Caterpillar Inc.

Lance Mathew Cowper

Brian Dean Kuras

Ankit Sharma

Joseph Leo Faivre

Nathaniel S Doy

Eric D Stemler

Joseph D Tigue

Harold Duane Dabbs

Richard F Shults

Brandon J Schwoerer

Thandava Krishna Edara

Stephen C Garnett

Troy Kenneth Becicka

Jean-Jacques Clar

William Norbert O'Neill

Michael D Betz

Brian Gerard Funke

Daniel Stanek

Michael Thomas Jackson

Kyle Adam Edwards

Christopher D Derham

Gregory T Austin

Aaron R Hayes

Thomas Gregory Pusch

Justin Matthew Krager

Joshua Daniel Hicke

Cody Joshua Ryerson

Keith Allen Leisinger

Randy D Stoecker

Mark M Smith

Daniel Darrell Bell

Ronald Paul Dettman

David A Gleissner

Kurt D Smeltzer

Ralph J Lee

Tony Arida

Matthew Garnett

A motor drive assembly for a dual path electric powertrain of a machine is disclosed. The motor drive assembly may include a final drive assembly to engage a ground engaging element of the machine. The motor drive assembly may include an electric motor to provide torque to the final drive assembly. The motor drive assembly may include a planetary gear assembly mechanically coupled to a rotor shaft of the electric motor and an axle of the final drive assembly. The motor drive assembly may include a brake assembly to engage a component of the planetary gear assembly to retard the rotor shaft and the axle.

Motor drive assembly for a dual path electric powertrain of a machine

A mobile machine includes front and rear ends, a frame, rotatably supported ground engaging mechanisms, and an electrical drive system. The electrical drive system includes a source of electrical energy, an inverter, at least one electric motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ground engaging mechanisms, a plurality of first electric cables electrically coupling the source of electrical energy to the inverter, and a plurality of second electric cables electrically coupling the inverter to the electric motor. The inverter is disposed in the mobile machine in a vertical orientation at the rear end of the machine.

Inverter location and orientation within a mobile machine

An end plate for a motor with a motor casing. The end plate includes a body adapted to be coupled to the motor casing and cover an opening of the motor casing. The body defines a ribbed structure to shield a power terminal assembly disposed laterally outwardly with respect to the motor casing. The ribbed structure includes a first rib and a second rib spaced apart from the first rib, and the power terminal assembly is adapted to be coupled to and be captured in between the first rib and the second rib.

End plate for motor casing

A braking system is disclosed. The braking system may include a controller configured to determine a speed threshold that is based on a deceleration of an output speed of a powertrain of a machine caused in part by engagement of one or more brakes of the machine during a directional shift in a movement of the machine, the speed threshold being the output speed of the powertrain at which the one or more brakes are to be commanded to disengage. The controller may be configured to command disengagement of the one or more brakes based on a determination that the output speed of the powertrain satisfies the speed threshold.

Directional shift variable brake disengagement

An electronic control unit to control an engine control module of an engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit may receive a machine input associated with the engine. The electronic control unit may select, based on the machine input, a lug mapping from a plurality of lug mappings for controlling a load of the engine. The electronic control unit may control, using the lug mapping, power output of the engine and power to a propulsion module of the machine to satisfy a drawbar power/torque threshold and steering power torque threshold associated with the machine.

Control of an engine for a machine with a dual path powertrain

A lubrication system is disclosed. The lubrication system may include a mounting case, a tube internal to the mounting case that is configured to carry oil, and an electric motor. The electric motor may include a motor housing, a mounting flange extending radially from the motor housing, and an oil passageway in the mounting flange. The mounting flange may be mounted to the mounting case to provide a fluid connection between the oil passageway and the tube.

Lubrication system for an electric motor

A braking system is disclosed. The braking system may include a controller configured to determine a power limit for one or more brakes of a machine based on a temperature of the one or more brakes during engagement of the one or more brakes according to a commanded power. The power limit may be a power at which the temperature of the one or more brakes ceases to increase. The controller may be configured to determine a speed adjustment for the machine based on the power limit and the commanded power, and cause adjustment to a speed of the machine based on the determined speed adjustment.

Brake power derating

A work machine is disclosed. The work machine may include a frame, an implement system coupled to the frame, one or more sensing devices, and a control unit in communication with the implement system and the one or more sensing devices. The one or more sensing devices may be configured to transmit sensing device data relating to an operation of the implement system. The control unit may receive the sensing device data, compare the sensing device data with a stall threshold, and initiate a stall timer based on determining that the sensing device data satisfies the stall threshold. The stall timer may be configured to measure a stall duration. The control unit may compare the stall duration with a duration threshold, identify a stall event based on determining that the stall duration satisfies the duration threshold, and cause an action to be performed based on the stall event.

Implement stall detection system

An electronic control unit to control an engine control module of an engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit may receive, from a load monitoring device, power command information associated with a load of an engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the power command information, a total power command of the engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the total power command, a target engine speed for the engine. The electronic control unit may cause an engine control module to control the engine to operate in association with the target engine speed.

Control of an engine of a machine based on detected load requirements of the machine

A hydraulic brake system is disclosed which may include a supply pump pressurizing a brake control system via a brake control supply line; a pressure-released brake connected to the brake control system via a brake line; a pressure relief valve with an inlet connected to the brake control supply line and an outlet connected to a relief valve discharge line; a make-up line connecting the brake line and the relief valve discharge line; and a check valve on the make-up line allowing one-way flow from the relief valve discharge line to the brake line.

Hydraulic brake system with make-up line

A device that includes a memory and a processor is disclosed. The processor may be configured to receive a control signal for operating a plurality of traction motors of a work machine. The control signal may include information relating to an actual speed of the work machine, a target speed of the work machine, and a generator speed of a generator operatively coupled to the traction motors. The processor may be configured to determine respective torque commands associated with the traction motors based on the actual speed and the target speed, and determine a generator power limit based on the generator speed. The processor may be configured to determine a threshold based on the respective torque commands and the generator power limit, adjust the respective torque commands based on the threshold, and cause the traction motors to be operated based on the adjusted respective torque commands.

Control system for DC bus regulation

A control system for a work implement of a machine having a frame is provided. The control system includes a pair of lift cylinders operatively coupled to the work implement and configured to raise or lower the work implement with respect to the frame. Each of the lift cylinders has a rod end and a cap end. The control system includes a first cross-over line configured to fluidly communicate the rod ends to each other and a second cross-over line configured to fluidly communicate the cap ends to each other. The control system includes a cross-over valve disposed in one of the first and second cross-over lines and configured to regulate a flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough. The control system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the cross-over valve and configured to at least partially close the cross-over valve during a dump cycle of the work implement.

System and method for controlling a machine implement

A system for re-orienting a machine during a ripping operation includes a position sensing system, a ripper, and a controller. The system stores a ripping path, determines the position of the machine, and compares the position of the machine to the ripping path. A drawbar pull of the machine is determined, compared to a maximum steering drawbar pull, and the ripper is raised if the machine is positioned greater than a predetermined distance from the ripping path and the drawbar pull exceeds the maximum steering drawbar pull. The machine is re-oriented and the ripper lowered relative to the work surface.

System and method for re-directing a ripping path

Machines, such as large tractors used in earthmoving, operate in a cycle of pushing forward and reversing to a starting point. The net performance of the machine is a function of the speed at which the reverse segment is performed. Generally, using the highest gear for reverse accomplishes the goal of the fastest return. However, some high slope grade conditions may result in higher speeds using lower gears. A combination of slope, track speed vs. drawbar pull, and track slip may be used to recommend a gear and track speed with the greatest ground speed for reverse operation.

Determination of optimum tractor reverse speed

Real time determination of current vs. optimum performance in a track-type tractor is complex and requires information about both a state of the tractor and the operating environment, such as soil conditions. Presenting such data to an operator creates a problem of conveying sufficient information without undue complexity. A three part display for an operator shows a full range of performance, a subset range of performance associated with peak performance that is overlaid on the full range of performance, and a current performance indicator also overlaid on the full range of performance, such that peak performance is achieved when the current performance indicator is centered on the subset range of performance. The subset range of performance may move over the full range of performance to indicate operating conditions favoring a particular condition, e.g., low slip. An operator may then effect a change by adjusting, for example, speed or load.

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Metamora, IL, United States of America

Lance Mathew Cowper