Patents Assigned to Caterpillar
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Patent number: 8700273Abstract: This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine. The control system includes a sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the implement measurement signal, determine whether a main threshold condition is met, and to determine an adjusted implement command based at least in part on the implement measurement signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Todd R. Farmer, Charles W. Grant, Gregory A. Epplin, Michael J. Chadwick, Joshua D. Callaway
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Patent number: 8700283Abstract: Operating a trolley assist-capable mining truck having a regenerative braking mechanism and a friction braking mechanism includes receiving data indicative of a change in demand in an electrical power grid for regenerated electrical power from the mining truck, and commanding braking the mining truck such that application of the retarding torque is allocated to the regenerative braking mechanism in a manner responsive to the data. A mining truck and methodology relating to harvesting electrical power regenerated via application of retarding torque is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Bryan G. Lammers
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Patent number: 8696277Abstract: A machine includes a threaded fastener connected to, and positioned adjacent, a maintenance feature. A removable cover blocks access to the maintenance feature and includes a captive fastener assembly. The captive fastener assembly includes a barrel with an internal passage separating a tool opening from a fastener opening, and the internal passage is divided into a cage volume and a fastener passage by an internal thrust surface. A retention component that defines a tool passage through a capture surface is mechanically mounted in the barrel adjacent a tool opening. A captured fastener is trapped to move between the capture surface and the internal thrust surface in the cage volume. The captured fastener includes an internal tool engagement surface oriented toward the tool opening and threads oriented toward the fastener opening.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Wagner
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Patent number: 8695240Abstract: A machine bucket assembly includes a bucket having a top section, a bottom section, and a curved middle section. The bucket assembly may also include a kinematic reaction point about which the bucket is configured to rotate. A loadability index of the bucket may be between approximately 0.95 and 1.05. The loadability index is a ratio of a distance between the kinematic reaction point and a tip of the bottom section and a distance between the kinematic reaction point and a tip of the top section.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rudy V. Mills, Wayne E. Harshberger, II, Jeffrey K. Berry, John R. Picolet
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Patent number: 8700324Abstract: A navigation system for a machine is disclosed. The navigation system may have a navigation unit configured to measure a position of a machine at a first time and at a second time, and at least a first sensor configured to generate at least a first signal indicative of a speed and a heading of the machine during a time period from the first time to the second time. The navigation system may also have a controller configured to estimate a position of the machine at the second time based on the measured position of the machine at the first time and the at least a first signal, and to make a comparison of the measured position of the machine at the second time with the estimated position of the machine at the second time. The controller may also be configured to determine an integrity of the navigation unit based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Bibhrajit Halder
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Publication number: 20140099165Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling material feed for asphalt pavers. The material feed system includes a screed, feeder conveyor and a spreader auger. A sensor measures a material volume and transmits this information to an electronic control module (ECM). This information may be used as the target material volume, which the ECM may use to calculate a corresponding conveyor speed and auger speed. The sensor monitors the material volume as paving commences, and the ECM maintains the initial calibrated target size by adjusting the auger and conveyor rotational speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
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Publication number: 20140097275Abstract: Problems associated with soot production and coking build up in nozzle spray passages are addressed by plating a bore wall of an injector body tip piece with a primarily nickel coating using an electroless plating technique. The coating has an average thickness that is at least one order of magnitude smaller than an average diameter of the bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Huijun Wang, Marion Grant, Hind Abi-Akar
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Publication number: 20140096419Abstract: An electrically actuated coupling device for a machine and an implement is disclosed. The device includes a frame and an electric motor coupled to a drive shaft that extends between right and left ends of the frame. The motor causes the shaft to extend or retract from each end of the frame simultaneously. Each end of the frame includes a guide for receiving a latch. Each latch is pivotally coupled to a spring and each spring is pivotally coupled to a specially shaped lever which is pivotally coupled to the frame as well as an end of the shaft. The electric motor may be activated by the operator from within the cab.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR SARLInventors: George Pinther, Sage Smith, John Salay, Florin Neamtu, Leigh Reeves
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Publication number: 20140097047Abstract: A brake assembly for a mobile machine is disclosed. The brake assembly may have a brake housing, an output member rotatably disposed within the brake housing, and a disc stack disposed within a cavity of the brake housing. The disc stack may include a plurality of friction discs coupled to the output member and a plurality of separator plates interleaved with the plurality of friction discs and coupled to the brake housing. The brake assembly may also have a piston disposed within the cavity and configured to compress the disc stack, and an indicator received within a bore of the brake housing against the piston. The indicator may include a first feature configured to provide at least one of visual and tactile indication of wear of the disc stack, and a second feature configured to provide at least one of a visual and tactile indication of failure of the disc stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: David A. KUBICKI, Wesley C. WORSHAM, Bradley G. KAUFMAN
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Publication number: 20140099181Abstract: A dump body which dissuades material from sitting on a top surface of a sidewall of the dump body and thereby reduces spillage while hauling material is disclosed. The dump body may additionally allow an operator of a loader to clearly distinguish the edge of the dump body to facilitate loading and reduce structural damage. The dump body may further create a lower center of gravity while hauling the same payload, which may reduce the risk of rolling the dump body. The dump body may include a pair of sidewalls attached on opposing sides of a bottom wall and extending upwardly, with each having a top surface inclined toward an interior of the dump body. The incline may start at an inside edge of the sidewall and extend upwardly to an outside edge of the sidewall residing at a very outer extent of the sidewall.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Iain James Giles-Brown, Christopher Paul Took
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Patent number: 8691029Abstract: A steel liner with a case comprising at least 95% martensite, such as substantially 100% martensite, and a core comprising pearlite and discrete ferrite grains decorating former austenite grain boundaries. The ferrite in the liner's core has an average size of less than about 25 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Matthew T. Kiser
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Patent number: 8689897Abstract: A tractor blade assembly is disclosed having a first blade member and one or more replaceable, supplemental blade members. The first blade member has a supplemental blade mounting section extending laterally beyond the side edge of the first blade member and a supplemental blade member that removably attaches to the supplemental blade mounting section such that a side edge of the supplemental blade member abuts the side edge of the first blade member. The tractor blade assembly may include alignment structure to restrict vertical movement of the supplemental blade member relative to the first blade member and align the side edges.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Michael P. May
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Patent number: 8692647Abstract: A resistor unit adapted to be used in a resistor grid assembly. The resistor unit includes a supporting element and a resistor element. The supporting element has an aperture formed therein. The resistor element has a body portion and a tip portion at an end, which is adapted to be received in the aperture to mount the resistor element to the supporting element. Further, a tab extends from the end of the resistor element forming a part of the resistor element. The tab is configured to provide a heat shield between the supporting element and the resistor element.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bradley S. Bailey, Gerald M. Brown
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Patent number: 8690075Abstract: A common rail fuel injector includes a needle valve member that moves to open and close nozzle outlets for a fuel injection event responsive to pressure in a needle control chamber. Between injection events, the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the fuel inlet by a first pathway that includes a Z orifice, and fluidly connected to the fuel inlet by a second pathway that includes an F orifice, an intermediate chamber and an A orifice. During an injection event, the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to a drain outlet by a third pathway that includes the A orifice, the intermediate chamber an E orifice and a buffer chamber, which may assist in avoiding cavitation erosion in a sensitive area associated with a flat control valve seat. Different performance characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sizes of the respective of F, A, Z and E orifices.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Sana Mahmood, Zhenyu Li, Michael Curtis Herr, Gregory William Hefler, Linda Angharad Williams
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Patent number: 8689762Abstract: A process for remanufacturing a cylinder head that includes a worn or damaged rocker arm stand adapted to receive a rocker shaft to which at least one rocker arm is mounted, the steps including machining a channel in a surface of the worn or damaged rocker arm stand, securing an insert into the channel, and machining the insert to form a remanufactured inner facing surface. The remanufactured cylinder head includes at least one rocker arm stand that has a machined channel with a remanufactured insert secured therein, the rocker shaft being disposed adjacent the inner facing surface, not the rocker arm stand.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Christopher Bach, Curtis Graham, Trent Simpson, Michael Bridges
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Patent number: 8689940Abstract: A lubrication system for a work tool, such as a demolition hammer, that is powered by a drive fluid. The lubrication system including a valve member movable from a first position to a second position in response to receiving an input indicative of a low level of a lubricant, wherein in the second position, the valve member is configured to divert the drive fluid to shutdown or derate the tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rakesh D. Jagdale, Lauritz D. Pillers, II
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Patent number: 8689471Abstract: A control for an excavator of the type having a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving excavator components such that digging is accomplished at a worksite with an excavator bucket or other excavator implement, includes a plurality of hydraulic control valves, each of which is associated with a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of manually actuated joystick valves for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective hydraulic control valves to control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders. The control includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the position of one or more excavator components.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLCInventors: Hamish John Carpenter, Richard Paul Piekutowski, Mark Nichols
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Patent number: 8690118Abstract: A solenoid actuated device such as a fuel injector includes an actuator body having a plurality of body pieces, and a single-pole solenoid actuator assembly positioned at least partially within the actuator body. The single-pole solenoid actuator assembly includes a one-piece compound armature housing having a load carrying component clamped between the first body piece and the second body piece, and a flux carrying component. The load carrying component includes a high structural strength and a low flux permeability, and the flux carrying component includes a low structural strength and a high flux permeability. A method of making a solenoid actuated device includes placing an armature at a sliding radial air gap with a flux carrying component of a one-piece compound armature housing, and establishing a structural load path by placing a load carrying component of the compound armature housing between a first actuator body piece and a second actuator body piece.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nadeem N. Bunni, Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Stephen R. Lewis
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Patent number: 8689550Abstract: A hydraulic control system that includes a controller that controls the accumulator flow rate control valve and a discharge flow rate of the hydraulic pump, wherein the controller: determines a minimum value among an operation demand flow rate to be demanded by an operation amount of hydraulic actuator operating members, a pump flow rate to be determined by a discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump under a constant horsepower control and a maximum flow rate of the hydraulic pump such that the determined minimum value is an actuator supply flow rate to be supplied to the plurality of hydraulic actuators, and controls the discharge flow rate and the accumulator flow rate so as to supply the actuator supply flow rate corresponding to a total flow rate of the discharge flow rate and the accumulator flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Atsushi Wada, Keisuke Shirani, Takashi Iguchi
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Patent number: 8689769Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling compression-braking performance of an engine having a piston in a combustion cylinder. The method may include providing a valve in fluid communication with the combustion cylinder and at least one valve actuator operable to control the valve to perform compression-braking by opening the valve, which may include opening the valve to a first peak-valve-opening during a compression stroke of the piston and opening the valve to a second peak-valve-opening before a second half of an expansion stroke of the piston. The method may also include determining a target value for a stress in the at least one valve actuator. Additionally, the method may include designing the magnitude and timing of the first peak-valve-opening as a function of the target for the stress in the at least one valve actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Homa Afjeh, Edwin Henry Langewisch