Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Congdon

Thomas M. Congdon 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: 8479838
    Abstract: A dozing blade assembly includes a dozing blade, and a cutter mounted to the dozing blade. The cutter includes a compound digging face extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The compound digging face has a steeply oriented center segment, and shallowly oriented outer segments, for balancing downward penetration with forward pushability during moving the dozing blade assembly through material of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nick W. Biggs, Thomas M. Congdon, Kevin L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20130161031
    Abstract: A dozing blade assembly includes a dozing blade, and a cutter mounted to the dozing blade. The cutter includes a compound digging face extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The compound digging face has a steeply oriented center segment, and shallowly oriented outer segments, for balancing downward penetration with forward pushability during moving the dozing blade assembly through material of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick W. Biggs, Thomas M. Congdon, Kevin L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20130161037
    Abstract: A dozing blade assembly includes a dozing blade, and a cutter mounted to the dozing blade. The cutter includes a compound digging face extending between a proximal edge and a distal edge. The compound digging face has a steeply oriented center segment, and shallowly oriented outer segments, for balancing downward penetration with forward pushability during moving the dozing blade assembly through material of a substrate. Purpose-built mounting surfaces on the blade can be used to provide for the different orientations, using flat plates to form the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, Nick W. Biggs, Kevin L. Martin
  • Patent number: 7853383
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically loading a scraper including a method for controlling an implement. The method includes receiving a first signal indicative of a speed of a driven component of the at least one traction device. The method also includes receiving a second signal indicative of a speed of the machine with respect to a surface. The method also includes receiving a third signal indicative of a desired slip of the machine with respect to the surface. The method also includes selectively receiving a fourth signal indicative of an operators desire to affect manual control of the implement. The method further includes determining a first parameter as a function of the received first, second, third, and selectively received fourth signals and controlling the implement as a function of the first parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, R. Paul Knight
  • Patent number: 7731450
    Abstract: A method of operating a compactor machine includes moving the compacting machine within a work area and determining a compaction response disconformity exists between at least two regions of the work area. The method includes generating a compactor navigation signal responsive to the compaction response disconformity. A method of compacting a work area may include determining a work material compaction response associated with at least one region of the work area is aberrant, and maneuvering the compactor machine within the work area responsive to a signal associated with the aberrant compaction response. A system for compacting a work area includes a compactor machine and an electronic controller configured via a compactor maneuvering control algorithm to detect an aberrant work material compaction response in a region of the work area and responsively generate a compactor navigation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, Paul T. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7707754
    Abstract: A machine, such as a scraper machine, includes a bowl, a cutter and a loading apparatus coupled with the cutter and including a chute having a first end disposed outside the bowl, and an auger positioned at least partially within the chute. The auger includes at least one auger, and is configured to move work material between the first and second ends of the chute. A method of operating the scraper machine includes capturing work material at least in part by moving the cutting edge of the scraper machine through the work material, and conveying work material from the chute into the bowl at least-in part by rotating the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 7623951
    Abstract: A method of operating a compactor includes determining a value indicative of a compaction state of a region of work material after each of a plurality of compactor passes, and triggering a compaction fault condition if an incipient compaction response satisfies aberrant compaction criteria. A machine includes an electronic controller configured to trigger a compaction fault condition responsively to sensor input signals indicative that aberrant compaction criteria are satisfied by an incipient compaction response of a work material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, Paul T. Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20080155866
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically loading a scraper including a method for controlling an implement. The method includes receiving a first signal indicative of a speed of a driven component of the at least one traction device. The method also includes receiving a second signal indicative of a speed of the machine with respect to a surface. The method also includes receiving a third signal indicative of a desired slip of the machine with respect to the surface. The method also includes selectively receiving a fourth signal indicative of an operators desire to affect manual control of the implement. The method further includes determining a first parameter as a function of the received first, second, third, and selectively received fourth signals and controlling the implement as a function of the first parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, R. Paul Knight
  • Patent number: 7354221
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a vibratory plate compactor, having at least one contact plate configured to be vibrated. The compactor may also include one or more excitation devices configured to vibrate the at least one contact plate. The compactor may further include a power system configured to supply power to the one or more excitation devices. In addition, the one or more excitation devices may be configured to generate linear excitation of the at least one contact plate to compact material beneath the at least one contact plate, propel the compactor, and steer the compactor. Steering and propulsion may be accomplished by varying the angle of the axis of excitation relative to the contact plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20080063473
    Abstract: A method of operating a compactor machine includes moving the compacting machine within a work area and determining a compaction response disconformity exists between at least two regions of the work area. The method includes generating a compactor navigation signal responsive to the compaction response disconformity. A method of compacting a work area may include determining a work material compaction response associated with at least one region of the work area is aberrant, and maneuvering the compactor machine within the work area responsive to a signal associated with the aberrant compaction response. A system for compacting a work area includes a compactor machine and an electronic controller configured via a compactor maneuvering control algorithm to detect an aberrant work material compaction response in a region of the work area and responsively generate a compactor navigation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, Paul T. Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20070267225
    Abstract: A machine, such as a scraper machine, includes a bowl, a cutter and a loading apparatus coupled with the cutter and including a chute having a first end disposed outside the bowl, and an auger positioned at least partially within the chute. The auger includes at least one auger, and is configured to move work material between the first and second ends of the chute. A method of operating the scraper machine includes capturing work material at least in part by moving the cutting edge of the scraper machine through the work material, and conveying work material from the chute into the bowl at least-in part by rotating the auger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas M. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20070239338
    Abstract: A worksite preparation method includes moving a compactor machine across at least one region of a worksite, and sensing values indicative of a compaction response of work material in a compacted region. The method also includes generating a machine traffic plan in real time responsive to the sensed values, outputting control signals corresponding to the machine traffic plan and taking a worksite fill action responsive to the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Dean Potts, Paul T. Corcoran, Everett G. Brandt, Thomas M. Congdon