Patents by Inventor Stephen Victor Lunzman

Stephen Victor Lunzman 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: 7712559
    Abstract: A method of controlling the speed of a right front wheel and a left front wheel on a work machine includes receiving a speed command based at least partially on an operator input and monitoring at least one wheel steering angle of at least one front wheel. A first front wheel speed command may be determined based at least partially on the at least one wheel steering angle. In addition, a second front wheel speed command may be determined based at least partially on the at least one wheel steering angle. The first front wheel speed command and the second front wheel speed command may be output to independently control the speed of the right and the left front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Yeoman, Michael Dan Strnad, Kevin Lynn Claytor, Stephen Victor Lunzman
  • Patent number: 7549498
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The method includes providing an aggression signal and determining a desired speed ratio based on the aggression signal. An output speed signal corresponding to the determined desired speed ratio is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Victor Lunzman, John Andrew Yeoman, Sean Wesley Johnson, Bryan L. Fredrickson
  • Patent number: 7364003
    Abstract: A system for mitigating hop in a propelled machine is provided. A controller is operable to receive an aggressiveness command based on an operator input. A sensor is operable to measure a parameter indicative of hop and output a hop signal indicative of a magnitude of machine hop, based on the measurement. A manager is operable to reduce an aggressiveness indicated by the aggressiveness command in proportion to the indicated magnitude of machine hop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford Jay Holt, John Andrew Yeoman, Michael Dan Strnad, Stephen Victor Lunzman
  • Patent number: 7325636
    Abstract: A method of controlling the speed of a right front wheel and a left front wheel on a work machine includes receiving a speed command based at least partially on an operator input and monitoring at least one wheel steering angle of at least one front wheel. A first front wheel speed command may be determined based at least partially on the at least one wheel steering angle. In addition, a second front wheel speed command may be determined based at least partially on the at least one wheel steering angle. The first front wheel speed command and the second front wheel speed command may be output to independently control the speed of the right and the left front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Yeoman, Michael Dan Strnad, Kevin Lynn Claytor, Stephen Victor Lunzman
  • Patent number: 6662705
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to perform a pump check function are provided. The system includes an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement disposed between a source of pressurized fluid and a hydraulic actuator. Pressure sensors are provided to sense a source pressure representative of the fluid pressure between the source of pressurized fluid and the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and an actuator pressure representative of the fluid pressure between the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and the actuator. A control device receives a signal to open the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to provide a requested flow rate to the hydraulic actuator. The received signal is modified to prevent fluid flow through the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement when the source pressure is less than the actuator pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc, Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, Stephen Victor Lunzman
  • Patent number: 6598391
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to provide make-up fluid to a hydraulic actuator are disclosed. The system includes an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement actuated by a control lever and disposed between a pump having a stand-by pressure and a hydraulic actuator. A pressure, representative of the fluid in the hydraulic actuator, is sensed and compared to the stand-by pressure of the pump. The control of the control lever over the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement is overridden when the difference between the pump stand-by pressure and the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic actuator is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Stephen Victor Lunzman, Xiaodong Huang, Kirk Stephen Shively, Bradford Jay Holt
  • Publication number: 20030106313
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to perform a pump check function are provided. The system includes an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement disposed between a source of pressurized fluid and a hydraulic actuator. Pressure sensors are provided to sense a source pressure representative of the fluid pressure between the source of pressurized fluid and the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and an actuator pressure representative of the fluid pressure between the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and the actuator. A control device receives a signal to open the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to provide a requested flow rate to the hydraulic actuator. The received signal is modified to prevent fluid flow through the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement when the source pressure is less than the actuator pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, Stephen Victor Lunzman
  • Publication number: 20030041728
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to provide make-up fluid to a hydraulic actuator are disclosed. The system includes an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement actuated by a control lever and disposed between a pump having a stand-by pressure and a hydraulic actuator. A pressure, representative of the fluid in the hydraulic actuator, is sensed and compared to the stand-by pressure of the pump. The control of the control lever over the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement is overridden when the difference between the pump stand-by pressure and the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic actuator is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Victor Lunzman, Xiaodong Huang, Kirk Stephen Shively, Bradford Jay Holt