Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Hyppolite Kuissi

Lee M Hogan

Nathaniel S Doy

Jason William Muir

Matthew-David S Frantz

Timothy Michael O'Donnell

Ahsan Shahid

Rex Aaron Glover

Kristen Ann Gerstner

Jacob M Saari

Carl John Moberg

Douglas W Koehler

Timo Diekmann

Ross L Hoult

Balbahadur Singh

Samuel C Taylor

Sandeep John Verghese

A milling machine, system, and method for implementing a return to cut operation and/or an exit cut operation controls legs of the milling machine, a rotor of the milling machine, and front and rear doors of a mixing chamber of the milling machine according to settings for each of the return to cut operation and the exit cut operation. Such control can be based on signals from one or more sensors of the milling machine configured to sense various position-related characteristics of the milling machine, and can be performed responsive to a control input at an operator control interface of the milling machine.

Machine, system, and method for work cycle automation

A milling machine may have a frame, ground engaging tracks that support the frame, and an actuator that adjusts a height of the frame relative to the track. The milling machine may have a control valve that selectively controls a flow of fluid into or out of the actuator based on the current supplied to the control valve. The milling machine may have a controller that determines the amount of current required to operate the actuator at a nominal actuator velocity and supplies that current to the control valve. The controller determines a measured actuator velocity based on a time required to extend or retract the actuator by a predetermined length, and adjusts the amount of current based on the measured and nominal actuator velocities. The controller also supplies the adjusted amount of current to the control valve to adjust the height of the frame relative to the track.

Distance based actuator velocity calibration system

A milling machine has a frame, ground engaging tracks that support the frame, a first actuator connecting the frame to a first track of the ground engaging tracks and a second actuator connecting the frame to a second track from the ground engaging tracks. The milling machine has an orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the frame. The milling machine has a controller that operates the first and second actuators to raise or lower the frame. The controller determines the frame orientation using the orientation sensor. The controller also determines a velocity error between actuator velocities of the first and second actuators based on the frame orientation and a target orientation of the frame. The controller determines a control parameter for the second actuator based on the velocity error and operates the second actuator using the determined control parameter.

Relative velocity based actuator velocity calibration system

A drilling machine includes a mast, a rotary head movably coupled to the mast, a drill string component having a pair of opposed flat surfaces, and a securing structure including engagement surfaces shaped to engage the opposed flat surfaces and secure the drill string component from rotating. The drilling machine also includes a controller configured to track a rotational location of the flat surfaces of the drill string component during rotation of the drill string component. The controller is further configured to receive tracking information from a sensor associated with the rotary head and control the rotary head to align the opposed flat surfaces for engagement by the securing structure.

System and method of tracking flat surfaces of a component of a drilling machine

An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension, a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground, a housing arranged around portions of the tool and secured to the frame, and a monitor system configured for identifying an exposed condition of the tool. A method of managing an exposed condition of a ground-engaging tool and a method of operating an implement with a ground-engaging tool are also described.

Tool exposed status and lockouts

A system for automatic detection of drill pipe coupling on a drilling machine is disclosed. The system may include a rotary head, a drill pipe, a display, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: automatically identify a coupling or decoupling condition of the drill pipe; monitor motion and forces associated with the rotary head during a coupling or decoupling action of the drill pipe; automatically identify a fully coupled or fully decoupled condition of the coupling or decoupling action based on the monitored motion and forces of the rotary head; terminate the coupling action based on the identification of the fully coupled or fully decoupled condition; and update the display to indicate the fully coupled or fully decoupled condition of the drill pipe.

Automatic drill pipe coupling detection control system

A mobile drilling machine may include a drilling mast including a mast frame. The mobile drilling machine may further include a rotary head movably mounted on the mast frame, the rotary head controllable to rotate a drill string at a desired drill string rotation speed. The rotary head may further be controllable to move up and down the mast frame at a desired drill string feed speed. Additionally, the mobile drilling machine may include a joystick movable to control the desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed of the rotary head. A controller of the mobile drilling machine may be configured to receive a current desired drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed information from the joystick and lock the current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed upon activation of a switch mechanism.

Automated drill control system for a mobile drilling machine

A method for operating a milling machine is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input identifying a leg of a plurality of legs of the milling machine. Further, the method includes determining a height of the leg based on the receiving of the input identifying the leg. The height of the leg being determined based on position data of the leg. The position data being obtained by a first sensor. Further, the method includes determining, by the controller and based on the determining the height of the leg, that a height of other legs of the plurality of legs is to be adjusted. Thereafter, the method includes adjusting the height of the other legs of the plurality of legs to the height of the leg. The height of the other legs being adjusted based on the determined height of the leg.

Methods and systems for operating a milling machine

An implement with a ground-engaging tool may include a frame, a ground-engaging portion for supporting the frame on a surface of ground, and a suspension system coupling the ground-engaging portion to the frame and for adjusting the frame relative to the ground-engaging portion. The implement may also include a tool supported by and adjustable relative to the frame and configured for working the ground. The implement may also include a control and monitor system configured for establishing a nominal position of the tool relative to the surface and for establishing an actual position of the tool relative to the surface based on an offset adjustment. A method of determining a rotor tool depth of a milling machine and a method of operating a milling machine may also be provided.

Tool depth setting

A transmission for use with a machine is disclosed. The transmission may have a pump, a motor fluidly connected to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and propel the machine, and an operator input device configured to generate a signal indicative of an operator desired gear ratio of the transmission. The transmission may also have a controller in communication with the pump, the motor, and the operator input device. The controller may be configured to determine an desired gear ratio of the transmission as a function of the signal, and determine an efficiency loss of the transmission at the desired gear ratio. The controller may also be configured to select a known setting of at least one of the pump and motor that provides the desired gear ratio and accounts for the efficiency loss.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Hyppolite Kuissi