Caterpillar Inc.

Dean A Worrell

Christos T Kyrtsos

Robert A Herold

Robert Leslie Isaacs

Samuel Shropshire

Nuwan Janaka Gallege

An output transfer group, or drop box, can include a housing and a gear transfer train, rotatably supported within the housing, that includes an input gear adapted for enmeshing engagement with a transmission output shaft and a gear transfer output shaft that is rotatable upon rotation of the input gear. A coupler can be provided that includes a hub rotatively coupled with the gear transfer output shaft, a bearing carrier, a coupler output shaft rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier, and a coupling mechanism rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier. The coupling mechanism can be movable between an engaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is rotatively coupled to the hub, and a disengaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is disengaged from the hub. A solenoid can be arranged with the coupling mechanism to selectively move the coupling mechanism from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

Drop box for powertrain

In many applications, it is important to measure and display payload weight for a loader vehicle. The subject apparatus and method senses only the hydraulic pressure of a lift cylinder. The payload weight is computed by curve fitting the sensed cylinder pressure to a second order time dependent polynomial and comparing the time dependent polynomial to one of a series of predetermined second order geometric polynomials. The weight computation algorithms used in the payload monitor are applicable to a number of work vehicles having at least one work implement linkage and at least one hydraulic cylinder for modifying the linkage geometry.

Method and apparatus for monitoring payload

A dynamic payload monitor measures and displays payload weight for a loader vehicle operated on a slope by sensing the hydraulic pressure and position of the lift arm cylinders. The payload weight is computed by curve fitting the sensed cylinder pressure and position data to a second order polynomial, and then performing interpolation or extrapolation with a pair of pressure versus position reference parabolas obtained during calibration. Payload weight is corrected for errors caused by operating the loader vehicle on a slope. The weight computation algorithms used in the dynamic payload monitor are applicable to a number of work vehicles having at least one work implement linkage and at least one hydraulic cylinder for modifying the linkage geometry.

Dynamic payload monitor

A dynamic payload monitor measures and displays payload weight for a loader vehicle during tip loading by sensing the hydraulic pressure of the lift and tilt cylinders and the geometry of an implement linkage. The payload weight is computed by curve fitting the sensed lift cylinder pressure and geometry data to a second order polynomial, and then performing interpolation or extrapolation with a pair of pressure versus position reference parabolas obtained during calibration. Tilt cylinder curves are derived by curve fitting tilt cylinder pressure and lift cylinder geometry data to a third order polynomial. The tilt cylinder curves are then compared to a plurality of tabulated tilt cylinder curves. Tip loading conditions are detected and the computed payload weight is modified in response to the magnitude of the tilt cylinder pressure. The weight computation algorithms used in the dynamic payload monitor are applicable to a number of work vehicles having at least one work implement linkage and at least two hydraulic cylinders for modifying the linkage geometry.

A dynamic payload monitor measures and displays payload weight for a loader vehicle by sensing the hydraulic pressure and position of the lift arm cylinders. The payload weight is computed by curve fitting the sensed cylinder pressure and position data to a second order polynomial, and then performing interpolation or extrapolation with a pair of pressure versus position reference parabolas obtained during calibration. The weight computation algorithms used in the dynamic payload monitor are applicable to a number of work vehicles having at least one work implement linkage and at least one hydraulic cylinder for modifying the linkage geometry.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Dean A Worrell