Caterpillar Inc.

James Thomas Ferrier

Todd D Creger

Yun-Ren Ho

Hong-Chin Lin

Michael Angel Cobo

James E Schimpf

Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling a double-acting hydraulic cylinder during a load-induced rod-extending operation. The apparatus includes a activation circuit and valve for providing a flow path from a pump to the cylinder head end; a flow regeneration circuit and valve fluidly connecting the cylinder rod end and the cylinder head end and configured for providing flow from the rod end to the head end during rod extension; and a controller responsive to rod-extending rate demands and rod-position sensor signals, and operatively connected to the regeneration flow valve and the activation valve. The activation valve also includes a return valve part to control flow from the rod end to the fluid reservoir during rod extension. Both the activation valve and the return valve part are controllable by the controller independently from the regeneration flow valve.

Hydraulic flow control system and method

A power train for a machine is provided having a power source and a transmission, which includes a plurality of gears configured to produce multiple output ratios when selectively engaged. The power train also has a torque converter operatively coupling the power source and the transmission. A lockup clutch is associated with the torque converter, and the engagement of the lockup clutch is restricted so that the lockup clutch is engaged only when permissible gear ratios are actuated. The power train further has a controller in communication with the lockup clutch, the controller being configured to selectively engage the lockup clutch in either a first or a second shift mode with the number of permissible gear ratios being greater in the first shift mode than the second shift mode.

Automatic transmission with part-throttle shifting

A simplified method and system for determining a loading condition on a powertrain of a machine resulting from a loading condition on an implement thereof. The method includes the steps of inputting a predetermined plurality of parameter signals representative of the loading condition on the implement into an implement loading model to determine a plurality of implement loading modeled values as a function of the inputted loading parameter signals and inputting the implement loading modeled values into a kinematic linkage model to determine a plurality of modeled linkage loading values as a function of the inputted implement loading modeled values and a plurality of known linkage parameter values and inputting the modeled linkage loading values into a machine powertrain loading model to determine a plurality of powertrain loading modeled values indicative of the loading condition on the powertrain.

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Elgin, IL, United States of America

James Thomas Ferrier