Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Robert Wayne Lindsey

Robert Roy Sychra

Curtis Johnson

Jackson Wai

Jason Lee Miller

Rex Aaron Glover

Mark E Hartman

Thomas M Sopko

Dustin Craig Selvey

Arthur Wild

Daniel D Podany

Toby Andrew Frelich

Jesse R Gerdes

Sangameshwar Sonth

Ryan Todd Thiesse

Rodwan Tarek Adra

Eric M Andris

Thomas Michael Sopko, Jr

Joshua M Williams

Benjamin Paul Gottemoller

Igor S Ramos

Bruce Henry Hein

Edward Lee Zwilling

Richard F Shults

Donald John Gilmore

LaTanya G Turner

Richard Geist Auch

Jennifer Leah Lindsey

Robert J Lord

An electrical system architecture for a mobile, electric hybrid machine includes a first bus configured to receive electric power at a first, selectively adjustable voltage from an electrical power source. A second bus is configured to receive electric power at a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage. A controller is configured to determine a desired magnitude of the second voltage for the second bus, produce a signal indicative of a magnitude of the first, selectively adjustable voltage that is a multiple of the desired magnitude of the second voltage, and adjust the magnitude of the first voltage in the first bus to the multiple of the desired magnitude of the second voltage. A fixed-ratio power converter is configured to convert the power at the first voltage in the first bus to the power at the second voltage in the second bus.

Power converter for electric hybrid earthmoving machine

A fault detection system for a machine having a plurality of electrical conducting elements insulated from a frame ground of the machine is disclosed. The fault detection system may include a high voltage DC power source, a positive high voltage bus connected to a positive terminal of the high voltage DC power source and providing high voltage electrical power to the plurality of electrical conducting elements, and a negative high voltage bus connected to a negative terminal of the high voltage DC power source and returning high voltage electrical power from the plurality of electrical conducting elements. At least one of the positive and negative high voltage buses may be selectively connected through a plurality of switches to plural zones of the electrical conducting elements, with each of the plural zones being electrically connected in parallel, and selectively connected to the high voltage DC power source by one of the plurality of switches. A low voltage DC power source may be configured to form part of a leakage current detector selectively connected through each of the plurality of switches to each of the plural zones for detecting leakage current between an electrical conducting element and the frame ground.

Fault detection system with leakage current detection

A screed system is provided. The screed system includes a base screed. The screed system includes an extension member, wherein the extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes an identification module associated with the extension member. The identification module is configured to provide an indication of the extension member. The screed system further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the identification module and the controller are configured to communicate with each other.

System and method for screed extension identification

A machine is described that includes an electric drive for propelling the machine along a ground surface. The machine includes an electric power supply system configured to deliver operating electrical power to the electric drive. The electric power system includes a first generator and a second generator. The electric power system also includes a first rectifier coupled to the first generator and having a first direct current (DC) output and a second rectifier coupled to the second generator and having a second DC output. Both the first DC output and the second DC output are coupled to the single DC bus, thereby providing an arrangement for the first rectifier and the second rectifier to simultaneously provide power to the single DC bus. The electrical power system also includes a first inverter/controller coupled to the single DC bus and configured to provide a controlled alternating current to a first motor.

Dual generator single DC link configuration for electric drive propulsion system

A paving machine for laying a mat of paving material on a paving surface includes a generator, such as a switched reluctance generator, integrally installed with a pump drive and operatively connected to an output shaft of a power source of the paving machine. The generator outputs AC power to a power converter that in turn outputs DC power for a plurality of screed heating elements to produce heat to warm a screed. The paving machine may also include an insulation monitoring system for determining the occurrences of ground faults in the electrical components by comparing current levels in the components to a predetermined maximum current level. A controller of the paving machine may monitor the temperature of the generator and produce the speed of the power source to prevent overheating.

Integrated generator for screed plate heat up

A method of estimating rotor speed of a generatorhaving a rotorand a statoris provided. The method may provide a source current to the stator, determine a relative rotor speed based on a sensor signal provided by a rotor speed sensor, determine a relative rotor position corresponding to the relative rotor speed, determine an absolute rotor position based on the sensor signal and phase currents, and calibrate the sensor signal based on an offset between the relative rotor position and the absolute rotor position.

Switched reluctance generator initial rotor position estimation

A power electronics system configured to determine a condition of a winding insulation is disclosed. The system may include at least one capacitor, and a first resistance coupled to the at least one capacitor. The system may further include a plurality of electronic switching devices coupled to at least the first resistance and the at least one capacitor, wherein the plurality of electronic switching devices are configured to selectively couple the at least one capacitor to a power source to charge the at least one capacitor during a first time interval and selectively couple the at least one capacitor to a second resistance during a second time interval. The system may further include a voltage measuring device configured to detect a change in voltage at a terminal of the at least one capacitor in response to the selective coupling of the at least one capacitor to the second resistance. The system may further include a computing system configured to determine a condition of the insulation based on the detection.

System and method for testing winding insulation resistance

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 high voltage wiring system for an electric powertrain is disclosed. The system includes a power conversion unit sealed in a first enclosure. The system also includes at least one second enclosure configured to be sealed and having at least one cable disposed therein. The disclosed system further includes a plurality of wiring termination compartments configured to provide a plurality of electrical termination points. The plurality of wiring termination compartments are separately encased in a material configured to provide a sealed barrier between an outside environment and the plurality of electrical termination points. The disclosed system further includes a source of at least one pressurized gas configured to substantially prevent the ingress of moisture into the first enclosure, the at least one second enclosure, and the plurality of wiring termination compartments.

High voltage wiring system for electric powertrains

A method of testing power converter current sensors is disclosed. The method may include receiving a current sensor test request and receiving measured currents from current measurements from the at least one current sensor, based on the test request. The method may further include comparing the measured current of the sensor with a stored profile and determining whether a fault exists in each current sensor being tested. The method may also include providing a user with a test report.

Power converter current sensor testing method

A ground fault detection system for an electrical system is disclosed. The electrical system may have a first and a second electrical component and a controller, and the second electrical component may be coupled to the controller. The ground fault detection system may include a ground fault detection module integrated in the first electrical component. The first electrical component may be isolated from the second electrical component. The ground fault detection system may further include a data link configured to establish a data communication between a controller and the ground fault detection module. The ground fault detection module may be configured to activate a mode of operation for the first electrical component if a ground fault associated with the first electrical component is identified.

High voltage ground fault detection system

A power converter control system for electric powertrains is disclosed. The power converter control system may include at least one power producing device and at least one power consuming device. The power converter control system may further include at least one power electronics module configured to convert and condition a flow of electrical current between the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device. The at least one power electronics module may further be configured to serialize a flow of a first set of signals between the at least one power electronics module and at least one controller. The first set of signals may correspond to at least one characteristic of the at least one power electronics module.

Power converter control system for electric powertrains

A control system is disclosed. The control system has an electric machine coupled to provide power to or receive power from a DC bus and a controller in communication with the electric machine and the DC bus. The controller is configured to receive a voltage from the DC bus, compare the voltage from the DC bus to a characteristic indicative of a fault of at least one winding of the electric machine, and take a precaution based on the comparison.

Winding fault detection system

A testing system for a ground fault detection system of an electrical system of a machine is disclosed. The testing system has a low voltage power source, the low voltage power source capable of operation that is independent from a high voltage power source of the machine. The testing system also has a variable current source that is permanently connected to a positive voltage bus or to a negative voltage bus of the electrical system of the machine, where the machine operates self-sufficiently. The testing system also has a controller connected to the variable current source. The testing system also has an input device, where the input device is connected to the controller.

Testing method for a ground fault detector

A method of testing a cabling system is disclosed. The method may include discharging an input filter capacitor associated with an accessory component, charging an accessory bus capacitor to a desired voltage level, and connecting the accessory bus capacitor to the input filter capacitor. The method may also include continuously monitoring a voltage waveform associated with the accessory bus capacitor. The method may further include determining a difference between the voltage waveform and a nominal voltage profile, and detecting a fault if the difference is greater than a threshold value.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, IL, United States of America

Robert Wayne Lindsey