Patents by Inventor Wendell Dean Stahl

Wendell Dean Stahl 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: 11338848
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) may receive, from an autonomous vehicle controller, an instruction to set a hydraulic steering actuator, of a vehicle, to a particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a steering controller torque device, a current to set a steering controller, of the vehicle, to a particular steering controller angle that corresponds to the particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a hydraulic control system, a current to set the hydraulic steering actuator to the particular machine steering angle setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Dean Stahl, Jeremy T. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200262475
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) may receive, from an autonomous vehicle controller, an instruction to set a hydraulic steering actuator, of a vehicle, to a particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a steering controller torque device, a current to set a steering controller, of the vehicle, to a particular steering controller angle that corresponds to the particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a hydraulic control system, a current to set the hydraulic steering actuator to the particular machine steering angle setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Dean STAHL, Jeremy T. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200086911
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may comprise a steering device configured to move along a steering position range in response to a force applied on the steering device by a machine operator. The steering device may have at least one soft stop position along the steering position range. The machine may further comprise a biasing member mechanically coupled to the steering device and configured to apply an opposing force that opposes movement of the steering device when the steering device is at or beyond the soft stop position. A magnitude of the opposing force may be sufficiently low such that the machine operator can move the steering device past the soft stop position. The machine may further comprise an electronic control device configured to determine the soft stop position based on one or more operation conditions of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Dean Stahl, Jeremy T. Peterson, Kenneth Marvin Roat, Derrick Alexander Kofi Amanor, Micheal D. Valerio
  • Publication number: 20150198507
    Abstract: A method of determining readiness of an emergency steering pump system is provided. The method may include the steps of detecting a startup condition; determining a standby pressure provided by a primary pump and a margin pressure to be provided by a secondary pump; engaging the secondary pump for a predefined duration based on the standby pressure and the margin pressure; and determining readiness based on a cumulative pressure of the standby pressure and the margin pressure as compared to a predefined threshold corresponding to load demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Mork, Biagio Ciarla, Wendell Dean Stahl, Daniel Todd Mather
  • Patent number: 7881841
    Abstract: A motion-control system includes an operator interface with an operator-input member and a controllable force feedback device drivingly connected to the operator-input member. The motion-control system may also include controls that regulate the motion of one or more moveable components, including adjusting a first operating parameter in a manner that depends at least in part on a control error between a target value of a second operating parameter and an actual value of the second operating parameter. The target value of the second operating parameter may be based at least in part on the motion of the operator-input member. The controls may also operate the controllable force feedback device to provide feedback force on the operator-input member in a manner that depends at least in part on the control error and such that the derivative of the feedback force with respect to the control error varies dependent at least in part on the control error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Donald Dattilo, Shawn I. Cullen, Norval Paul Thomson, Kenneth K. Her, Marc Daniel Proud, Arvil Duane Wilson, Wendell Dean Stahl
  • Publication number: 20080162000
    Abstract: A motion-control system includes an operator interface with an operator-input member and a controllable force feedback device drivingly connected to the operator-input member. The motion-control system may also include controls that regulate the motion of one or more moveable components, including adjusting a first operating parameter in a manner that depends at least in part on a control error between a target value of a second operating parameter and an actual value of the second operating parameter. The target value of the second operating parameter may be based at least in part on the motion of the operator-input member. The controls may also operate the controllable force feedback device to provide feedback force on the operator-input member in a manner that depends at least in part on the control error and such that the derivative of the feedback force with respect to the control error varies dependent at least in part on the control error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: James Donald Dattilo, Shawn I. Cullen, Norval Paul Thomson, Kenneth K. Her, Marc Daniel Proud, Arvil Duane Wilson, Wendell Dean Stahl