Caterpillar Inc.

Chih Chieh Liang

Stephen C Garnett

Michael D Betz

Michael G Cronin

Andrew J Tonsor

Eric D Stemler

Kent Allen Casey

Michael E Vanderham

Edward Lee Zwilling

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 system for storing and recovering energy associated with a machine having ground engaging tracks is disclosed. The system includes a power source configured to supply mechanical energy for operation of the machine, and an electric generator operably coupled to the power source. The electric generator is configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy. The system further includes an electric motor operably coupled to the electric generator. The electric motor is configured to supply power to the ground engaging tracks. The system includes an energy storage device configured to store energy associated with the machine, and a controller configured to divert a portion of the energy supplied by the power source to the energy storage device while the machine travels in a first direction, and recover energy stored in the energy storage device for use while the machine travels in a second direction.

Energy storage and recovery for a tracked machine

A method is provided for controlling power provided by a drive train system of a mobile machine, which includes an engine that provides engine power to a generator that, in turn, provides generator power to a motor. The motor provides ground power to a travel mechanism that enables the mobile machine to travel across a terrain surface. In one embodiment, the method includes adjusting operation of the motor based on a determined ground speed of the mobile machine. Based on the adjusted motor operations, the operation of the generator is adjusted. Also, the operation of the engine is adjusted such that the engine produces an amount of engine power that meets a load demand corresponding to the adjusted operation of the generator.

Systems and methods for controlling mobile machine power

A method is provided for controlling an electric drive work machine including an engine and an electric motor that provides power to enable the work machine to travel across a surface terrain at certain ground speeds. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a reverse directional shift of the work machine causing the work machine to travel in a reverse direction. Further, the method may include performing an engine speed reduction process that reduces a current speed of the engine based on the detected reverse directional shift without reducing a ground speed of the work machine while traveling in the reverse direction.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Chih Chieh Liang