Caterpillar Inc.

Bryan G Lammers

Jackson Wai

Roger Lee Recker

Daniel E Henderson

David M Fee

John W Crayton

Charles F Sieck

James Ivan Portscheller

James Allen Roal

David C Freeman

Paul G Casperson

Kenneth V Blaha

Gilles Didier

A hybrid power supply system for an engine is disclosed. The hybrid power supply system includes a sensing unit to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the engine and a controller to determine the speed of the engine based on the signal received from the sensing unit. The controller compares the speed of the engine with a predefined maximum idle speed, and cuts off a supply of fuel to the engine, when the speed of the engine is greater than or equal to the predefined maximum idle speed. The controller shuts off an inlet valve and an exhaust valve associated with a cylinder of the engine. The closure of the inlet valve and the exhaust valve allow compression and expansion of air within the cylinder during supply of a rotational power by a flywheel.

Hybrid power supply system and method of supplying power from engine

A method for controlling a hybrid machine is disclosed. The hybrid machine may be equipped with a turbine engine, a generator connected in series with the turbine engine, an electrical energy storage device, and a motor drivingly connected to a power output component for the hybrid machine. A controller may receive a power demand signal, determine a power level in the electrical energy storage device, determine available inertial energy stored at least in rotating components of the turbine engine and the generator, and provide one or more control signals to selectively control powering the turbine engine to full power, selectively turn off all fuel to the turbine engine, selectively store excess energy as electrical energy by directing excess electrical energy from the generator to the electrical energy storage device, and selectively store excess energy as inertial energy.

Turbine engine hybrid power supply

A power and data delivery system includes a conductor for transferring both power and data, a plurality of device connectors, which each define at least one of a power link and a communication link, and a plurality of smart connectors connecting the conductor with the device connectors. Each of the smart connectors includes a memory having a device testing algorithm stored thereon, and a processor configured to execute the device testing algorithm. The device testing algorithms, which are executed simultaneously, are configured to evaluate a plurality of characteristics, including a current and voltage, associated with one or both of the power link and the communication link.

System and method for power and data delivery on a machine

Operating a trolley assist-capable mining truck having a regenerative braking mechanism and a friction braking mechanism includes receiving data indicative of a change in demand in an electrical power grid for regenerated electrical power from the mining truck, and commanding braking the mining truck such that application of the retarding torque is allocated to the regenerative braking mechanism in a manner responsive to the data. A mining truck and methodology relating to harvesting electrical power regenerated via application of retarding torque is also disclosed.

Mining truck and regenerative braking strategy therefor

A power and data delivery system for a machine. The system includes a power and data conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine, a plurality of processing nodes, each connected to the conductor at various locations, and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of processing nodes and controlled by the processing node, wherein each processing node may be connected at any location of the conductor.

An apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement. The earthworking implement is movably attached to a track-type tractor having a main frame and a track roller frame. The track roller frame is located on a left and a right side of the main frame. The apparatus includes a c-frame attached to inner portions of the track roller frame at positions toward a forward portion of the track-type tractor. The apparatus also includes four independently operable hydraulic cylinders attached to one of the main frame and the c-frame. Each of the hydraulic cylinders has a head end located toward the attachment to the one of the main frame and the c-frame, and a rod end located substantially vertically upwards of the head end. The apparatus also includes an earthworking blade attached to each of the rod ends of the hydraulic cylinders and to the c-frame.

Apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement having four degrees

A process for the manufacture of a lift arm assembly for a work vehicle includes a plurality of closely controlled process steps. The lift arm assembly is a large fabrication which, when assembled to the vehicle, interconnects with several other components and work implements. In order to properly connect with these other components, the various holes, throughbores, and connecting surfaces must be machined within close tolerances. The subject process provides the controls for holding the tolerances within specified and acceptable ranges. The lift arm assembly produced by the subject process is used for lifting and manipulating a bucket or other type of work implement.

Lift arm assembly process

A cushioned brake assembly for dampening the reaction forces between rotating and non-rotating components of the brake assembly during a breaking action, includes a plurality of alternating rotatable and non-rotatable discs, a fluid actuated piston, a spring element, and a cushion disc positioned between the piston and the discs. The cushion disc includes a resilient portion which is compressed during a braking action to dampen the reaction forces. Prior art clutch and brake assemblies utilize various types of spring elements to dampen reaction forces between rotating and non-rotating components during clutching and braking. These prior art dampening elements do not provide optimum damping functions. The subject cushioned brake assembly provides optimum spring rate characteristics during cushioned braking function.

Cushioned brake assembly

Resilient mount assemblies provide absorption of induced loads while permitting some degree of relative rotation between the elements. It is desirable to have resilient mount assemblies which can withstand heavy operating loads while having high angular rotation. In this arrangement, a resilient mount assembly is provided having a segmented assembly interconnecting a first member having a spherical outer surface with a second member having a transverse bore therein. The segmented assembly includes first and second semi-circular half shells with first, second, third, and fourth semi-circular elastomeric layers disposed on respective first and second sides thereof. The first and second semi-circular half shells and their respective first, second, third, and fourth semi-circular elastomeric layers are disposed in intimate contact with the spherical outer surface of the first member. A preloading mechanism is provided and operative to induce a radial force into the first, second, third, and fourth semi-circular elastomeric layers during the assembly thereof. Once the preloading mechanism has been pressed to its full assembled position, the resilient mount assembly has the ability to withstand high operating loads while still having the ability to have high angular rotation between the elements thereof.

Resilient mount assembly

A power transfer assembly with a one-piece retainer ring includes a housing, a plurality of alternating rotatable and non-rotatable friction discs, a power actuated piston, a spring washer, a cushion spring between the piston and the friction discs, and a retaining ring for retaining the spring washer in place. The one-piece retainer ring includes a first retainer portion positioned within a recessed groove in the housing and a second portion in contact with the spring washer. Prior art clutch and brake assemblies utilize several types of retaining rings and reaction type wear members to retain and react against a spring element. These prior art devices required two or more members to provide the retention and reaction functions. The subject combination retainer and wear ring is a one-piece member.

Power transfer assembly with one-piece retainer ring

A final drive assembly for transferring power from a vehicle engine and transmission to a vehicle propulsion unit, such as an endless track assembly, has a power input shaft coupled to first and second planetary gear assemblies. The second planetary gear assembly is coupled to a torque tube portion of a sprocket support member for rotating a drive sprocket. The power input shaft, first and second planetary gear assemblies, and the torque tube portion are substantially co-axial, and the first and second planetary gears assemblies are positioned inwardly of the sprocket support member. By positioning the planetary assemblies inwardly of the sprocket support member, additional gears, hubs, splines, and shafts are eliminated and the planetary assemblies are less susceptible to damage. The planetary gear assemblies are substantially free-floating which eliminates the cost and complexity of additional bearing supports.

Final drive assembly

A guard assembly for protecting lower portions of an earthmoving vehicle, such as the engine, transmission, and drive train, includes a guard plate which is held captive within a first space defined by sidewalls and endwalls of the vehicle frame. The guard plate can move within predetermined limits in longitudinal and lateral directions within the first space. Prior art lower guard assemblies utilize threaded fasteners to secure the guards directly to the vehicle frame. This produces loosening and breakage of the threaded fasteners when the vehicle frame flexes and twists. The subject guard assembly allows the guard plate to move slightly as the vehicle frame flexes and twists. Since the threaded fasteners holding the guard plate in place do not penetrate the guard plate, the threaded fasteners are not overstressed or slipped at the joint interfaces.

Guard assembly for a vehicle

A self-supporting sound barrier for the operator's cover of a construction type vehicle is supported within the operator's cover at the perimeter of the sound barrier only and is self-supporting throughout the major surface area of the sound barrier. The sound barrier has strengthening and supporting materials, such as a grid structure or oriented fibers, throughout the main body of the sound barrier which lengthen during sagging of the sound barrier. As the grid sturcture lengthens, it contacts portions of the operator's cover and the sound barrier is restrained from further sagging. Prior art sound barries utilize an elaborate system of parts and assembly procedures to secure a sound barrier in place within an operator's cover. The subject self-supporting sound barrier is simple to manufacture and is easy to install and/or remove from an operator's cover.

Self-supporting sound barrier

A pivot assembly provides limited pivotal motion between a relatively stationary member and a relatively moveable member which is supported on the stationary member. The stationary member is secured to a vehicle frame and the moveable member forms a portion of an endless track supporting frame. The pivot assembly includes a plurality of elastomeric bearings between the stationary and moveable members and a loading member to compress and preload the bearings. Conventional pivot assemblies utilize metal sleeve, roller or ball bearings to provide relative pivotal motion between stationary and cooperative moveable members. Such metal bearings require constant lubrication, and seals to contain the lubrication, and produce objectionable noise and vibration. The subject pivot assembly requires no lubrication or seals and generates low levels of noise and vibration by isolating the stationary and moveable members with the elastomeric bearings. The dual tapered, elastomeric preloaded bearings restrain and capture the relatively moveable member axially and radially without a thrust bearing.

Pivot assembly

A drive sprocket assembly for driving an endless chain assembly for propelling a vehicle includes a support hub which is mountable to the power output portion of the vehicle and a plurality of replaceable teeth which are mountable to the hub. Each tooth is resiliently isolated from the support hub, and resilient to the chain assembly, by non-metallic materials to reduce noise generated by the sprocket teeth striking the endless chain assembly. Conventional drive sprocket assemblies use a one piece toothed sprocket, or segments having several teeth, bolted to a support member. These prior sprocket assemblies generate considerable noise from impacting of the sprocket teeth with an endless chain. The subject sprocket assembly produces low levels of noise by utilizing individual replaceable teeth which are isolation mounted to the sprocket support hub.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Bryan G Lammers