The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2014
Caterpillar Global Mining Llc, Oak Creek, WI (US);
John Ferraz, Jr., Romeoville, IL (US);
Brandon Z. Barnes, Oak Creek, WI (US);
Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, South Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A void protection system includes a valve assembly, a second fluid source configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, an auxiliary valve configured to fluidly connect the hydraulic cylinder to the second fluid source, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor fluid pressure within the hydraulic cylinder based on signals from the sensor assembly, based on a determination that pressure in a rod end or a head end of the hydraulic cylinder is below a first fluid pressure threshold, configure the valve assembly to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the first fluid source, and if the first fluid source is not operational, increase an opening of the auxiliary valve to fluidly connect the corresponding end to the second fluid source and cause the second fluid source to provide fluid until pressure in the corresponding end is above a second fluid pressure threshold.