Caterpillar Inc.

Kalpeshkumar N Patel

Dayao Chen

Aleksandar M Egelja

Pengfei Ma

Edward William Mate

Steven Edward Johnson

Nathan Stephen Pauli

James David Siegle

Richard A Carpenter

Ryan Patrick McEnaney

David J Lomax

Barrett A Flinn

Vignesh Jayakumar

Darren A Blum

Richard Scott Cushing

Trung Q Nguyen

One embodiment of a hydraulic system for a machine has a first hydraulic circuit including a first pump coupled to a first hydraulic actuator configured to move a first implement of the machine. A second hydraulic circuit includes a second pump coupled to a second hydraulic actuator configured to move a second implement. An electric motor mechanically couples to the first pump and to the second pump. An operator interface receives input from an operator requesting movement of the first and second implements. A controller communicatively coupled to the electric motor and to the operator interface determines, based on the requested movement of the first and second implements respectively, first and second flow allocations respectively for the first and second pumps and determines respective target displacements for the first and second pumps. The controller also determines first and second target electric motor speeds based on the target displacements for the first and second pumps, respectively, and controls the electric motor to operate at the larger of the first and second target electric motor speeds.

Method and systems for controlling electrically-powered hydraulic circuits

A machine includes a first cylinder coupled to a first wheel and a second cylinder coupled to a second wheel. A first proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the second cylinder. First accumulators are fluidly connected to the first cylinder and the first proportional dampening valve, and second accumulator(s) are fluidly connected to the second cylinder and the second proportional dampening valve. Additionally, a first proportional flow control valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional flow control valve fluidly connected to the second cylinder. An electronic control module (ECM) communicatively couples to the first proportional flow control valve and the second proportional flow control valve to adjust a ride height of the first wheel via the first cylinder and a ride height of the second wheel via the second cylinder.

Suspension system with individual ride height and dampening control

Cavitation that occurs within a pump of a machine, such as truck or other work machine, can potentially damage the pump and/or other components of the machine. The machine can have a cavitation monitor configured to detect cavitation and/or cavitation damage associated with the pump based on vibration data, speed data associated with mechanical movements of the pump, and operating data associated with the machine overall. If the cavitation monitor detects cavitation and/or cavitation damage, the cavitation monitor can cause corresponding alerts to be displayed to a machine operator or other user.

Cavitation detection system

A monitoring system includes a hydraulic cylinder including a piston movably disposed therein. At least one seal is provided within the hydraulic cylinder. A head end pressure sensor is configured to monitor pressure of a hydraulic fluid in a head space. A rod end pressure sensor is configured to monitor pressure of the fluid in a rod space. A displacement sensor is configured to monitor the position of the piston. A temperature sensor is disposed and configured to monitor the temperature of the hydraulic fluid. An electronic control unit is in communication with the sensors and programmed to in response to receiving pressure signals from the pressure sensors, position signals from the position sensor, and temperature signals from the temperature sensor, determine a wear volume of the at least one seal; and compare the wear volume of the at least one seal to a predetermined threshold wear volume of the at least one seal to determine the remaining useful life of the hydraulic cylinder.

Hydraulic cylinder health monitoring and remaining life system

A monitoring system includes a hydraulic accumulator including a piston movably disposed therein. At least one seal encompasses the piston. A first pressure sensor is configured to monitor pressure of a first fluid in a first chamber. A second pressure sensor is configured to monitor pressure of a second fluid in a second chamber. A first temperature sensor is disposed in the first chamber and configured to monitor the temperature of the first fluid. A second temperature sensor is disposed in the second chamber and configured to monitor the temperature of the second fluid. An electronic control unit is in communication with the sensors and programmed to in response to receiving pressure signals from the pressure sensors and temperature signals from the temperature sensors, determine a wear volume of the at least one seal; and compare the wear volume of the at least one seal to a predetermined threshold wear volume of the at least one seal to determine the remaining useful life of the hydraulic accumulator.

Hydraulic accumulator health monitoring and remaining life system

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Kalpeshkumar N Patel