The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Alan L. Ferguson, Peoria, IL (US);
Matthew C. Full, Morton, IL (US);
Matthew J. Miller, Peoria, IL (US);
Michael K. Oudyn, Herbeys, FR;
Derek A. Sauder, Tremont, IL (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 3/700 ; F15B 9/03 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16K 3/700 ; F15B 9/03 ;
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a status of a valve, the valve being connected to a fluid circuit. The method includes the steps of establishing an expected value of a characteristic of the fluid of the fluid circuit, determining an actual value of the fluid characteristic of the fluid circuit, and determining a valve status in response to the actual value, and the expected value.