Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Work Tools B.v.

Peter Lauterslager

Tazio Stephan Grivetti

Edward Van Amelsfoort

Christopher M Sketch

A method of coupling a tool to a work machine including inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool, inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool, moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.

Coupling assembly and method of hydraulically coupling to a tool

A coupling assembly for releasably mounting, and hydraulically coupling, a tool to a work machine. The coupling assembly includes a mount attachable to the work machine and configured to receive the tool in a mounted position of the tool, a rigid retaining body movable in translation relative to the mount along a translation axis between a retaining position for retaining the tool to the mount and a release position for releasing the tool from the mount, a first and a second actuator operable to move the retaining body between the retaining and release positions, and a hydraulic coupling manifold movable in translation relative to the mount along the translation axis for hydraulically coupling the tool to the machine, wherein the hydraulic coupling manifold uses the first and second actuators as guides for moving along the translation axis.

Quick coupler with hydraulic coupling manifold

Machines and system for 3D printing are disclosed. One machine includes a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, a material line coupled to the boom and configured to convey a material therethrough, a printhead coupled to the boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the material and to dispense the material, and a controller configured to receive 3D printing information and to convert the 3D printing information into positional coordinates of the printhead, wherein the controller is to cause movement of the boom to position the printhead based at least on the position coordinates.

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Oss, Netherlands

Peter Lauterslager