Caterpillar Inc.

Peter William Anderton

William A Holt

David Charles Orr

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Adam J Gudat

James Decker Humphrey

Michael D Braunstein

Claude Wesley Keefer

Apostolis P Kouvelis

Craig L Koehrsen

Chuong Q Dam

Michael H Haselkorn

Daniel L Mikrut

Morris E Taft

Jerry A Metz

Kenneth R Watts

Khanh Ngo

Balamurugesh Thirunavukarasu

Jian Zhang

Phil J Shankwitz

Alan P Dremann

Charles E Clark

Harry M Yousefnia

William J Trimble

Gary A Ellertson

Robert L Meyer

Roy L Maguire

David E Nelson

David G Kupper

Daniel D Angot

Roy D Morley

Dennis R Shookman

David C Freeman

Steve L Arianoutsos

Albert L Woody

Nainesh Parmar

Brett A Jones

Michel P Peeters

Fredric A Woldow

Landon Lee Rowell

Christopher Lee Hyatt

Marcin Domink Blaszkowski

J Christopher Barnes

Monte C Cook

Robert E Brashers

Jean-Francois P Villard

Steve M Jelaca

Dennis C Pond

Joseph D Groves

Timothy G Van Den Avond

Lawrence J Cobb

Ronald Brown

Craig I Koehrsen

Systems and methods for controlling fluid delivery on a site using at least one fluid delivery machine are disclosed. An exemplary such method includes identifying at least one path on the site based on map information associated with the site, calculating a fluid delivery requirement of the at least one path based on environmental information associated with the site, and dispatching a fluid delivery machine on a mission to treat the at least one path with fluid based on the fluid delivery requirement.

Methods and systems for controlling fluid delivery missions on a site

A method for assembling a spray pattern adjustment assembly for use with a spray head assembly is provided. The spray head assembly may define an outlet passage that has a height. The method may include the steps of inserting the spray pattern adjustment assembly having a reduced height compared to the height of the outlet passage into the outlet passage, increasing the height of the spray pattern adjustment assembly to at least match the height of the outlet passage, and substantially fixing the position of the spray pattern adjustment assembly relative to the spray head assembly.

Spray pattern adjustment system for a spray head

A control system is disclosed having at least one spray head, a fluid pump, and a power converter driving the fluid pump. The control system may also have an interface device to receive at least one parameter associated with a desired fluid delivery event, a pressure sensor configured to generate a first signal, a travel speed sensor configured to generate a second signal, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine a desired fluid pressure based on the at least one parameter, and determine a control command for the power converter based on the desired fluid pressure. The controller may be further configured to determine a feedforward gain parameter based on the at least one parameter and the second signal, determine a feedback gain parameter based on a difference between desired and actual fluid pressures, and adjust the control command based on the feedforward and feedback gain parameters.

Control system for mobile fluid delivery machine

A mobile fluid delivery machine has a communication device configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions that identify a sequence of path segments on a site and corresponding fluid delivery allocation information for the path segments, and a location device determining the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine. It also has a fluid delivery system including a display device and at least one processor that is configured to identify the fluid delivery allocation information for the path segment that corresponds to the location of the mobile machine on the site, and to determine, based on the fluid delivery allocation information for the path segment that corresponds to the location of the mobile machine on the site, a fluid delivery rate for the path segment. The processor is also configured to cause the display device to display an indication of the determined fluid delivery rate for the path segment.

Methods and systems for executing fluid delivery mission

A spray head for a fluid distribution system may include first and second deflector inner surfaces defining a fluid outlet. A piston may define a variable orifice communicating with the fluid outlet to control fluid flow through the spray head. An inner surface of the second deflector may define a grooveless deflector central region disposed between first and second deflector lateral regions. Each of the first and second deflector lateral regions may include at least a first deflector groove extending along a first deflector groove path oriented substantially radially relative to the inlet passage, so that the spray head generates a spray pattern having more uniform fluid distribution across the spray pattern.

Spray head for a mobile fluid distribution system

A systems and methods for delivering fluid to a site using a mobile fluid delivery machine are disclosed. The method includes determining a location of the mobile fluid delivery machine on the site, and determining a fluid delivery rate based on the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine using information related to the site. The method further includes delivering the fluid to a surface of the site at the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine, at the determined fluid delivery rate.

System and method for controlling fluid delivery

A method of controlling a fluid delivery machine configured to deliver fluid on a worksite is disclosed. In the method, operation of a power source of the fluid delivery machine is controlled with a control module. Fluid delivery on the worksite is also controlled by the control module.

Fluid delivery system and method

A spray head for a fluid distribution system that includes a spray head base defining a fluid inlet passage connected to a spray head body, a pair of deflectors extending outwardly from the base and the body, respectively, defining a fluid outlet passage, a piston disposed in a chamber of the body defining a variable orifice between the inlet and outlet, and a deflector plate positioned on an inner surface of the deflector of the base having a deflector plate surface opposing the variable orifice.

A fluid distribution system and method for mobile applications. The system includes a power source, a pump driven by the power source, and a motor driven by the pump. The system also includes a spray head with a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage, a fluid piston disposed in a chamber for controlled access between the inlet and outlet passages and defining a variable orifice, and a hydraulic cylinder controllably engaged to the orifice. The fluid piston and the hydraulic cylinder are aligned with a common longitudinal axis, and the inlet passage is offset from the axis in a direction opposed to the location of the outlet passage.

Mobile fluid distribution system and method

A mobile fluid delivery machine for delivering fluid to a site has a tank storing fluid, and at least one spray head configured to spray the stored fluid onto the site. In addition, the machine has a communication device configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions from a site computing system, the mission instructions identifying a sequence of path segments on the site and corresponding fluid delivery amounts allocated to the path segments, and a location device configured to determine the location of the machine on the site. Th machine may also have a fluid delivery system configured to determine whether the location of the fluid delivery machine corresponds to a path segment of the sequence, and when it is determined that the location of the machine corresponds to a path segment in the sequence, to identify the fluid delivery amount allocated to that path segment based on the mission instructions.

An improved articulated pin joint for a track chain used on track laying work machines is provided. The articulated pin joint includes a plug positioned in a central cavity of a track pin. The plug includes an axial passage in which a needle can be inserted to inject grease into the central cavity. The invention facilitates replenishing grease in the field without removing the track chain from the track laying work machine.

Articulated pin joint for a track chain

Star carrier roller assemblies have been used in certain tracked mobile machines, such as those used in the timber industry, that must operate in cold weather and/or over rough terrain. Due to interaction of the star carrier roller assembly with a track chain assembly, undesirable wear on the star carrier roller assembly occurs. The present invention includes at least one star carrier roller assembly for a tracked mobile machine that limits the wear on the star carrier roller assembly. The star carrier roller assembly includes a carrier roller positioned adjacent to a sprocket having a plurality of teeth. Each tooth includes a tooth width and a tooth angle. A ratio between the tooth width and a difference of a pitch length and a bushing diameter of a track chain assembly is less than 0.3, and the tooth angle is greater than or equal to zero degrees (0&deg;). The present invention further limits the wear of the star carrier roller assembly by maintaining a wear surface on the carrier roller less than three hundred degrees Fahrenheit (300&deg; F.) while attaching the sprocket to the carrier roller.

Tracked mobile machine with star carrier roller and method of assembly

A track link assembly having a first pair of track links, and a second pair of track links is disclosed. The track link assembly further includes a bushing having ends pressed into an inner boss of the second pair of track links. The track link assembly yet further includes a solid track pin positioned within the bushing and swaged to the outer boss of the first track links. The track link further includes a thrust ring interposed between the end of the bushing and the outer boss of the respective one of the first pair of track links. The track link assembly still further includes a seal assembly positioned adjacent each thrust ring.

Heavy duty track link

A method of hardening a work piece having (i) an outer surface, (ii) an inner surface which defines a passageway extending through the work piece, and (iii) an end. The method includes the steps of (A) advancing the work piece through a first induction coil such that a first hardened area is formed on the work piece, (B) advancing a second induction coil into the passageway of the work piece such that a second hardened area is formed on the work piece, and (C) positioning a third induction coil adjacent to the end of the work piece such that a third hardened area is formed on the work piece. The positioning the third induction coil step is performed after (i) the advancing the work piece through the first induction coil step and (ii) the advancing a second induction coil into the passageway step.

Method of hardening a bushing of a track chain

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Peter William Anderton