Caterpillar Inc.

W Christopher Swick

Steven A Daniel

Norval P Thomson

Daniel Peter Sergison

Clayton L Padgett

Jeffrey Stephen Alig

Christopher Erik Bright

Gregory August Epplin

Darren M Knutson

A machine () includes a frame () portion and a tandem wheel arrangement, which includes a main linkage () and a stabilizing linkage () that are pivotally connected to the frame () portion. A first mount () and a second mount () are pivotally connected to the main linkage () and to the stabilizing linkage (), such that the main linkage (), the stabilizing linkage (), the first mount (), and the second mount () define a four-bar-linkage arrangement () that operates to transfer unbalanced torque loads from the first mount () and the second mount () to the frame () portion.

Tandem wheel arrangement

When operating a work machine such as a backhoe, fuel consumption, pollution and noise can be decreased by reducing engine speed below a throttle setting when a set of equipment attached to a rear side of a work machine body is idled for a predetermined period of time. The engine speed is reduced by a control system including an electronic control module having an engine speed reduction algorithm. When the electronic control module determines that a seat assembly that is rotatably mounted to the work machine body is in a forward-facing position, the engine speed reduction algorithm is inactive. When the electronic control module determines that the seat assembly in a rearward-facing position, the engine speed reduction algorithm is active. By basing, at least in part, the activation and deactivation of the engine speed reduction algorithm on the seat assembly position, the engine speed reduction algorithm will be active when the backhoe is operable.

Control system for and method of operating a work machine

When operating a work machine having more than one function, there are situations in which an operator may need to simultaneously control both functions. For instance, when a backhoe loader operator would like to perform a maneuver referred to as the &ldquo;duck walk&rdquo;, the operator must simultaneously control at least one aspect of a backhoe and one aspect of a loader. A work machine that has an operator control station with at least two controllers, which may be assigned a first mode pattern, a second mode pattern, and a hybrid mode pattern. When the at least two controllers are in the first mode pattern, the at least two controllers are operably coupled to a first set of equipment, such as a loader. When the at least two controllers are in the second mode pattern, the at least two controllers are operably coupled to a second set of equipment, such as a backhoe. When the at least two controllers are in the hybrid mode pattern, the at least two controllers are simultaneously operably coupled to at least a portion of the first set of equipment (loader) and at least a portion of a second set of equipment (backhoe).

Operator control station and method for a work machine having more than one function

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

W Christopher Swick