Caterpillar Inc.

Kevin Dee Ehrenhardt

Prasad V Parupalli

John Jay Bernardi

Thomas R Sandborg

Gregory S Gauger

Yanchai Zhang

James W Landes

Anthony C Rodman

Jason Kenneth Bloms

Paul C Gottshall

Antony James Eager

Tazio Stephan Grivetti

Matthew Edward Leustek

Mohamed I Daoud

Timothy A Boston

Timothy Goldammer

Steven D Jones

Brett D Ellen

David Kapparos

Ronald B Warnat

Brian Todd Morrical

Richard Severns, Ii

A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.

Machine configurations employing passive and controllable cab mounts

An exhaust component for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust component may have a housing at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet, and a treatment device supported by the housing in communication with exhaust passing from the inlet to the outlet. The exhaust component may also have a life indicator permanently associated with at least one of the housing and the treatment device.

Exhaust component having permanently associated life indicator

The keyless power system has an ignition system including an ignition switch having an 'OFF' position and one or more electrical components associated with a work machine. The keyless power system also has one or more alternate power sources configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical components. The keyless power system also has a controller configured to determine a power-level requirement of the one or more electrical components and activate at least one of the one or more alternate power sources to at least partially satisfy the power-level requirement based on whether the ignition switch is in the 'OFF' position.

Method and system for keyless machine operation

A method for operating an electrical system for a machine is provided. The electrical system may include at least one power source connected to a power-distribution network. The power-distribution network may include a first portion with one or more power loads connected thereto and a second portion with one or more power loads connected thereto. The method may include repeatedly executing a load-priority cycle including operating in a first load-priority mode and subsequently operating in a second load-priority mode, during a power deficit. Operating in the first load-priority mode may include supplying power to the first and second portions of the power-distribution network, with a priority on supplying power to the first portion. Operating in the second load-priority mode may include supplying power to the first and second portions of the power-distribution network, with a priority on supplying power to the second portion.

Method for operating an electrical system

A engine controller includes a connector having pins that provide an electrical connection between devices external to the controller and internal electrical components. The programming tool is used to program the controller to assign particular pins to transmit or receive certain signals.

Engine ECM multi-input/output configuration

An automatic elevated idle speed control is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine on a vehicle. The control includes an electronic controller connected with an engine speed determining means, and a sensor that determines the power requirements of a PTO device and produces a signal. The control automatically varies an engine speed command based on the signal.

Automatic elevated idle speed control and method of operating same

A control for limiting the torque output of an engine when operating in a PTO mode is provided. The control includes a microprocessor connected to a PTO on/off switch, a set/resume switch and a torque limit on/off switch. When the torque limit switch is in an on position, the microprocessor limits the maximum torque output to an operator programmed value. The operator can reprogram the torque limit value with a programming tool.

Torque limiting power take off control and method of operating same

An apparatus for sensing the level of fluid, including a two electrode device being disposed in the fluid and a microprocessor. The microprocessor being connected to the two electrode device and delivering alternating current thereto. The microprocessor reads the voltage across the device, compares the voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and produces a warning signal in response to the fluid level being below a predetermined fluid level.

Fluid level sensing apparatus

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a power take off ('PTO') controller used on a vehicle. The controller includes a PTO on/off switch, a brake/clutch ignore switch, and a PTO set/resume switch connected to an electronic controller. The controller sets the engine speed command to a PTO default speed in response to the PTO on/off switch being in an on position. By placing the brake/clutch ignore switch in an ignore position, the vehicle operator can use the brake or clutch without affecting the PTO engine speed.

Growing community of inventors

Eureka, IL, United States of America

Kevin Dee Ehrenhardt