Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Conwell K Rife, Jr

Eric Steven Engelmann

Mark A Tarvin

Paul Russell Friend

Matthew James Sirovatka

Mark Holub

Clayton Padgett

Gerald P Simmons

Nicholas Bernard Johnson

Andrew Whitten

Brent R Kleinvachter

Robert Edwin Carr

Kevin C Lent

Jacob A Simmer

Keng Yew Anthony Low

Joseph Forcash

William A Schmieg

Albert J Speck

A milling machine may include a frame supported by a traction device, a milling drum for milling a surface and supported on the frame, and a conveyor for receiving milled material from the milling drum and conveying the milled material upward to a release point. The milling machine may include a sensor configured for monitoring loading of a truck by the milling machine and a controller in communication with the sensor to coordinate with the sensor and recognize when the truck is full.

Truck measurement of a milling machine

A system may include a first transportation device of a milling machine, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes a first sensor coupled to the first transportation device to sense an orientation of the first transportation device relative to the frame of the milling machine. The controller controls the milling machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.

Inclination control for construction machines

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have height adjustable actuators connecting the frame to the tracks. Each actuator may have a cylinder attached to the frame, a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, and a rod connected at a first end to the piston and connected to a track at a second end. The milling machine may have a tank storing hydraulic fluid and a fluid conduit connecting the tank to the cylinder. The milling machine may have a control valve selectively controlling a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid conduit. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow rate.

Milling machine having a valve current based height measurement system

A machine for road work can comprise a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs, each leg connecting one of the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, a pair of spatial sensors, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors, and a controller configured to, in response to a three-dimensional signal received from each of the spatial sensors, activate at least some of the plurality of vertically moveable legs.

Systems and methods for controlling ground inclination of rotary cutting machines

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have a tank that stores hydraulic fluid. The milling machine may also have at least one actuator connecting the frame to the tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to a ground surface. A fluid conduit may connect the tank to the actuator. The milling machine may have a flow sensor in the fluid conduit. The flow sensor may determine a flow parameter associated with a flow of the hydraulic fluid into or out of the actuator. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow parameter.

Milling machine having a fluid flow based height measurement system

A work machine including a frame, a plurality of ground engaging mechanisms, a conveyor assembly and a mill chamber. The conveyor assembly including a conveyor belt. The mill chamber including an auger and a rotor, the rotor having a plurality of teeth.

System and method of material evacuation in mill chamber

A machine that includes a cooling package and a method for cleaning debris from the cooling package is disclosed. The cooling package may include a housing, a cooler, a heat exchanger, a conduit, and plurality of nozzles mounted on the conduit. The cooler may be configured to receive heated machine fluid generated by the machine. The heat exchanger may be configured to convey heat away from the cooler and may include a plurality of fins coupled to and extending outward from the cooler. The plurality of fins may define a plurality of channels. The conduit may be disposed between the housing and the plurality of fins. The plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge a fluid on the fins. The fluid may be air or a release agent. In some embodiments, a release agent may be discharged on the fins prior to the discharge of air on the fins.

Cooling package cleaning system

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have at least one actuator connecting the frame to at least one of the ground engaging tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a non-contact leg-height sensor attached to the frame. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a controller configured to determine the height based on the signal.

Milling machine having a non-contact leg-height measurement system

A system may include a first transportation device, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes first and second slope sensors. The first slope sensor is coupled to the first transportation device and the second slope sensor is coupled to the construction machine. The controller controls the construction machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.

A milling machine is disclosed. The milling machine may have a frame, first and second tracks connected to a first end of the frame, a third track connected to a second end of the frame, and a milling drum attached to the frame. The milling machine may have first, second, and third actuators connecting the frame and the first, second, and third tracks, respectively. Each actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to a respective one of the first, second, and third tracks. The milling machine may include a damper assembly attached to each of the first and second actuators. The damper assembly may have an accumulator connected to a respective one of the first and second actuators and a control valve for controlling a flow of fluid between the accumulator and the respective one of the first and second actuators.

Milling machine having a hydraulic dampening system

A control system for a cold planer having a milling is disclosed. The control system may include a depth sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a milling depth below a work surface, a speed sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a ground speed of the cold planer, and a profile detection device mountable to the cold planer at a location forward of the milling drum. The profile detection device may be configured to generate a third signal indicative of a width profile of the surface. The control system may further include a controller in communication with the profile detection device, the depth sensor, and the speed sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a volume of a milled material based on the first, second, and third signals.

Cold planer transport payload monitoring system

An end closure for the cutter housing of a road planer in which a pair of self-opening and self-closing cover plates provide a protective cover over a shaft clearance opening in the end wall of the housing. The cover plates, pivotally mounted on an external wall surface of the housing, move between a closed position at which the cover plates cooperatively overlay the shaft clearance opening, and an open position at which clearance is provided for a rotatable shaft extending through the housing end wall, in response to moving the end wall vertically with respect to the frame on which the cutter is rotatably mounted.

End closure for a rotary cutter housing

A control system for a road planer in which the mechanical drive components are selectively and sequentially controlled in response to operator inputs and to sensed operating conditions. The control also responds to the occurrence of predefined fault events and internal system failures by controlling the operation of one or more of the mechanical drive line components in a preselected order. Suitable time delays are provided between the execution of selected commands to prevent undesirable wear or loads on components of the drive train.

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Wayzata, MN, United States of America

Conwell K Rife, Jr