Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC

Richard Ryan Evenson

Tony Ross Metzger

Bruce John Wiewel

Robert L Powers

Gregory August Epplin

Jason Mark Buckmier

An earthmoving system includes a blade, a controller, and a blade control system configured to control the positioning of the blade. While grading, the earthmoving system is configured to simultaneously position the blade according to each of a fixed slope grading mode, a design driven control grading mode, and an fixed load grading mode.

Grading mode integration

A method of controlling a blade of an earthmoving system is disclosed. The method includes enabling independent blade control so that the blade is controllable independent of the terrain contour design while a cutting edge of the blade is beneath the terrain contour design, and receiving first sensor signals from one or more first sensors of the earthmoving system, where the sensor signals indicate that the cutting edge of the blade is within a threshold distance from the terrain contour design. In response to receiving the first sensor signals, the method automatically controls the cutting edge of the blade to the terrain contour design, where the movement of the blade is dependent on the terrain contour design.

Blade control below design

A track type tractor incorporates control over lift, tilt, angle and pitch into an implement control joystick. The pitch cylinder and the tilt cylinder share segments of the hydraulic circuit, and a diverter valve prioritizes pitch control over tilt control in the rare occurrence when the operator is requesting both tilt and pitch changes to the dozer blade. Angle control and pitch control may be accomplished by finger controllers incorporated into the implement control joystick. Thus, the operator can control the dozer blade in four degrees of freedom without losing contact with the implement control joystick.

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Apex, NC, United States of America

Richard Ryan Evenson