Caterpillar Inc.

Daniel Gregory Wear

Tom K Shim

Thomas K Shim

Gaurav Vasudeva

Nathan Stephen Pauli

Richard A Carpenter

Glen Patrick Calvert

Yuanhong Guan

Kyle B Walton

David C Hoots

Ryan David Funk

Dennis Lee Kroeger

Raghunandana H Madhava

Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.

System and method for processing data from a particle monitoring sensor

A convertible housing assembly for a particle sensor includes an integral housing and at least one guide element. The integral housing includes a longitudinal bore, a first intersecting bore, and a second intersecting the bore. The longitudinal bore extends from a first end surface of the integral housing to a second end surface of the integral housing. The first intersecting bore extends from a bottom surface of the integral housing and intersects with the longitudinal bore. The second intersecting bore extends from the bottom surface of the integral housing and intersects with the longitudinal bore. The at least one guide element is secured within the longitudinal bore to reduce turbulence of a fluid flowing therethrough.

Convertible housing assembly for a particle sensor

A guide element for hydraulic fluid includes a first end surface, a second end surface, and an exterior surface connecting the first end surface to the second end surface. The first end surface includes a first chamfered opening. The second end surface includes a second opening that fluidly communicates with the first opening to define a longitudinal bore that includes a tapered section. The first chamfered opening and the tapered section are configured to guide the hydraulic fluid to facilitate transformation of a turbulent flow of the hydraulic fluid into a laminar flow of the hydraulic fluid.

Guide element for hydraulic fluid

A mounting system for retrofitting a vibration sensor to a machine component is provided. The mounting system includes an elongate fastener, a washer, and a mounting boss. The elongate fastener includes a fastener head and an elongated body defining a longitudinal top end and a longitudinal bottom end. The longitudinal bottom end defines a fastening end configured to engage with a corresponding fastening receptacle of the machine component. The washer defines an external surface and includes a central cavity for engaging the elongated body of the elongate fastener therein. The mounting boss includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an internal cavity defining a first cavity section configured to engage with the external surface of the washer, and a second cavity section to engage with the fastener head of the elongate fastener. The second portion defines a receiving port for receiving the vibration sensor.

Mounting system for vibration measurement system

A method for calibrating a contaminant detection device includes fluidly connecting the contaminant detection device in series to a test reservoir and a light-obscuration-type particle counter, pumping low-end, intermediate, and high-end test dust dilutions through the contaminant detection device and the particle counter until a particle count measured by the particle counter for each of the successive test dust dilutions stabilizes, and setting a low-end gain, an intermediate gain, and a high-end gain for the contaminant detection device based on the stabilized particle counts for each of the test dust dilutions using a first-sized test dust grade. A bubble counting gain of an aeration threshold for the device may be set according to a second test dust grade greater in size than the first-sized test dust grade, and associated with a voltage signal produced by the contaminate detection device indicative of the presence of an air bubble contained within the fluid during use of the fluid in heavy machinery.

System and method for calibrating a particle monitoring sensor

A supplemental hydraulic motor is provided that is coupled to an output of a continuously variable transmission in order to increase transmission output torque. The supplemental hydraulic motor is powered by a hydraulic steering pump and is also operational as a ground-driven, secondary hydraulic steering pump. In addition, the supplemental hydraulic motor may be used to retard the transmission.

Growing community of inventors

East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Daniel Gregory Wear