Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Andrew J Tonsor

James E Gee

Samuel B Stevens

Ronald L Satzler

David E Nelson

Kevin L Martin

Robert J Price

Stephen C Garnett

William E Allen

Roger L Boggs

Javad Hosseini

Michael D Betz

James John Callas

Thomas Michael Sopko, Jr

Kent Allen Casey

Michael E Vanderham

Edward Lee Zwilling

Cody P Renshaw

Chih Chieh Liang

Michael F Hopkins

Wilton E Quant

An electric powertrain includes an engine configured to provide mechanical energy and a generator operably coupled to the engine and configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy. The electric powertrain further includes at least one electric motor operably coupled to the generator, a plurality of driving members, and at least one power electronics unit configured to control at least one of the engine and the generator. The at least one electric motor is configured to provide torque for the plurality of driving members.

Electric powertrain for machine

A turbine system is provided including a plurality of gas turbine engines, each having a compressor section for producing compressed air, a combustor section, and a turbine section yielding hot exhaust gas. A single, common recuperator section is shared by and operatively associated with the plurality of gas turbine engines. A first flow path within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive compressed air produced by the compressor section of each gas turbine engine. A second flow path, separated from the first flow path and within the single, common recuperator section is configured to receive hot exhaust gases yielded by the turbine section of each gas turbine engine.

Multiple turbine system with a single recuperator

An hydraulically powered rotary actuator for rotating a first portion of a work machine relative to a second portion of the work machine has inner and outer rings enclosed by first and second cover plates. The inner and outer rings are spaced apart to define an hydraulic power chamber to which pressurized fluid is supplied to rotate one of the inner or outer rings. The first portion of the work machine is connected to the rotatable ring and rotates with it. A large diameter bearing assembly rotatably supports the rotatable ring and the first portion of the work machine. Most prior work machines with rotatable car or upper structure require large expensive components including gear reduction assemblies, an hydraulic motor, and large diameter swing gear. The subject actuator simplifies the construction by eliminating many of the prior components.

Hydraulic rotary actuator

Construction vehicles of the type having a pair of lift arms extending from the frame to support a work implement, have generally been restricted to operating one specific tool. The attempt to combine the operation of several different work implements has been met with severe functional restrictions since some work implements have specific requirements not found in the operation of others. In order to provide a lift arm linkage arrangement that incorporates the functional requirements necessary to operate a plurality of work implements while maintaining a simple, yet efficient construction, an electronic controller has been included in the design. The electronic controller includes a plurality of sensors that are operatively associated with the lift and tilt linkage of the lift arm arrangement. The sensors enable the electronic controller to constantly monitor the current position of the lift arms and the work implement and compare them with a programmed sequence of movements. The electronic controller is further able to automatically adjust the position of the lift arms and the work implement in accordance with the programmed sequence.

Linkage arrangement for a multi-purpose vehicle

A tensioning and recoil system establishes and maintains a substantially constant force on an idler wheel of an endless track assembly for a tracked vehicle. The force applied to the idler wheel tensions the endless track and maintains a predetermined frictional force between the track and a powered drive wheel. The system also provides a recoil function for the idler wheel during ingestion of foreign material between the track and the idler and drive wheels. The tensioning and recoil system includes a recoil tube which telescopes into a cylinder and a single sealed and closed chamber filled with a compressible gas. Conventional recoil systems for self-laying track-type vehicle utilize pre-compressed large diameter steel coil springs to resist recoiling during light loading of the idler wheel and to return the wheel to the normal position after recoiling during heavy loading. These coil springs are quite heavy and bulky, require considerable space, and must be maintained in a pre-compressed state under large forces. This requires extremely strong retaining devices and special assembly and disassembly procedures. The subject tensioning and recoil system incorporates a compressible gas spring in place of the large coil steel spring, thereby requiring less space, less weight, and simplified assembly and disassembly. The subject system establishes and maintains a contant force on the idler wheel and the endless track and responds immediately to recoil situations.

Tensioning and recoil system for a tracked vehicle

A vehicle such as a combine harvester or the like includes a main frame, a track roller frame pivotally connected to the main frame, a drive wheel including a hydraulic drive motor having a housing and a rotatable shaft assembly, and an equalizer bar connected in a first embodiment to the shaft assembly by a coupling device including an anti-friction bearing and a trunnion member having a pair of pivot pins arranged along a substantially horizontal and longitudinally extending axis. In a second embodiment the equalizer bar is connected to the housing by another coupling device including a trunnion member having a pair of similarly oriented pivot pins. In each instance the transversely oriented equalizer bar is arranged along the transversely oriented central axis of the drive wheel, which provides a very stable 3-point frame suspension that is also rugged and economical and has a minimal tendency to collect mud or debris on the upper surfaces thereof in use.

Suspension structure for a tracked vehicle

A track roller frame assembly for a track-type vehicle includes a rugged and yet lightweight main body including a channel-shaped base, a recoil-mechanism receiving tubular casing overlyingly connected to a first end portion of the base, and a plate structure overlyingly connected to the second end portion of the base. A collar defines a bore therethrough for receiving a support member of a drive wheel preferably containing a hydraulic drive motor, and a support bracket is connected to the tubular casing for pivotally connecting the main body to the main frame of the vehicle. The weight of the superstructure and the tension forces on the drive belt that encircles the track roller frame assembly are advantageously transferred through the collar and the main body along a central vertical plane therealong and to a plurality of roller wheels centrally supported under the base. Several embodiments of the plate structure and the channel-shaped base are illustrated which collectively define a tubular beam having a particularly efficacious height 'h' to width 'b' relationship and a back-up shoulder for strengthened connection with the tubular casing.

Track roller frame assembly

A track roller frame assembly is connected to the main frame of a vehicle such as a combine harvester or the like, and is adapted to drive an elastomeric drive belt. An elongate track roller frame thereof includes a main body, pivot means on the main body for pivotal connection to the main frame, a supporting collar connected to the main body, and a plurality of roller wheels underlyingly connected to the main body. A wheel includes a housing encirclingly supported by the collar away from the pivot means, a shaft assembly rotatably supported within the housing, and inner and outer wheel portions connected to the opposite ends of the shaft assembly. A hydraulic drive motor within the housing rotates the shaft assembly and the wheel portions and drives the elastomeric drive belt. The drive motor is protectively located between the wheel portions, and the lightweight construction features the symmetrical transmission of belt forces and torque loads through the housing and into the supporting collar along the central plane of the track roller frame.

A vehicle such as a combine harvester or the like includes a main frame and a first and second undercarriages for supporting the main frame and individually having front and rear wheel assemblies and a track encircling the wheel assemblies. A suspension structure therefore includes a laterally spaced apart pair of pivot joints adjacent the front wheel assemblies for pivotally connecting the undercarriages to the main frame, and a coupling assembly adjacent the rear wheel assemblies for centrally supporting the main frame on the undercarriages. A hydraulic motor powerably rotates each of the rear wheel assemblies and an inside support device is provided therefor that includes a stabilizing beam. The coupling assembly includes an equalizer bar having outer ends, and the stabilizing beam extends rearwardly beyond the driven rear wheel assemblies for connection to the outer ends. Also, an outside support device releasably clamps the rear wheel assemblies to the undercarriages.

A track shoe deflection limiter is fastened to each outboard edge portion of each track shoe of an endless track assembly. Each deflection limiter has a first arm portion and a second arm portion. The first arm portion of each limiter overlaps a portion of the adjacent track shoe and is in close proximity to the second arm portion of the limiter which is fastened on the adjacent track shoe. When wide track shoes are used on a track-type vehicle, the outer end portions of the shoes are often twisted and deflected, relative to adjacent shoes, by an external force, such as a rock which the track shoe passes over. The shoe deflection is transferred to the track joints, including the track links, bushings, pins, and seals, which results in accelerated wear of these track assembly components. The track shoe deflection limiter of the present invention utilizes contact between adjacent deflection limiters to share externally imposed forces between adjacent track shoes, thereby limiting the deflection of individual track shoes.

Track shoe deflection limiter for endless track assemblies

A stop member limits deflection of the outer end portions of track shoes of endless track assemblies, which support and propel earthmoving vehicles. Track-type earthmoving vehicles which use wide track shoes often experience wear and structural failures within the track assemblies as a result of vertical loading at the outer end portions of the shoes. The vertical loading of the shoes produces twisting and deflection which is transmitted to the other components of the track assembly, such as the links, pins, bushings, and seals. The deflection stop of the present invention is secured to the trailing end of a first shoe and overlaps a portion of the leading end of a second shoe. As a vertical load is applied to the second shoe, the leading end contacts the deflection stop and the load applied to the second shoe is shared with the first shoe and deflection of the second shoe is minimized.

Track shoe deflection stop for endless track assemblies

A roadable track assembly (12) includes a plurality of track shoes (14) having a roadable grouser (20) bar attached to each shoe (14). The grouser bar (20) is of a size, shape, and material to provide good penetration and traction in most soils and also provides acceptable wear life. A vehicle (10) equipped with an endless track assembly (12) having the subject grouser bars (20) can travel on asphalt type roadways without causing permanent damage to the roads. Track-type vehicles having conventional metal track shoe grousers often cause permanent damage when traveling upon asphalt roads. The subject roadable track shoe grousers (20) have sufficient surface area and resilience to produce low ground pressure on the roads and eliminate damage while providing sufficient traction for agricultural work.

Growing community of inventors

East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Andrew J Tonsor