Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Inc
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Publication number: 20220145582Abstract: A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor and a gear box. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the circle axis, and the gear box includes an axis of rotation that is parallel to the circle axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel K. HARSHMAN, David L. COX, Benjamin J. KOVALICK, Bruce R. VAHLING
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Publication number: 20220148456Abstract: A heavy-duty interactive (HDi) system may include a heavy-duty vehicle; a work tool installed on the heavy-duty vehicle; a memory that stores a plurality of patterns representing operation events for the heavy-duty vehicle; a first sensor affixed to the heavy-duty vehicle that collects first sensor data as the heavy-duty vehicle is operated; a second sensor affixed to the work tool that collects second sensor data as the work tool is operated; and a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the memory. The controller may be configured to identify a heavy-duty vehicle operation event by comparing at least one of the first sensor data and the second sensor data with the plurality of patterns in the memory, and associate the work tool with the heavy-duty vehicle based on a comparison of the first sensor data and the second sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brian B. Steketee, David W. Baarman, Mark Strayer, Thad Senti
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Publication number: 20220145966Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John SEIPOLD, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
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Publication number: 20220145984Abstract: A carrier for a planetary gear train includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation, the hub having an external cylindrical surface including a plurality of splines extending along a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being parallel to the axis of rotation; and a deck extending away from the hub along a radial direction, the radial direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction. The deck defining a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole of the plurality of holes being configured to receive an axle of a planet gear of the plurality of planet gears, the hub being disposed between the plurality of holes and the axis of rotation along the radial direction. The splines have a value of a parameter (P) that is not less than 2.5 and not greater than 6.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Jenkins, Matthew E. Giannis, Steven M. Cross, Keith A. Kabrick, Kurt W. Riggenbach
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Publication number: 20220145826Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston crown having a crown outer surface forming piston lands alternating axially with piston ring grooves together with the piston lands defining a deposit-sensitive zone. The crown outer surface is smoothed to inhibit deposit formation and/or adhesion within at least a portion of the deposit-sensitive zone to a roughness average (Ra) of 0.0002 millimeters or less, and in a refinement to a mirror finish Ra of 0.000125 or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul Kenneth Stark, Michael Stevan Radovanovic, James Atkinson
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Publication number: 20220145589Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine includes an implement pump, a valve, and an implement valve subsystem. The implement pump includes a load sensing control, and the valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the implement pump. The implement valve subsystem includes one or more implement control subsystems to control movement of an implement. The valve is an electrohydraulic proportional relief valve and includes a solenoid configured to adjust the pressure of hydraulic fluid delivered to the implement pump proportionally to a current delivered through the solenoid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Patrick W. Sullivan, JR., Ryan R. Stoffel, Beau D. Kuipers, Andrew N. Schifferer, Royce E. Leaders, Fuaad Sayeed
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Patent number: 11325665Abstract: An undercarriage system for a track-type machine includes an idler height adjustment system having piston assemblies supported in a frame, in opposition to one another, to contact upper and lower sides of an idler support element or block. A conduit connects the piston assemblies and has therein a fluid exchange valve adjustable to an open position where a flowable material such as grease is exchanged through the conduit between the piston assemblies, and a closed position where fluid connection between the piston assemblies is blocked and idler height is fixed.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: David Jennings Hakes
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Patent number: 11326507Abstract: In one aspect, an engine ignition apparatus for a natural gas engine may include a housing including a drive piston, a floating piston, a controllable hydraulic fluid chamber located between the drive piston and the floating piston, and an ignition chamber acted on by the floating piston, the ignition chamber having an outlet formed by a plurality of orifices, the outlet being in direct communication with a combustion chamber of the engine. In another aspect, an engine ignition apparatus for a natural gas engine may include, among other features, a controllable valve connected to a hydraulic fluid chamber, and configured to open and release a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid chamber, and to close. In still another aspect, a method for controlling an engine ignition apparatus for an engine includes, among other features, controlling a volume of a hydraulic fluid chamber of an ignition apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: David Y. Chang
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Patent number: 11326504Abstract: A system including a cooling fan, an actuator with an actuator temperature sensor, and a controller is disclosed. The controller may be configured to receive temperature data from the actuator temperature sensor. The temperature data may include information relating to an actuator temperature of the actuator. The controller may be configured to compare the actuator temperature with a temperature threshold associated with the actuator, and control the cooling fan to adjust the actuator temperature based on determining that the actuator temperature satisfies the temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew T. Wolk, Samuel Were, James Mutti, Brian P. Brennan
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Publication number: 20220139118Abstract: A system may include a device. The device may be configured to receive machine vibration data identifying a measure of vibration of a machine. The vibration, of the machine, may be caused by a combination of first vibration caused by a motion of components of an undercarriage of the machine and second vibration that is unrelated to the first vibration. The device may be configured to identify a segment, of the machine vibration data, corresponding to the first vibration; transform the segment, using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), into a signal in a frequency domain; and analyze the signal to identify a signature spectrum associated with the motion of components. The device may be configured to predict, based on the signature spectrum, an amount of wear of the components. The device may be configured to cause an action to be performed based on the amount of wear of the components.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Li ZHANG, Yingbiao XU
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Publication number: 20220136265Abstract: A hose management system for a 3D printing system having a print medium pump and a print nozzle may include a base, a vertical tower extending upward from the base, a vertical pipe rotatably coupled to the vertical tower, a boom pipe extending laterally outward from and rotating with the vertical pipe, a stick connected to the boom pipe for relative rotation about at least two perpendicular axes, and a print hose connected between the boom pipe and the print nozzle so that the vertical pipe, the boom pipe and the print hose place the print medium pump in fluid communication with the print nozzle. The print hose may be suspended from the stick such that the vertical pipe, the boom pipe, the stick and the print hose follow movement of the print nozzle by the 3D printing system to print a 3D object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Daniel P. Sergison
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Publication number: 20220139117Abstract: A system may comprise a device. The device may be configured to receive, from one or more sensor devices of the machine, sensor data associated with wear of one or more components of an undercarriage of the machine; and predict, using a machine learning model and the sensor data, an amount wear of the one or more components based on a wear rate of the one or more components. The machine learning model is trained, using training data, to predict the wear rate of the one or more components. The training data includes two or more of: historical sensor data, historical inspection data, or simulation data, of a simulation model, from one or more third devices. The device may perform an action based on the amount of wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Li Zhang, Eric J. Johannsen, Yanchai Zhang, Xuefei Hu, Daniel W. Hoyt
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Publication number: 20220136210Abstract: A system may include a first control component comprising an input device configured to control an operation of a display device of a machine. The system may further include a second control component. The first control component (or the second control component) may be configured to control a movement of an implement of the machine. The second control component (or the first control component) may be configured to control a movement of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Christian L. NICHOLSON
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Publication number: 20220136218Abstract: A wear detection system can be configured to capture a video stream from a camera associated with a work machine. The video stream includes a plurality of images associated with a bucket with a plurality of teeth of the work machine. The system can also be configured to segment the plurality of images using a bucket-tool template including a template image of the bucket having a plurality of unworn tools and select an image for wear detection based on the segmenting. The system is also configured to identify the plurality of teeth in the selected image based at least in part on locations of the plurality of unworn tools in the bucket-tool template. The system is also configured to determine a wear level for the plurality of teeth by comparing the plurality of teeth from the selected image with the plurality of unworn tools from the bucket-tool template.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Shastri Ram, Peter Joseph Petrany
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Publication number: 20220136473Abstract: A filtration device may include a securement section and a filter. The securement section may be configured to be threadably secured to and extend within an interior of a common rail fuel injector. The securement section may include a passage for fuel. The passage may extend in a direction along a central axis of the securement section. The filter may be configured to be positioned within the interior of the common rail fuel injector to filter the fuel flowing through the common rail fuel injector. The filter may include a plurality of holes that are fluidly connecting to the passage of the securement section. The diameter of the filter may be smaller than a diameter of the securement section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel Richard IBRAHIM, Michael Edward PICKELL
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Publication number: 20220135155Abstract: A ground-engaging track system includes a track roller frame, an idler, and anti-backbending rollers supported by the track roller frame at locations between track rollers and the idler. The anti-backbending rollers define an idler space receiving the idler partially therein and positioned to oppose backbending of a deflection-sensitive section of a ground-engaging track.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Gennaro Suanno, Benoit Abello, Michael James Darges
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Publication number: 20220136619Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a base having a substantially planar surface, a plurality of support legs to support the hose management system on a ground surface such that the base is substantially parallel to the ground surface, a tower, a pivot connection point disposed on the base, the pivot connection point configured to pivotably attach to a proximal end of the tower, a winch attached to the base, and a winch cable configured to be attached between the winch and the tower. Activation of the winch applies a tension to the winch cable to cause the tower to pivot from a prone position to an upright position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Daniel P. Sergison
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Publication number: 20220136204Abstract: An implement control system may include one or more first actuators configured to selectively raise or lower a work implement of a machine and one or more second actuators configured to tilt the work implement. The implement control system may include an operator control configured for manipulation in one or more motions. The implement control system may include a controller configured to, based on a particular motion of the one or more motions, selectively cause actuation of the one or more first actuators in a first mode or the one or more second actuators in a second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeremy KUSHNER, Christopher Mark ELLIOTT, Sage Frederick SMITH
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Publication number: 20220136217Abstract: A wear detection system can be configured to receive a video stream including a plurality of images of a bucket of the work machine from a camera associated with the work machine. The bucket has one or more ground engaging tools (GET). The wear detection system can also be configured to identify a plurality of tool images from the video stream over a period of time. The plurality of tool images depict the GET at a plurality of instances over a period of time. The wear detection system can also be configured to determine a plurality of tool pixel counts from the plurality of tool image and determine a wear level for the GET based on the plurality of tool pixel counts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Peter Joseph Petrany, Shastri Ram
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Patent number: D951064Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Frelich, James R. Gibbens, III, Molly J. Mann