Caterpillar Inc.

Thomas G Skinner

Hans P Dietz

David J McIntyre

James Frances Blubaugh

Sean P Wiltz

Eric Alan Reiners

Trent Steven Kucher

Wayne W Lark

Jeff A Steinmann

Jeffrey L Degroot

Susan J Gaugush

Arun M Hamasagar

H Paul Dietz

Coat rack wall safe

A programmable position sensing system for monitoring a position of a monitored component movable between a first position and a second position includes a housing associated with the monitored component and a sensor associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component. The sensor is configured to monitor a position of the monitored component. A memory component is associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component. The memory component includes identifying information of the monitored component stored therein. A processor is associated with the housing and in communication with the sensor and the memory component.

Programmable position sensing system with a memory component

A method and apparatus for determining the position of a rod member of a cylinder assembly are provided. The cylinder assembly may include a cylinder body, a gland member, a sensor mount, a rod member, and a position sensor attached to the sensor mount. The cylinder body may have a first mounting portion disposed thereon. The gland member may be disposed within a gland opening of the cylinder body. The sensor mount may have a second mounting portion disposed thereon and may be attached to the cylinder body via a coupling engagement between the second mounting portion of the sensor mount and the first mounting portion of the cylinder body. The rod member may be slidably arranged within rod openings of the sensor mount and the gland member and may extend into a longitudinal cylinder chamber of the cylinder body.

Mount for cylinder position sensor

An actuator arrangement includes a body and at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly slideably disposed in the body. A sensor arrangement includes a sensor, a sensor electronics module, and an interactive element. The interactive element is moveable relative to the sensor, wherein a position of the interactive element indicative of a position of the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly is communicated to the sensor electronics module through the sensor. A housing assembly is attached to an end of the body and includes a sensor pilot portion. The sensor pilot portion in the housing assembly is structured and arranged to sealably receive the sensor electronics module therein, wherein the sensor electronics module is encased within the housing.

Position sensing cylinder cap for ease of service and assembly

An apparatus for controllably positioning a work implement of an earth moving machine is disclosed. The work implement includes a boom and an attachment being attached thereto where the boom is actuated by a hydraulic lift cylinder and the attachment is actuated by a hydraulic tilt cylinder. Implement position sensors sense the elevational position of the boom and the pivotal position of the attachment and responsively produce respective implement position signals. A controller that receives the implement position signals, compares the relative position of the boom and the attachment with a pre-determined boundary condition, and produces an electrical valve signal. A valve assembly receives the electrical valve signal and controllably provides hydraulic fluid flow to the respective hydraulic cylinders in response to a magnitude of the electrical valve signal.

Method and apparatus for controlling positioning of an implement of a work machine

A method for controlling a fluid system is provided. The system may include a hydraulic circuit having a pump driven by an engine, wherein the pump delivers fluid to an actuator through a valve assembly. The method may include receiving an operator input and determining a condition of the hydraulic circuit. The condition of the hydraulic circuit may include at least one of a flow rate of fluid to the actuator, an engine speed, and a pump displacement. The method may include determining a valve transform function as a function of a position of a linkage associated with the actuator and the condition of the hydraulic circuit. The method may further include determining a valve command in response to the valve transform function and the operator input, wherein the valve command results in a consistent deadband. The valve command is delivered to the valve assembly.

Controlling the deadband of a fluid system

A decelerator control system includes a first control member, a machine control device, an engine, at least one brake, and a transmission. The first control member is manually moveable and is adapted to produce a first operator control signal. The machine control device is adapted to receive the first operator control signal and responsively produce an engine control signal, a brake control signal, and a transmission control signal. The engine is adapted to receive the engine control signal and responsively control the speed of the engine. The brake is adapted to receive the brake control signal and responsively control an engagement of the brake. The transmission is adapted to receive the transmission control signal and responsively control an engagement of the transmission.

Decelerator system for a work machine

Overspeed prevention

The present fluid cylinder includes a cylinder body having a cylindrical internal cavity therein with a longitudinal axis therethrough, the internal cavity being adapted for disposition of a piston and rod assembly for axial movement therein. The cylinder includes a member such as an end cap enclosing an axial end of the internal cavity, the member having a sensor port or passage therethrough extending between an internal opening communicating with the internal cavity and an external opening. A sensor is disposed in the internal opening of the sensor port or passage, and a sensor electronics module is disposed therein between the sensor and the external opening. The sensor is operable for sensing an axial distance of the piston or the rod from a predetermined location when disposed in the internal cavity and outputting signals representative of the distance to the sensor electronics module which includes circuitry for retrieving the signals.

Fluid cylinder with embedded positioning sensor

An apparatus for controlling the torque associated with a power train of a machine having a work implement is disclosed. A plurality of position sensors sense the position associated with the work implement and responsively produce respective position signals. A controller modifies the desired engine speed in response to the angular position of the work implement and regulates the speed of the engine at the modified desired engine speed to control the power train torque.

Apparatus and method for controlling the efficiency of the work cycle associated with an earthworking machine

An apparatus for controllably moving a work implement of an earth moving machine is disclosed. The work implement includes a boom and a bucket being attached thereto where the boom is actuated by a hydraulic lift cylinder and the bucket is actuated by a hydraulic tilt cylinder. An operator controlled joystick produces an operator command signal for controlling the movement of the work implement. Implement position sensors sense the elevational position of the boom and the pivotal position of the bucket, and responsively produce respective implement position signals. A controller receives the implement position and operator command signals, determines the instant position of the work implement, reduces the operator command signal as the boom is being raised and the bucket is being pivoted, and produces an electrical valve signal based on the reduced operator command signal. A valve assembly receives the electrical valve signal and controllably provides hydraulic fluid flow to the respective hydraulic cylinders in response to a magnitude of the electrical valve signal.

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Aurora, IL, United States of America

Thomas G Skinner