Patents by Inventor Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140334685
    Abstract: A system and method of estimation motion of a machine is disclosed. The method may include determining a first point cloud and a second point cloud corresponding to an environment in a vicinity of the machine. The method may further include generating a first extended gaussian image (EGI) for the first point cloud and a second EGI for the second point cloud. The method may further include determining a first EGI segment based on the first EGI and a second EGI segment based on the second EGI. The method may further include determining a first two dimensional distribution for points in the first EGI segment and a second two dimensional distribution for points in the second EGI segment. The method may further include estimating motion of the machine based on the first and second two dimensional distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: CATERPILLAR INC.
  • Publication number: 20140260198
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment module is provided. The exhaust aftertreatment module includes a housing having a first end and a second end. The at least one inlet is disposed between the first end and the second end and is configured to introduce an exhaust into the housing. A mixing tube is disposed downstream of the at least one inlet. The mixing tube is configured to direct the exhaust towards the second end of the housing. The exhaust aftertreatment module further includes a single bank of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalysts disposed at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the mixing tube. The single bank of SCR catalysts is configured to receive the exhaust redirected from the second end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130317707
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine implement. The control system includes a measurement sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to provide an implement measurement signal and an operator command signal, and to determine an adjusted implement command based signal based on the implement measurement signal and the operator command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130221739
    Abstract: A track shoe for a track-type vehicle. The track shoe includes a base plate and a grouser projecting away from the base plate. A capping surface structure of substantially horseshoe shaped cross-section is disposed across a distal portion of the grouser. The capping surface structure covers portions of a distal edge surface and adjacent lateral surfaces. The capping surface structure is formed from an material characterized by enhanced wear resistance relative to portions of the grouser underlying the capping surface structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130223930
    Abstract: A method for compacting a surface of granular materials is disclosed. The method is applicable to wheeled compaction equipment such as pneumatic-tire compactors, drum-type compactors and asphalt compactors. The propel system includes a controller programmed to send a first at least substantially constant propel command that propels the compaction equipment in a forward direction. The controller then changes the speed of the compaction equipment by providing a second varying propel command that may increase or decrease the speed resulting from the first command. As a result, the speed of the compaction equipment oscillates, and the compaction process is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: CATERPILLAR INC.
  • Publication number: 20130219877
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve in a work machine may include at least one supply valve and at least one drain valve to be calibrated and a bypass valve in fluid communication with a pump and a fluid source. The at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve may be calibrated by opening the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve, closing the bypass valve, setting the pump to a desired flow output, determining a first current command for the at least one supply valve corresponding to a first target pressure parameter and determining a second current command for the at least one drain valve corresponding to a second target pressure parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130220114
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a piston to a rod to form a cylinder assembly are provided. The piston has a tapped bore extending therethrough for coupling to a first threaded region of the rod. The rod end extends beyond the piston member and includes a second threaded region for coupling to a tapped bore of a retaining member. The piston member is coupled to the rod member at a low torque, e.g., up to about 1000 Nm. An external thread of each of the threaded segment of the piston bore and the first threaded region of the first portion of the rod member may be formed with a root radius of greater than 0.125 pitch or with MJ class thread. The retaining member may include setscrews offset from one another for frictional engagement with the rod end. The thread pitch between the rod and the piston may be coarser than between the rod and the retaining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130213015
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a power system contained in an engine compartment. The exhaust system includes a mount for two or more exhaust treatment devices and an enclosure surrounding the two or more exhaust treatment devices. The enclosure defines a space with a higher temperature than a space defined by the engine compartment during steady state operation of the power system. At least one electronic or fluid device is coupled to the enclosure or mount and located on an exterior of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130206678
    Abstract: An endcap including a first plate member including a radial inner portion, a radial outer portion, and defining a longitudinal axis. The endcap also includes a flange disposed between the radial inner and outer portions of the first plate member and projecting axially along the longitudinal axis in a first direction. The endcap also includes a first seal member disposed adjacent the flange. The first seal includes a first portion thereof engaged with an axial facing surface of the first plate member and a second portion thereof engaged with a radially facing surface of the flange. The endcap further includes a second plate member disposed radially outward of the radial outer portion and a second seal member disposed adjacent the second plate member including at least a portion thereof axially spaced from the axially facing surface of the first plate member in a second direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicants: Caterpillar, Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc., Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Caterpillar, Inc., Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130193729
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical seat swivel system may include a bottom plate mounted on a frame of a machine or vehicle, and top plate pivotally mounted on the bottom plate, and an operator seat mounted on the top plate. A pawl may be movably mounted on the bottom plate and engage latch catch brackets mounted to the top plate to lock the seat in predetermined operator seat positions. An electro-mechanical actuator may be mounted to the seat and operatively coupled to the pawl. Latch control switches disposed at operator controls may be operated to cause the electro-mechanical actuator to disengage from one of the latch catch bracket to allow the seat to be rotated to another of the predetermined operator seat positions where the pawl will engage the corresponding latch catch bracket to again lock the operator seat in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130173201
    Abstract: A sensor calibration system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The sensor calibration system may have a first machine mounted sensor disposed on the mobile machine and configured to sense a characteristic of an offboard object and to generate a corresponding signal, and a second machine mounted sensor disposed on the mobile machine and configured to sense the characteristic of the offboard object and to generate a corresponding signal. The sensor calibration system may also have a controller in communication with the first and second machine mounted sensors. The controller may be configured to compare the characteristic of the offboard object as sensed by the first machine mounted sensor to the characteristic of the offboard object as sensed by the second machine mounted sensor, and to correct subsequent signals received from the first machine mounted sensor based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130160570
    Abstract: A solenoid force measurement system includes: a first plate having an opening for receiving a solenoid; a second plate separated from the first plate by an air-gap; a force detection unit located within the second plate for measuring a force exerted by the solenoid; a height control device coupled to the second plate the height control device configured to adjust the size of the air-gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130160284
    Abstract: A system for crimping a first component onto a second component includes a first portion and a second portion facing the first portion. The system also includes at least one actuator configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion to compress a die disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The compression of the die causes the first and second components located in the die to be crimped together. The system also includes a controller connected to the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to determine a value associated with an amount of deflection of the first portion while crimping and determine whether to stop the movement of the first portion based on the determined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130161033
    Abstract: 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 determine an adjusted implement command based at least in part on the implement measurement signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130145659
    Abstract: An edge protector for mounting to a lip of a ground engaging tool and shielding an edge of the lip is disclosed. The edge protector may include a tip configured to extend forward from the edge of the lip of the ground engaging tool. The edge protector may also include a first mounting leg extending rearward from the tip. Additionally, the edge protector may include a second mounting leg extending rearward from the tip and spaced from the first mounting leg by a recess configured to receive the lip of the ground engaging tool between the first mounting leg and the second mounting leg. The first mounting leg may include a lock cavity configured to house a lock in such a manner that the lock is sandwiched between the first mounting leg and the lip of the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130138307
    Abstract: An output transfer group, or drop box, can include a housing and a gear transfer train, rotatably supported within the housing, that includes an input gear adapted for enmeshing engagement with a transmission output shaft and a gear transfer output shaft that is rotatable upon rotation of the input gear. A coupler can be provided that includes a hub rotatively coupled with the gear transfer output shaft, a bearing carrier, a coupler output shaft rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier, and a coupling mechanism rotatively coupled to the bearing carrier. The coupling mechanism can be movable between an engaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is rotatively coupled to the hub, and a disengaged position, wherein the coupling mechanism is disengaged from the hub. A solenoid can be arranged with the coupling mechanism to selectively move the coupling mechanism from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130133196
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130111733
    Abstract: A pin joint includes a pin having a longitudinal axis. A bushing for use with a lateral pin retention system may be positioned around the pin. The bushing includes an arc groove disposed radially about an outer surface of the bushing. A retaining plug for use with the lateral pin retention system includes an engagement head shaped to engage the arc groove and may be attachable to a linkage of a machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130099017
    Abstract: A mobile fluid delivery machine has a communication device configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions that identify a sequence of path segments on a site and corresponding fluid delivery allocation information for the path segments, and a location device determining the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine. It also has a fluid delivery system including a display device and at least one processor that is configured to identify the fluid delivery allocation information for the path segment that corresponds to the location of the mobile machine on the site, and to determine, based on the fluid delivery allocation information for the path segment that corresponds to the location of the mobile machine on the site, a fluid delivery rate for the path segment. The processor is also configured to cause the display device to display an indication of the determined fluid delivery rate for the path segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130097844
    Abstract: A fluid coupling including a cylindrical stem having a fluid conduit therethrough and a hollow shell provided over a first end of the stem. A tool engaging hexagonal shape on an outer surface of the shell is disposed radially outward from a swage joined portion of the shell to the stem. The tool engaging hexagonal shape includes six non-contiguous flats having rounded portions therebetween. The swage joined portion and the tool engaging hexagonal shape are located at the same axial location along a centerline of the hollow shell, and the swage joined portion has an axial length along the centerline corresponding to an axial length along the centerline corresponding to an axial length along the centerline of the tool engaging hexagonal shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Caterpillar Inc.