Caterpillar Inc.

Brett D Ellen

Steven D Jones

Ronald B Warnat

Nathan Stephen Pauli

Ross Paul Wietharn

Kevin Dee Ehrenhardt

Hong Lian

Daniel Joshua Smith

Michael S Contratto

Wen Zhong

Matthew A Trosky

Thomas W Birch

Matt Schwarzendruber

Bradley J Fink

James D Neirynck

Terry L DeHaai

An isolation mount assembly comprises a resilient member defining a central aperture that defines a load axis and an annular depression about the load axis, and an adapter plate including an outer mechanical attachment structure that defines a first thickness and an inner attachment structure that is closer to the load axis than the outer attachment structure along a direction that is perpendicular to the load axis and that defines a second thickness. The inner attachment structure is disposed in the annular depression and the second thickness is at least twice the first thickness.

Adapter for an isolation mount design

A mounting system for an electronic control module is disclosed. The mounting system includes a first mounting member, a second mounting member, and a third mounting member coupled to the first mounting member and the second mounting member by a plurality of first isolation devices and by a plurality of first fastening members. The third mounting member includes a base portion having a first end and a second end. The base portion is coupled to the ECM by at least one second isolation device and by at least one second fastening member. The third mounting member includes a first leg portion coupled to the first mounting member. The third mounting member further includes a second leg portion coupled to the second mounting member.

Mounting system for electronic control module

A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.

Machine configurations employing passive and controllable cab mounts

A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on machine operation are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so are the damping and stiffness properties of the controllable mount. With other operations such as roading or working on a flat surface, the feedback afforded by the mounts is not as important as operator comfort, in which case the current applied to the coils can be lowered and thus the mount can be made more relaxed. The machine of the present disclosure identifies the machine operation being performed through sensors, predictive algorithms, implement position, and operator input and sets the current and properties of the controllable mounts accordingly.

Machine employing cab mounts and method for controlling cab mounts based on machine operation

Growing community of inventors

Peoria Heights, IL, United States of America

Brett D Ellen