Caterpillar Inc.

Charles Earl Rose

Brian Dean Kuras

Kevin Jay Lueschow

Mustafa Guven

Kris William Johnson

Michael E Vanderham

Dale B Childress

Thomas Michael Sopko Jr

Ling Liu

A powertrain includes an engine operatively connected to a primary power consuming device to transmit power thereto. The powertrain also includes a motor and a pump. The power output of the motor is independent of the power output of the engine. An epicyclic geartrain includes first, second and third members. The first member is operatively connected to the engine to receive power therefrom. The second member is operatively connected to the motor to receive power therefrom. The third member is operatively connected to the pump to transmit power thereto.

Powertrain with powersplit pump input and method of use thereof

A predictive load management system includes a power source operable to generate power output, the power source having a desired operating range. A transmission having a drive member is operably engaged with the power source. A control system is in communication with the power source and the transmission. The control system receives at least one input indicative of a load on the transmission and identifies a change in the load on the transmission based on the at least one input. The control system is further operable to determine a desired power output of the power source to account for the change in the load on the transmission. The control system modifies a performance characteristic of the power source to cause the power source to generate the desired power output when the change in the load on the transmission will result in the power source operating outside of the desired operating range.

System and method for predictive load management

A system is provided for controlling a work machine, including an electric continuously variable transmission. The system includes a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to include a state machine for controlling the behavior of a work machine. The state machine includes a set of states representing possible conditions the work machine may encounter between starting at a zero energy input and being ready to work.

Electric drive management system and method

An apparatus for controlling load on an engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuously variable transmission driven by the engine. The apparatus further includes an engine speed sensor being adapted to sense the output speed of the engine and produce an engine speed signal indicative of the engine output speed and a travel speed sensor being adapted to sense the travel speed of the machine and produce a travel speed signal indicative of the machine travel speed. The apparatus yet further includes an electronic controller operable to compare the engine speed signal to an underspeed value and produce an integral error signal indicative of the difference between the engine speed signal and the underspeed value, supply an integral gain value based on the machine travel speed, modify the integral error signal through a proportional plus integral feedback controller to produce an underspeed request signal, and produce a command signal based on the underspeed request signal. The command signal is used to control the transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission so as to control the load on the engine. A method for controlling a load on an engine associated with a continuously variable transmission is also disclosed.

Underspeed control system for a hydromechanical drive system and method of operating same

A transmission assembly includes a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the pump, a speed sensor operable to sense the speed of an output shaft of the motor, a first actuator for setting displacement of the pump in a positive displacement range in response to a first actuator command and a second actuator for setting displacement of the pump in a negative displacement range in response to a second actuator command. A controller is operable to transmit first actuator commands to the first actuator and transmit second actuator commands to the second actuator in response to operator inputs. The operator inputs require that the displacement of the pump to move from the positive displacement range to the negative displacement range. The controller generates first actuator commands which cause the first actuator to set the displacement to zero. The controller generates second actuator commands in response to the speed of the output shaft reaching a predetermined motor speed limit which cause the second actuator to set the displacement of the pump in the negative displacement region.

Method and apparatus for smoothing the output of a hydrostatic transmission near zero speed

A swash plate actuating device for an axial piston unit has a swash plate tiltably mounted within the housing. A pair of axially aligned actuating chambers defined in the housing slidably receive the opposite ends of an elongate actuator and are disposed on opposite sides of a distal end portion formed on an actuator lever connected to the swash plate. A connector has a mounting portion spanning a transverse slot in the actuator and seated on a planar surface of the actuator. A guide portion of the connector is disposed within the transverse slot and has a bearing slot slidably receiving the distal end portion of the actuator lever.

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Metamora, IL, United States of America

Charles Earl Rose