Patents by Inventor Thomas Frelich

Thomas Frelich 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: 9845580
    Abstract: A compaction system includes a first frame; a second frame coupled to the first frame via an articulated joint; a first propulsion device operatively coupled to the first frame via a first propulsion motor, the first propulsion device being configured to propel the compaction system over a work surface in response to a power applied by the first propulsion motor; a compaction drum operatively coupled to the second frame, the compaction drum being configured to compact the work surface via rolling engagement with the work surface; a force sensor configured and arranged to generate a signal that is indicative of a propulsion force transmitted through the articulated joint; and a controller operatively coupled to the force sensor. The controller is configured to determine compaction performance of the compaction system against the work surface based at least in part on the signal from the force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Utterodt, Thomas Frelich
  • Publication number: 20170306575
    Abstract: A compaction system includes a first frame; a second frame coupled to the first frame via an articulated joint; a first propulsion device operatively coupled to the first frame via a first propulsion motor, the first propulsion device being configured to propel the compaction system over a work surface in response to a power applied by the first propulsion motor; a compaction drum operatively coupled to the second frame, the compaction drum being configured to compact the work surface via rolling engagement with the work surface; a force sensor configured and arranged to generate a signal that is indicative of a propulsion force transmitted through the articulated joint; and a controller operatively coupled to the force sensor. The controller is configured to determine compaction performance of the compaction system against the work surface based at least in part on the signal from the force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Utterodt, Thomas Frelich
  • Publication number: 20170121917
    Abstract: A compaction system and a method for determining decoupling of a roller from a work material are disclosed. The compaction system includes a roller configured to compact a work material through rolling engagement with the work material. The compaction system also includes a propulsion device configured to propel the roller along the work material, a power source operatively coupled to the propulsion device, a sensor configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a power potential from the power source, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine a first variance for a first time duration of the signal, determine a second variance for a second time duration of the signal, and determine the roller is decoupled from the work material based on at least one of the first variance and the second variance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frelich, Kyle Hendricks