Caterpillar Inc.

Drew Alan Fehr

Paul Russell Friend

Joseph Leo Faivre

Yongliang Zhu

Frank Arthur Willis

Jeremy Todd Peterson

Zhijun Cai

Justin Lee Steinlage

Bradley K Bomer

David E Ault

Emily Morris

Kory K Leesman

Joshua D Jensen

Layne E Hook

Richard D Johnston

Jeffrey A Jones, Ii

Winnie E Wong

Vardhaman M Lakhani

Kevin R Dluzen

An idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for a machine is disclosed. The machine can include an engine operably connected to a drivetrain including ground engaging propulsion members. The drivetrain can be configured to transmit mechanical energy between the engine and the ground engaging propulsion members. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for the machine can include a starter operatively associated with the engine and configured to effectuate ignition of the engine. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for the machine can further include an idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller electronically and controllably connected to the engine and configured to shut down the engine in an engine shutdown mode. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller can additionally be electronically and controllably connected and configured to actuate the engine and the starter to start the engine in one or more of an initial engine start mode and one or more engine restart modes.

Idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for a machine

A relative angle between a machine's direction of travel and the orientation of an inclination sensor on a work tool coupled to the machine is determined and/or calculated. In some examples, the present disclosure describes a method of determining a relative angle between a machine's direction of travel and an inclination sensor coupled to a work tool coupled to the machine. Such method may include determining the machine's direction of travel, and determining an orientation of the inclination sensor coupled to the work tool coupled to the machine. The relative angle between the machine's direction of travel and the orientation of the inclination sensor coupled to the work tool may then be calculated.

Compensating for acceleration induced inclination errors

A system for determining a hydraulic seal coefficient of friction of a hydraulic cylinder includes a force sensor to provide a force signal indicative of a force of the cylinder. A controller is configured to receive a plurality of first force signals at a first load and determine a first friction force and receive a plurality of second force signals at a second load and determine a second friction force. A hydraulic seal coefficient of friction is determined based at least in part upon the first friction force and the second friction force. A method is also disclosed.

System for determining coefficients of seal friction

An inclination detection system is disclosed. The inclination detection system may have an inclination angle predictor configured to calculate an a priori estimated inclination angle of the machine based on a previously estimated inclination angle, and a measurement variance calculator configured to calculate a measurement variance of the a priori estimated inclination angle based on a non-gravitational acceleration of the machine. The inclination detection system may also have an inclination angle sensor configured to measure a measured inclination angle of the machine, and an inclination angle updater configured to determine an a posteriori estimated inclination angle of the machine based on the a priori estimated inclination angle, the measurement variance of the a priori estimated inclination angle, and the measured inclination angle.

Inclination detection systems and methods

A velocity estimation method and system is disclosed. The method may include receiving a location signal indicative of a location of the machine and estimating the velocity of the machine based on a change in the location of the machine over a period of time. The method may further include determining a loss of the location signal, detecting a traction device speed of the machine, and selectively estimating the velocity of the machine based on the traction device speed when the location signal is determined to be lost.

Backup velocity estimation utilizing traction device speed

A system for the estimation of a pitch angle of machine includes a pitch rate sensor movable with the work implement and a position sensor mounted on the work implement. A controller is configured to determine a first estimate of the pitch angle of the machine based at least in part upon the pitch rate of the machine and determine a second estimate of the pitch angle of the machine based at least in part upon the position signals from the position sensor. The controller is configured to determine a combined estimate of the pitch angle of the machine based at least in part on the first estimate of the pitch angle and in part on the second estimate of the pitch angle.

System and method for estimating machine pitch angle

A blade control system for a track-type machine is disclosed. The blade control system has a blade, an input device configured to control movement of the blade, an actuator in connection with the blade, a first sensor configured to determine a track-speed of the machine, and a control module in communication with the input device, the actuator, and the first sensor. The control module is configured to receive a blade positioning signal from the input device, remove a component of the blade positioning signal based on a the track-speed of the machine, and transmit a modified blade positioning signal to the actuator.

Automated system for enhanced blade control

A system and method of controlling an earth moving implement of a machine is disclosed. The method may include receiving a pitch rate of the machine in a body reference frame and determining a roll of the machine. The method may further include determining a turning rate of the machine and calculating a pitch rate of the machine in a gravity reference frame based on the pitch rate of the machine in the body reference frame, the roll of the machine, and the turning rate of the machine. The method may further include controlling the earth moving implement based on the pitch rate of the machine in the gravity reference frame.

Implement controller having angular rate correction

A payload control system includes a tool position sensor, a boom lift sensor, and a boom swing sensor. A controller is configured to determine a segment of a work cycle based upon the tool position, the boom lift, and the boom swing signal, and determine a payload moved by the tool during the segment of the work cycle.

System for work cycle detection

A payload control system includes a sensor system and a force sensor system. A controller determines a calibration machine state, a calibration linkage force, and machine calibration parameters based at least in part upon the calibration machine state and the calibration linkage force. The controller also determines a loaded implement machine state, a loaded implement linkage force, and a mass of the payload based at least in part upon the machine calibration parameters, the loaded implement machine state, and the loaded implement linkage force.

Payload Estimation system

A system for providing information associated with an identification code to an operator of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of a parameter associated with an operation of the machine. The system also includes a display unit. The system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the plurality of sensors and the display unit. The controller is configured to receive the signals indicative of the parameter associated with the operation of the machine. The controller then determines an operation mode of the machine based on the received signals and identifies the identification code based on the determined operation mode. The controller further displays the identification code based on the determined operation mode on the display unit.

Identification code based information system

An operational parameter determination system is disclosed. The operational parameter determination system may include an operational parameter predictor configured to calculate an a priori estimated operational parameter of the machine based on a previously estimated operational parameter. The operational parameter determination system may also include a gear shifting compensator configured to determine whether a gear shifting is in progress, and when the gear shifting is in progress, to output the a priori estimated operational parameter as a determined operational parameter. The operational parameter determination system may further include an operational parameter updater configured to, when the gear shifting is not in progress, receive a measured operational parameter of the machine, determine an a posteriori estimated operational parameter of the machine based on the a priori estimated operational parameter and the measured operational parameter, and output the a posteriori estimated operational parameter as the determined operational parameter.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Drew Alan Fehr