Caterpillar Inc.

Jeremy Todd Peterson

Jeffrey Lee Kuehn

Bryan Edward Nelson

Dayao Chen

Edward William Mate

Michael L Knussman

Emily Morris

John James Krone

Pengfei Ma

Daniel Peter Sergison

Michael Todd Verkuilen

Brad Allen Edler

Matthew Stephen Marquette

Bradly G Duffer

Jiao Zhang

Tonglin Shang

Paul Anthony Dvorak

William Norbert O'Neill

Justin Lee Steinlage

Drew Alan Fehr

Richard A Carpenter

David Conway Atkinson

Micheal David Valerio

Jason Rex Dare

David J Lomax

David E Ault

Wendell Dean Stahl

Kory K Leesman

Layne E Hook

Kenneth Marvin Roat

Joshua D Jensen

Richard D Johnston

Robert T Cameron

Michael Weston Burns

Andrew J De Haseth

Jeffrey A Jones, Ii

Naveen Kumar S Aproop

Jeremy R Couch

A secondary steering pump system may include a secondary steering pump, a bypass valve having a first bypass position configured for placing the secondary steering pump in fluid communication with a hydraulic tank and a second use/testing position configured for placing the secondary steering pump in fluid communication with a steering control circuit. The system may also include a solenoid valve configured for actuation by a solenoid and for selectively actuating the bypass valve from the first position to the second position. The system may also include a pressure sensor configured for sensing pressure in the system.

Fault detection for secondary steering system

A machine includes a frame, a first steering arm, a second steering arm, a first hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and the first steering arm, and a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and the second steering arm. A first angle sensor measures a rotational displacement of the first hydraulic actuator relative to the first steering arm. A first link couples the first hydraulic actuator and the first sensor, and isolates movements other than the first rotational displacement. A second angle sensor measures a second rotational displacement of the second hydraulic actuator relative to the second steering arm. A second link couples the second hydraulic actuator and the second sensor, and isolates movements other than the second rotational displacement.

System for detecting failure of an Ackerman-type steering mechanism

A device for measuring rotation of a spherical joint in a steering system, may include an anchor secured within a ball stud of the spherical joint and a rotational tie having a first end and a second end. The first end of the rotational tie may be secured to the anchor to hold the first end parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ball stud. The device may also include a rotation sensor including a sensor target rotationally coupled to the second end of the rotational tie and secured for free rotation to a framework of the spherical joint. The rotation sensor may also include an angle sensor configured and arranged to sense a changing angle of the sensor target.

Direct sensing system for a spherical joint

A machine includes a frame and an oscillating hitch. A first cylinder couples to a first side of the oscillating hitch and a first side of the frame. A second cylinder couples to a second side of the oscillating hitch and a second side of the frame. A first isolating mechanism couples to the first cylinder and rotates in response to a first rotation of the first cylinder relative to the frame or the oscillating hitch. A first angle sensor senses a first angular displacement of the first isolating mechanism about a first rotational axis. A second isolating mechanism couples to the second cylinder and rotates in response to a second rotation of the second cylinder relative to the frame or the oscillating hitch. A second angle sensor senses a second angular displacement of the second isolating mechanism about a second rotational axis.

System for detecting failure of an articulated steering mechanism

A system for controlling an engagement operation between first and second movable machines includes a separation sensor, a relative speed sensor and a controller. The separation sensor determines a separation distance between the first and second machines. The relative speed sensor determines a relative difference in speed between the first and second machines. The controller determines the separation distance between the first and second machines, decelerates the first movable machine when the separation distance is within a deceleration zone, determines a relative difference in speed between the first and second machines, and generates an engagement speed command to operate the first movable machine at a first ground speed equal to a second ground speed of the second movable machine plus a relative engagement speed when the separation distance is within a buffer zone.

Engagement control system and method

An electronic control unit (ECU) may receive, from an autonomous vehicle controller, an instruction to set a hydraulic steering actuator, of a vehicle, to a particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a steering controller torque device, a current to set a steering controller, of the vehicle, to a particular steering controller angle that corresponds to the particular machine steering angle setting. The ECU may provide, to a hydraulic control system, a current to set the hydraulic steering actuator to the particular machine steering angle setting.

Alignment of steering controller angle and machine steering angle for transitioning between manual and autonomous operating modes

A steering assembly for a machine is provided. The steering assembly includes a frame. The steering assembly also includes a steering column mounted on the frame. The steering column includes a steering input device and a controller communicably coupled to the steering input device. The steering assembly further includes a steering wheel operably coupled to the steering column. The steering wheel is disposed adjacent to the steering input device.

Steering assembly

A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may comprise an actuation valve configured to actuate a flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic consumer, a first control valve in fluid communication with the actuation valve through a first pilot line and configured to displace the actuation valve to a first position when actuated, and a second control valve in fluid communication with the actuation valve through a second pilot line and configured to displace the actuation valve to a second position when actuated. The first pilot line and the second line may each have a fixed minimum back pressure sufficient to maintain dissolved air in the hydraulic fluid.

Hydraulic fluid circuit with fixed minimum back pressure

A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may include a fluid source and an actuator having a first passage and a second passage. The hydraulic system may further include a pump having a first port connected to the first passage, a second port connected to the second passage, and a third port connected to the fluid source. The first and second passages may be connected to each other via the first and second ports, and the first passage and the low-pressure fluid source may be connected to each other via the first and third ports. They hydraulic system may further include a charge circuit fluidly connected to the first and second passages, and at least one damping control valve configured to selectively allow fluid from the pump to pass into the charge circuit to dampen pressure oscillations between the actuator and the pump.

Hydraulic system having regeneration and hybrid start

A hydraulic system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic system may have a closed-loop, meterless hydraulic circuit with a first pump fluidly connected to a first actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a closed-loop, metered hydraulic circuit with a second pump fluidly connected to a second actuator. The hydraulic system may further have a combiner valve configured to selectively direct fluid from the closed-loop metered hydraulic circuit to the closed-loop meterless hydraulic circuit.

System having combinable transmission and implement circuits

Engine anti-idling and restart may be implemented in a machine having a power source, a movable work tool, a pump driven by the power source, an actuator receiving fluid from the pump and moving the work tool, a high-pressure fluid reservoir, and an assist motor operatively connected to the power source. Engine restart may include detecting operator input to start the power source, and fluidly connecting the fluid reservoir to the assist motor to assist in starting the power source in response to detecting the operator input. Prior to shutting down the power source during anti-idling, fluid from the pump may be input to the assist motor, pressurized and communicated to the high-pressure fluid reservoir in response to determining that idle condition exists and a reservoir charge pressure is less than a reservoir minimum restart pressure needed to restart the power source.

Integration of swing energy recovery and engine anti-idling systems

A hydraulic control system for a machine is provided. The hydraulic control system includes a fluid reservoir, a pump motor and an accumulator. The pump motor is configured to provide pressurized fluid and to receive fluid to provide a power output. The hydraulic control system further includes a hydraulic actuator having a first and a second chamber, a first valve, a regenerative valve, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the first valve and the regenerative valve to selectively actuate the regenerative valve to allow flow of a first portion of the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. The controller is further configured to selectively actuate the first valve to allow flow of a second portion of the fluid from the first chamber through the pump motor to provide the power output to a shaft of a power source.

System and method for hydraulic energy recovery

A hydraulic system is disclosed for assisting starting of a machine having an engine. The hydraulic system may include a work tool, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, and an actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and move the work tool. The hydraulic system may also include an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid from the pump and from the actuator, an electric starter configured to start the engine, and a motor selectively supplied with fluid from the accumulator to assist the electric starter in starting the engine.

Machine having hydraulic start assist system

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 method for storing and reusing hydraulic energy in a machine is disclosed. The method includes transferring the hydraulic energy from an actuator to an upstream side of a motor pump via a first valve, during a normal mode. The method includes directing excess hydraulic energy from a downstream side of the motor pump to an accumulator by opening an accumulator valve and closing a bypass valve, during an energy saving mode. The method includes retrieving stored hydraulic energy from the accumulator to the upstream side of the motor pump by opening the accumulator valve, during an energy discharging mode.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Jeremy Todd Peterson