Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Inc
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Patent number: 11879235Abstract: A wear member includes a forward working portion that is disposed along its longitudinal axis including a closed end, and a rear attachment portion that is disposed along the longitudinal axis including an open end with an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior counterbore with a major diameter, and a minor diameter. A ratio of the major diameter to the minor diameter ranges from 1.8 to 2.2.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Serrurier, Eric T. Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Corey Michael Wells
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Patent number: 11878750Abstract: A drive component is disclosed. The drive component may include a base of a first material having a first hardness and a plurality of wear inserts of a second material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. The plurality of wear inserts may extend from an interior of the base to an exterior surface of the base. The base and the plurality of wear inserts may be a composite casting.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul Prest, Benjamin Jones
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Patent number: 11879418Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body, and spray ducts coupled to the nozzle body and in spray path alignment with spray orifices therein. A nozzle check is movable within the nozzle body to open and close the spray orifices. Each of the spray ducts defines a duct center axis, and includes a center body forming, together with a duct inner surface, a spray jet passage circumferential of the duct center axis and reduced in area in a direction of spray jet advancement from the nozzle body.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Russell P Fitzgerald, Glen Clifford Martin
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Patent number: 11880324Abstract: A machine power system of a machine may use energy provided by one or more batteries. The machine power system may also use battery data associated with the batteries to monitor the batteries, configure electrical components to operate in association with the batteries, to provide battery information via a user interface, and/or for other operations. The machine power system may be configured to use a particular battery data format. A battery data translator receives native battery data provided by a battery, uses a translation map associated with the battery to convert the native battery data into translated battery data formatted based on the particular battery data format used by the machine power system, and provides the translated battery data to the machine power system.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Gregory S Hasler
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Publication number: 20240018751Abstract: A method for displaying a position of a boom-mounted implement relative to a swing indicator for an excavator having boom swing capabilities comprises displaying a propulsor icon of a set of propulsion units of the excavator on a display screen, displaying a housing icon of a housing of the excavator relative to the propulsor icon on the display screen, displaying a boom icon of the boom-mounted implement relative to the housing icon on the display screen, displaying the swing indicator relative to the propulsor icon on the display screen, updating a rotational position of the housing icon relative to the propulsor icon based on real-world movement of the housing relative to the set of propulsion units, and updating a location of the swing indicator relative to the propulsor icon based on real-world movement of the boom-mounted implement relative to the housing from the boom swing capabilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Justin Philip Pahl, Joshua David Callaway
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Publication number: 20240017672Abstract: In mobile equipment that is configured for remote operation there are the competing interests of minimizing the number and complexity of cameras by using wide-angle cameras, while avoiding the fisheye distortion inherent in wide-angle cameras, which can be disorienting to remote operators. Thus, a method is disclosed that switches between video processing configurations depending on a machine state of the mobile equipment. For example, a first machine state may represent that the mobile equipment is immobile, whereas a second machine state may represent that the mobile equipment is mobile. In the first machine state, the video configuration does not correct for fisheye distortion, so as to maximize the field of view in the video while the mobile equipment is immobile. In the second machine state, the video configuration does correct for fisheye distortion, so as to prevent disorientation of the remote operator while the mobile equipment is mobile.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Aaron R. SHATTERS
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Publication number: 20240020801Abstract: In panoramic video captured by a fisheye camera (e.g., for use in the remote operation of mobile equipment), there is a trade-off between the field of view and the level of distortion correction. In particular, to avoid the video from be disorienting, distortion correction is required. However, distortion correction applied to a very wide field of view results in an unnatural appearance of objects in edge regions, such that the image frames of the video must be cropped. A method is disclosed that varies the level of distortion correction that is applied to pixels in each image frame based on a position of those pixels in the image frame, such that less distortion correction is applied to pixels closer to edges of the image frame. This enables a very wild field of view, while preventing the unnatural appearance of objects near the edges of the image frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Aaron R. SHATTERS
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Publication number: 20240018870Abstract: A device may determine a current level of moisture of a section of a ground surface. The device may determine a moisture removal rate of the section of the ground surface. The device may predict an expected level of moisture of the section of the ground surface at an estimated time of arrival of an autonomous machine with a water dispensing unit and determine an amount of water to be dispensed by the autonomous machine at the section of the ground surface. The expected level of moisture may be predicted based on the current level of moisture and the moisture removal rate. The amount of water may be determined based on the expected level of moisture and a desired level of moisture. The device may provide a command, to the autonomous machine, to cause the autonomous machine to dispense the amount of water to the section of the ground surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mark Howard BANHAM, Ruchi BHATIA
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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