Patents by Inventor Tom K. SHIM

Tom K. SHIM 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: 11828696
    Abstract: Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G Wear, Tom K. Shim, Richard A. Carpenter, Kyle B. Walton
  • Patent number: 11573166
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a contaminant detection device includes fluidly connecting the contaminant detection device in series to a test reservoir and a light-obscuration-type particle counter, pumping low-end, intermediate, and high-end test dust dilutions through the contaminant detection device and the particle counter until a particle count measured by the particle counter for each of the successive test dust dilutions stabilizes, and setting a low-end gain, an intermediate gain, and a high-end gain for the contaminant detection device based on the stabilized particle counts for each of the test dust dilutions using a first-sized test dust grade. A bubble counting gain of an aeration threshold for the device may be set according to a second test dust grade greater in size than the first-sized test dust grade, and associated with a voltage signal produced by the contaminate detection device indicative of the presence of an air bubble contained within the fluid during use of the fluid in heavy machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Wear, Tom K. Shim
  • Publication number: 20220187186
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a contaminant detection device includes fluidly connecting the contaminant detection device in series to a test reservoir and a light-obscuration-type particle counter, pumping low-end, intermediate, and high-end test dust dilutions through the contaminant detection device and the particle counter until a particle count measured by the particle counter for each of the successive test dust dilutions stabilizes, and setting a low-end gain, an intermediate gain, and a high-end gain for the contaminant detection device based on the stabilized particle counts for each of the test dust dilutions using a first-sized test dust grade. A bubble counting gain of an aeration threshold for the device may be set according to a second test dust grade greater in size than the first-sized test dust grade, and associated with a voltage signal produced by the contaminate detection device indicative of the presence of an air bubble contained within the fluid during use of the fluid in heavy machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. WEAR, Tom K. SHIM
  • Publication number: 20220187187
    Abstract: Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. WEAR, Tom K. SHIM, Richard A. CARPENTER, Kyle B. WALTON