Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Brian Joe Schlenker

Jason William Muir

Derek Peter Nieuwsma

Nathaniel S Doy

Matthew-David S Frantz

Roger Allen Hedlund

Lee M Hogan

Michael S Hemry

Ryan Adam Enot

Maria Lynn Biberdorf

Federico B Rio

Dario Sansone

Dustin William Sondreal

Mario Joseph Souraty

Zachary J Vrchota

Brent P Bachmeier

Timothy Michael O'Donnell

Nathan L Mashek

Nicholas Ryan Pederson

Craig T Hedstrom

Paul J Koenen

Jacob M Saari

Valerio E D'Ascanio

Matthew S Frantz

Matthew David Stoner

Mark Leslie Eiden

Garrett Daniel Reed

Zachary J Vrochota

A milling machine includes a rotor drive transmission having a plurality of gears disposed between a prime mover and a cutting rotor. The rotor drive transmission is associated with a rotor transmission hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic gearshift actuator to engage the plurality of gears in one or more gear ratios and a gearshift directional control valve to direct hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic gearshift actuator. In occurrence of a fault condition, the rotor transmission hydraulic circuit includes a gearshift trapping valve to maintain hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic gear actuator and the engaged gear ratio of the rotor drive transmission.

Milling machine with hydraulically actuated rotor drive transmission

A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.

Machine service set position control system

A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.

Milling machine with heat exchanger circuit

A machine for road work for road work, the machine can comprise: a frame, a drive system including a power source carried by the frame, a milling system driven by the power source and a controller. The milling system can comprise: a rotor configured to rotate and remove an amount of material from a working area; a drive member coupling the rotor to be driven by the power source; a tensioner assembly configured to tension the drive member; and a sensor configured to measure the tension of the drive member. The controller can be configured to, in response to a signal received from the sensor, determine if the rotor has encountered an object capable of damaging the rotor.

Construction machine with rotor load monitoring

A work machine can include a frame; a spray system couple to the frame and including a spray bar having a plurality of nozzles; a pressure sensor to detect a pressure of a liquid within the spray bar; and a controller to determine whether the detected pressure of the liquid within the spray bar has exceeded a pre-determined pressure threshold.

Clogged nozzle detection

Grille of a reclaimer

In some implementations, a controller may cause a gearbox coupled to a rotor to shift between a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio one or more times. The controller may obtain a first set of position data that identifies respective first positions of a gear selector of the gearbox for each shift to the first gear ratio, and a second set of position data that identifies respective second positions of the gear selector of the gearbox for each shift to the second gear ratio. The controller may determine a first calibrated position of the gear selector for a shift to the first gear ratio based on the first set of position data and a second calibrated position of the gear selector for a shift to the second gear ratio based on the second set of position data.

Gear shift calibration

A hydraulic system for controlling a hydraulic circuit of a working machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system can include a first hydraulic cylinder assembly, a second hydraulic cylinder assembly, a third hydraulic cylinder assembly and a valve. When coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly, the third hydraulic cylinder assembly can be configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid between the first hydraulic cylinder assembly and the second hydraulic cylinder assembly to limit an extent of travel of the first piston and an extent of travel of the second piston.

Hydraulic oscillation mitigation system for working machine

An apparatus includes a rotating drive component for a drive train, the rotating drive component comprising a first rotating element and a second rotating element, wherein the first rotating element and the second rotating element are arranged in a concentric arrangement such that the second rotating element is positioned within the first rotating element; and a shear element extending radially between and coupled to each of the first rotating element and the second rotating element, the shear element having a lower breaking strength than other components in the drive train, wherein if the shear element breaks, the first rotating element and the second rotating element are decoupled from each other and rotate independently of each other.

Torque limiting device for road milling machine

A road work machine comprises a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs connecting the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, respectively, a hydraulic system to control heights of the plurality of vertically moveable legs, pressure sensors for sensing hydraulic pressures in the plurality of vertically movable legs, and a controller configured to, in response to signals received from the pressure sensors, generate a control signal. A method for ride control can comprise adjusting an attitude of the machine in response to sensed pressures.

Construction machine ride control systems and methods using elevation cylinder control

A material transfer system for a machine having a conveyor adapted to transfer material into a material holding space of a receptacle. The material transfer system also includes an adjustable deflector positioned proximate to a discharge end of the conveyor. The material transfer system further includes a sensor positioned proximate to the discharge end of the conveyor. The sensor is configured to monitor the material holding space of the receptacle. The material transfer system includes a controller communicably coupled with the adjustable deflector and the sensor. The controller is configured to receive a first input signal from at least one of the sensor and a machine operator for adjusting a position of the adjustable deflector, determine an optimal position of the adjustable deflector based on receipt of the first input signal, and generate a first command signal for adjusting the position of the adjustable deflector to the optimal position.

Material transfer system for machine

Cabin of a reclaimer

A rotor assembly for a rotary mixer is disclosed. The rotor assembly includes a main drive configured to rotatably drive the rotor assembly, a main drive clutch enclosed in a drivetrain housing of the main drive, an actuation valve operably coupled to the main drive clutch, the actuation valve configured to actuate the main drive clutch between at least a first position and a second position, a rotor drum, a rotor drive gearbox having an input and an output, the gearbox output operably coupled to the rotor drum, a main drive belt rotatably coupled to the main drive clutch and the rotor drive gear box input such that a rotation of the main drive clutch imparts a rotation on the rotor drive gear box, and a speed sensor operably coupled to the rotor drum, the speed sensor measuring a rotational speed of the gearbox and generating a rotor speed signal, wherein based on when the rotor speed signal is below a predetermined rotor speed threshold the actuation valve is activated to rotate the main drive clutch a predetermined amount between the first position and the second position.

Rotor assembly for resolving incomplete gear shift of a rotory mixer

A milling machine may include a frame. The milling machine may include a first wheel and a second wheel connected to a first end of the frame, and a third wheel connected to a second end of the frame. The milling machine may include a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg connecting the frame and the first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel, respectively. The milling machine may include a pair of arms pivotably connected to opposite sides of the frame. The milling machine may have a milling drum rotatably connected to the arms with a rotational axis parallel to the pivot axis. Further, the milling machine may have an engine that rotates the milling drum via a transmission. An output shaft of the engine positioned transverse to the frame may have an output shaft axis spaced apart from the pivot axis of the arms.

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Shoreview, MN, United States of America

Brian Joe Schlenker