Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Rex Aaron Glover

Carl John Moberg

Curtis Johnson

Robert Wayne Lindsey

Hyppolite Kuissi

Timo Diekmann

Ahsan Shahid

James Robert Szalko

Paul Anthony Dvorak

Charles Taylor Hudson

Christopher J Demick

Ross L Hoult

Raymond Alan Wise

Patrick W Sullivan

Richard F Shults

Samuel C Taylor

Roger G Obourn

Kenneth K Her

Yagneshwar Natarajan

Stephen M Hancock

Stephen Fouts

Dan Shearer

Matthew Vande Wiele

Justin B Eaton

Brian C Crow

Fernando R Gonzalez

Michael J Kresca

Roberto Garcia

A controller may receive sensor data from one or more sensor devices of the drilling machine. The sensor data indicates a vertical position of a drilling assembly of the drilling machine. The drilling assembly includes a drill string connected to a drill bit. The controller may determine, based on the sensor data, that the vertical position of the drilling assembly corresponds to a deck wrench engaging position. The controller may cause a deck wrench, of the drilling machine, to engage an engagement portion of the drill string based on determining that the vertical position of the drilling assembly corresponds to the deck wrench engaging position. The engagement portion of the drill string is adjacent to an end of the drill string connected to the drill bit.

Automatic deck wrench engagement for drilling machines

A system and method for dust mitigation in an environment with high amounts of debris is disclosed. The system may include an optical device disposed within an interior volume of an enclosure. A positive flow of clean air may be maintained into an air input aperture of the enclosure, around the optical device, over a lens of the optical device, and out a lens aperture of the enclosure. The system may be affixed to a piece of equipment, machine, or similar structure via a positionable or pivotable mount.

Dust mitigation for optical devices

A drilling machine includes an inclination-based levelling system. The drilling machine includes a frame with front and rear portions, and a plurality of support jacks including a pair of rear jacks proximate the rear portion of the frame and a front jack proximate the front portion of the frame. Each jack is extendable and retractable. The drilling machine also includes a sensor configured to monitor and transmit sensor data, the sensor data including at least one of a roll of the drilling machine and a pressure. A controller operatively associated with the sensor, is configured to calculate a volume of debris to be produced during an operation of the drilling machine, to select a machine height setting based on the calculated volume of debris, and to extend and retract the plurality of support jacks according to the selected machine height setting.

Inclination-based levelling system

Systems and methods for drill head position determination are disclosed. A method for determining a position of a drill head of a drilling machine may include: retrieving a stored rotational position of at least one sheave and a stored position of the drill head; measuring the rotational position of the at least one sheave using a sheave sensor; initially calibrating the rotational position of the at least one sheave before the drill head moves; dynamically determining the position of the drill head based on the rotational position of the at least one sheave while the drill head is moved; and storing the rotational position of the at least one sheave and the position of the drill head during a shutdown event of the drilling machine.

Systems and methods for drill head position determination

A drill head position determination system may include a mast, a drill head movably attached to the mast, and a drill drive assembly configured to move the drill head up and down along a length of the mast. The drill head may be configured to rotate a drill string. The drill drive assembly may include at least one sheave and a cable system wound about the at least one sheave. The drill head position determination system may further include a sheave sensor operatively coupled to the at least one sheave and configured to determine a position of the drill head based on a measured rotational position of the at least one sheave.

Drill head position determination system

A method includes receiving a user input to conduct a coarse pivot movement of a drill mast. A locking-pin withdraw signal is sent to a locking pin actuator for a first period of time. Responsive to determining that a locking pin is engaged with a locking hole after the first period of time, the drill mast is repositioned from a current angle to an initial angle. A second locking-pin withdraw signal is sent to the locking pin actuator for a second period of time. Responsive to determining that the locking pin is engaged with the locking hole after the second period of time, the drill mast is repositioned between a minimum drill mast angle and a maximum drill mast angle and sending a third locking-pin withdraw signal to the locking pin actuator for a third period of time.

Drill mast locking system

A drilling machine includes a mast, a rotary head movably coupled to the mast, a drill string component having a pair of opposed flat surfaces, and a securing structure including engagement surfaces shaped to engage the opposed flat surfaces and secure the drill string component from rotating. The drilling machine also includes a controller configured to track a rotational location of the flat surfaces of the drill string component during rotation of the drill string component. The controller is further configured to receive tracking information from a sensor associated with the rotary head and control the rotary head to align the opposed flat surfaces for engagement by the securing structure.

System and method of tracking flat surfaces of a component of a drilling machine

A mobile drilling machine may include a drilling mast including a mast frame. The mobile drilling machine may further include a rotary head movably mounted on the mast frame, the rotary head controllable to rotate a drill string at a desired drill string rotation speed. The rotary head may further be controllable to move up and down the mast frame at a desired drill string feed speed. Additionally, the mobile drilling machine may include a joystick movable to control the desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed of the rotary head. A controller of the mobile drilling machine may be configured to receive a current desired drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed information from the joystick and lock the current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed upon activation of a switch mechanism.

Automated drill control system for a mobile drilling machine

A method for monitoring a cable of an implement system. The implement system includes a drilling device, a tensioning device and the cable, the cable coupled to the drilling device and the tensioning device in a taut configuration to define a first length. The method includes determining, by a controller, an increment in the first length of the cable. The method further includes comparing, by the controller, the increment in the first length with a threshold value; and generating, by the controller, a warning signal if magnitude of the increment is greater than the threshold value.

System and method for monitoring cable life

A machine includes a front section having front wheels, a rear section having rear wheels, and a pivot that couples the front section to the rear section as well as a hydraulic steering circuit that moves the front section relative to the rear section about the pivot. The machine also includes a stabilizer and further includes a directional control valve that selectively depressurizes the hydraulic steering circuit according to a state of the stabilizer.

Articulated machine employing stabilizers and steering interlock

A system for managing an underground mining machine is disclosed. The system may include a reel-in switch located in an operator station configured to generate plurality of reel-in signals, and a reel-out switch located in the operator station configured to generate a reel-out signal. The system may additionally include an electronic controller in electrical communication with the reel-in switch and the reel-out switch. The electronic controller may be configured to receive the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch and enter into two or more reeling-in modes in response to the plurality of reel-in signals.

Underground mining machine

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and indicating high-voltage presences on a machine. In one embodiment a high-voltage indication system is disclosed and may include a voltage detector configured to compare the voltage level associated with an element with a threshold voltage value, and provide an indication signal when the voltage level associated with the element is greater than the threshold voltage value. The system may also include an indicator powered by a separate power source independent from the voltage detector. The indicator may be configured to detect the indication signal provided by the voltage detector, and provide one or more warning signals in response to the indication signal.

High voltage indication system

A machine having an operator interface for requesting an action from an actuator of the machine includes a movable component of the operator interface. The movable component is movable among at least two positions. One of a magnet and a Hall effect sensor is positioned to move in response to movement of the movable component. The other of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor has a stationary position relative to the movable component. A pulse width modulator is operably coupled to the Hall effect sensor for producing a first pulse width modulated signal. The first pulse width modulated signal is altered in response to movement of one of the Hall effect sensor and the magnet relative to the other. An electronic controller is in communication with the pulse width modulator and the actuator and is configured to actuate the actuator in response to evaluation of the first pulse width modulated signal.

Operator interface assembly including a Hall effect element and machine using same

A wire harness testing system is disclosed. The wire harness testing system includes a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage at a location associated with an electric load, wherein the electric load is connected with at least one wire harness. The wire harness testing system also includes a controller electrically coupled to the voltage sensor. The controller is configured to receive a wire harness test request. The controller is further configured to determine a voltage drop based on a voltage sensor measurement and a reference voltage and compare the voltage drop with a threshold. The controller is also configured to adaptively update the reference voltage with the voltage measurement responsive to a voltage drop below the threshold, and generate a fault notice responsive to a voltage drop above the threshold. The wire harness testing system further includes at least one indication device configured to provide a warning signal based on the fault notice generated by the controller.

Growing community of inventors

Deer Creek, IL, United States of America

Rex Aaron Glover