Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Eric Steven Engelmann

Conwell K Rife, Jr

John Lee Marsolek

Timothy Michael O'Donnell

Colton J Hirman

Nathan L Mashek

Nicholas Bernard Johnson

Nicholas James Argenziano

Lee M Hogan

Paul J Koenen

Mark A Tarvin

Timothy Jay Lindholm

Paul Russell Friend

Dario Sansone

James Alvin Aardema

Ryan S Hutar

Jason A Haro

Craig T Hedstrom

Ryan Adam Enot

Sean Laclef

Matthew James Sirovatka

Clayton Padgett

Mark Holub

Jameson Michael Smieja

Matthew-David S Frantz

Daniel Harry Killion

Andrew Whitten

Dustin William Sondreal

Jason Robert Bjorge

Robert Edwin Carr

Mario Persano

Tim J Lindholm

Conwell K Rife

Elizabeth R K Brockman

Timothy J Sturos

Jacob A Simmer

Gianfranco Perri

Joseph Forcash

Sean Robert Laclef

Keng Yew Anthony Low

Anthony Keng Yew Low

A milling machine includes a frame, a plurality of wheels or track members coupled to the frame, a moldboard movably coupled to the frame, a first rotor, and a second rotor. The first rotor is rotatably coupled to the frame. The second rotor is positioned to the rear of the first rotor and rotatably coupled to the moldboard.

Milling machines, systems, and related methods

A milling machine can include a frame, a milling assembly including a cutting rotor and a rotor housing coupled to the frame, the cutting rotor including a rotor shell positioned around a spindle, and a first axial alignment feature on one of the rotor shell or the spindle, the first axial alignment feature including a physical feature on a surface of the rotor shell or the spindle, the physical feature being positioned and configured to contact an opposing flat surface of the opposing rotor shell or spindle so as to guide the rotor shell and the spindle into a co-axial alignment as the rotor shell is loaded axially onto the spindle.

Quick change rotor alignment feature

A method and system for generating an augmented machine view. The augmented machine view may include a dynamic virtual machine model representing an actual working machine, overlayed with camera footage from around the working machine. The dynamic virtual machine model may be synched in time with the camera footage. The system for generating the augmented machine view may include cameras mounted on the actual machine and machine sensors monitoring the position and movements of individual components of the machine.

Augmented machine user interface system

A method for determining and monitoring output of a milling machine comprises sensing an operating parameter of a milling machine with a sensor, transmitting data from the sensor of the milling machine to an off-board location, determining a performance parameter of the milling machine from the data at the off-board location, transmitting the performance parameter to the milling machine, and displaying the performance parameter on a display screen of the milling machine.

Milling machine performance monitoring systems and methods

A milling machine may include a frame supported by a traction device, a milling drum for milling a surface and supported on the frame, and a conveyor for receiving milled material from the milling drum and conveying the milled material upward to a release point. The milling machine may include a sensor configured for monitoring loading of a truck by the milling machine and a controller in communication with the sensor to coordinate with the sensor and recognize when the truck is full.

Truck measurement of a milling machine

When removing portions of a work surface at a worksite with a machine (e.g., such as a cold planer), is useful to know the actual cut depths on each edge of the cold planer and/or the volume of material that has been removed from a work surface. However, determining actual cut depths and/or volume removed is difficult, costly, and can be inaccurate, resulting in increased costs and inefficiencies at the worksite. Accordingly, the present disclosure describes systems and methods for enabling automatic control of cut depth of a machine via a machine-controlled feedback loop and improved determinations of actual volume of material removed by the machine.

Tracking the environment around a machine to define actual cut profile

A machine comprises a first ground engaging unit connected to a first leg, a second ground engaging unit connected to a second leg, and a hydraulic system to control heights of the legs, the hydraulic system comprises a fluid circuit to control fluid between the first and second legs, a load holding valve to allow fluid into the fluid circuit, a control valve system to let fluid into the load holding valve, the control valve connected to a hydraulic fluid source and a reservoir, a first lock valve to control flow of fluid between the first and second legs in a first direction, a second lock valve to control flow of fluid between the second and first legs in a second direction, and first and float valves configured to connect the first and second legs to the control valve system, respectively.

Four-legged construction machine having slope stability system with locking valves

A system includes one or more processors configured to generate recommended machine settings associated with machine operating parameters. The system receives sensor data associated with an environment of a machine. Based on the sensor data, the system determines one or more settings associated with operating parameters for the machine, to optimize the efficiency thereof. The system causes a recommendation to apply the setting to be presented on a display associated with the machine, such as for an operator to accept. In some examples, the operator manually applies the setting(s). In some examples, the system causes a computing device of the machine to apply the setting(s). The system may continuously and/or periodically provide recommendations as conditions in the environment change.

Systems and methods for providing machine configuration recommendations

A system may include a first transportation device of a milling machine, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes a first sensor coupled to the first transportation device to sense an orientation of the first transportation device relative to the frame of the milling machine. The controller controls the milling machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.

Inclination control for construction machines

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have height adjustable actuators connecting the frame to the tracks. Each actuator may have a cylinder attached to the frame, a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, and a rod connected at a first end to the piston and connected to a track at a second end. The milling machine may have a tank storing hydraulic fluid and a fluid conduit connecting the tank to the cylinder. The milling machine may have a control valve selectively controlling a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid conduit. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow rate.

Milling machine having a valve current based height measurement system

A machine for road work can comprise a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs, each leg connecting one of the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, a pair of spatial sensors, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors, and a controller configured to, in response to a three-dimensional signal received from each of the spatial sensors, activate at least some of the plurality of vertically moveable legs.

Systems and methods for controlling ground inclination of rotary cutting machines

A milling rotor of a milling machine can include a drum, cutting teeth, and a centering ring. The drum can extend along a longitudinal axis and can define an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The drum can be securable to a drive assembly of the milling machine to allow the drum to rotate therewith. The cutting teeth can be connected to the outer surface of the drum and can be configured to engage pavement. The centering ring can be connected to the inner surface of the drum and can include a centering interface and an alignment interface. The centering interface can extend radially inward and can be engageable with a centering flange of the drive assembly to center the milling rotor with respect to the drive assembly. The alignment interface can be adjacent the centering interface and can extend radially inward of the centering interface.

Milling drum with alignment interface

A system includes a carrier assembly, a replacement tool movably supported by the carrier assembly, and a sensor configured to capture sensor data associated with a wear part removably connected to a rotatable drum. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor, and identify the wear part using the sensor data. In such a system, the carrier assembly is configured to move the replacement tool such that an axis of the replacement tool is substantially collinear with an axis of the wear part. Additionally, the replacement tool is configured to remove the wear part from the drum while the axis of the replacement tool is substantially collinear with the axis of the wear part.

Systems and methods for replacing wear parts

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have a tank that stores hydraulic fluid. The milling machine may also have at least one actuator connecting the frame to the tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to a ground surface. A fluid conduit may connect the tank to the actuator. The milling machine may have a flow sensor in the fluid conduit. The flow sensor may determine a flow parameter associated with a flow of the hydraulic fluid into or out of the actuator. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow parameter.

Milling machine having a fluid flow based height measurement system

A cold planer can include a frame; an operator station coupled to the frame and including a monitor; a cutting rotor coupled to the frame, the cutting rotor configured to be lowered a selected distance into a surface to define a depth of cut; a conveyor to receive material from the cutting rotor; and a cutting rotor location indication system including: a camera coupled to the frame and oriented to show an area on a side of the frame; and a visual indicator system configured to receive a first image from the camera and display on the monitor a visual image of a location of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the cutting rotor relative to the surface.

Growing community of inventors

Delano, MN, United States of America

Eric Steven Engelmann