Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd.

Steven R Krause

Joseph Leo Faivre

Paul Russell Friend

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Michael Allen Taylor

Michael John Barngrover

Bradley P Krone

Robert A Herold

Christopher A Padilla

Andrew Whitten

Mark A Robinson

Riley A Albers

Richard J Skiba

Fuaad Sayeed

Patrick Pecchio

Jason P Wigg

Corey Allen Kauk

Brian Allen Byers

Paul D Lenzen

Brodie Lee Thompson

Erik Eddington

Eric Dishman

Ben Evans

Steven R Genseal

Ramona Darlene Cone

Rowan T Franks

Keith R Kosowski

Keith Nicholas Edward Troisi

Brodie L Thompson

Ryan A Kingdon

Dennis W Dicker

Eric N Polston

Donna K Laube

Ashok Krishnan

Tianjiao Zuo

Wayne A Lamb

Ted E Kingham

Kendall W Stevens

Eric J Dishman

Erik J Eddington

A work machine using a direct current power system that isolates reactive loads is described herein. The work machine uses a machine power distribution unit that receives direct current power from two or more battery banks of a power unit, whereby each of the battery banks deliver electrical power on a separate direct current bus. A machine power distribution unit of the work machine receives the electrical power from the battery and is used to isolate the power using bus connectors. One of the battery banks provides power to one direct current bus of the work machine and another battery bank provides power to another direct current bus of the work machine. A reactive load serviced by one of the battery banks is electrically disconnected from another reactive load serviced by the other battery bank.

Systems and methods for operating a divided power distribution system

An actuated shear pin includes an actuator and pin body coupled to the actuator. The actuator selectively configures the pin body in a locking configuration or a stowed configuration. In the locking configuration, the pin body is placed in a travel path of two components configured to move relative to each other, to inhibit such relative movement. In the stowed configuration, the pin body is out of the travel path, thereby allowing the two components to move relative to each other.

Control system for actuated pins

A work machine using a distributed controller network that provides for redundant data buses is described herein. The work machine uses a controller area network that provides for redundant data buses for tiercontrollers, or controllers that are determined to have a higher degree of importance when compared to other controllers. The controller area network uses redundancy to decrease the probability of a communication failure between tiercontrollers and tiercontrollers. The tiercontrollers have communication access to two data buses between other tiercontrollers and tiercontrollers. Thus, if a data bus used by a tiercontroller cannot be used by the controller, the tiercontroller can use the other, redundant data bus to maintain communication.

Systems and methods for operating a controller area network

A system for controlling a ground engaging work implement includes a machine position sensor, a work surface position sensor, a work implement position sensor, and a controller. The controller determines the position of the machine, determines the topography of the work surface, determines a location of a pre-task trigger location adjacent the task start location, and determine a position of the lowest surface of the ground engaging work implement. The controller generates traverse signals to propel the machine from the task end location towards the task start location, generate work implement height signals to maintain the lowest surface of the ground engaging work implement at or above the traversing threshold height as the machine travels from the task end location towards the task start location, and generate work implement lowering signals to lower the work implement to the pre-task threshold height after the machine passes the pre-task trigger location.

System for controlling the position of a work implement

A controller uses a Kalman filter to develop an estimated position of an implement based on a previous implement position, an implement pitch, an implement pitch rate and an estimated implement linkage velocity. The controller moves the implement to a desired position based on the estimated position of the implement.

Sensor fusion for implement position estimation and control

A method for detecting and mitigating errors in a positioning system includes receiving a first signal from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) indicative of a first position and a second signal from the GNSS indicative of a second position of a machine, determining a difference between the first position and the second position, detecting an error in a current position of the machine when the difference between the first and the second position exceeds a threshold of one of (a) a maximum distance given a maximum velocity, and (b) an actual distance determined based on an output of an inertial sensor on the machine, and mitigating the detected error in the current position of the machine by switching from an output of the positioning system to a position output determined based upon the output of the inertial sensor to update the current position.

Positioning error detection and mitigation system and method

A drive system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The drive system may have a travel speed sensor, at least one traction device speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the travel speed sensor and the at least one traction device speed sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a slip value associated with a traction device of the mobile machine based on signals generated by the travel speed sensor and the at least one traction device speed sensor, and determine a torque output value of the mobile machine. The control may also be configured to make a comparison of the slip value and the torque output value with a pull-slip curve stored in memory, and selectively update the pull-slip curve based on the comparison.

Drive system having ongoing pull-slip learning

A cycle counter for a wheeled tractor scraper is disclosed. The cycle counter may have an ejector configured to push material from a bowl of the wheeled tractor scraper, a sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a position of the ejector, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine movement of the ejector toward a full dump position based on the pressure signal, and to record completion of a cycle for the wheeled tractor scraper after the ejector has reached the full dump position only if a value of the pressure signal exceeded a threshold value during movement of the ejector toward the full dump position.

Cycle counter for wheeled tractor scraper

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, an implement control system that includes a controller operatively connected to an implement. The controller is adapted to receive a signal from an input device indicative of a desired implement movement by an operator and to receive an automatically generated signal indicative of an automatically determined implement movement. The controller is further adapted to determine whether to move the implement based on the input device signal or the automatically generated signal. The controller is adapted to generate a control signal to move the implement based on the input device signal when a portion of the implement is above a desired cutting plane.

System and method for limiting operator control of an implement

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining a status of a relief valve located within a fluid system having a pump and an actuator valve. The fluid system is located on an earth moving machine, and the pump delivers fluid to the actuator through the actuator valve . The system includes a pressure compensation assembly adapted to control the fluid pressure of the system by bypassing fluid flow. The system also includes a relief valve, and a pressure sensor. The method includes the steps of positioning the actuator valve in a closed position, deactivating the pressure compensation assembly, and sensing a relief pressure of the system.

Method and apparatus for determining the status of a relief valve

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Chillicothe, IL, United States of America

Steven R Krause