Caterpillar Inc.

Daniel Peter Sergison

Norval P Thomson

Steven A Daniel

John James Krone

Jeremy Todd Peterson

Zhijun Cai

Edward William Mate

Eric Alan Reiners

Daniel J Martinez

Jean-Jacques Clar

Benjamin J Hodel

Michael D Anderson

Eric M Andris

Matthew Stephen Marquette

John V Mount

Bradly G Duffer

W Christopher Swick

Avert Glen Vannette

Benjamin L Naasz

Michael G Cronin

Jeffrey Lee Kuehn

Corey Lee Gorman

Rustin Glenn Metzger

Keith A Kabrick

Martin A Lehman

Corwin Eugene Storer

Grant Steven Peterson

Douglas James Carlton

Thomas Alan Brosowske

Robert E Stone

Keith F Harvey

Gerry Owen McCann

Shane C McBride

James C Hall

Mitchell Chase Vlaminck

Aaron F Clay

C Erik Bright

Todd M Weier

Basheer Qattum

Luke A Ketcham

Bradley J McManus

Michael R Garrabrant

Andrew J De Haseth

William Mische

Megan Alissa Brinkmeyer

Mark A Spatz

Raymond B Derer

Gregory Durst

Jesse C Anderson

Alice L Kim

Daniel T Wilhelm

J Swapna Basana

A power electronics module (PEM) is constructed to convert electricity from an input form to an output form. Electrical power conversion subcircuits having input and output ports are positioned proximal to a front mounting plate. Rigid conductor elements having respective preformed shapes are constructed to electrically interconnect the subcircuits at input and output ports thereof to form a power conversion circuit selected from among multiple power conversion circuits configurable solely by selection of the conductor elements. Other preformed conductor shapes are constructed to interconnect input and output ports of the selected power conversion circuit to ports disposed on a rear mounting plate. A controller is mechanically coupled to the front mounting plate and constructed to operate the semiconductor switches in a prescribed timing that converts the electricity of the input form to the electricity of the output form by the selected power conversion circuit.

Flexible power electronics module

A machine includes a frame, a first steering arm, a second steering arm, a first hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and the first steering arm, and a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and the second steering arm. A first angle sensor measures a rotational displacement of the first hydraulic actuator relative to the first steering arm. A first link couples the first hydraulic actuator and the first sensor, and isolates movements other than the first rotational displacement. A second angle sensor measures a second rotational displacement of the second hydraulic actuator relative to the second steering arm. A second link couples the second hydraulic actuator and the second sensor, and isolates movements other than the second rotational displacement.

System for detecting failure of an Ackerman-type steering mechanism

An assembly includes an attachment arm having an axle extending from a first end of the attachment arm. The attachment arm of the detachable wheel assembly further includes a securing portion forming a second end of the attachment arm, the securing portion of the attachment arm including a pin positioned to extend above a first frame member of a gantry truss and to secure the first frame member between the pin and a portion of the attachment arm. The attachment arm also includes a frame support corresponding to a second frame member of the gantry truss such that the frame support supports the second frame member when the assembly is secured to the gantry truss, and the assembly includes a wheel rotatably attached to the axle of the attachment arm.

Method and apparatus for gantry system mobility

An inference system for monitoring a cementitious mixture for three-dimensional printing is provided. The inference system includes an ambient condition sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor and an image capturing device. The inference system also includes a controller coupled to the ambient condition sensor, the temperature sensor, the moisture sensor, and the image capturing device. The controller receives sensed ambient conditions, a temperature signal, and a moisture content signal. The controller receives an image feed of a portion of a cementitious mixture. The controller also receives signals indicative of a motor speed and a motor torque associated with a mixing container. The controller builds a model and determines a material suitability of the cementitious mixture using the model based on the received ambient conditions, the temperature signal, the moisture content signal, the image feed, the motor speed, and the motor torque and determines one or more corrective actions.

Monitoring system for three-dimensional printing

A device for measuring rotation of a spherical joint in a steering system, may include an anchor secured within a ball stud of the spherical joint and a rotational tie having a first end and a second end. The first end of the rotational tie may be secured to the anchor to hold the first end parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ball stud. The device may also include a rotation sensor including a sensor target rotationally coupled to the second end of the rotational tie and secured for free rotation to a framework of the spherical joint. The rotation sensor may also include an angle sensor configured and arranged to sense a changing angle of the sensor target.

Direct sensing system for a spherical joint

An additive manufacturing system includes a base having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of support legs to support the hose management system on a ground surface such that the base is substantially parallel to the ground surface, a tower, a pivot connection point disposed on the base, the pivot connection point configured to pivotably attach to a proximal end of the tower, a winch attached to the base, and a winch cable configured to be attached between the winch and the tower. Activation of the winch applies a tension to the winch cable to cause the tower to pivot from a prone position to an upright position.

Pivoting tower for a hose management system

A machine includes a frame and an oscillating hitch. A first cylinder couples to a first side of the oscillating hitch and a first side of the frame. A second cylinder couples to a second side of the oscillating hitch and a second side of the frame. A first isolating mechanism couples to the first cylinder and rotates in response to a first rotation of the first cylinder relative to the frame or the oscillating hitch. A first angle sensor senses a first angular displacement of the first isolating mechanism about a first rotational axis. A second isolating mechanism couples to the second cylinder and rotates in response to a second rotation of the second cylinder relative to the frame or the oscillating hitch. A second angle sensor senses a second angular displacement of the second isolating mechanism about a second rotational axis.

System for detecting failure of an articulated steering mechanism

A gantry carriage assembly includes a support plate having a first end and a second end. The gantry carriage assembly further includes first guide wheels secured to a first end of the support plate, the first guide wheels including a first pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate a longitudinal member of a gantry truss therebetween, where the first pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member. The gantry carriage assembly also includes second guide wheels secured to a second end of the support plate opposite the first end, the second guide wheels including a second pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate the longitudinal member of the gantry truss therebetween, wherein the second pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member.

Gantry carriage assembly with contoured guide wheels

A payload measurement system can be used to measure the payload added to a machine supported on a plurality of walking beams. A plurality of load cell sensors is mounted to the walking beams in locations where, when the walking beam bends, the sensors are placed under load. The load cell sensors include a symmetrical strain bar having first and second mounting ends connected by a connecting span, wherein the end thickness is greater than the span thickness of the connecting span. The connecting span is disposed between and spaced apart from an upper plane and a lower plane with which the surfaces of the mounting ends are aligned.

Payload measurement system for machine with hauling body

A construction system includes an excavator having a hydraulically controlled linkage and a hydraulic robot. The hydraulic robot includes a plurality of arms extending from a base, each arm having a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic robot further includes a robot control system directing movement of the plurality of arms and an end effector platform movable by rotation of the arms.

Hydraulic delta robot control system

A semiconductor module is disclosed. The semiconductor module may include a housing having a sidewall portion, a housing support plate coupled to a bottom surface of the sidewall portion such that the housing support plate and the sidewall portion define an interior space of the housing of the semiconductor module, and a semiconductor device disposed within the interior space and fixedly coupled to the housing. The semiconductor module may further include a cover member fixedly attached to a top surface of the sidewall portion such that the cover member, the housing and the housing support plate form a protective enclosure for the semiconductor device.

Mounting and environmental protection device for an IGBT module

A disconnect clutch and method of controlling the connection of a parasitic load to an engine disposed on a machine is disclosed. The disconnect clutch may comprise a flywheel assembly, a friction plate and a coupling. The flywheel assembly may include a flywheel having a cavity, a chamber, a piston moveable between a contracted position and an expanded position, a pressure plate, a lever, and a coupling operably connected to the friction plate. The flywheel may include an end plate. The chamber may be defined by the flywheel and the piston. The lever may apply an activation force to the pressure plate when the piston is in the expanded position. The friction plate may be attached to and rotatable with the flywheel assembly when the piston is in the expanded position and generally stationary when the piston is in the contracted position.

Disconnect clutch

The described system and method are implemented within a motor grader or other machine for grading of surfaces, wherein the machine includes a ground engaging element, as well as one or more blades for removing surface material. In this context, the described system and method prevent slippage of the ground engaging element against the underlying surface. In an embodiment, a torque limit is applied, wherein the torque limit corresponds to a torque that is less than that required for slippage under the current operating conditions, thus avoiding the problems caused by both overly aggressive and overly conservative cut depth strategies.

Motor grader wheel slip control for cut to grade

Growing community of inventors

East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Daniel Peter Sergison