Purdue Research Foundation

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Christopher Alan Williamson

Monika Marianne Ivantysynova

Edward C Hughes, Iv

Joshua D Zimmerman

Brad Allen Edler

Lawrence J Tognetti

Brett J Janson

Mark Vonderwell

Sean Johnson

Viral S Mehta

Michael P Chiaramonte

Justin Ayers

Douglas W Seeger

Robert Stone

Mark P Vonderwell

A system and method for controlling the swing of a machine is disclosed. The system may comprise a hydrostatic circuit that includes an electronic displacement control pump and a first swing motor fluidly connected in a closed loop circuit. The electronic displacement control pump configured to control the supply of fluid to the swing motor based on a final pump displacement command. The first swing motor configured to rotate the upper carriage of the machine. The hydrostatic circuit configured to control (a) an actual speed of the first swing motor when the final pump displacement command results from a requested swing motor speed and (b) a torque of the first swing motor when the final pump displacement command results from a requested swing motor torque.

Closed-loop control of swing

A hydraulic circuit for controlling a component of a hydraulic machine includes an actuator having a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, the actuator having an extended position for moving the component in a first direction and a retracted position for moving the component in a second direction. The hydraulic circuit includes a regeneration valve having an open position for fluidly connecting the head end chamber to the rod end chamber, a first control valve having a first open position, a second open position for fluidly connecting the regeneration valve to the return tank and substantially fluidly disconnecting the rod end chamber from the fluid source, and a closed position, and a second control valve having a first open position, a second open position, and a closed position for substantially fluidly disconnecting the rod end chamber from the fluid source.

Hydraulic control circuit with regeneration valve

A method for overpressure control in a hydraulic system having multiple hydraulic pumps, with each hydraulic pump being connected by a respective hydraulic circuit for actuating a single respective hydraulic actuator, includes actuating a first variable displacement hydraulic pump, the first hydraulic pump being fluidly linked by a first hydraulic circuit to a first hydraulic actuator for powering the first hydraulic actuator. Upon detecting a pressure that exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure, the flow rate of the first hydraulic pump is electronically modified to a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate whereby the pressure in the first hydraulic circuit is reduced to a pressure that is below the predetermined threshold pressure.

Electronic high hydraulic pressure cutoff to improve system efficiency

A system and method for performing a floating function in an earthmoving implement of an earthmoving machine without physically connecting chambers within a hydraulic actuator that is adapted to raise and lower the earthmoving implement. The system includes a device for delivering a pressurized fluid to and receiving pressurized fluid from the actuator, a valve for compensating for differences in volume between chambers of the actuator, and an electronic control circuit that includes electronic sensors for sensing the pressures in the chambers of the actuator, and a controller for receiving outputs of the sensors. The controller calculates an amount of the pressurized fluid that, when delivered to or received from the actuator, achieves a substantially constant pressures in the chambers of the actuator and enables the earthmoving implement to float regardless of motion of the actuator.

System and method for enabling floating of earthmoving implements

A system and method for controlling the movement of an implement of an earthmoving machine. The system includes a hydraulic actuator adapted to move the implement. A variable displacement pump is coupled to the actuator for delivering a pressurized fluid to and receiving pressurized fluid from chambers within the actuator. A sensor generates an output based on the position of the actuator's piston or piston rod, and a controller controls the displacement of the variable displacement pump in response to the output of the sensor by executing an algorithm to reduce the flow rate of the fluid to and from the actuator's chambers and thereby reduce the velocity of the piston as it approaches an end of a piston stroke thereof and prevent the piston from impacting the actuator at the end of the piston stroke.

System and method for pump-controlled cylinder cushioning

A displacement-controlled hydraulic system for installation on a multi-function machine, and multi-function machines equipped with the hydraulic system and having devices for propelling the machine, at least a first implement, and multiple actuators that perform multiple functions of the machine. The multiple actuators include first actuators that control the first implement and second actuators that control the propelling devices. The hydraulic system comprises multiple pumps for controlling the first actuators and optionally the second actuators, and valves that enable at least one of the pumps to sequentially control two of the multiple actuators and a corresponding two functions of the multiple functions performed thereby. None of the pumps sequentially controls the second actuators in combination with any of the first actuators.

Displacement-controlled hydraulic system for multi-function machines

A system for automatically controlling the position and level of an earthmoving implement on an earthmoving machine. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator adapted to raise and lower the earthmoving implement, a device for delivering a pressurized fluid to and receiving pressurized fluid from the actuator, and an electronic control circuit that includes electronic sensors for sensing the absolute orientation of the machine and the position of the actuator, and a controller for receiving outputs of the sensors, calculating an amount of the pressurized fluid that must be delivered to or received from the actuator to achieve a desired position for the earthmoving implement, and control the delivering-receiving device to deliver or receive the amount of the pressurized fluid to achieve the desired position for the earthmoving implement.

Growing community of inventors

West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Christopher Alan Williamson