Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Claas Industrietechnik Gmbh

Other

Ronald L Satzler

David C Janzen

Edward E Schmillen

Samuel B Stevens

James E Gee

Andrew J Tonsor

Robert J Price

Robert J Purcell

David E Nelson

Robert Obermeier-Hartmann

Danny J Becker

Keith E Koch

Robert O Chambers

Edwin E Hanson

Michael I Cline

Charles E Beals

Thomas Schulte

Hendrik Schulze Zumkley

Carolin Hammacher

David C Jansen

Dave C Janzen

An agricultural vehicle having a full-track design with a vehicle structure on each side of which, relative to a vehicle longitudinal axis, a track roller unit is arranged. The track roller unit has roller unit body to which a front deflector roll, a rear deflector roller and a plurality of yoke-type track rollers arranged therebetween are coupled, and an endlessly closed track belt that wraps around the rollers/roller. All the rollers are suspended with respect to the roller unit body in that assigned to a roller or a group of rollers in each case is a spring element, which is acted upon by fluid, for the suspension thereof with respect to the roller unit body.

Agricultural vehicle

An agricultural tractor includes a pair of track assemblies including rubber treads with track bars, a front wheel assembly and a controller. The track assemblies are interconnected by respective front and rear axles extending substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel. The controller automatically controls a load imposed on the front wheel assembly in order to control the load imposed at the front axle of the track assemblies to minimize rubber tread wear.

Configuration of a two-track tractor

A tractor configuration includes a mainframe structure, a control station having a means of controlling the tractor, an undercarriage system having one left side and one right side track assembly, a wheel mechanism containing one or more wheels located forward of the track assemblies, a power train for forcing both track assemblies to travel at the same or different speeds, a controller responsible for exerting force to transfer vertical load back and forth between the front portion of the track assemblies and the wheel mechanism and controlling the amount of weight carried by the wheel mechanism. The controller causes or allows the wheel or wheels of the wheel mechanism to follow the tractor's curved path caused by track speed difference.

An integrated system for row-producing in agriculture fields comprises several implements each having an elevated central frame, an undercarriage assembly with a rear active steering system and the undercarriage assembly is rear located and being behind the structures of toolbar and row units. The rear active steering system controlled by a GPS system comprises a steer angle sensor and a closed loop continuous feedback system, with the purpose of keeping a precise lateral location. This integrated system also comprises an active toolbar height controlling system. When needed, the undercarriage assembly can be disconnected from the implement. This integrated system functions to reduce compactions in the field and ensure lateral accuracy of the implement movement. The integrated system works as a strip tiller, and as a planter.

Row-producing system for agricultural crops

A track roller unit for a vehicle has at least one pivotable subframe, at least one further pivotable subframe, wherein each of the subframes rotatably accommodates at least one land wheel, at least one subframe is pivotably mountable on the vehicle, and at least the further substrate is pivotally mounted on the one subframe.

Track roller unit

A belted asphalt compactor and method are provided. The compactor includes a first unit with a roller frame. A second unit is coupled to the first unit, and is generally identical thereto. At least one mid roller and two end rollers are mounted in the roller frames, and a compactor belt extends about the rollers. Load adjusters are associated with each of the units and operable distribute a load among the rollers. A steering system is operable to rotate one of the first unit and the second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other unit.

Belted asphalt compactor

A ground engaging tool that oscillates in a motion, relative to the ground, that is substantially vertically upward, and then downward and forward in a direction in which the apparatus is moved.

Oscillating ground engaging tool

A method and system for controlling a work implement having a ground engaging tool is provided. A swing command is supplied to a swing assembly to move the ground engaging tool in an arcuate path about a vertical axis. A crowd command is determined based on the velocity of the swing assembly and is calculated to generate a resulting net movement of the ground engaging tool toward a predetermined end point. The crowd command is supplied to a crowd mechanism to move the ground engaging tool towards the predetermined end point.

Work machine control for improving cycle time

An apparatus ( ) and method adapted for locating objects under a body of water comprising a frame structure ( ) and at least one sensor assembly ( ) connected thereto. The sensor assembly ( ) is pivotally coupled to the frame structure ( ) and includes a rigid member ( ) and a geographic location system receiver ( ) connected thereto. An arm member ( ) is connected to the rigid member ( ) and an object detection device ( ) is associated with the arm member ( ). The object detection device ( ) is operable to detect a density change indicative of an object under the body of water, said object detection device ( ) being further operable to emit a signal ( ) indicative of the detection of an object under the body of water relative thereto based density change sensed thereby; and its position is known relative to the position of the GPS receiver ( ). The geographic location receiver ( ) is operable to emit a signal ( ) indicative of the present position of the receiver ( ). An electronic controller ( ) coupled to both the object detection device ( ) and the geographic location receiver ( ) is operable to both receive signals ( ) therefrom and to output a signal ( ) indicative of the location of the object detected under the body of water.

Apparatus and method for locating objects under a body of water

A rotating concave grain threshing system has a rotor positioned within a concave. The rotor and concave are each rotatable in different preselected speeds and directions through respective transmissions connected to a power source. Measurements are taken corresponding to a physical property of the crop being harvested and the torque induced on the concave. A signal is generated and is responsive to changes in the measurements and delivered to a controller. The controller will then create a controlling signal corresponding to a difference between the desired physical property and the measured physical property and/or the desired torque and the measured torque being greater than a preselected amount. An actuator receives the controlling signal and changes the speed of the concave in response to the magnitude of the received controlling signal.

Stall prevention system

Continuously driven machine steering differentials have heretofore been complex for counter-rotating a pair of oppositely located planetary elements. The planetary steering differential includes a differential powered by a transmission input and a planetary gearing mechanism which receives an input from a steering motor for interacting with the outputs to achieve a steering correction.

Planetary steering differential

A hitch module for a track-type work machine in which the pivot point of a towed work implement is varied by selectively positioning a pair of links joining the work machine to a hitch frame.

Hitch assembly with variable pivot point

The energy conversion system of the subject invention converts the energy from a source of pressurized fluid, such as a free-piston engine and a storage accumulator, to a work system at various pressure levels. This is accomplished by providing power modifying units which act to efficiently reduce the pressure level of the fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the various pressure levels. A control arrangement monitors the operating pressures in the actuators and selects the path of pressurized fluid having the lowest pressure level needed to perform the task. Additionally, exhausted fluid containing energy is utilized by regenerating the fluid back to the inlet of the actuator or by directing it through the appropriate power modifying unit to amplify the pressure therein and supplement or recharge the source of pressurized fluid.

Energy conversion system

An edge scraper device for the inboard edge of a belted track-type vehicle removes debris from the track edge as the vehicle operates in muddy or trash-laden environments by close-proximity relationship to the track edge. Spring biasing and adjustment devices retain the scraper device in a functionally close proximity to the track edge. The edge scraper device is mounted substantially above the track to prevent fallen debris from accumulating on the device.

Belt edge scraper

A differential steer is provided for use in a machine and includes a variable displacement motor operatively connected to a differential disposed between first and second output members. The variable displacement motor is an over-center type and the displacement thereof is varied from zero to maximum in both directions of movement. Pressurized fluid to drive the steer motor is received from the main system pump. A microprocessor senses the direction and rate of rotation of the steer motor output, the speed of the outputs from the differential, the magnitude of a steer input, and controls the output speed of the steer motor to the differential in response to the magnitude of the steer input. Consequently, the quantity of fluid taken from the main system pump is limited to only that necessary to rotate the steer motor at a rate necessary to satisfy the desired steer input. Since the steer motor is using only the flow necessary to rotate the steer motor output at a desired speed and the steer motor torque is generally proportional to the steer motor displacement, the overall operating efficiency is increased as compared to known differential steer systems.

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Princeville, IL, United States of America

Ronald L Satzler