Caterpillar Sarl

Caterpillar Inc.

Stephen Thompson

Keith F Harvey

Jason Bell

David Richard Wisley

James C Hall

Adam J Adeeb

Biagio Ciarla

Samuel Alec Roberts

Jonathan Moses

Russell Pugh

Peter O'Brien

James V Dornberger

Michael Looney

Richard Adams

Tom Abel

Anthony Weltzer

Jonathan D Chappell

Rodney Menold

Jonathan Peter Moses

Paul Graham

Gerard Owen McCann

David Brion Higdon

David Balfour

The present disclosure relates to improvements in the stability of work machines. A method for predicting a risk of instability for one or more work machine(s) moving along a route along terrain of a worksite is provided. Ground condition data indicative of the ground condition of the terrain along the route is obtained. Surface topography data indicative of the surface topography of the terrain along the route is obtained. Route data indicative of the route along the terrain is generated. The ground condition data, the surface topography data and the route data are processed to generate risk data indicative of a risk of instability along the route.

Stability of work machines

Disclosed herein is a system and method for determining the compaction of terrain based on rolling resistance. The system comprises a work machine configured to move along a route along the terrain, a navigation system configured to generate route data indicative of the route, a sensor configured to generate operating parameter data indicative of an operating parameter of the work machine moving along the route, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to process the operating parameter data to generate rolling resistance data indicative of the resistance by the terrain to the movement of the work machine along the route, and to process the rolling resistance data to generate compaction data indicative of the compaction of the terrain along the route.

System for determining compaction of a terrain based on rolling resistance

A method for operating a machine adapted to transport a load during a work cycle is disclosed. The method includes determining a first stationary state of the machine, and causing sensors to start transmission of first signals. The first stationary state corresponds to a first segment of the work cycle, and the first signals indicate a weight of the load during the first segment. Further, the method includes determining a moving state of the machine corresponding to a second segment of the work cycle, and causing the sensors to terminate transmission of the first signals. Furthermore, the method includes determining a second stationary state of the machine, and causing the sensors to start transmission of second signals. The second stationary state corresponds to a third segment of the work cycle, and the second signals indicate a weight of the load during the third segment.

Method and system for load management in machines

The present disclosure relates to the spreading of a material by pushing the material from the back of a vehicle using a material ejector system while the vehicle is moving. The depth of the spread material and how evenly it is spread is dependent on a number of factors that can be difficult and complicated for an operator of the vehicle control. In the present disclosure the speed at which the material is ejected from the vehicle is set on the basis of a measured speed of the vehicle.

Method and apparatus for controlling a material ejector system

A system and method for detecting a pre-charge pressure of a hydraulic braking system are disclosed. A controller receives pressure readings from a pressure sensor indicative of the pressure of a hydraulic brake accumulator or the lower pressure of more than one accumulator. In response to fluid being provided to the hydraulic accumulator, the controller determines a first rate of pressure change, a second rate of pressure change different than the first rate, and a transition pressure between the first and second rates. The controller determines an approximate pre-charge pressure of the hydraulic brake accumulator based on the transition pressure. A warning can be provided to the operator or another when the determined pre-charge pressure is lower than a reference pressure.

Hydraulic accumulator pre-charge pressure detection for hydraulic braking system

A method for automatically controlling the downhill speed of a machine. The method includes establishing a target machine speed based on a current machine speed and determining whether at least one trigger condition including a grade greater than a predetermined threshold has been satisfied. If satisfied, the method activates a control system to control at least one of a powertrain retarder and a change in a transmission gear to prevent exceeding the target machine speed.

Automatic downhill speed control system

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Sunderland, United Kingdom

Stephen Thompson