Caterpillar Sarl

Caterpillar Inc.

Steven Edward Johnson

Adam Adeeb

Edward William Mate

Umakanth Sakaray

Adam J Adeeb

Ethan Tevis

David C Copley

Gang Victor Wen

David Mork

Ernest Everett Stoops

Bryan Dale Van Dyke

Kalpeshkumar N Patel

Matthew Donald Meads

Moses Imo Akpan

Dwanz Mwalimu Mwasi

Michael Robert Kunde

Chad L Kassube

Matthew Lee Dixon

Samantha L Sergott

Anthony Joseph Weltzer

Samantha Sergott

Mark Howlett

Aaron P Hofner

Anthony J Weltzer

A steering system for an articulated truck. The articulated truck is formed of a tractor and a trailer and an articulation joint. The steering system includes a hydraulic cylinder, with a cylinder barrel and a piston. The steering system provides for changes in angle between the tractor and the trailer. The hydraulic cylinder includes a snubbing tube projecting into the cylinder barrel. A hydraulic fluid passage opens into the cylinder barrel within the snubbing tube. The snubbing tube includes a main slot and a plurality of channels each extending between an interior and an exterior of the snubbing tube. The plurality of channels have a cross sectional area smaller than a cross sectional area of the main slot. When the articulated truck is steered, the piston moves in the cylinder barrel and the snubbing tube dampens the movement to prevent forces generated by the piston damaging the articulated truck.

Articulated truck steering

Two cooling fans acting on different heat exchangers may be driven via parallel circuits from a variable displacement hydraulic pump. At least one of the circuits includes a two position valve operable by a control system to vary the flow resistance of the circuit to share the flow between the two fan motors responsive to the relative heat load on the heat exchangers. The pump displacement is controlled to provide a constant hydraulic output pressure irrespective of the operational state of the or each valve assembly.

Flow sharing control for multiple hydraulic fan motors

A machine includes a first cylinder coupled to a first wheel and a second cylinder coupled to a second wheel. A first proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the second cylinder. First accumulators are fluidly connected to the first cylinder and the first proportional dampening valve, and second accumulator(s) are fluidly connected to the second cylinder and the second proportional dampening valve. Additionally, a first proportional flow control valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional flow control valve fluidly connected to the second cylinder. An electronic control module (ECM) communicatively couples to the first proportional flow control valve and the second proportional flow control valve to adjust a ride height of the first wheel via the first cylinder and a ride height of the second wheel via the second cylinder.

Suspension system with individual ride height and dampening control

A retarding control assembly for a brake valve may include a bleed line configured for arrangement between a spring chamber of a brake command assembly and a tank line. The bleed line may include a check valve configured to allow fluid flow from the spring chamber to the tank and a check valve bypass configured to allow fluid flow from the tank line to the spring chamber passed the check valve and defining a restricted pathway.

Automatic retarding control system

The present invention pertains to a brake system for a vehicle, in particular a wheeled vehicle, comprising a control unit configured to operate the brake system in an automatic retarding control mode and in a brake assist mode, a brake pedal valve, and at least one brake valve unit for actuating a brake actuator. The break valve unit comprises a brake valve for applying pressurized fluid to the brake actuator in response to a control pressure applied to a hydraulic actuator of the brake valve, a blocking valve for controlling application of pressurized fluid from the brake pedal valve to the hydraulic actuator of the brake valve, and a brake pressure control valve for controlling application of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator of the brake valve.

Brake system for a vehicle

A first valve module () includes a valve block and circuits for controlling hydraulic pressure to parking brake and differential lock actuation circuits of a vehicle. An extension flowpath () has an extension inlet and outlet opening respectively through an interface surface and further external surface of the valve block. A second module () may be connected to supply a first service brake circuit, the circuits of the first module, and, via a second service brake outlet communicating with the extension inlet, a second service brake circuit. In a method, first and second valve blocks with internal flowpaths formed respectively by machining and by casting are assembled together with valves to define valve modules () having respective, first and second functional circuits. The first valve block includes an extension flowpath. The second module supplies pressure to the first functional circuit and the extension flowpath of the first module.

Hydraulic valve module and method for supplying hydraulic pressure to circuits of a vehicle

A distributed cooling system is disclosed. The system may include a first radiator to circulate a liquid coolant through the first radiator to cool the liquid coolant, a first fan, electrically connected to the first radiator, to facilitate cooling the liquid coolant, and a first temperature sensor to obtain first temperature data concerning the liquid coolant. The system may include a second radiator to circulate an oil through the second radiator to cool the oil, a second fan, electrically connected to the second radiator, to facilitate cooling the oil, and a second temperature sensor to obtain second temperature data concerning the oil. The system may include a heat exchanger to cool the liquid coolant and the oil and a controller, electrically connected to the first fan, the first temperature sensor, the second fan, and the second temperature sensor, to control the first fan and the second fan.

Distributed cooling system for a work machine

A system for delivering fluid in a machine is provided. The system includes a pump, a first valve disposed downstream of the pump, a check valve disposed downstream of the first valve, at least one accumulator disposed downstream of the check valve, and an auxiliary system disposed upstream of the check valve. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive a signal indicative of a fluid demand from the auxiliary system. The control unit is also configured to selectively control the first valve in a first position to limit flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system, and in a second position to allow flow of the fluid from the pump to the auxiliary system based, at least in part, on the received signal. The check valve limits flow of a fluid from the at least one accumulator to the auxiliary system.

Fluid delivery system

A hydraulic valve module () for a vehicle () is configured to receive hydraulic pressure from a first pump () via a first pump inlet () in a first interface surface when connected to a first adjacent module (), and from a second pump () via an external port (). The module () combines both flows to supply a work function circuit () of a vehicle via a port () formed in a second interface surface to communicate with a second adjacent module (). The module () prioritises flow from the second pump () to a steering circuit () over the work function circuit, and restricts flow from the first pump () to the work function circuit to prioritise and maintain pressure in the first adjacent module upstream of the first pump inlet () which may supply service brake and cooling fan circuits () of the vehicle.

Hydraulic valve module for steering and work functions in a work vehicle

A hydraulic valve assembly for a work vehicle includes a fan and brake function module. A first pump supplies hydraulic pressure to a fan circuit and to first and second service brake circuits of the vehicle. A second pump supplies hydraulic pressure to a steering and work function module that in turn supplies hydraulic pressure to a steering circuit and a work function circuit of the vehicle. The hydraulic valve assembly may also include a work control module and an auxiliary module. The modules of the hydraulic valve assembly are separably connected together via interface surfaces.

Modular hydraulic valve assembly for work vehicle

A hydraulic system for a vehicle in which the first and second brake valves are arranged in a parallel configuration. The pressure inlet of the first and second brake valves are connected to a source of hydraulic fluid and the exhaust outlets of the first and second brake valves are connected to the first and second brakes, respectively. The control inlets of the first and second brake valves are directly responsive to a braking signal from an operator of the vehicle. First and second control valves are configured to selectively provide hydraulic fluid to the control inlet of the first and second brake valves, respectively.

Hydraulic system for brakes

An emergency steering pump system for a primary pump providing a standby pressure via a primary output line includes a load sense line that is configured to branch-off from the primary output line. The load sense line has a first orifice disposed therein. A secondary pump is included for providing a margin pressure via a secondary output line that is coupled to the primary output line at a point downstream of the load sense line. A communication line is coupled to the primary output line at a point upstream of the load sense line. The communication line has a pressure control mechanism disposed therein. An output of the pressure control mechanism is coupled with an unloader valve of the secondary pump such that the pressure control mechanism is configured to bring about the margin pressure from the secondary pump.

Emergency steering pump system for a machine

A hydraulic driven fan system includes at least one first fan motor and a second fan motor connected in series with each other. The system also includes a fixed displacement pump configured to supply a pressurized flow of a hydraulic fluid to the at least one first and second fan motors. The system includes a proportional flow control valve in fluid communication with the at least one first fan motor and configured to allow a regulated amount of the pressurized flow of the hydraulic fluid there through to the corresponding at least one first fan motor. The system includes a pressure compensator disposed parallel to the proportional flow control valve and configured to maintain a pressure difference across the proportional flow control valve. The system further includes a proportional pressure relief valve disposed parallel to the second fan motor and configured to control a pressure difference across the second fan motor.

Hydraulic driven fan system

A hydraulic circuit includes: a priority valve including a first position and a second position where: the first position includes a first fluid passage and a fixed bypass orifice connected to the first fluid passage; the second position includes a second fluid passage and a variable bypass orifice connected to the second fluid passage. The hydraulic circuit further includes: a first fluid line fluidly connecting the priority valve and a first machine component; a second fluid line fluidly connecting the priority valve and a second machine component; a check valve placed between the priority valve and the second machine component and fluidly connecting the priority valve and the second machine component; an oil passage on the priority valve fluidly connected to one or more machine components other than the first and second machine components; one or more actuators connected to the priority valve; and a control valve communicatively connected to the one or more actuators connected to the priority valve.

Brake charge valve with set minimum fixed hydro-mechanical pressure by-pass function

A braking system for a machine includes a first valve assembly having a first electronically actuated proportional valve, and a second valve assembly having a second electronically actuated proportional valve. The braking system includes a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor disposed downstream of the first and second valve assemblies, respectively. The first and second pressure sensors are configured to determine a first pressure and a second pressure of a braking fluid from the first and second valve assembly. The braking system also includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of the first pressure and the second pressure of the braking fluid and compare the first pressure and the second pressure. The controller is configured to selectively actuate at least one of the first electronically actuated proportional valve and the second electronically actuated proportional valve to substantially equalize the first pressure and the second pressure.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Steven Edward Johnson