Caterpillar Inc.

Cnh Industrial America LLC

Catepillar Inc.

William E Allen

Walter J Bradbury

Richard B League

John M Hadank

Paul D Anderson

Michael Glennon

John James Krone

Navneet Gulati

Norval P Thomson

Duqiang Wu

Daniel E Henderson

Carl A Kemner

Joel L Peterson

Javad Hosseini

Andrew J Tonsor

Rick L Gerber

Norman K Lay

Rolland D Scholl

Robert A Herold

Ali A Bitar

James E Schimpf

Robert E Stone

Bryan Thomas Siegel

Tien D Doan

David A Paul

Kea V Chin

James J Kalafut

John D Duffy

Cynthia M Gardner

John P Sewell

Ronald O Groth

Derek Sicheneder

Michael F Hopkins

Mike T Zimmer

Wilton E Quant

A finishing tool control system for an agricultural implement may include a controller communicatively coupled to a first and a second sensor. The controller is configured to control a height of a finishing tool above a soil surface. Further, the first sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a height of a main frame of the agricultural implement above the soil surface. In response to determining that a height increase of the main frame exceeds a threshold height adjustment, the controller increases the height of the finishing tool. The second sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of the height of the finishing tool of the finishing assembly above the soil surface. Moreover, in response to determining that a height of the finishing assembly above the soil surface is less than a threshold value, the controller increases the height of the finishing tool.

Finishing tool assembly position control system for an agricultural tillage implement

A system for monitoring tool float on an agricultural implement may include an implement frame, a rocker arm pivotably mounted to the implement frame, and a tool coupled to the rocker arm. The system may also include a biasing element coupled between the frame and the rocker arm, with the biasing element configured to permit the tool to move relative to the implement frame. Furthermore, the system may include a rotational position sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a rotational position of the rocker arm relative the implement frame, with the rotational position being indicative of an additional amount of available relative movement between the tool and the implement frame.

System and method for monitoring tool float on an agricultural implement

The present inventors have recognized that hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering ground engaging tools of an implement can be synchronously controlled with respect to a prioritized primary set of tools, such as a section of tillage shanks for ripping compacted soil, which cylinder adjustment affects all other sections due to the arrangement of the primary set on the frame. A user can electronically command new ground engaging depths for the primary set and/or any secondary set of ground engaging tools. If the primary set is updated, the system can synchronously control the primary set and the other sections to adjust respective cylinders to achieve desired depths. However, if only a second set is updated, and not the primary set, the system can control only the second set to adjust its cylinder to the desired depth without affecting the primary set or any other second set.

Depth control for ground engaging tools of an implement

A system and method for enabling a machine to drive through its parking brake when in first gear include detecting that the machine transmission is in its lowest gear in a selected direction, that the machine parking brake is activated, such that the machine is stationary, and that the throttle setting of the machine exceeds a predetermined throttle threshold value. In this state, one or more auxiliary loads of the machine are dropped to provide additional torque to the ground engaging elements of the machine, such that there is sufficient torque to drive the machine through the parking brake.

Boosting parking brake drive-through torque

A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle is disclosed. The loading system has an identification tag located on the haul vehicle, an identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag, and a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag. The loading system also has a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle.

System for managing loading operations of haul vehicles

A method is provided for determining a global mask value for filtering incoming messages in a CAN environment having a predetermined number of match registers, where the global mask value has one or more bits. A set of incoming messages to be identified is established. Each of the one or more bits in the global mask value is set to a first digital value. The following steps are repeated until the set of incoming messages to be identified fits within a predetermined number of match registers: adding a don't_care bit to the global mask value and determining a best position for the added don't_care bit. The don't_care bit is represented by a second digital value in the best position.

Method for setting masks for message filtering

A method and apparatus for tracking the location of an object near a machine at a site. The method and apparatus includes determining a position of the machine, determining a position of the object, transmitting the determined position of the object from the object to the machine, and displaying the position of the object relative to the position of the machine to an operator of the machine.

Method and apparatus for tracking objects at a site

A method and apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site. The method and apparatus includes predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite, determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage, displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map, and placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.

Determining desired pseudolite locations based on predicted GPS coverage

In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus and method for establishing the perimeter of a work site for a mobile machine capable of operating autonomously or semi-autonomously includes activating a learning mode, positioning the mobile machine at a plurality of locations on the perimeter, and recording position data at each location from a sensor system, such as GPS, that provide signals corresponding to the position of the mobile machine. The position data is stored and a data processor associated with a control system generates a display of the perimeter so that an operator may visually verify the size, location, and shape of the work area bounded by the perimeter. Means to allow the operator to modify the entered position data is also provided.

Method and apparatus for establishing a perimeter defining an area to be

A method is disclosed for controllably loading a haul vehicle 110, with a payload material 115 desired by a customer, using a mobile loading machine 120. An identification tag 135, located on the haul vehicle 110, is read by an identification tag reader 140, located on the mobile loading machine 120. A haul vehicle identification signal is produced from the reading, and compared to customer data files 125. A load command signal, containing selected information from the customer data file 125 that corresponds with the haul vehicle identification signal, is produced.

Method for controllably loading haul vehicles by a mobile loading machine

An apparatus for controllably moving a work implement is disclosed. The implement is connected to a work machine and is moveable in response to operation of a hydraulic cylinder. The apparatus includes an operator controlled joystick. A joystick position sensor senses the position of the joystick and responsively generates an operator command signal. An implement position sensor senses the position of the work implement and responsively produces an implement position signal. A microprocessor based controller receives the implement position and operator command signals, modifies the operator command signal, and produces an electrical valve signal in response to the modified operator command signal. An electrohydraulic valve receives the electrical valve signal, and controllably provides hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic cylinder in response to a magnitude of the electrical valve signal.

Method and apparatus for controlling an implement of a work machine

Vehicle navigation systems typically include devices for determining the location of the vehicle. In many situations it is advantageous to improve the resolution of such devices or to provide a back-up system for determining vehicle location. Simple and efficient systems are also desirable when used as the primary positioning systems. The subject invention provides a simple and efficient system for determining the location of a vehicle in a base reference frame. One or more targets are located at predefined positions with respect to the base reference frame. A target sensing device determines a position of one of the one or more targets with respect to the vehicle. A device determines an estimated vehicle position. A vehicle locating device determines the location of the vehicle with respect to the base reference frame in response to the position of the target with respect to the vehicle and the estimated vehicle position.

Method and apparatus for determining the location of a vehicle

Apparatus and method for determining the linear position of a hydraulic

The present invention provides, an apparatus for controllably moving a vehicle's work implement. The work implement includes a first appendage pivotally connected to the vehicle, and a second appendage pivotally connected to the first appendage. The apparatus senses the geometry of the work implement and responsibly producing a plurality of position signal and produces one of a manual control mode signal and an automatic control mode signal. An operator interface produces first and second lever command signals indicative of desired movement of the work implement. The apparatus receives the one control mode signal and the first and second lever control signals and responsively produces linear motion of the end point of the second appendage along first and second work axes if the one control mode signal is equal to the automatic control mode signal.

Coordinated control for a work implement

Electronic steering control

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

William E Allen