Caterpillar Inc.

Noel J Rytter

Craig B Kelley

Val G Boucher

Dwight S Holloway

Daniel E Henderson

Javad Hosseini

Howard A Marsden

Tony L Marcott

Gerald P Simmons

Brian G McGee

Randall M Mitchell

John W Crayton

Hans P Dietz

Daniel L Mikrut

Jerry D Marr

Michael Angel Cobo

Rolland D Scholl

Robert A Herold

David E Nelson

Eldon D Oestmann

Timothy A Boston

Lowell E Johnson

Michael F Coffman

Lorne W Tweed

Charles W Birchenough

William C Evans

Randall R Richards

Ronald O Groth

Lonnie D Atteberry

Charles J Chappell

Jeffrey J Riebschlager

Philip C McKenzie

Robert D Greer

William Merwin Debord

Andrew G Verheyen

James Edward Chapman

David W Bump, Deceased

A self-contained, modular electric power generation system includes a portable housing having a modular shell disposed substantially on a foundation, wherein the portable housing is configured to facilitate the transportation of the modular electric power generation system. The system also includes a power generator disposed substantially within the portable housing. The power generator is configured to collect fuel associated with a fuel source and convert at least a portion of the collected fuel to electrical energy. The system also includes a sensing device configured to be coupled to the fuel source. The sensing device is configured to monitor a fuel level associated with the fuel source and provide data indicative of the fuel level to a management console associated with the power generation system. The system also includes a controller coupled to the power generator. The controller is configured to monitor an amount of fuel consumed by the conversion process, and provide data indicative of the amount of fuel consumed by the conversion process to the management console.

Modular electric power generation system and method of use

An overshot loader including a set of ground engaging members, a frame attached to the set of ground engaging members, and a linkage assembly movably connected to the frame and located within a longitudinal center portion of the frame.

Overshot loader for autonomous operation

The present invention provides a sensing system and method for providing information relating to a drivetrain during shifting operations. The drivetrain includes an engine, a torque converter and a transmission. The system includes sensors for detecting the output speed of the engine, the output speed of the torque converter, and the output speed of the transmission. The system detects the starting condition of a shifting operation, responsively determines a set of performance parameters, and produces a set of performance parameter signals.

Method and system for diagnosing a drivetrain during shifting operations

An anti-spin apparatus for a machine is disclosed. The machine is articulated and has at least one axle set with at least two driven wheels. The anti-spin apparatus includes braking mechanisms which controllably apply braking forces to each of the driven wheels. A controller produces a slip signal having a value responsive to the difference in rotational velocity between the wheels of the axle set. A transducer produces an articulation signal having a value responsive to the angle of articulation of the machine. Further, a microprocessor receives the slip signal and the articulation signal, and produces a braking control signal. One of the braking mechanisms receives the braking control signal and responsively applies the braking forces to the faster rotating wheel.

Method and apparatus for controlling differentially driven wheel-slip

An electrohydraulic control device for a drive train of a machine is disclosed. The drive train includes an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter having a rotating housing. The torque converter is drivingly connected between the engine and the transmission. The torque converter also includes an impeller element. An impeller clutch connects the impeller element to the rotating housing. An impeller clutch electrohydraulic valve produces fluid flow to the impeller clutch to controllably engage and disengage the impeller clutch. A torque converter speed sensor senses the output speed of the torque converter and responsively produces a torque converter speed signal. A electronic device receives the measured torque converter speed signal, determines a desired torque convertor speed signal, produces an error speed signal in response to a difference between the measured and desired torque converter speed signals, and controllably actuates the electrohydraulic valve to cause the speed error signal to approach zero.

Electrohydraulic control device for a drive train of a machine

In one aspect of the present invention, a sensor detects particles within a fluid. The sensor includes a housing that defines a cavity. A magnet is disposed adjacent the cavity bottom to attract particles into the cavity. A first coil is wound about the outer surface of the cavity. The induction of the first coil is responsive to the particle accumulation within the cavity. A second coil is wound about the magnet. The induction of the second coil is responsive to the temperature of the fluid and independent to the particle accumulation within the cavity.

Fluid particle sensor including a container, a first coil and a second

In machines that are articulated in response to a steer input mechanism, it is many times necessary for the operator to make a steer input and then to make corrective adjustments in order to obtain the desired steer angle of the machine. In the subject invention, an electro-hydraulic steering system is provided which senses the desired steer input by the operator, senses the degree of articulation of the machine and a microprocessor delivers an electrical control signal (P) to an electro-hydraulic valve mechanism which effectively controls articulation of the machine. Once the machine has reached the degree of articulation desired by the operator, the microprocessor signals the electro-hydraulic valve mechanism to stop articulation of the machine. Consequently, the operator does not have to provide any adjustments thereto. Additionally, the ground speed of the machine is sensed and the rate of articulation is controlled in response thereto. In the subject arrangement, in the event of an electrical system failure, a back-up steering control circuit is automatically functional to control steering of the machine in a conventional manner. This arrangement provides an electro-hydraulic steering system that eases the operators fatigue by eliminating the need for corrective steer adjustments and is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Electro-hydraulic steering system

Electronic implement control

Vehicles having front and rear pairs of steerable wheels are sometimes provided with large springs for moving one pair of the wheels to a straight-ahead position during emergency steering. Large amounts of hydraulic energy are expended solely for the compression of such springs every time the pair of wheels are steered. A back-up steering control system (19) of the present steering control arrangement (10) has a servo valve (76) operative to control the flow of pressurized fluid from a back-up pump (60) to a steering control valve (21) which in turn controls the flow of pressurized fluid from the back-up pump to a hydraulic actuator (13) to hydraulically move a first pair of steerable wheels (11) to a straight-ahead position during emergency steering conditions. A manual control valve (68) is operative to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the back-up pump (60) to another steering control valve (22) which in turn controls the flow of pressurized fluid to a hydraulic actuator (16) for effecting steering of a second pair of steerable wheels (12) during the emergency steering condition.

Steering control arrangement

An apparatus is adapted to detect particles within a fluid. The apparatus includes first and second electrodes within a housing. The first and second electrodes form a 'V' shaped recess. A magnet is positioned within the housing to attract ferrous particles into the recess. The resistance between the first and second electrodes is measured as an indication of particles within the fluid.

Conductive particle sensor using a magnet

Multi-purpose control handle

A vehicular steering and transmission shifting control mechanism includes a transversally rockable control handle and a steering actuator element connected at the bottom thereof to selectively depress either a left or right actuating plunger of a hydraulic pilot valve assembly for effecting steering. The control handle is contoured to be easily grasped and to position an electrical switch actuating element for comfortable movement by an operator's thumb to change the speed of a multi-speed transmission through an associated electronic transmission control system. A three-way electrical switch actuating element at the front of the control handle is adapted to be rocked to select one of forward, neutral, and reverse modes of the transmission.

Steering and transmission shifting control mechanism

A vehicle such as an earthmoving wheel loader has an engine, a torque converter having an impeller element, a reactor element and a turbine element, and an input clutch connected between the engine and the impeller element. An electrohydraulic control device is provided to controllably engage the input clutch and that includes a microprocessor-based electronic control module, an actuator mechanism having a control member that is progressively movable between first, second and third positions to deliver a first electrical signal to the electronic control module, and a valve for directing fluid to the input clutch at a decreasing pressure level when the control member is moved from the first to the second positions in response to another signal from the electronic control module. The electronic control module is programmed to maintain at least a minimal pressure level to the actuating piston of the input clutch when the control member is between the second and third positions. Moreover, a service brake is increasingly engaged by a service brake mechanism in response to the control member moving between the second and third positions. Other logic functions are included to control the input clutch and a lockup clutch connected between the engine and the turbine element.

Electrohydraulic control device for a drive train of a vehicle

The steering system of some lightweight vehicles are electronically controlled and have a manually operated mechanical control as a backup. Such manual backup control would not be adequate for large earthmoving, construction and industrial type vehicles. The subject steering system includes an electrically controlled circuit actuated by rotation of a steering wheel for controlling a main pilot operated steering valve as the primary steering control. A hydraulic control circuit is also actuated by rotation of the steering wheel for controlling the same steering valve as a backup control when the electrically controlled circuit is not active. The hydraulic steering circuit is disabled when the electrically controlled circuit is activated. By using the same steering valve as an integral part of both circuits, the complexity and cost of the overall steering control system is reduced.

Steering control system

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Noel J Rytter