Caterpillar Inc.

Eric Matthew Gray

Nathaniel Harshman

Ernest Everett Stoops

Patrick Bishop

A circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders is disclosed. The circle drive system includes a hydraulic motor that is configured to receive a pressurized fluid and generate a torque for a rotation of a circle and a moldboard. The circle drive system also includes a gearbox to transfer the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to the circle. Further, the circle drive system includes a clutch connected to the hydraulic motor at one end and to the gearbox at another end. In addition, the circle drive system also includes a hydraulic circuit having a pressure relief valve to relieve the pressurized fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the pressurized fluid exceeds a predefined threshold. The pressure relief valve thereby, limits the torque generated by the hydraulic motor to less than or equal to a torque capacity of the clutch.

Circle drive system with clutch protection in motor graders

A system for a grading machine includes a lift cylinder sensor to measure a position or movement of a lift cylinder, which is coupled to a drawbar. The drawbar is coupled to a circle. The circle is coupled a blade carrier assembly, and the blade carrier assembly is coupled to a blade. The system also includes a drawbar sensor to measure a position or movement of the drawbar, a circle sensor to measure a position or movement of the circle, a blade carrier assembly sensor to measure a position or movement of the blade carrier assembly, and a blade sensor to measure a position or movement of the blade. A controller receives information from the lift cylinder sensor and one or more of the aforementioned sensors and determines whether one or more wear components is in need of inspection, repair, or replacement.

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Mt. Zion, IL, United States of America

Eric Matthew Gray