to efficiently reduce the pressure level of the fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the various pressure levels. A control arrangement monitors the operating pressures in the actuators and selects the path of pressurized fluid having the lowest pressure level needed to perform the task. Additionally, exhausted fluid containing energy is utilized by regenerating the fluid back to the inlet of the actuator or by directing it through the appropriate power modifying unit to amplify the pressure therein and supplement or recharge the source of pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 5863104
    Abstract: An edge scraper device for the inboard edge of a belted track-type vehicle removes debris from the track edge as the vehicle operates in muddy or trash-laden environments by close-proximity relationship to the track edge. Spring biasing and adjustment devices retain the scraper device in a functionally close proximity to the track edge. The edge scraper device is mounted substantially above the track to prevent fallen debris from accumulating on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Satzler