Patents Assigned to Caterpillar
  • Patent number: 6453227
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site. The work machine has a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of determining a position of the work machine relative to the site, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, and displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, Robert J. Price
  • Patent number: 6450765
    Abstract: A fan assembly with an improved seal for a mobile machine cooling system is disclosed. A housing is mounted to a machine structure and an impeller is mounted for rotation with respect to the housing. The impeller includes a plurality of rotating blades supported on a flange. A fan inlet is mounted with the housing and directs air toward the blades. A rotating shroud extends outwardly from the impeller flange and has a shroud inlet that extends into the fan inlet to form a seal between the fan inlet and the shroud inlet. The method and apparatus includes forming the seal between the fan inlet and the rotating shroud to prevent leakage as the rotating blades generate a centrifugal airflow for discharge through a fan outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jim K. Carroll, Delbert L. Kramer
  • Patent number: 6450081
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for controlling the operation of an attachment or tool associated with a particular work machine wherein such circuit includes an actuator for controlling the operation of the attachment or tool, a control valve operable to control fluid flow to the actuator, a fluid path communicating the control valve with the actuator, and a pilot signal control device positioned in communication with both the control valve and a pilot pressure source and having a signal port in communication with the actuator for sensing the pressure associated therewith, the control device being responsive to the pressure associated with the actuator and being operable for sending a control signal to the control valve when a pressure condition in the actuator reaches a predetermined value, the control signal actuating the control valve so as to at least partially close such valve and maintain an operative pressure on the attachment actuator while, at the same time, decreasing the fluid flow through the control
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis L. Sorbel
  • Patent number: 6450154
    Abstract: An engine particularly suitable for homogeneous charge compression ignition operation. A piezoelectric oscillator is provided in a combustion chamber of the engine and initiates ultrasonic pressure waves to promote the breakup of fuel droplets. The piezoelectric oscillator can be mounted on a crown of a piston, or on a cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar
    Inventor: Cathy Y. Choi
  • Patent number: 6446433
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system having a pump for delivering fluid under pressure from a fluid reservoir, a hydraulic actuator selectively driven by the fluid, the system comprises a main flow control valve connected between the pump and the actuator for selectively providing the fluid to and from the actuator, and a control unit connected to the main flow control valve for controlling operation of the main flow control valve to control the rate of change of the area of the main flow control valve relative to the delivery of fluid from the pump, and the control unit connected to the pump to increase or decrease the actual pump command proportional to the inverse of the pump command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford J. Holt, John J. Krone, Douglas W. Koehler, Michael A. Cobo
  • Patent number: 6446498
    Abstract: A method for determining a condition of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of setting an EGR valve located on the EGR system to a first position, determining a first temperature value at a location on the EGR system, setting the EGR valve to a second position, determining a second temperature value at the location, and determining a condition of the EGR system as a function of the difference between the first and second temperature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Schricker, Thomas R. Sandborg, Steven R. McCoy
  • Patent number: 6446598
    Abstract: Compression brake systems using “back-fill” between combustion cylinders or requiring an exhaust valve to be opened twice during a braking cycle require brake actuation systems able to maintain control over the exhaust valve during different loading conditions. In a first opening event where a piston is at or near bottom dead center, pressures in the combustion cylinder are low. During a second opening event near top dead center pressures are higher. Movement of the exhaust valve is controlled by delivery of fluid to a brake actuator piston. Fluid delivery is slowed as the brake actuator piston moves to cover a first cylinder port and uncover a second cylinder port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Funke, Scott A. Leman
  • Patent number: 6447423
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The apparatus includes (i) an input shaft driven by an engine, (ii) an output shaft, (iii) an operator input for generating speed commands, and (iv) a controller operable to receive said speed commands and generate transmission ratio commands which control a ratio of a speed of the output shaft to a speed of the input shaft. An upper transmission ratio limit is defined by first engine speed and a lower transmission ratio limit is defined by a second engine speed. When the speed command requires a transmission ratio command greater than the upper transmission ratio limit, the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the upper transmission ratio limit, whereas when the speed command requires a transmission ratio command less than the lower transmission ratio limit the controller adjusts the transmission ratio command to the lower transmission ratio limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Howard N. Cannon, Larry E. Kendrick
  • Patent number: 6442835
    Abstract: A camshaft used in an internal combustion engine which has reduced weight and added wear resistance at a lobe of the camshaft. The camshaft is provided to add increased wear resistance and reduced weight to the internal combustion engine for increased efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The camshaft includes wear resistant material at the surface of the lobe of the camshaft. The wear resistant material is distributed on the outer surface of the lobe and incorporated into the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Majewski, Michael J. Pollard
  • Patent number: 6443121
    Abstract: An engine comprises a housing that defines a hollow piston cavity that is separated from a gas passage by a valve seat. The housing further defines a biasing hydraulic cavity and a control hydraulic cavity. A gas valve member is also included in the engine and is movable relative to the valve seat between an open position at which the hollow piston cavity is open to the gas passage and a closed position in which the hollow piston cavity is blocked from the gas passage. The gas valve member includes a ring mounted on a valve piece and a retainer positioned between the ring and the valve piece. A closing hydraulic surface is included on the gas valve member and is exposed to liquid pressure in the biasing hydraulic cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Carroll, Gregory O. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6445990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling straight line travel of a tracked machine having a left track and a right track. The method and apparatus includes initiating a straight line travel mode of the tracked machine, determining an initial heading angle of a heading sensor located on the tracked machine, sensing a deviation in heading angle from the initial heading angle as the tracked machine travels, determining a heading angle error in response to the deviation in heading angle, and adjusting the speed of at least one of the left and right tracks to compensate for the heading angle error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Noah Manring
  • Patent number: 6442936
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a compressor operable as a single stage or multi-stage compressor. A first compressor stage includes a first compressor wheel carried by a shaft, an axially extending first inlet and a radially extending first outlet. A second compressor stage includes a second compressor wheel carried by the shaft and axially extending second inlet and a radially extending second outlet. An interstage duct fluidly connects in series the first outlet of the first compressor with the second inlet of the second compressor. The interstage duct includes a bypass opening includes in communication with an ambient environment. A valve is positioned within the interstage duct. The valve is moveable to and between a first position to close the interstage duct and a second position to close the bypass opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 6439201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel injectors having the ability to inject fuel at multiple pressures during an injection event. Traditional fuel injectors used in common rail fuel injection systems and unit pump fuel injection systems typically did not have the ability to inject fuel at multiple pressures during an injection event. However, engineers have learned that increased control over an injection event can lead to improved emissions by the fuel injectors. Therefore, the present invention utilizes an electronically controlled valve member that can direct. the flow of fuel through a fuel injector during an injection event between a relatively restricted passageway and a relatively unrestricted passageway. The present invention finds particular application in both common rail fuel injection systems and electronic unit pump fuel injection systems used in diesel engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Gillis, Dan R. Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 6439210
    Abstract: Apparatus and method, particularly suited for a work machine, provides EGR to an internal combustion engine without the addition of special EGR hardware. The invention provides a controlling of a timing of the closing of a first exhaust valve during the exhaust stroke of a first cylinder to trap exhaust gas in the first cylinder for mixing with combustion air in the first cylinder during the intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Faletti, Steven J. Funke
  • Patent number: 6442511
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining severity of a trend toward an impending machine failure under actual operating conditions. The method and apparatus includes providing a typical failure trend based on a set of normal operating conditions for the machine, determining a slope value for the typical failure trend, determining a slope value for the trend toward the impending machine failure under the actual or proposed operating conditions, determining a weight value for at least the actual or proposed operating conditions, and determining the severity as a function of the slope values and the weight value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jagannathan Sarangapani, Sri K. Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 6439212
    Abstract: A bypass venturi assembly for recirculating exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine, Particularly suitable for use in an on-road vehicle, is provided with a housing having an outlet, a combustion air inlet and an exhaust gas inlet. A center piece is Positioned within the housing and is in communication with the combustion air inlet. The center piece defines a combustion air bypass section therein. A combustion air bypass valve is positioned in association with the combustion air bypass section. An exhaust gas valve is positioned in association with the exhaust gas inlet. An elbow is coupled with the outlet and defines a fluid flow path. The elbow includes a vane therein which is positioned in association with the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis D. Feucht, Michael P. Harmon, David A. Pierpont, Matthew D. Rampenthal
  • Patent number: 6439852
    Abstract: A protective guard for use with a fan or other mechanism includes main support members, perimeter support members, main screen members, and perimeter screen members with joints formed between the support members and screen members to inhibit access thereto. The support members define openings through which the screen members slidably extend to form the joints without welds. In one embodiment, the support members include unitary bars. In another embodiment, the support members comprise first and second bars having legs, which define recesses. When the upper and lower bars are attached, the recesses define openings through the support members for receiving the screen members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Andriotis, Manzar Khoshnevissan, Bruce W. Miers, Jeffery M. Othman
  • Patent number: 6438833
    Abstract: A control system and method of use for aligning a piston assembly with a cylinder of an engine block. The control system enables the piston assembly to be properly aligned with the cylinder prior to inserting the piston assembly into the cylinder. The control system includes an apparatus which compares positional information associated with the piston assembly and an apparatus which instructs movement of the piston assembly with respect to the cylinder in response to the positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Cook, Brad A. Moore, Kevin R. Shaffer, James L. Thien, Robert L. Walters
  • Patent number: 6435235
    Abstract: A tree harvester head structure is connected to a mounting structure on a mobile tree harvester by a compact coupling which provides lateral pivotal movement of the harvester head structure. An antifriction bearing and a fluid powered rotary actuator have a concentric relationship and are in substantial radial alignment, thus creating a compact design and avoiding additional side loading of the bearing. A brake prevents rotational movement of the tree harvester head structure except when the rotary actuator is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Keith B. Hicks
  • Patent number: D462701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Elmer R. Crabb, Matthew T. Keeley, Craig B. Kelley, Charles H. Menke