Caterpillar Inc.

Larry Ellis Kendrick

Michael S Lukich

Darwin R Carrell

Alan Lewis Ferguson

John P Hoffman

Conrad G Grembowicz

Gregory J Speckhart

Gerald D Hardy

Sridhar Deivasigamani

Brian Eugene Lister

James Harris Mutti

Timothy A Lorentz

Weldon L Phelps

Stephen W Rector

James B Maddock

Gregory L Williamson

Kirk S Shively

Howard N Cannon

Kevin A Vernagus

Samir Med Kherat

Muhammed Were

Robert Urban Murray

David Langsford Collins

Satish Yadav

Gareth John Estebanez

A control system for a mobile excavation machine is disclosed. The control system may include a ground engaging work tool, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor may be configured to sense a parameter indicative of a current travel speed of the mobile excavation machine and generate a speed signal in response thereto. The controller may be in communication with the ground engaging work tool and the sensor, and configured to receive the signal. The controller may also be configured to determine a cutting depth of the ground engaging work tool into a material and calculate a current productivity value associated with removal of the material based on the speed signal and the determined cutting depth. The controller may be further configured to control the ground engaging work tool to vary the amount of material currently being removed in response to the current productivity value.

Autoload system for excavation based on productivity

An exemplary power management system may include a power source and a transmission. The transmission may include a drive member and at least two shift ranges. The drive member may be driveably engaged with the power source. The power management system may also include a control system in communication with the power source and the transmission. The control system may be operative to cause a shift transition between the at least two shift ranges in response to a shift command. The control system may also be operative, during at least a portion of the shift transition, to modify at least one of a speed of the drive member and a speed of the power source based on at least one of a load condition of the power source, a speed of the power source, and the at least two shift ranges.

Power management system

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for filtering a signal. A first processing device receives a first control signal and a first feedback signal and transmits a first error signal as a function of those signals. A second processing device receives the first error signal and transmits a second control signal as a function of the first error signal, a deadband, and a gain factor. A third processing device receives the second control signal and the first feedback signal and transmits an output signal as a function of those signals. A fourth processing device receives the output signal and transmits the first feedback signal as a function of the output signal to the first processing device and the third processing device, the first feedback signal being substantially equal to the output signal delayed by a first predetermined duration of time.

Method and apparatus for filtering a signal using a deadband

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the oil grade of an actuating fluid in a fuel system. The method includes the steps of determining an actuating fluid temperature, a pump speed, and a peak pressure or a timing event of the actuating fluid, and responsively determining the oil grade of the actuating fluid.

Method and apparatus for determining an oil grade of an actuating fluid

An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) an input shaft driven by an engine, (ii) an output shaft, (iii) an operator input for generating speed commands, and (iv) a controller operable to receive said speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. An upper transmission ratio limit is defined by first engine speed and a lower transmission ratio limit is defined by a second engine speed. When the speed command requires a transmission ratio command greater than the upper transmission ratio limit, the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the upper transmission ratio limit, whereas when the speed command requires a transmission ratio command less than the lower transmission ratio limit the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the lower transmission ratio limit. A method for controlling a continuously variable transmission is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for adjusting transmission ratio commands for a continuously variable transmission

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the viscosity range and/or oil grade of an actuating fluid in a fuel system. The method includes the steps of determining a flow, pressure, and temperature of the actuating fluid, and responsively determining the viscosity range and/or oil grade of the actuating fluid.

Method and apparatus for determining a viscosity of an actuating fluid

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining a performance characteristic of at least one of a plurality of fuel injectors located within a fuel system. The method includes the steps of determining a first desired fuel quantity to be delivered by the plurality of injectors, suspending fuel delivery by one of the injectors, determining a second desired fuel quantity to be delivered by the injectors in response to the suspension, and determining a performance characteristic of the suspended injector in response to said first and the second desired fuel quantity.

Electronically controlled fuel injector trimming

The present invention is adapted to provide a method and apparatus for dynamically determining an individualized fuel command for each fuel injector connected to an engine. In the preferred embodiment the method includes delivering a baseline fuel command to each of the injectors. The actual engine speed is then determined. An individualized fuel command is determined for each of the fuel injectors based on the baseline fuel command, and the actual engine speed. In the preferred embodiment the individualized fuel commands are dynamically determined when the engine is idling. In an alternative embodiment, the individualized fuel commands may be used throughout the operating speed range of the engine.

Method and apparatus for dynamically calibrating a fuel injector

An apparatus for controlling the load of an engine associated with a hydrostatic drive system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a variable displacement pump rotatably driven by the engine. The apparatus modifies a pump displacement command signal in response to the actual and desired engine speed acceleration. The modified pump displacement command signal is used to control the displacement of a variable pump in order to regulate the load on the engine to achieve optimum efficiency.

Method and apparatus for controlling a load of an engine associated with

An apparatus for controlling the load of an engine associated with an hydrostatic drive system is disclosed. The apparatus modifies a pump displacement command signal in response to the actual and desired engine acceleration. The modified pump displacement command signal is used to control the displacement of a variable pump in order to regulate the load on the engine to achieve optimum efficiency.

Control system and method for a hydrostatic drive system

A communications network is adapted to provide communication between control modules on a vehicle. Each control module includes a first and second transceiver. A control module checks for the presence of a data message from another control module before transmitting a data message. If there is no other data message present, the control module transmits the data message around the network in both directions using the first and second transceivers. The other control modules receive the data message from the previous control module and pass the data message to the next control module in the network.

Fault tolerant serial communications network

Implement draft control devices are typically utilized on agricultural vehicles such as tractors and on other earthworking type vehicles. Advantageously, such control systems should respond quickly to changing soil conditions, while remaining stable so that the hitch and implement systems do not oscillate or are not changed in a rapid or erratic fashion. The instant embodiment of a draft control system includes a control system that receives hitch position control signals and engine acceleration signals, and controllably modifies the hitch position control signals in response to the rate of acceleration and deceleration of the engine. By utilizing engine acceleration and deceleration rates as opposed to mere changes in engine speed, the system is able to respond quickly to needed changes in implement depth while remaining stable during operation.

Draft control apparatus and method

Agricultural vehicles have heretofore lacked an adaptive implement hitch control and have correspondingly suffered from poor controllability of the hitch when the mass of the implement is varied significantly. The apparatus employs a sensor connected to and movable with the hitch such that a variable magnitude electrical signal is delivered which corresponds to the instantaneous hitch position. This signal is electronically differentiated to produce a signal indicative of actual hitch velocity. The hitch position and velocity signals are both used as feedback signals to close the control loop of the control and thereby provide an adaptive hitch velocity control.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Larry Ellis Kendrick