Patents Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
  • Adjustable Pitch Rotor for Milling Applications
    Publication number: 20230112546
    Abstract: An adjustable pitch rotor for a milling machine includes an inner drum and an outer shell formed by first and second outer shell portions. Drum cutting assemblies with cutting bits extend outward from outer surfaces of the outer shell portions, with each of the cutting bits being longitudinally spaced from longitudinally adjacent cutting bits on their respective outer shell portions by a pitch distance. In a first pitch configuration, each cutting bit may be longitudinally aligned with a corresponding cutting bit on the other outer shell portion so that grooves milled in a work surface by the rotor are spaced by the pitch distance. In a second pitch configuration, each of the cutting bits may be longitudinally spaced from longitudinally adjacent cutting bits of the other outer shell portion by one-half the pitch distance to mill grooves in the work surface that are spaced by one-half the pitch distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas B. Johnson
  • SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR USING INTEGRATED GENERATOR IN A MOBILE MACHINE AS JOBSITE CHARGING STATION
    Publication number: 20230112291
    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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Toby A. FRELICH, Brian D. NAGEL
  • CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PAVING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20230105732
    Abstract: A paving system includes a paving machine, including a hopper, a conveyor, an auger, a screed assembly, and one or more tracks. The paving system also includes one or more obstacle detection elements positioned on the paving machine. The paving system further includes a controller in communication with the one or more obstacle detection elements and one or more of the conveyor, the auger, the screed assembly, and the one or more tracks. The controller is configured to receive information from the one or more obstacle detection elements, and control one or more of a width of the screed assembly, an angle of attack of the screed assembly, a height of the screed assembly, an angle of the screed assembly, or a speed of the paving machine in order to maintain a desired height of paving material delivered to a ground surface by the paving machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Dana W. MILLER
  • RETENTION SYSTEM FOR RETAINING MILLING DRUMS
    Publication number: 20230104194
    Abstract: A retention system for retaining a milling drum to a driveshaft of a milling assembly. The driveshaft is powered to drive the milling drum about an axis. The retention system includes a retention member coupled to the driveshaft between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the retention member restricts a disengagement between an engagement surface of the driveshaft and a mating surface of the milling drum, inhibiting a release of the milling drum from the driveshaft along the axis. In the second position, the retention member provides clearance for the disengagement of the engagement surface and the mating surface, facilitating the release of the milling drum from the driveshaft along the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Hedstrom, Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Ryan Steve Hutar
  • SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING TORQUE FROM DRIVESHAFTS TO MILLING DRUMS
    Publication number: 20230107382
    Abstract: A system for transferring torque from a driveshaft to a milling drum mountable on the driveshaft. The system includes a first coupler removably coupled to the driveshaft to co-rotate with the driveshaft. The first coupler defines an engagement surface. Also, the system includes a second coupler removably coupled to the milling drum. The second coupler defines a mating surface engageable with the engagement surface of the first coupler to engage the second coupler to the first coupler and transfer torque from the driveshaft to the milling drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Craig Thomas Hedstrom, Ryan Steve Hutar
  • System and method for managing operator settings for a work machine
    Patent number: 11620603
    Abstract: A work machine, such as a wheel loader, operating in a worksite within a wireless control system includes an operator-specific configuration of machine settings associated with an identification for the operator. As the work machine executes a work function, the operator identification, an initial operator-specific configuration, and sensed performance metrics are transmitted to a control system for the worksite. Linking the operator identification to one or both of the initial operator-specific configuration and the metrics, the control system analyzes performance of the work machine by the operator with increased granularity and flags potential irregularities. A modified operator-specific configuration to change operator performance is returned to the work machine and made to override the initial operator-specific configuration when the operator next takes control of the work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D Nagel
  • Systems and methods for viewing onboard machine data
    Patent number: 11620864
    Abstract: A systems and method for plotting and viewing onboard machine data with graphical user interfaces on a mobile heavy duty machine is disclosed. The method also includes displaying a list of machine systems on an onboard display of the machine. The method further includes receiving at the display a selection of a machine system from the list of machine systems. The method additionally includes displaying one or more parameters at the display based on the selected machine system. The method additionally includes receiving at the display a selection of a parameter. The method also includes displaying a graphical representation, comprising an x-axis and y-axis, of real-time data of the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Lee M. Hogan
  • Milling machine having a tip over warning system
    Patent number: 11619013
    Abstract: A milling machine may have a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a milling drum attached to the frame. The milling machine may have ground engaging tracks that support the frame, and height-adjustable leg columns connecting the frame to the tracks. The milling machine may also have an engine for rotating the milling drum and propelling the ground engaging tracks. The milling machine may have a slope sensor to measure a roll angle of the frame, a speed sensor to measure a ground speed, and a configuration sensor to measure a machine configuration parameter. The milling machine may also have an alarm device and a controller. The controller may determine a threshold roll angle based on the machine configuration parameter, compare the roll angle with the threshold roll angle, and activate the alarm device when the roll angle is greater than or equal to the threshold roll angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Mashek, Dario Sansone, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Rotor depth visual indication zones
    Patent number: 11619012
    Abstract: A cold planer can include a frame; an operator station coupled to the frame and including a monitor; a cutting rotor coupled to the frame, the cutting rotor configured to be lowered a selected distance into a surface to define a depth of cut; a conveyor to receive material from the cutting rotor; and a cutting rotor location indication system including: a camera coupled to the frame and oriented to show an area on a side of the frame; and a visual indicator system configured to receive a first image from the camera and display on the monitor a visual image of a location of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the cutting rotor relative to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Bjorge, Sean Robert Laclef, Eric S. Engelmann
  • ON-MACHINE REMOTE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20230094845
    Abstract: Non-line of sight (NLOS) remote control for machines is accomplished by a remote-control station with cellular connectivity to run multiple machines remotely. However, NLOS is expensive and may not work in areas with low cell tower coverage. Accordingly, the present disclosure pertains to providing on-machine remote control to operators of machines at a worksite. The on-machine remote control allows one machine to actively control another machine through connectivity between those two machines. For example, a tractor operator may use on-machine remote control to take control of a compactor, such that the compactor may be run using the tractor controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine, Nathaniel S Doy
  • MILLING MACHINE HAVING A TIP OVER WARNING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230097927
    Abstract: A milling machine may have a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a milling drum attached to the frame. The milling machine may have ground engaging tracks that support the frame, and height-adjustable leg columns connecting the frame to the tracks. The milling machine may also have an engine for rotating the milling drum and propelling the ground engaging tracks. The milling machine may have a slope sensor to measure a roll angle of the frame, a speed sensor to measure a ground speed, and a configuration sensor to measure a machine configuration parameter. The milling machine may also have an alarm device and a controller. The controller may determine a threshold roll angle based on the machine configuration parameter, compare the roll angle with the threshold roll angle, and activate the alarm device when the roll angle is greater than or equal to the threshold roll angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Nathan L. MASHEK, Dario SANSONE, Nathaniel S. DOY
  • Clogged nozzle detection
    Patent number: 11612906
    Abstract: A work machine can include a frame; a spray system couple to the frame and including a spray bar having a plurality of nozzles; a pressure sensor to detect a pressure of a liquid within the spray bar; and a controller to determine whether the detected pressure of the liquid within the spray bar has exceeded a pre-determined pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Schlenker
  • System and method of material evacuation in mill chamber
    Patent number: 11613855
    Abstract: A work machine including a frame, a plurality of ground engaging mechanisms, a conveyor assembly and a mill chamber. The conveyor assembly including a conveyor belt. The mill chamber including an auger and a rotor, the rotor having a plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. Johnson, Conwell Keefer Rife, Jr., Eric S. Engelmann
  • Machine centric control for compaction machines
    Patent number: 11613180
    Abstract: A construction machine that frequently changes between a forward and reverse direction of movement includes a system and method for operating the machine such that rotation of the operator seat can change the direction and speed of the machine's movement to minimize disorientation by the operator. The machine can be changed from moving in the forward direction to moving in the reverse direction, without changing the position of a propel lever or joystick that is used to control the direction and speed of the machine's movement. Rotation of the seat can be used to proportionally reduce the speed of the machine as the machine nears a threshold for changing direction. The joystick can be a dual axis lever that can move along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The direction of movement and speed of the machine can depend on a combination of the joystick position and seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Mathew J. Hedrington
  • Machine, system, and method for work cycle automation
    Patent number: 11613856
    Abstract: A milling machine, system, and method for implementing a return to cut operation and/or an exit cut operation controls legs of the milling machine, a rotor of the milling machine, and front and rear doors of a mixing chamber of the milling machine according to settings for each of the return to cut operation and the exit cut operation. Such control can be based on signals from one or more sensors of the milling machine configured to sense various position-related characteristics of the milling machine, and can be performed responsive to a control input at an operator control interface of the milling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Doy, Lee M. Hogan, Jason W. Muir, Hyppolite Kuissi, Timothy Michael O'Donnell, Matthew-David S. Frantz, Jacob M. Saari
  • Ground material density measurement system
    Patent number: 11609322
    Abstract: A ground material density measurement system is disclosed. The ground material density measurement system may receive a moisture measurement associated with an amount of moisture on a ground surface of a section of ground material. The ground material density measurement system may determine a GPR measurement associated with the section of ground material. The ground material density measurement system may process the GPR measurement based on the moisture measurement to account for the amount of moisture. The ground material density measurement system may provide density information associated with the section of ground material based on the processed GPR measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Oetken, Tod A. Oblak
  • FLUID SPRAY SYSTEM TIMING CONTROL
    Publication number: 20230078995
    Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may receive an input that indicates a proportion of a spray cycle in which a fluid spray system is to be active. The fluid spray system may include at least a first fluid pump configured to supply fluid to a first fluid spray bar and a second fluid pump configured to supply fluid to a second fluid spray bar. The controller may determine, in accordance with the proportion, a spraying timing for the first fluid pump and the second fluid pump that minimizes an overlap of an active time of the first fluid pump and an active time of the second fluid pump, and/or an overlap of an inactive time of the first fluid pump and an inactive time of the second fluid pump. The controller may cause activation of the first fluid pump and the second fluid pump in accordance with the spraying timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. OETKEN, Paul PETERSEN
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING OPERATOR SETTINGS FOR A WORK MACHINE
    Publication number: 20230069607
    Abstract: A work machine, such as a wheel loader, operating in a worksite within a wireless control system includes an operator-specific configuration of machine settings associated with an identification for the operator. As the work machine executes a work function, the operator identification, an initial operator-specific configuration, and sensed performance metrics are transmitted to a control system for the worksite. Linking the operator identification to one or both of the initial operator-specific configuration and the metrics, the control system analyzes performance of the work machine by the operator with increased granularity and flags potential irregularities. A modified operator-specific configuration to change operator performance is returned to the work machine and made to override the initial operator-specific configuration when the operator next takes control of the work machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D Nagel
  • System and method for machine control
    Patent number: 11591757
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information indicative of a first worksite plan, determining a travel path extending along a work surface, causing a mobile machine to traverse the travel path, and receiving first sensor information associated with the work surface from a sensor of the mobile machine. The method also includes generating a second worksite plan based at least partly on the first sensor information, and providing instructions to a slave machine which, when executed by a controller of the slave machine, cause the controller of the slave machine to control the slave machine to perform at least part of the second worksite plan. The method further includes receiving second sensor information determined by the sensor of the mobile machine, and generating at least one of a safety metric and an accuracy metric based at least partly on the second sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. O'Donnell
  • Work machines and systems for monitoring wear of components of work machines
    Patent number: 11591758
    Abstract: A work machine includes a frame, one or more drive members coupled to the frame, an engine for providing power to the one or more drive members, one or more components coupled to the frame, and a monitoring system for monitoring wear of the one or more components. The system includes a user interface and a controller. The controller is in circuit communication with the user interface. The controller is configured to receive information inputted into the user interface by a user and send an alert notification regarding the servicing of at least one of the one or more components based on the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew J. Hedrington, Ryan J. Schuette