Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Nathan L Mashek

Colton J Hirman

Eric Steven Engelmann

Ryan S Hutar

Jason A Haro

Jason Robert Bjorge

John Lee Marsolek

Nicholas Alan Oetken

Lee M Hogan

Paul J Koenen

Lucian Husar

Eric Arden Hansen

Nick Johnson

Nathaniel S Doy

Brian Joe Schlenker

Dario Sansone

Nicholas Bernard Johnson

Craig T Hedstrom

Robert Edwin Carr

Sean Laclef

Tim J Lindholm

Gianfranco Perri

Andrew Rafael Kopca

Jared Todd Woodruff

Brandon Bares

A method for determining and monitoring output of a milling machine comprises sensing an operating parameter of a milling machine with a sensor, transmitting data from the sensor of the milling machine to an off-board location, determining a performance parameter of the milling machine from the data at the off-board location, transmitting the performance parameter to the milling machine, and displaying the performance parameter on a display screen of the milling machine.

Milling machine performance monitoring systems and methods

A system for indicating a fluid level in a fluid tank of a machine includes a plurality of lighting units and at least one indicia. The lighting units are sequentially arranged with respect to each other and configured to be sequentially activated or sequentially deactivated to correspondingly indicate a real-time level of a fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia is disposed along the lighting units to correspondingly indicate at least one threshold level of the fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia allows inference of the real-time level to recede below the at least one threshold level if a sequential deactivation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a first direction. In addition, the indicia allows inference of the real-time level to exceed the at least one threshold level if a sequential activation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a second direction.

System for indicating fluid level in fluid tanks of machines

Systems and methods can sense, using a vibration sensor disposed relative to a rotor of a milling machine, vibration associated with a cutting operation of the rotor of the milling machine; and determine during the cutting operation whether the sensed vibration associated with the cutting operation of the rotor indicates now that the rotor is cutting a second material different from a first material being previously cut by the rotor during the cutting operation. The second material can be harder than the first material. Cutting operations of the milling machine can be controlled based on identification of the rotor cutting the second material. The cutting operations can include speed of the milling machine, cutting level and/or depth of the rotor, and/or rotational speed of the rotor.

Systems and methods for controlling operation of a milling machine based on vibration

A milling machine may have a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a milling drum attached to the frame. The milling machine may have ground engaging tracks that support the frame, and height-adjustable leg columns connecting the frame to the tracks. The milling machine may also have an engine for rotating the milling drum and propelling the ground engaging tracks. The milling machine may have a slope sensor to measure a roll angle of the frame, a speed sensor to measure a ground speed, and a configuration sensor to measure a machine configuration parameter. The milling machine may also have an alarm device and a controller. The controller may determine a threshold roll angle based on the machine configuration parameter, compare the roll angle with the threshold roll angle, and activate the alarm device when the roll angle is greater than or equal to the threshold roll angle.

Milling machine having a tip over warning system

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.

Flexible hopper for a conveyor system

An apparatus includes a rotating drive component for a drive train, the rotating drive component comprising a first rotating element and a second rotating element, wherein the first rotating element and the second rotating element are arranged in a concentric arrangement such that the second rotating element is positioned within the first rotating element; and a shear element extending radially between and coupled to each of the first rotating element and the second rotating element, the shear element having a lower breaking strength than other components in the drive train, wherein if the shear element breaks, the first rotating element and the second rotating element are decoupled from each other and rotate independently of each other.

Torque limiting device for road milling machine

Folding ladder assembly includes upper and lower ladder sections, and first, second, and third linkage assemblies. First linkage assembly includes at least a first linkage assembly linkage member. Second linkage assembly includes at least a second linkage assembly first linkage member pivotably coupled to upper and lower ladder sections. Third linkage assembly includes at least portions of the first linkage assembly linkage member and the second linkage assembly first linkage member. Movement of the first linkage assembly results in movement of the upper ladder section, the second linkage assembly, the third linkage assembly, and the lower ladder section.

Folding ladder assembly for an elevated platform

A milling machine can include a frame; a milling assembly including a drum housing; and a connecting assembly for mounting the drum housing to the frame, the connecting assembly including: a mounting member on one of the frame or the drum housing; and a locking mechanism fixed to the other one of the frame or the drum housing, the locking mechanism including a rotatable angled-plane pin configured to connect to the mounting member.

Quick change chamber for milling machine

A milling assembly for a cold planer including a frame and an actuator assembly having a plurality of movable locking rods for mounting the milling assembly to the frame is disclosed. The milling assembly comprises a drum housing, and a plurality of mounting units fixed to the drum housing for mounting the milling assembly to the frame. The mounting units include a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive a respective end portion of one of the plurality of movable locking rods. In another embodiment, a milling assembly including an actuator assembly with movable locking rods is disclosed.

Quick change milling assembly for a cold planer

A machine includes a work implement and at least one camera arranged to capture a video image of a viewed area and provide a video signal related to the viewed area to a controller. The controller compiles a visual display in which the current position and a current direction of the work implement relative to the viewed area is displayed in real time. The controller also calculates a trajectory of the work implement based on machine speed and steering signals to compile a visual trajectory representation of the work implement relative to the viewed area, which is combined with the visual display into a combined visual representation that is presented to an operator through a video display.

Cutting tool visual trajectory representation system and method

A milling machine includes a frame, a ground-engaging rotor assembly coupled to the frame, and a rotor chamber surrounding the ground-engaging rotor assembly. The rotor chamber includes a moldboard having a top, a bottom, and two sides positioned between the top and the bottom, and the moldboard further having an open position and a closed position. The rotor chamber also includes at least one movable pin secured to the moldboard, the pin being movable by an in-line actuator between a pin extended position and a pin retracted position. Further, the rotor chamber includes a rotor chamber frame wall having an opening located to receive the pin when the pin is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position, and the receiving of the pin in the rotor chamber frame wall opening secures the moldboard from movement.

Moldboard retention system for a milling machine

A cold planer is provided. The cold planer includes an engine and an enclosure compartment for a milling rotor. The enclosure compartment includes a frame defining an opening of the enclosure compartment. The enclosure compartment includes a moldboard connected to the frame. The moldboard is configured to move vertically between a first position and a second position with respect to the frame. An interfacing arrangement includes a first pair of components carried by the frame and a second pair of components carried by the moldboard. The components of one of the first pair of components and the second pair of components have slanted edges. The first and second pairs of components are configured to allow a lateral movement of the moldboard when the moldboard is in the first position and to engage one another to prevent the lateral movement of the moldboard when the moldboard is in the second position.

System and method for controlling movement of moldboard

A control system, apparatus, and method for controlling operations of a milling machine are described. Data corresponding to a ventilation mode and a conveyor delay amount set by an operator of the milling machine is stored in memory. Control of transition of operation of the milling machine from a milling mode to a standby mode is according to a first predetermined sequence of operations responsive to a first input at a control panel of the milling machine. Further, control of transition of operation of the milling machine from the standby mode to the milling mode is according to a second predetermined sequence of operations, which is in reverse order relative to the first predetermined sequence of operations, in response to the first input at the control panel.

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Albertville, MN, United States of America

Nathan L Mashek