Steven R Krause

US Patent:

8275524, Sep 25, 2012

Filed:

Dec 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/645619

Inventors:

Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Eric J. Dishman - Peoria IL, US
Wayne A. Lamb - Chillicothe IL, US
Erik J. Eddington - Bartonville IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 50, 701 36, 37414

Abstract:

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, an implement control system that includes a controller operatively connected to an implement. The controller is adapted to receive a signal from an input device indicative of a desired implement movement by an operator and to receive an automatically generated signal indicative of an automatically determined implement movement. The controller is further adapted to determine whether to move the implement based on the input device signal or the automatically generated signal. The controller is adapted to generate a control signal to move the implement based on the input device signal when a portion of the implement is above a desired cutting plane.

US Patent:

8635792, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/967937

Inventors:

Ramona D. Cone - Mackinaw IL, US
Keith R. Kosowski - Peoria IL, US
Eric N. Polston - Peoria IL, US
Ryan A. Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Donna K. Laube - Peoria IL, US
Ashok Krishnan - Peoria IL, US
Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Brian A. Byers - Decatur IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

E02F 3/04

US Classification:

37414, 377 16

Abstract:

A cycle counter for a wheeled tractor scraper is disclosed. The cycle counter may have an ejector configured to push material from a bowl of the wheeled tractor scraper, a sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a position of the ejector, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine movement of the ejector toward a full dump position based on the pressure signal, and to record completion of a cycle for the wheeled tractor scraper after the ejector has reached the full dump position only if a value of the pressure signal exceeded a threshold value during movement of the ejector toward the full dump position.

US Patent:

20110153170, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/645599

Inventors:

Eric J. Dishman - Peoria IL, US
Erik J. Eddington - Bartonville IL, US
Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Wayne A. Lamb - Chillicothe IL, US
Ryan A. Kingdon - El Paso IL, US
Nathaniel S. Doy - Morton IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 50

Abstract:

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, an implement control system including a controller operatively connected to an implement. The controller is adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal from a system in operative communication with the implement. The first signal is indicative of a desired load control condition and the second signal is indicative of a desired grade control condition. The controller is further adapted to determine a first target position having a first comparable characteristic associated with the first signal and to determine a second target position having a second comparable characteristic associated with the second signal. The controller is also adapted to generate a control signal to move the implement to the first target position or to the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

US Patent:

20110213529, Sep 1, 2011

Filed:

Feb 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/713661

Inventors:

Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Ryan A. Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Eric J. Dishman - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701 50, 701213

Abstract:

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for determining a position on a machine relative to a reference position on the machine. The method includes determining the reference position in a coordinate system, determining a first desired position on the machine in the coordinate system, and determining the first desired position relative to the reference position. The method further includes updating a control system using the first relative desired position.

US Patent:

20120055051, Mar 8, 2012

Filed:

Apr 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/092412

Inventors:

Eric N. Polston - Peoria IL, US
Keith R. Kosowski - Peoria IL, US
Ryan A. Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Ramona D. Cone - Mackinaw IL, US
Yan Ma - Indianapolis IN, US
Christopher A. Wahlmark - Washington IL, US
Donna K. Laube - Peoria IL, US
Ashok Krishnan - Peoria IL, US
Benjamin D. Drake - East Peoria IL, US
Ang Qian - Lisle IL, US
Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US

International Classification:

E02F 3/65
G05D 3/12

US Classification:

37427, 700275

Abstract:

A tool control system for a scraper is disclosed. The tool control system may have a tool, a first tool actuator configured to move the tool, and a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal. The tool control system may also have a tool member operatively connected to the tool, a second tool actuator connectable to the tool member in a plurality of configurations to move the tool member, and a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal. The tool control system may further have a controller configured to make a comparison of the first and second signals, and to determine a current connection configuration based on the comparison.

US Patent:

20120059553, Mar 8, 2012

Filed:

Sep 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/874749

Inventors:

Eric N. Polston - Peoria IL, US
Keith R. Kosowski - Peoria IL, US
Ryan A. Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Romona D. Cone - Mackinaw IL, US
Yan Bai Ma - Indianapolis IN, US
Christopher A. Wahlmark - Washington IL, US
Donna K. Laube - Peoria IL, US
Ashok Krishnan - Peoria IL, US
Benjamin D. Drake - East Peoria IL, US
Ang Qian - Lisle IL, US
Steven R. Krause - Chillicothe IL, US

International Classification:

E02F 3/43
G06F 19/00
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 50, 700109

Abstract:

A tool control system for a scraper is disclosed. The tool control system may have a tool, a first tool actuator configured to move the tool, and a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal. The tool control system may also have a tool member operatively connected to the tool, a second tool actuator connectable to the tool member in a plurality of configurations to move the tool member, and a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal. The tool control system may further have a controller configured to make a comparison of the first and second signals, and to determine a current connection configuration based on the comparison.

US Patent:

20120253609, Oct 4, 2012

Filed:

Mar 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/077709

Inventors:

Wei Li - Peoria IL, US
Ang Qian - Lisle IL, US
Ryan Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Steven Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Norval Thomson - Dunlap IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 50

Abstract:

A method for proportional state space based scheduling of gain within a machine includes generating a speed error value and when the speed error value is substantially nonzero producing an implement position difference value representing the amount by which an implement position differs from a position that would provide a desired machine speed. The method then converts the implement position difference value to a desired implement position command and differences the desired implement position command and a position signal indicative of the current implement position to produce an implement difference value. The implement difference value is used to generate one or more implement actuator signals

US Patent:

20130158817, Jun 20, 2013

Filed:

Dec 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/331835

Inventors:

Ryan Kingdon - Peoria IL, US
Erik Eddington - Bartonville IL, US
Eric Polston - Peoria IL, US
Steven Krause - Chillicothe IL, US
Ramona Cone - Countryside IL, US
Brian Byers - Decatur IL, US
Keith Kosowski - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

E02F 3/65
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 50

Abstract:

A method for controlling a bowl of a scraper is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal from an input device, the signal is indicative of a mode of operation of the scraper, determining a cycle of operation of the scraper associated with the mode of operation, and controlling the bowl based in part on a sequence of parameter settings generated by a control system. The control system is configured to generate the sequence of parameter settings based in part on the cycle of operation of the scraper.