Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products
  • Patent number: 11964581
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method may operatively couple to an integrated generator that supplies power to a component of a mobile machine that intermittently demands power during operation of the mobile machine and to a charging station. On condition that the component in the mobile machine does not need power, power may be supplied to the charging station. On condition that an electric mobile machine is connected to the charging station, power from the charging station may be supplied to the electric mobile machine. Otherwise, power may be supplied to the charging station in an energy accumulator to store the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Toby A. Frelich, Brian D. Nagel
  • Patent number: 11964312
    Abstract: A method and system for removing material build-up in a mixing chamber of a rotary mixer machine. The system includes one or more actuators coupled to the mixing chamber and to a frame of the rotary mixer machine. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive an input and activate the one or more actuators in response to the input to induce a forward and backward rocking motion in the mixing chamber to cause a dislodgement of the material build-up from the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber executes the forward and backward rocking motion between a first position and a second position about an axis disposed transversally to a length of the rotary mixer machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Matthew Saari
  • Patent number: 11961984
    Abstract: A working machine includes an auxiliary system carried by the working machine, one or more batteries and an onboard thermal transfer system. The one or more batteries power an electrical system of the working machine. The onboard thermal transfer system utilizes a coolant configured to remove at least a portion of heat generated by the one or more batteries during charging or discharging of the one or more batteries and using the coolant heated by the thermal transfer system to heat the auxiliary system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, Cary M Bryant, Tyler S. Burger
  • Patent number: 11952752
    Abstract: In some implementations, an ejection paddle may include a paddle body having an ejection surface and a mounting surface opposite the ejection surface, and a wear region projecting from the ejection surface and extending along a top edge of the paddle body and at least a portion of a first side edge and a second side edge of the paddle body. The paddle body may be recessed relative to the wear region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas B. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240102254
    Abstract: A method for directing transport vehicles based on real-time operating parameters of a paving train machine comprises estimating a material productivity value at a current location of the paving train machine, comparing the material productivity value to a threshold productivity value, generating a predicted location for the paving train machine when the threshold will be reached, and communicating the generated predicted location to a transport vehicle. A system for coordinating location of an empty transport vehicle in a paving train comprises a sensor to generate material productivity data for a paving train machine, a controller configured to determine an output rate of the paving train machine, a time when an in-use transport vehicle will be at capacity, and a location for where the in-use transport vehicle will be at capacity, and a communication device for the paving train machine configured to transmit the location to the empty transport vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth R.K. Brockman, Eric S. Engelmann
  • Publication number: 20240093441
    Abstract: In a rotary mixer having a floating ground guard mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame and relative to the rotor, an actuator configured to provide movement in at least a vertical plane relative to the frame, and a ground guard dislodging tool coupled to the floating ground guard. The ground guard dislodging tool and the actuator are disposed such that the actuator engages and exerts a force on the ground guard dislodging tool to move the floating ground guard in a downward direction relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Heim, Todd R. Dunsmoor, Paul J. Koenen
  • Publication number: 20240092154
    Abstract: A canopy system for a work machine includes a canopy assembly movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The canopy assembly includes a main canopy panel and a canopy wing, such that the canopy wing is movable relative to the main canopy panel between an extended position and a retracted position. The canopy system also includes a sensor system that generates a detection signal indicative of a presence of an object proximate to the work machine, and a controller communicably. The controller includes a memory and a processor. The processor receives the detection signal from the sensor system, determines a location of the object based on the detection signal, and generates a first control signal to partially move the canopy assembly towards the lowered position and away from the operator station or partially move the canopy wing towards the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Patent number: 11932327
    Abstract: A machine comprises a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of moveable legs, and a hydraulic system. A first ground engaging unit and a second ground engaging unit connect a first leg and a second leg, respectively, with the frame. The hydraulic system controls heights of the plurality of moveable legs. The hydraulic system comprises a fluid circuit to control fluid between the first and second legs, a load holding valve to control fluid flow into the fluid circuit, and first and second relief valves to control flow of fluid between the first and second legs in opposite directions. A method for controlling slope of a construction machine comprises activating a relief valve connecting right and left lifting cylinders to control flow of hydraulic fluid between the lifting cylinders to control retraction of one of the lifting cylinders from retracting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Argenziano, Dario Sansone
  • Patent number: 11928307
    Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein provide an operator training system that can train an operator about basic machine movements, operations, and applications, such as asphalt compactor rolling patterns, paving-by-numbers, milling-by-numbers, etc. with the use of a virtual reality headset at any point or time on a work site. The operator training system uses data received from the virtual reality headset and associated hand controls to guide the operator via training scenarios. The operator training system also includes providing immediate feedback on the outcome of the training scenario and may also identify one or more areas of improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: David A. King, Todd Willis Mansell, Eric Remboldt, Matt Peasley
  • Patent number: 11926973
    Abstract: A scraper for use with a moldboard of a milling machine is manufactured from a rigid material including at least one of the following: a hardened steel having a hardness of at least 50 Rockwell Scale C, a carbide, and PCD diamonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Koenen, Robert Edwin Carr
  • Publication number: 20240059173
    Abstract: A method includes establishing a data connection between a first controller, and a second controller of a mobile machine. The method also includes causing, by the first controller, a charging unit to direct electrical current to an energy storage device of the mobile machine. The method further includes receiving, by the first controller a plurality of electronic files stored in a memory of the mobile machine, and storing the files in a memory of the charging unit. The method also includes providing to the second controller, by the first controller, an indication that each file of the plurality of electronic files has been stored in the memory of the charging unit. In such methods, second controller is configured to delete each file of the plurality of electronic files from the memory of the mobile machine based on the indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Thomas Hanson, John L. Marsolek, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Publication number: 20240060952
    Abstract: A controller may obtain measurement information for measuring a property of a soil of a job site. The controller may measure the property of the soil based on obtaining the measurement information. The controller may compare the measured property of the soil and a target property of the soil. The controller may generate one or more instructions that cause one or more other machines to perform one or more actions with respect to the soil. The one or more instructions may be generated based on comparing the measured property of the soil and the target property. The controller may provide the one or more instructions to the one or more other machines to cause the one or more machines to perform the one or more actions to adjust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Daniel BEHN, Robert K. IVERSON, Nicholas A. OETKEN, Kishore Sundara SRINIVASAN
  • Publication number: 20240051101
    Abstract: A tool, for removing a cutting bit from a rotor of a rotor assembly of a machine, includes one or more input interfaces and one or more lighting units. The one or more input interfaces are configured to be actuated to perform one or more functions associated with removing the cutting bit from the rotor. The one or more lighting units are configured to be activated upon the actuation of the one or more input interfaces to illuminate at least a portion of the rotor assembly when performing the one or more functions associated with removing the cutting bit from the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11897097
    Abstract: A tool, for removing a cutting bit from a rotor of a rotor assembly of a machine, includes one or more input interfaces and one or more lighting units. The one or more input interfaces are configured to be actuated to perform one or more functions associated with removing the cutting bit from the rotor. The one or more lighting units are configured to be activated upon the actuation of the one or more input interfaces to illuminate at least a portion of the rotor assembly when performing the one or more functions associated with removing the cutting bit from the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11891762
    Abstract: Systems and methods can sense, using a vibration sensor disposed relative to a rotor of a milling machine, vibration associated with a cutting operation of the rotor of the milling machine; and determine during the cutting operation whether the sensed vibration associated with the cutting operation of the rotor indicates now that the rotor is cutting a second material different from a first material being previously cut by the rotor during the cutting operation. The second material can be harder than the first material. Cutting operations of the milling machine can be controlled based on identification of the rotor cutting the second material. The cutting operations can include speed of the milling machine, cutting level and/or depth of the rotor, and/or rotational speed of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Carr, Paul J. Koenen, Gianfranco Perri, Nathan Louis Mashek
  • Patent number: 11892335
    Abstract: A system for indicating a fluid level in a fluid tank of a machine includes a plurality of lighting units and at least one indicia. The lighting units are sequentially arranged with respect to each other and configured to be sequentially activated or sequentially deactivated to correspondingly indicate a real-time level of a fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia is disposed along the lighting units to correspondingly indicate at least one threshold level of the fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia allows inference of the real-time level to recede below the at least one threshold level if a sequential deactivation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a first direction. In addition, the indicia allows inference of the real-time level to exceed the at least one threshold level if a sequential activation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rafael Kopca, Lee Michael Hogan, Jared Todd Woodruff, Nathan Mashek
  • Patent number: 11891763
    Abstract: A machine for roadwork can include a frame, a power source, and a milling rotor operatively connected to the power source and the frame. The machine can also include means for detecting obstacles around an exterior of the machine; and means for activating an obstacle-detection response. The obstacle-detection response can adjust at least one milling parameter, change at least one sensor that the machine uses to control at least one mil ling parameter, or override at least one system on the machine to prevent the machine from automatically adjusting any milling parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Heath Daryl Wilson
  • Publication number: 20240035238
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may receive a command to adjust a setting of the screed assembly. The controller may obtain temperature data from one or more sensor devices of the screed assembly. The controller may determine, based on the temperature data, a corresponding temperature of one or more components of the screed assembly. The controller may selectively cause the setting to be adjusted or preventing the setting from being adjusted based on the corresponding temperature of the one or more components, the setting being adjusted based on determining that the corresponding temperature satisfies a temperature threshold, or the setting being prevented from being adjusted based on determining that the corresponding temperature does not satisfy the temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Holt Texas Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. NAGEL, Brett Wayne ENGEL, John Richard GUZMAN
  • Patent number: 11885081
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a rotor drive transmission having a plurality of gears disposed between a prime mover and a cutting rotor. The rotor drive transmission is associated with a rotor transmission hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic gearshift actuator to engage the plurality of gears in one or more gear ratios and a gearshift directional control valve to direct hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic gearshift actuator. In occurrence of a fault condition, the rotor transmission hydraulic circuit includes a gearshift trapping valve to maintain hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic gear actuator and the engaged gear ratio of the rotor drive transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Derek P. Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Brian J. Schlenker, Ryan A. Enot
  • Patent number: 11885080
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a cutting rotor, a foldable conveyor, a sensor, and a controller. The cutting rotor is configured to mill material beneath the milling machine. The foldable conveyor is configured to receive and dispose the milled material and includes a first section and a second section foldable with respect to the first section at a fold structure. The sensor is positioned on the milling machine and configured to sense a value indicative of a force acting on the second section. The controller is configured to determine an amount of the milled material within the second section of the foldable conveyor using the value indicative of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Colton J. Hirman