Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Inc
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Publication number: 20240018858Abstract: In some implementations a drivetrain may include a power source configured to drive a fluid pump. The drivetrain may include the fluid pump. The drivetrain may include a driveshaft configured to transfer power that is output by the power source to the fluid pump. The drivetrain may include a coupling including an elastomeric element, wherein the coupling couples the driveshaft to the power source or to the fluid pump, wherein a rotational stiffness of the elastomeric element is based on one or more resonant frequencies of the drivetrain and an operational speed range of the power source, and wherein the coupling is configured to transfer the power that is output by the power source through the elastomeric element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Lucas J. PETERSON
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Publication number: 20240018739Abstract: An anti-release mechanism of a pin-grabber coupler securing a work tool connected to a work machine is disclosed. The anti-release mechanism comprises an actuator, a wedge, a latch, a guide rod connecting the wedge and the latch, and a bias member on a first guide rod end of the guide rod biasing the latch and the wedge together. The wedge and the latch lock around a pin of the work tool and maintain the wedge against the pin of the work tool during a loss of engagement force of the wedge against the pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Mark W. Thompson
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Patent number: 11873776Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Bradley D. Ferguson, Eric L. Schroeder
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Patent number: 11873619Abstract: A guard for a radiator blower unit includes a body, a flange, and a lip. The body defines a first end, a second end, and a conduit extending from the first end to the second end. The flange is arranged at the first end to mount the body to a radiator frame such that the second end is directed towards the radiator blower unit. The flange defines a first aperture open to the conduit at the first end. The lip is arranged to least partially surround the body at the second end to define a second aperture open to the conduit at the second end. The first aperture, the second aperture, and the conduit combinedly define a passageway that at least in part encompasses a connection interface defined between the radiator blower unit and a motor. At least a portion of the lip extends outwardly and away from the body.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Andrew Thomas Jennrich, Joseph Thomas Frystak
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Patent number: 11874314Abstract: A system for monitoring electrical contacts for an overhead trolley line may include a wear sensor arranged such that an electrical contact on a vehicle or work machine for contacting the overhead trolley line is continually or periodically in its line of sight. The wear sensor may be configured to capture spatial data defining the surface profile of the electrical contact. The system may also include a data processing module configured to receive the spatial data and identify a defect in the electrical contact based on the spatial data.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Christopher A Willey, Eric J. Ruth, Zachary R. Carter, Bradley S. Bailey
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Patent number: 11873625Abstract: A spring loaded retainer includes a lug receiving portion defining a first maximum outside dimension, the lug receiving portion also defining a lug receiving slot that extends partially through the lug receiving portion, forming a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a catch surface connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall. A drive portion defines a second maximum outside dimension, and a first flat is disposed on the outside of the lug receiving portion proximate to the first sidewall or the second sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Corey Michael Wells, Jason Grant Jura, Eric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Patent number: 11873832Abstract: A hub assembly for construction of a fan includes a hub plate having a front face, a rear face, and an annular surface extending between the front face and the rear face. The hub plate defines a hub assembly axis extending through the front face and the rear face which is configured to coincide with the fan axis. The hub assembly further includes a plurality of elongated root sections that are circumferentially spaced apart and extend radially from the annular surface. The elongated root sections have a substantially circular cross-section. The hub plate and the plurality of elongated spokes are unitarily formed.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bradley P. Wrage, Dongming Tan, Adam C. Grove, Neil A. Terry
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Patent number: 11874342Abstract: A method of monitoring a fuse of a work machine includes sensing a fuse current; detecting when the fuse current exceeds a threshold; quantifying a difference current that is a difference between the fuse current and the threshold current when the fuse current exceeds the threshold current; determining an amount of time that the difference current is greater than zero; and generating an alert related to fuse lifetime according to the difference current and determined time.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Alexander C. Crosman, III
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Patent number: 11873751Abstract: A system including a pump fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir, the pump configured to direct diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) from the fluid reservoir to an injector fluidly connected to the pump via a flow line. The system also includes a first pressure sensor configured to determine fluid pressure at a first location in the flow line between the pump and the injector and a second pressure sensor configured to determine fluid pressure at a second location in the flow line between the pump and the injector. The system further includes an air source coupled to the injector via an air flow line, the air source configured to direct air to the injector via the air flow line and a controller communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the air source, the controller configured to diagnose the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Steven Paul Byrne, Shivsinh Hitendrasinh Parmar, Hrishi Lalit Shah
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Publication number: 20240011259Abstract: A retaining mechanism includes a retainer with a skirt that has a surface of revolution with an axis of rotation. The skirt extends 180.0 degrees or less about the axis of rotation, forming a thru-slot. A drive portion extends axially from the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Jay Ulrich, IV, Eric T. Sinn, Brandon H. McCaffrey, Corey Michael Wells, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Publication number: 20240011249Abstract: A work implement for a construction machine includes a collection member, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plate member coupled to the collection member, the first side wall, and the second side wall. The collection member, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the plate member together define a hollow space. Further, at least one of the first side wall, the second side wall, and the plate member define an opening that communicates with the hollow space. The work implement further includes a sensor mounting system including a cover, a plurality of mechanical fasteners adapted to couple the cover with the work implement, and a sensor mounted on the cover. Upon coupling of the cover with the first side wall, the sensor is partially received within the hollow space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Riley A. Albers, David Michael Worth
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Publication number: 20240013581Abstract: A planned maintenance system communicates with a set of user platforms that includes an onboard display device of a machine. The planned maintenance system changes a maintenance schedule for the machine based on input data received from any of the user platforms, or usage data associated with the machine. The planned maintenance system provides output data reflecting changes to the maintenance schedule to the user platforms, including the onboard display device. Accordingly, the set of user platforms, including the onboard display device of the machine, can be synchronized with consistent information about the maintenance schedule for the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert Gerald Bullock, Nasreen Banu Abdul Wahab, Ganesh Vairaperumal, Chandrakanth Dumpala, Manish Kumar, Anish Jeba Justus Gilbert, Sooraj Veer Ramesh Veeran
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Publication number: 20240012059Abstract: A battery management system configured to couple to at least one battery module, the battery management system includes a contact configured to couple between the at least one battery module and a machine, a sensor configured to sense an electrical parameter of the at least one battery module, and a control circuit configured to receive an output of the sensor and determine a value of the electrical parameter. The sensor includes an inverting charge pump coupled to receive a positive supply voltage and generate a negative supply voltage, and a differential amplifier coupled to the at least one battery module and supplied by the positive supply voltage and the negative supply voltage, the differential amplifier configured to generate an output representing the electrical parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jose D. Miranda, Jason Lee Miller
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Publication number: 20240011244Abstract: A collision avoidance system and method for a mobile machine includes determining a boundary zone and providing a notification and/or control command to prevent a collision with another object. A first safety zone associated with a first and second portion of the mobile machine is determined. A second safety zone associated with the second portion of the mobile machine is determined. A boundary zone is determined as a function of a combination of the first and second safety zone. A notification and/or a control command is provided based on a relationship of an object to the boundary zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mo WEI, Jun ZUO, Jacob C. MALEY, Manoj POTHUGUNTI
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Publication number: 20240011257Abstract: A lock assembly for attaching a wear member to a base includes a retaining block with a spring attached to the retaining block that fits into an aperture of the base. A lock pin fits into the aperture of the wear member, and the aperture of the retaining block, retaining the wear member onto the base. The lock pin engages the spring that prevents unintentional rotation of the lock pin so that the lock pin is trapped in the aperture of the wear member, preventing its unintentional removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Corey Michael Wells, Eric T. Sinn, Brandon Hammig McCaffrey, William Jay Ulrich, IV, David Bruno Parzynski, JR.
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Publication number: 20240011258Abstract: A lock assembly for attaching a wear member to a base includes a threaded retaining block with a C-spring attached to the retaining block that fits into an aperture of the base. A threaded lock pin fits into the aperture of the wear member, and the threaded aperture of the retaining block, retaining the wear member onto the base. The threaded lock pin engages the C-spring that prevents unintentional rotation of the threaded lock pin so that the threaded lock pin is trapped in the aperture of the wear member, preventing its unintentional removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric T. Sinn, Corey Michael Wells, Brandon Hammig McCaffrey, William Jay Ulrich, IV
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Publication number: 20240011813Abstract: In some implementations, one or more devices may determine whether an electrical circuit is closed or open, the electrical circuit including electrodes of the sensor device, the electrical circuit being closed based on the electrodes being immersed in a lubricant in a cavity of a component of a track assembly of the machine, the electrical circuit being open based on the electrodes not being immersed in the lubricant in the cavity. The one or more devices may generate sensor data based on determining that the electrical circuit is open, the sensor data indicating that a level, of the lubricant in the cavity, does not satisfy a level threshold. The one or more devices may cause the machine to perform an action based on the sensor data indicating that the level does not satisfy the level threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael Stephen GALAT, Eric J. JOHANNSEN, Temitope O. AKINLUA
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Publication number: 20240011256Abstract: A lock includes a drive portion and a pin receiving portion. The drive portion includes a polygonal aperture, and the pin receiving portion includes a hole with an internal surface of revolution that defines an axis of rotation, a radial direction, a circumferential direction, and a slot extending at least partially through the pin receiving portion into the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Jay Ulrich, IV, Eric T. Sinn, Brandon H. McCaffrey, Corey Michael Wells, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Patent number: 11867113Abstract: A generator set configured to provide an electrical output to an external electrical load. The generator set includes an engine configured to drive an electric generator, the engine including an engine block, where the electric generator is configured to couple to the external electrical load. The generator set includes a heating system in fluid communication with the engine block, the heating system including an electric fluid heater, where the electric jacket fluid includes a resistive load configured to supplement the external electrical load. The generator set includes a control system for: monitoring a first parameter of the engine; generating a first control signal in response to the first parameter being less than a first threshold; and increasing the external electrical load by turning on the electric fluid heater in response to the first control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Abhishek K Mishra, Rajaram Namachivayam, Paul W Fraysure, III, Gareth Osborne, William R English, Christopher J Worrall
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Patent number: 11866914Abstract: A retainer sleeve includes an at least partially annular body defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The body may also have a radially inner annular surface defining a radially inner aperture, and a first anti-rotation feature extending radially inwardly from the radially inner annular surface including a sloping ledge having a locking surface, and an outer peripheral surface defining a notch that is at least partially aligned with the first anti-rotation feature or an array of a plurality of external ribs extending outwardly radially from the outer peripheral surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Serrurier, Eric T. Sinn, Jason Grant Jura
