Frank A Demarco

US Patent:

7410446, Aug 12, 2008

Filed:

Dec 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/305185

Inventors:

Frank A. DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 47/08

US Classification:

477 98

Abstract:

A method is provided for increasing a temperature of oil in a continuously variable transmission during engine start-up, the transmission including a fluid pump and motor, and a mechanical transmission. The method includes starting the engine, maintaining the fluid pump at substantially zero displacement, and heating the transmission oil by relative rotation of a first clutch disc and first clutch hub of a first clutch assembly and by relative rotation of a second clutch disc and second clutch hub of a second clutch assembly. The method further includes maintaining a substantially zero net torque from the transmission during the heating of the oil by the first and second clutch assemblies.

US Patent:

7654135, Feb 2, 2010

Filed:

May 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/153339

Inventors:

Frank Anthony DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G01M 13/02

US Classification:

7311502

Abstract:

A test system for a plurality of transmissions is disclosed. Each of the plurality of transmissions may have a transmission input member and a transmission output member. The test system may have a prime mover. The prime mover may have a prime mover output member configured to connect to the transmission input member of each of the plurality of transmissions. Additionally, the test system may have a plurality of inertia devices. Each of the inertia devices may be configured to connect to the transmission output member of one of the plurality of transmissions via a drive shaft. The test system may also have a controller. The controller may be configured to communicate with the prime mover and the plurality of transmissions to control a transfer of power between the plurality of transmissions.

US Patent:

7660657, Feb 9, 2010

Filed:

Jun 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/772109

Inventors:

Frank A DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US
Brian D Kuras - Metamora IL, US
Alberto Martinez, Jr. - Lisle IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 51, 701 54, 701 61

Abstract:

A system and method for largely controlling transmission gear ratio oscillation is disclosed. When shifts are executed substantially at synchronous points rendering hysteretic anti-hunting schemes impractical, the disclosed techniques in any combination thereof may allow for oscillation control via an overridable lock-out timer. For oscillation control during incline navigation and other similar loading scenarios, the transmission may be selectively locked if certain operational criteria are met.

US Patent:

7670260, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

May 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/153957

Inventors:

Frank A. DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 59/00

US Classification:

477 98

Abstract:

A method is provided for increasing a temperature of oil in a continuously variable transmission during engine start-up, the transmission including a fluid pump and motor, and a mechanical transmission. The method includes starting the engine, maintaining the fluid pump at substantially zero displacement, and heating the transmission oil by relative rotation of a first clutch disc and first clutch hub of a first clutch assembly and by relative rotation of a second clutch disc and second clutch hub of a second clutch assembly. The method further includes maintaining a substantially zero net torque from the transmission during the heating of the oil by the first and second clutch assemblies.

US Patent:

7788917, Sep 7, 2010

Filed:

Feb 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/711717

Inventors:

Frank Anthony DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US
Michael G. Cronin - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 61/46
B60K 17/10

US Classification:

60452, 60445

Abstract:

A method of controlling a motor includes monitoring a pressure in a circuit supplying a pressurized fluid to the motor, determining a difference between the monitored circuit pressure and a desired circuit pressure, and determining an actuator command for an actuator that is capable of adjusting a pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied to the motor. The actuator command is determined based on the difference between the monitored circuit pressure and the desired circuit pressure, and is independent of a position of the actuator. The method also includes operating the actuator based on the actuator command.

US Patent:

7797081, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Jun 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/770375

Inventors:

Frank A DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US
Hongliu Du - Dunlap IL, US
Brian D Kuras - Metamora IL, US
Thomas M Sopko - East Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G05D 7/06
G05D 16/00

US Classification:

700282, 700301, 60445

Abstract:

A system and method for controlling a variator operate to detect variator torques and/or internal pressures and generates a preliminary corrective command. The preliminary corrective command is transformed via a dynamic transform to account for system characteristics during transient operating conditions such as machine acceleration, such that the acceleration of the system during transient periods is not torque-limited by static torque-control map values. In an embodiment, the acceleration may be positive or negative, and in a further embodiment, braking is automatically applied in the case of negative requested power or desired machine retarding.

US Patent:

7822532, Oct 26, 2010

Filed:

Feb 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/028485

Inventors:

Brian D. Hoff - East Peoria IL, US
Frank A. DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US
Thomas M. Sopko - East Peoria IL, US
Michael Barngrover - Peoria IL, US
Brian D. Kuras - Metamora IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
F02D 41/02
B60W 10/06

US Classification:

701110, 701 54, 123350, 477107

Abstract:

A method of adjusting the operation of an engine-driven machine to avoid engine under-speeding entails converting a received speed or torque command into a power command. When an engine under-speed condition is sensed, the system performs underspeed correction in the power domain before converting the underspeed processed power command back into the units of the original domain. The converted underspeed processed power command is issued to the transmission or other component to alleviate the engine under-speeding condition.

US Patent:

7920949, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

May 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/752136

Inventors:

Brian D Kuras - Metamora IL, US
Frank A DeMarco - East Peoria IL, US
Adam J Vaccari - Peoria IL, US
Tyler Bowan - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F16H 9/00

US Classification:

701 55, 701 51, 477 37, 477 44, 477 45, 477 46

Abstract:

A variator torque control system and method utilize a hydraulic actuator to control the variator output via a torque control map, wherein the values of the torque control map are evaluated and modified during use of the map to improve map accuracy. In an example, errors in the map are evaluated to determine whether a system fault has occurred.