Abstract: A compact utility machine, such as a compact track loader or wheel loader, a compact telehandler, or a compact trencher, implements a passive cooling system. The passive cooling system may establish a negative pressure zone within the machine's engine compartment to draw ambient air into the engine compartment for cooling various components. The negative pressure zone may be defined upstream with respect to an exhaust fan that pushes air out of the engine compartment. A pressure differential is defined between the ambient air and the negative pressure zone, which drives air into the engine compartment through an air inlet(s) in an engine compartment side wall(s). A hydraulic oil cooler may be mounted inside of the engine compartment, overlying one of the engine compartment's air intakes.

Abstract: A genset is equipped with an electrically powered supplemental load device (SLD) that controls an aspect of engine operation. A controller controls the SLD to increase electrical load on the alternator and, thus, increase mechanical load on the engine, if monitored engine load is beneath a threshold. The SLD may comprise an electric engine coolant heater. The engine may be a diesel engine equipped with an exhaust aftertreatment system (ATS). In this case, the load threshold may be one below which at least one component of the ATS does not operate effectively. Engine load may be monitored indirectly by monitoring electrical load on the alternator. If so, the engine load may be considered to be proportional to alternator electrical load. Also disclosed is a method of operating a genset.

Abstract: A compaction roller machine has a chassis that is connected to at least one driven roller assembly. The roller assembly includes a stationary casing and a rotatable drum that rotates with an axle extending through the casing. The drum includes a central flange and an outer shell connected to the flange by a radial support. A scraper is mounted on an outside surface of the casing in proximity to an interface between the radial support and the inner peripheral surface of the shell. The scraper is configured to scrape debris from the drum and to break up debris located between it and the adjacent radial support. The machine may be a vibratory roller with a driven drum that also is excited to vibrate, in which case the roller assembly additionally includes a roller assembly drive motor and an exciter assembly drive motor supported on an outside surface of the casing.

Abstract: An articulated compaction machine implements a system layout that reduces the number of elongate flexible components that are routed between machine segments which must articulate with respect to each other. The machine includes a front-to-back asymmetric housing system with a pair of chassis mounted enclosures, one of which is larger than the other. The larger enclosure may be mounted on a first chassis subframe and define a primary enclosure that houses all components of a hydraulic power unit. The smaller enclosure may be mounted on a second chassis subframe and define an auxiliary enclosure that houses various auxiliary machine components. The primary enclosure may extend more than half of the length of the machine and may include a cantilevered segment that extends beyond the first subframe. The primary enclosure's cantilevered segment may extend across a pivot joint that connects the first and second chassis subframes and across a portion of the chassis' second subframe.

Abstract: A compact utility machine, such as a compact track loader or wheel loader, a compact telehandler, or a compact trencher, implements a passive cooling system. The passive cooling system may establish a negative pressure zone within the machine's engine compartment to draw ambient air into the engine compartment for cooling various components. The negative pressure zone may be defined upstream with respect to an exhaust fan that pushes air out of the engine compartment. A pressure differential is defined between the ambient air and the negative pressure zone, which drives air into the engine compartment through an air inlet(s) in an engine compartment side wall(s). A hydraulic oil cooler may be mounted inside of the engine compartment, overlying one of the engine compartment's air intakes.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven utility vehicle, such as a wheel loader or track loader, can automatically shift between two or more operating speed ranges based on prevailing operating conditions. The default condition may be a low speed range, and the vehicle may shift into a high speed range only if an output speed of the vehicle's hydraulic drive motor exceeds a designated threshold. The designated threshold may, for example, be a designated percentage of maximum speed. The machine may automatically shift back to the lower speed range if the output speed of the hydraulic drive motor drops beneath a second designated threshold that may lower than the first designated threshold. Other operating conditions, such as commanded speed, engine load and engine speed, may also be taken into account when determining whether to auto-shift.

Abstract: A compaction machine system includes a compaction machine in communication with a remote control. The compaction machine includes a mobile chassis with a first and second subframes pivotably connected at a pivot connection, a steering angle sensor, a steering actuator for causing the first and second subframes to pivot, and a control unit in communication with the steering angle sensor and with the steering actuator. The control unit determines an operational stroke of the of the steering actuator and controls the steering actuator based on the input from the direction control and the determined operational stroke of the steering actuator. When the steering actuator is at a limit of its operational stroke, the control unit overrides commands from the direction control that otherwise would result in extending or retracting the steering actuator stroke beyond its operational limit.

Abstract: A utility vehicle such as a loader includes a drive control system that includes an electronic controller and a manually actuated drive command device, such as one or more joysticks. The electronic controller is configured to control the drive control system to supply propulsive power at a predetermined output that is lower than that which is commanded by the drive command device for so long as an output of the drive control system is beneath a designated threshold, maintaining vehicle speed lower than a commanded vehicle speed. The electronic controller is further configured to control the drive control system to ramp up the propulsive power supply toward that which is commanded by the drive command device when the output of the drive control system is above the designated threshold, causing the vehicle speed to approach a commanded vehicle speed. The vehicle may include a EH drive system such as a hydrostatic drive system.

Abstract: A utility vehicle such as a loader includes a drive control system that includes an electronic controller and a manually actuated drive command device, such as one or more joysticks. The electronic controller is configured to control the drive control system to supply propulsive power at a predetermined output that is lower than that which is commanded by the drive command device for so long as an output of the drive control system is beneath a designated threshold, maintaining vehicle speed lower than a commanded vehicle speed. The electronic controller is further configured to control the drive control system to ramp up the propulsive power supply toward that which is commanded by the drive command device when the output of the drive control system is above the designated threshold, causing the vehicle speed to approach a commanded vehicle speed. The vehicle may include a EH drive system such as a hydrostatic drive system.

Abstract: A vehicle with a manual controlled hydrostatic pump and a pod that can be rotated between an open position and closed position without disconnecting operator controls in the pod from the manual controlled hydrostatic pump. The pod may also be physically isolated form the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A vehicle with a manual controlled hydrostatic pump and a pod that can be rotated between an open position and closed position without disconnecting operator controls in the pod from the manual controlled hydrostatic pump. The pod may also be physically isolated form the vehicle frame.