Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Inc
  • Patent number: 11867099
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed for separating oil from a blow-by gas of an engine. An example includes engine system includes a crankcase having a blow-by gas passing therethrough, a compressor configured to receive air and compress the air, an aftercooler, an oil separating apparatus and a jet pump. The aftercooler communicates with the compressor and is configured to cool at least a portion of the air compressed by the compressor. The oil separating apparatus communicates with the blow-by gas. The oil separating apparatus communicates with a boost air that is a mixture of the compressed air from the compressor and cooled air from the aftercooler. The jet pump communicates with both the blow-by gas after leaving the oil separating apparatus and the boost air after leaving the oil separating apparatus and is configured to combine the blow-by gas and the boost air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Allen Lawrence, Brandyn A. Stack, Joshua Amiel Lehe
  • Patent number: 11869331
    Abstract: An example wear detection system receives first image data related to at least one ground engaging tool (GET) of a work machine from one or more sensors at a first time instance in a dig-dump cycle of the work machine. The wear detection system processes the first image data to determine a first wear measurement and first wear level for the at least one GET. The wear detection system determines whether the first wear level is indicative of a GET replacement condition. The wear detection system generates an alert when the first wear level is indicative of the GET replacement condition. The wear detection system receives second image data related to the at least one GET a second time instance different from the first time instance when the first wear level is not indicative of the GET replacement condition and determines a second wear measurement and second wear level for the at least one GET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A Mianzo, Tod A Oblak, Shawn Nainan Mathew, John M Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Daniel Paul Adler
  • Patent number: 11866909
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Christian L. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11866307
    Abstract: A boom, of a machine, may include a first member; a second member opposite the first member; and a support structure. The support structure may comprise a first support member; a second support member; and a third support member. The first member, the first support member, and the second support member may define a first opening. The second member, the second support member, and the third support member may define a second opening. A first area of the first opening may exceed a second area of the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron M. Brames
  • Publication number: 20240001998
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an anti-collision structure for an engineering machine, the engineering machine has a tail frame arranged at a rear end. The anti-collision structure comprises an anti-collision body that at least partially covers side walls and a rear end wall of the tail frame, wherein the anti-collision body is made of plates and configured to have a streamline shape and a hollow structure. The anti-collision structure of the disclosure can effectively avoid collision to the rear end or tail of the engineering machine when the machine climbs or reverses, which improves the overall strength and impact-resistance of the tail frame and the main frame of the engineering machine. In addition, the three-dimensional streamlined shape of the anti-collision structure matches the whole vehicle in style, adding highlights for the electric driver. The disclosure also relates to an engineering machine comprising the anti-collision structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Shengzhong WANG, Alfang LI, Weijian CHENG, Yutao SUN, Zhijun WANG
  • Publication number: 20240003123
    Abstract: An adapter cover includes a front face portion that defines a thru-hole configured to allow a nose portion of an adapter to pass horizontally through the thru-hole past the interior surface and then past the exterior surface, and a top single leg extends horizontally from the front face portion. The thru-hole defines a perimeter with a right side edge, a left side edge, a top edge, an upper right corner and an upper left corner, and further defines a bottom open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier, Rammagy Yoeu
  • Publication number: 20240006893
    Abstract: A driving circuit to control/drive a contactor using a high-side driver integrated into the battery pack controller. The driver circuit may electrically isolate the controller pins of the battery pack controller (which interface the contactors) from the low-voltage digital processing core of the battery pack controller. The driver circuit may provide techniques to diagnose a fault by monitoring the voltage at the output of the driver as compared to the reference voltage. The driver circuit may include an electronic switch, such as a field-effect transistor, that is configured on the high side of the contactor to control voltage from an energy source to the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lee Boggs, Jason Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 11859583
    Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel injector may have an injector body having a fuel inlet and at least one orifice. The fuel injector may also have a first check valve member. The first check valve member may be selectively movable to fluidly block a first flow of fuel from the fuel inlet to the at least one orifice. The fuel injector may have a second check valve member. The second check valve member may be selectively movable to fluidly block a second flow of fuel from the fuel inlet to the at least one orifice. The fuel injector may also have a control valve assembly. The control valve assembly may be configured to selectively operate either the first check valve or both the first check valve and the second check valve to fluidly connect the fuel inlet and the at least one orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sana Mahmood, Robert M. Campion, Lifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11859370
    Abstract: A work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site, includes a conductor rod housing concentric metal tubes for receiving electrical power from a contactor sliding on a power rail. A head-end interface of the conductor rod proximate the work machine includes multiple tiers to which terminal connectors are affixed. The tiers are at different heights above the base of the head-end interface, providing a distance or spacing between adjacent terminal connectors, thus reducing the need to increase a diameter of head-end interface to accommodate adjacent terminal connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Igor Strashny
  • Patent number: 11859757
    Abstract: A fluid conduit system a first conduit section having a first conduit bore extending from a first end of the first conduit section to a second end of the first conduit section, the first conduit bore including a first beveled surface proximate the first end of the first conduit section. The fluid system also includes a second conduit section coupled to the first conduit section and having a second conduit bore extending from a first end of the second conduit section to a second end of the second conduit section, the second conduit bore including a second beveled surface proximate the first end of the second conduit section. The fluid system further includes a coating applied to the first beveled surface and to the second beveled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Riedel, Jr., Christian Joseph Murray, Nickolas Jay Gretz
  • Patent number: 11859290
    Abstract: An example hydraulic system component of a machine includes a protective coating deposited by high velocity air fuel (HVAF) thermal spray, exhibiting high adhesion strengths and surface morphologies that promote lubricant adhesion and reduce the leakage of oil and/or hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic system. The coating may have surface roughness with RZ values less than 2 ?m and hardness of 1000 Vickers or greater. The HVAF coating may be thinner than conventional coatings with thicknesses less than 100 ?m. The HVAF coating may be deposited on a variety of steel components with adhesion strengths greater than those achieved by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF). The HVAF coating may be formed without time consuming roughening and/or post-grind operations, resulting in cost savings compared to conventional coatings. The coatings may have operational lifetimes of 1000 hours or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Sordelet, Kurt Steven Goslovich, Steven Jon Henderson
  • Patent number: 11858565
    Abstract: A track joint assembly includes a first track chain and a second track chain, and a track pin including a first pin end, a second pin end, and a center section. A track guiding space extends between the first track chain and the second track chain. The center section of the track pin has an enlarged diameter, relative to first and second pin ends, and an outer wear surface exposed to the track guiding space. The outer wear surface may directly contact a rotatable track-engaging element in a ground-engaging track system, such as a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William Baar
  • Patent number: 11860641
    Abstract: A device may determine, based on image data of an environment that includes a ground surface, depth information indicating distances from a vehicle to different areas of the ground surface. The device may generate, based on the depth information, an overlay to indicate a range of distances from the vehicle. The range of distances may be associated with an area. The device may provide, for display, a video feed including the image data with the overlay on the ground surface. The overlay may provide the perception of depth, with respect to the area, during an operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Bridenbaugh, Craig Allan Lehocky, Jeffrey J. Baker, Jeffrey Kent Berry, Brad Robert Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 11860061
    Abstract: A track component for use with a track assembly includes a gyro sensor that monitors a track wrap angle of the track chain assembly about the idler wheel, or the drive sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Eric James Johannsen
  • Patent number: 11859480
    Abstract: A method may include monitoring, for two or more well heads of a hydraulic fracturing system, an operation or a state of one or more subsystems of the hydraulic fracturing system. The hydraulic fracturing system may include one or more fracturing rigs, one or more blending equipment, one or more power sources electrically connected to a first subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, or one or more fuel sources fluidly connected to a second subset of the one or more fracturing rigs, and one or more missile valves. The hydraulic fracturing system may further include one or more zipper valves, one or more well head valves, and multiple well heads. The method may further include controlling, based on an operation schedule for the hydraulic fracturing system and based on monitoring the operation or the state, fluid pressures at the two or more well heads for continuous pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Kabrich, Andy Publes, Casey A. Otten, Brandon J. Mabe, Perry D. Converse, Jason T. Herlehy
  • Patent number: 11858746
    Abstract: A sprocket comprising teeth for engaging one or more chains is provided with datum connection portions which releasably support a datum body, such as a tensioned wire, in a predefined position. The datum body provides a temporary reference or datum element or surface from which the position of the wear surfaces of the sprocket teeth may be determined by eye or by measurement, particularly in the radial direction. The teeth may further comprise a set of markings corresponding to angularly spaced reference planes intersecting at the sprocket axis. The markings are preferably arranged on the crown or radially outward surface of the teeth and are used to determine wear in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Voigt, Jarrod Brooks
  • Patent number: 11859369
    Abstract: A spring preloaded lockup clutch system comprises clutch disc(s), an input component, and an output component housed in a hydraulic fluid chamber of a torque converter, a lockup piston and a mechanical spring housed in a piston housing of the torque converter, and a relief valve coupled to the hydraulic fluid chamber. The clutch disc(s), when engaged, couples the input component to the output component. The lockup piston has a first end and a second end, engages with the clutch disc(s) when biased, and disengages from the clutch disc(s) when unbiased. The mechanical spring, coupled to the lockup piston at the second end, applies force to bias the lockup piston. The relief valve, when opened, relieves hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber allowing the lockup piston to remain being biased, and, when closed, allows the hydraulic pressure to build up allowing the lockup piston to be unbiased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon L Hagman
  • Patent number: 11858566
    Abstract: A track link having sensor-receiving cavities and a method of producing a track link is disclosed. The track link may include a link body and a cavity formed in the link body configured to receive a sensing device. The track link may also include a protrusion substantially surrounding the cavity. The protrusion may include a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald J. Kalmes, William P. Shoemaker, Yaodong Zhou, Li Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230417206
    Abstract: An inert blanket system includes a reformer that produces hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen gas is separated from the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is ported to a vapor region of a tank to reduce the flammability of the gases in the vapor region of the tank. Excess carbon dioxide is ported to an overflow system designed to store the excess carbon dioxide for future use or to sequester the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Schroeder, Richard Christopher Kulaga, David T. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20230419208
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing task assignments for a plurality of work machines at a site. An assignment engine may: receive first state data for a work machine including historical data, operating condition, and location data, and second state data for the site including characteristic data for materials and a plurality of available tasks; predict performance data and energy consumption data of the work machine for a task; select a task for the work machine by inputting first state data and second state data into a trained reinforcement-learning model, wherein: the model has been trained to learn an assignment policy that optimizes a reward function such that the learned policy selects a task for at least one work machine from the plurality of tasks available at the site; and cause the at least one work machine to be operated according to the at least one task assignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan J. WULF, Cameron T. LANE, Andrew S. YUN