Caterpillar Inc.

Other

Wesley Thomas Payne

Jason Brinkman

Sameer S Marathe

Michael D Mitchell

Mark A Robinson

Ernest Everett Stoops

Mikhail A Sorokin

Travis Neale Richards

Edward L Stapleton

Darshan C Patel

Salik Abdul Syed

Stive Ramalho

Aristoteles Rosa Neto

Michael Lemoyne Repscher

Eric Alexander Rost

Christopher Michael Morency

In some implementations, a hydraulic system may include a tank, a hydraulic pump, an actuator, and an unloading valve positioned between the pump and the tank. The hydraulic system may receive one or more inputs associated with the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system may determine, based on the one or more inputs, one or more desired system pressures associated with the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system may proportionally regulate an opening of the unloading valve to operate the hydraulic system at the one or more desired system pressures.

Enhanced electrical control of a hydraulic system

A valve body defines a work passage, a high-pressure channel fluidly connected to the work passage, a tank passage, and a cavity disposed between the high-pressure channel and the tank passage. The cavity fluidly connects the high-pressure channel and the tank passage. The cavity is defined at least in part by a first portion within which a relief valve threadedly engages, a second portion disposed adjacent to the high-pressure channel, and an annulus interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The annulus fluidly connects to the tank passage. A surface area of the relief valve exposed to the annulus is greater than a cross-sectional area of the high-pressure channel.

Relief valve cavity

A hydraulic system for a motor grader is disclosed. The hydraulic system may include a first hydraulic subsystem and a second hydraulic subsystem. A pump may be configured to provide pressurized fluid to the first and second hydraulic subsystems. The hydraulic system may further include a control valve located upstream of the first and second hydraulic subsystems. The control valve may be configured to vary a standby pressure of pressurized fluid for use by the first and second hydraulic subsystems.

Hydraulic system for a motor grader

A system and method for limiting articulation between a front frame and a rear frame of an articulated machine are disclosed. The system and method receive steering signals and determine impending contact between the front frame and the rear frame based on the received steering signals. Additionally, an amount by which to reduce torque at a hitch coupled between the front and rear frames so as to limit an articulation characteristic of the front frame relative to the rear frame to a predetermined value is determined, responsive to determination of impending contact. Prior to contact, rimpull of the articulated machine is reduced based on the determined amount of torque.

System and method to eliminate or reduce frame contact during operation of articulated machine

A machine includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to raise and lower a boom of the machine, and an accumulator selectively fluidly connected to the hydraulic cylinder. The accumulator is configured to receive fluid from the hydraulic cylinder during lowering of the boom. The machine also includes a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to the accumulator via an independent metering valve. The machine further includes a fan driven by the hydraulic motor and configured to assist in cooling fluid displaced from the hydraulic cylinder.

Hydraulic energy recovery system

A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid actuator, and a tank. The hydraulic system utilizes a directional control valve to direct flow between the source, the actuator, and the tank. The hydraulic further utilizes a variable backpressure control valve to control the system backpressure.

Hydraulic system having a backpressure control valve

A hydraulic system for a mobile machine having an implement is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a hydraulic actuator configured to move the implement, a storage device configured to store pressurized fluid, and a valve operable to fluidly communicate the storage device with the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a sensor associated with the mobile machine to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the valve and the sensor. The controller may be configured to compare the speed of the mobile machine to a setpoint and to determine an amount of time elapsed while the speed of the mobile machine exceeds the setpoint. The controller may further be configured to selectively operate the valve to fluidly communicate the storage device with the actuator based on the elapsed amount of time and the speed to cushion movement of the implement.

Hydraulic system having automated ride control activation

A hydraulic valve stack for a work machine is disclosed. The hydraulic valve stack has a base with a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface. The base is connectable to the work machine and has at least one fluid passageway extending through the base from the first mounting surface to the second mounting surface. The hydraulic valve stack also has a permanent valve assembly configured to control a permanent function of the work machine and an optional valve assembly configured to control an optional function of the work machine. The permanent valve assembly is connectable to the first mounting surface of the base, while the optional valve assembly is connectable to the second mounting surface of the base. Each of the permanent and the optional valve assemblies have at least one fluid passageway in communication with the at least one fluid passageway of the base.

Expandable hydraulic valve stack

A nesting facility designed specifically for parakeets but possibly being adaptable for other birds comprises an elongated tree-like length which is solid throughout, having a hard cylindrical wall and a soft inside that can be pecked out by the bird to satisfy its pecking instincts and to form a nest of the torn off bits of pith. A hole through the cylindrical sidewall provides the bird access to the pithy interior, which has a texture at the bird enjoys pulling out and reworking into a padded nest over a period of weeks or months.

Growing community of inventors

Plainfield, IL, United States of America

Wesley Thomas Payne