Matthew Donald Meads

Title: Matthew Donald Meads: Inventor of Machine Control and Braking Technologies.

Introduction

Matthew Donald Meads is an inventor based in East Peoria, Illinois, whose work focuses on technologies for heavy machinery. He is associated with Caterpillar Inc. and has four patents.

Latest Patents

Meads’s recent patent work includes inventions related to machine gear selection and braking systems.

“Method of Optimized Gear Selection on High Speed Directional Shifts” describes methods for selecting gears and executing shifts as a work machine changes velocity. The system determines a maximum permissible velocity change based on the energy available for the shift while keeping machine components within operational limits. It selects the highest suitable target gear without exceeding that limit. Factors considered may include the machine’s grade, mass, and transmission oil temperature.

“Braking System and Method for Machine” describes a system with two electronically actuated proportional valves and pressure sensors that measure braking-fluid pressure downstream of each valve. A controller compares the pressure readings and selectively actuates one or both valves to bring the pressures substantially into balance.

Career Highlights

Meads’s listed inventions address practical challenges in machine operation, including managing gear shifts within component limits and balancing braking pressure. His work is associated with Caterpillar Inc., a manufacturer of heavy equipment.

Collaborations

Meads’s listed coworkers include John Bernard Hessling III and Ethan Tevis. Their shared association with Caterpillar Inc. reflects a professional context connected to the company’s machine technologies.

Conclusion

Matthew Donald Meads’s four patents include technologies for optimizing machine gear shifts and balancing braking pressure, highlighting his contributions to heavy-equipment systems.