Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Sarl

Joshua D Callaway

Todd R Farmer

Steven James Juricak

Gregory August Epplin

Michael J Chadwick

Charles W Grant

Christopher Erik Bright

Benjamin J Terry

Christopher Mark Elliott

Corwin Eugene Storer

Grant Steven Peterson

Joseph E Forcash

David J Lomax

Brian Franklin Taggart

Michael C Layko

Korby A Koch

Jason Mark Buckmier

Ragavender Mailwar

Vincent Adam Armstrong

Gavin David Oliver Ripley

A machine may include a body, a boom link, a swing casting, and a boom. The boom and the swing casting may be configured to rotate horizontally about an axis through the boom link. The machine may further include a mounting bracket fixedly connected to the swing casting, a position sensor fixedly connected to the boom link, a first link fixedly connected at a first end to the position sensor and configured to rotate about an axis through a rotary element, and a second link fixedly connected at a first end to the mounting bracket and at a second end to a second end of the first link. The first link and the second link may be configured to rotate horizontally with horizontal rotation of the boom and the swing casting and to transfer the horizontal rotation of the boom and the swing casting to the rotary element.

Machine with a boom link and position sensor

A follower pinion apparatus can include a swing gear system comprised of a swing gear and a swing motor pinion. The follower pinion apparatus can also include a nonmetallic follower pinion positioned to mesh with the swing gear and a sensor configured to sense a position of the follower pinion.

House swing sensor follower pinion

A system and method for detecting uncommanded positioning of at least one valve spool in a plurality of valve spools and for stopping fluid flow to a plurality of hydraulic actuators fluidly connected to the plurality of valve spools is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving a signal fluid pressure detected in a signal passageway, identifying whether at least one activation command is currently enabled, and stopping the flow of fluid to the plurality of hydraulic actuators if no activation command is enabled for any of the plurality of valve spools, and the signal fluid pressure when detected (1) upstream of the plurality of valve spools is greater than a first threshold or (2) downstream of the plurality of valve spools is less than a second threshold.

Method to detect uncommanded spool valve positioning and stop fluid flow to hydraulic actuators

Systems and methods for simulating electro-hydraulic (EH) braking of a work machine using a combination of hydraulic braking and engine braking may include determining a commanded brake pressure requested by an operator, determining an available engine braking force, and comparing the available engine braking force to a maximum available bleed pressure that is available to reduce a hydraulic braking force. An engine braking output and a pressure reducing valve output pressure may be determined based on the available engine braking force and the maximum available bleed pressure. A pressure reducing valve may be actuated so that the hydraulic braking force is equal to the commanded brake pressure minus the pressure reducing valve output pressure, and a transmission may be actuated so that the engine applies an engine braking force equivalent to the engine braking output to brake the work machine.

Simulated EH braking system and safety protection

A drive system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The drive system includes a power source configured to generate mechanical power, and a transmission driven by the power source, a traction device driven by the transmission. The drive system further includes a first input device configured to generate a signal to operate the machine, a second input device configured to receive an operator selection of one of a plurality of transmission modes, and a controller in communication with the first input device and the transmission. The controller is configured to adjust operation of the transmission to control a speed rate of change of the traction device in response to the signal from the first input device and based on the operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes.

Drive system having operator-selectable control modes

A method and apparatus for controlling a hydraulic power system is provided that includes a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor. A relief valve is provided that is configured to release hydraulic fluid from a location between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor when a pressure of the hydraulic fluid exceeds a predetermined relief pressure. Above a predetermined threshold pressure for the system, the displacement of the pump is adjusted to at least a minimum displacement that is based on a total demanded flow for the system that includes a desired flow of hydraulic fluid across the relief valve and a first hydraulic fluid flow consumed by the motor.

On demand displacement control of hydraulic power system

A system for driving a machine is provided. A user input device inputs a desired throttle setting for the machine. The system includes an infinitely variable transmission having a transmission ratio that is adjustable. At least one sensor determines an inclination of the machine relative to a reference plane. A controller is configured to determine and apply a variable rate limit upon change in the transmission ratio based on the inclination of the machine when the desired throttle setting is reduced more than a predetermined amount and to adjust the rate limit based on the difference between an actual engine speed and a desired engine speed.

Infinitely variable transmission with controlled coasting

This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine implement. The control system includes a measurement sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to provide an implement measurement signal and an operator command signal, and to determine an adjusted implement command based signal based on the implement measurement signal and the operator command signal.

Implement control system for a machine

This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine. The control system includes a sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the implement measurement signal, determine whether a main threshold condition is met, and to determine an adjusted implement command based at least in part on the implement measurement signal.

A system for automated control of a ground-engaging traction device includes sensors to indicate a speed of the ground-engaging traction device, an acceleration of the machine, and a pitch rate of the machine. A controller determines a drive acceleration based upon the speed, and a ground acceleration based upon the acceleration and the pitch rate. The controller determines a command signal at least in part based upon an operator input command signal and a difference between the drive acceleration and the ground acceleration. A method is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Joshua D Callaway