Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Evans
Timothy A. Evans 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).
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Publication number: 20240391526Abstract: A system for determining a total machine turning angle of a construction equipment having a front frame articulatable with respect to a rear frame, the front frame including a steering apparatus and the rear frame including a traction device, the construction equipment having a wheelbase, the system including: a first inertial motion unit disposed on the front frame or the rear frame, the first inertial motion unit providing a front frame yaw rate if disposed on the front frame or a rear frame yaw rate if disposed on the rear frame; a machine speed sensor providing a machine speed of the construction equipment; and a controller for receiving as inputs the wheelbase, machine speed, and either the front frame yaw rate or the rear frame yaw rate, and outputting the total machine turning angle based on the wheelbase, the machine speed, and either the front or rear frame yaw rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: November 28, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ethan M. Tevis, Michael C. Gentle, Timothy A. Evans
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Patent number: 11619026Abstract: A motor grader having ride control for dampening machine bounce using a DCM assembly rotatably coupled to and suspended from a frame of the motor grader is disclosed. Each lift cylinder for the DCM may have an associated ride control circuit with an accumulator, a ride control conduit fluidly connected to a carry end of the lift cylinder and having a flow restriction element, and a ride control accumulator valve fluidly connected to the accumulator and the ride control conduit and operable to either block or allow fluid communication between the carry end and the accumulator through the flow restriction element. Each rid control circuit may also include a head end valve fluidly connected to between the head end of the lift cylinder and a low pressure fluid reservoir and operable to block or allow fluid communication between the head end and the low pressure fluid reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Richard Lane Fulcher, Timothy A. Evans, Travis N. Richards, Yongtao Li
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Patent number: 11046180Abstract: A method, system, and machine for controlling the output of an engine of a machine includes calculating the difference between a measured track slip based on track speed and ground speed and a calculated target track slip depending on track speed and chassis pitch, inputting the difference into a controller to determine a propulsion engine torque limit, and limiting the engine toque to the propulsion engine torque limit plus a steering system input torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Randall T. Anderson, Timothy A. Evans
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Publication number: 20210102358Abstract: A motor grader having ride control for dampening machine bounce using a DCM assembly rotatably coupled to and suspended from a frame of the motor grader is disclosed. Each lift cylinder for the DCM may have an associated ride control circuit with an accumulator, a ride control conduit fluidly connected to a carry end of the lift cylinder and having a flow restriction element, and a ride control accumulator valve fluidly connected to the accumulator and the ride control conduit and operable to either block or allow fluid communication between the carry end and the accumulator through the flow restriction element. Each rid control circuit may also include a head end valve fluidly connected to between the head end of the lift cylinder and a low pressure fluid reservoir and operable to block or allow fluid communication between the head end and the low pressure fluid reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Richard Lane Fulcher, Timothy A. Evans, Travis N. Richards, Yongtao Li
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Patent number: 10544566Abstract: A machine orientation display may be displayed by an operator display device in an operator station of a machine. The machine orientation display may include a field area, a horizontal reference displayed on the field area, a machine orientation indicator displayed on the field area and positioned and oriented relative to the horizontal reference to graphically indicate a machine orientation of the machine relative to a work surface on which the machine is disposed. The machine orientation display may further include an implement orientation indicator displayed on the field area and positioned and oriented relative to the horizontal reference and the machine orientation indicator to graphically indicate an implement orientation of an implement of the machine. The implement is movable relative to a machine body of the machine and to the work surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Timothy A. Evans
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Publication number: 20190337386Abstract: A method, system, and machine for controlling the output of an engine of a machine includes calculating the difference between a measured track slip based on track speed and ground speed and a calculated target track slip depending on track speed and chassis pitch, inputting the difference into a controller to determine a propulsion engine torque limit, and limiting the engine toque to the propulsion engine torque limit plus a steering system input torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Randall T. Anderson, Timothy A. Evans
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Publication number: 20180320340Abstract: A machine orientation display may be displayed by an operator display device in an operator station of a machine. The machine orientation display may include a field area, a horizontal reference displayed on the field area, a machine orientation indicator displayed on the field area and positioned and oriented relative to the horizontal reference to graphically indicate a machine orientation of the machine relative to a work surface on which the machine is disposed. The machine orientation display may further include an implement orientation indicator displayed on the field area and positioned and oriented relative to the horizontal reference and the machine orientation indicator to graphically indicate an implement orientation of an implement of the machine. The implement is movable relative to a machine body of the machine and to the work surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Timothy A. Evans
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Patent number: 8738251Abstract: A machine control system including an impeller clutch pedal sensor, a power source sensor, a torque converter output speed sensor, an implement lever sensor and a controller is provided. The impeller clutch pedal sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of an impeller clutch command. The implement lever sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a desired hydraulic flow corresponding to an implement lever command. The controller is configured to determine a desired output torque, at a current torque converter output speed, based on the signals from the impeller clutch pedal sensor and the power source sensor. The controller is configured to modulate at least one of the speed of the power source or an engagement of an impeller clutch based on the desired output torque and the implement lever command.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey K. Berry, Timothy A. Evans, Barry Mei
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Publication number: 20130151098Abstract: A machine control system including an impeller clutch pedal sensor, a power source sensor, a torque converter output speed sensor, an implement lever sensor and a controller is provided. The impeller clutch pedal sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of an impeller clutch command. The implement lever sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a desired hydraulic flow corresponding to an implement lever command. The controller is configured to determine a desired output torque, at a current torque converter output speed, based on the signals from the impeller clutch pedal sensor and the power source sensor. The controller is configured to modulate at least one of the speed of the power source or an engagement of an impeller clutch based on the desired output torque and the implement lever command.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey K. Berry, Barry Mei, Timothy A. Evans
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Publication number: 20110295433Abstract: A method for providing power to a hydraulic system is disclosed. The method includes determining a hydraulic system power demand, determining an energy storage device power demand, and determining a desired parameter of a primary power source based on the hydraulic system power demand. The method further includes providing power to the hydraulic system as a function of the energy storage device power demand and the desired parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.Inventor: Timothy A. Evans