Abstract: The work machine system comprises a tractor unit releasably connectable to interchangeable trailer units by a coupling. When a trailer unit is coupled to the tractor unit a work machine is formed for performing work functions. The tractor unit may not be capable of movement between trailer units when uncoupled, for example because it comprises only one pair of wheels rotating about a single axis and as such would tip over without support. The alignment system comprises a platform for supporting and holding the tractor unit thereon and a platform transport system to move the platform relative to the trailer units. Therefore, alignment for coupling between the tractor and trailer units can be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling braking systems comprises an energy storage device to absorb energy emitted by a primary braking system. The apparatus can include a controller coupled to the energy storage device to detect conditions of the energy storage device. The controller can predict a point at which the energy storage device will exhibit reduced capability to absorb energy. The controller can provide a control signal to control a secondary braking system to provide braking capability in advance of the predicted point.

Abstract: A control system includes a work implement positioning system for moving a work implement to a desired position. A sensor is associated with the work implement and configured to obtain position information of the work implement. An electronic controller is configured to initiate a timer when the work implement is placed in the predetermined position. The controller is further configured to upon expiration of the timer, cause the work implement positioning system to return the work implement to the desired position. The controller is further configured to determine that the work implement has returned to the desired position.

Abstract: A work attachment for a work machine is disclosed. The work attachment has a moldboard that has moldboard apertures and moldboard fasteners along its bottom surface. The work attachment also has a clamp bar having its own set of apertures to receive the moldboard fasteners for attaching the clamp bar to the moldboard. The clamp bar slides around the moldboard fasteners, along a longitudinal axis of the moldboard, from an open position to a closed position to attach a cutting edge to the moldboard.

Abstract: Overheating of the rollers in a track on mobile equipment can result in failure of the track. Accordingly, embodiments are disclosed for a temperature monitoring device that can be installed within an oil fill hole of each roller. Each temperature monitoring device may monitor the oil temperature within a respective roller, and communicate that oil temperature or other temperature indication to a controller. The controller may alert a human operator or another system when the temperature of a roller exceeds a predefined threshold that is indicative of overheating.

Abstract: Energy generation systems and methods are disclosed. An energy generation system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel in liquid form and a power generating device including a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine configured to receive the fuel and generate electrical energy with the fuel. The energy generation system also includes an expander connected between the fuel tank and the power generating device, the expander configured to receive the fuel as a gas and a generator connected to the expander so as to generate electrical energy when fuel passes through the expander.

Abstract: A method of coupling a tool to a work machine including inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool, inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool, moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.

Abstract: An alternative fuel management system may include a base configured for arrangement on a supporting floor or other framework of a vessel and configured to support alternative fuel supply equipment. The system may also include a sealed enclosure sealingly coupled to the base and configured to surround the alternative fuel supply equipment. The system may also include the alternative fuel supply equipment and it may be arranged within the sealed enclosure. The alternative fuel supply equipment may include a high-pressure pump, a fuel filter, a transfer pump, and a high-pressure fuel delivery line extending across the sealed enclosure and configured to provide alternative fuel from the high-pressure pump to a combustion engine. The alternative fuel management system may also include a purge fluid system configured to deliver purge fluid to the combustion engine from a source of purge fluid.

Abstract: An excavating machine can conduct an excavation cycle that can be distinguished in a plurality of work cycle segments. To maneuver an excavation tool with respect the work surface during the excavation cycle, the excavation machine includes an excavation linkage powered by a primary electrical power source. The excavation machine can be operatively associated with a battery management system that can identify a high load condition associated with the excavation cycle and can responsively connect an auxiliary electrical power source to the hydraulic system to delivery supplemental power during the high load condition.

Abstract: A work machine having a frame, a ground engaging member supporting the frame, an engine supported by the frame, a control module configured to control operation of the work machine, a bumper associated with the frame forward of the engine, the bumper supporting a walkway for a person to access the engine and the control module, and an autonomous sensor structure mounted to the bumper forward of the walkway having a main structure attached to the bumper, the main structure formed by a pair of vertical posts, a middle cross member, a top cross member, and a diagonal support, each extending between the pair of vertical posts, a pair of rear-facing angled supports extending from the top cross member and attached to the frame such that the walkway is unobstructed, and a plurality of sensors mounted to the main structure and connected to the control module.

Abstract: Problem: Calibration to make the correspondence relationship between the operation amount of the operator and the supply flow rate to the hydraulic actuator be a preset setting relationship is made easy. Solution: The control valve that controls the supply flow rate to the hydraulic actuator is configured with a spool valve, a pressure compensation valve that maintains a front and rear differential pressure of the spool valve to be constant, and electromagnetic proportional valves that output pilot pressure to the spool valve, and a measured data that actually measures the correspondence between the output pilot pressure from the electromagnetic proportional valves and the supply flow from the control valve before the control valve is installed in the working machine is configured to calibrate the corresponding data of the operation amount of the operator and the output current value to the electromagnetic proportional valves.

Abstract: Typically, electric power sources, such as batteries and fuel cells, require cooling to temperatures near or below ambient temperature for safe and efficient operation. Traditional cooling systems are not be able or practical to cool the components to the required temperatures, due to the lack of temperature differential between the required cooling temperature and the ambient temperature, which drives the heat transfer. Disclosed embodiments optimize the efficiency of a cooling system based on ambient conditions. In particular, embodiments determine input parameters from one or more sensed parameters, such as ambient temperature and ambient pressure, and utilize these input parameters in a process that maximizes the operation of cooling units in the most efficient mode.

Abstract: A method of securing a battery for an electric work vehicle, the battery comprising a biometric identification device. A biometric identifier is collected from an operator using the biometric identification device. The biometric identifier is checked against a list of authorized operators. In an event that the operator matches an authorized operator from the list of authorized operators, access to the battery is enabled such that the operator is able to use the battery; remove the battery from the electric work vehicle and a charging module; and mount the battery into the electric work vehicle. In an event that the operator does not match an authorized operator from the list of authorized operators, access to the battery is prevented such that the operator is prevented from using the battery; removing the battery from the electric work vehicle and a charging module; and mounting the battery into the electric work vehicle.

Abstract: A charging system includes a work machine. The work machine includes a battery system. The charging system also includes a transport vehicle adapted to transport the work machine. The work machine is positioned on the transport vehicle for transportation thereof. The transport vehicle includes a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system of the transport vehicle provides operating power to the transport vehicle for propelling the transport vehicle. The fuel cell system further provides an electric power supply to the battery system of the work machine for charging the battery system.

Abstract: Method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for identifying a track based on orientation information of one or more bolt heads on ground-engaging sides of one or more undercarriage joints of the track are provided. The method includes receiving the orientation information of the one or more bolt heads on ground-engaging sides of the one or more undercarriage joints of the track, generating one or more undercarriage joint identifications corresponding to the one or more undercarriage joints based on the orientation information of the one or more bolt heads, matching the track with a specific track in a database based on the one or more undercarriage joint identifications, and identifying the track as the specific track having a specific track identification in the database.

Abstract: Mobile equipment, such as landfill compactors, utilize wheels with wire guards to prevent wire, cable, or the like from entangling the mobile equipment. Traditional wire guards either do not satisfy life expectations or do not provide an edge that promotes chopping or cutting of refuse and/or traction. The disclosed wire guard comprises one or more chocky bars, extending between pairs of adjacent cleats on the peripheral edge of a circumferential surface of a wheel rim. This wire guard may improve the life of the wire guard system to match the life of the cleats, while also providing a serrated edge that improves chopping and cutting of refuse and provides traction on the varied and unpredictable terrain of a landfill.

Abstract: A charging security device for an electric work vehicle comprising a battery, the charging security device comprising a lock configured to secure a charging cable to a charge port of the electric work vehicle, wherein the lock may be in a locked state or an unlocked state; a receiver configured to receive from a transmitter a signal indicative of an operator identifier; and a processor configured to compare the operator identifier against a list of authorized operators. In an event that the operator identifier corresponds to an authorized operator, the charging security device is configured to allow the state of the lock to be changed and allow charging to be initiated. In an event that the operator identifier does not correspond to an authorized operator, the charging security device is configured to prevent the state of the lock from being changed from the locked state to the unlocked state and prevent initiation of charging.

Abstract: In one instance, disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method for monitoring an undercarriage of a track-type machine, the computer-implemented method comprising: accessing a reduced order model (ROM) corresponding to the track-type machine; receiving an estimated wear level of at least one undercarriage component of a track-type machine and machine signal data generated by the track-type machine; generating an updated estimated wear level of the at least one undercarriage component using the estimated wear level, the machine signal data, and the ROM; and comparing the updated estimated wear level of the at least one undercarriage component to a wear level threshold.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a working temperature of a circuit breaker in an electrical system. The system includes a heater pad configured to be attached to the circuit breaker for transferring heat to a surface of the circuit breaker and a temperature sensor configured to detect a surface temperature of the circuit breaker. The system further includes a controller configured to receive data associated with the surface temperature of the circuit breaker and control transmission of power to the heater pad based on a deviation of the surface temperature to an outside of a threshold temperature range to maintain the working temperature of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: Techniques are described to continuously calculate an inverter DC power of a synchronous machine, e.g., motor or generator, based on the individual phase currents, DC link voltage, and gate signals, which can be compared against the commanded mechanical power based of the estimated rotor speed and commanded torque. A controller can determine whether to shut down the inverter, such as the pulse width modulation (PWM), if the DC power is greater than a threshold value. Such a threshold can be defined to allow an acceptable position and speed estimation error margin.