Having Variable Displacement Type Motor Or Pump Patents (Class 180/307)
  • Patent number: 11168463
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission pedal stroke limiter includes a stop connected through a linkage to a range shift lever for limiting the travel of the hydrostatic transmission actuator arm when the range shift lever is in the low gear range, and reducing sound significantly when operating in the low gear range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam Lee, Thomas DeChant
  • Patent number: 11125327
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, a traveling pump driven by the engine, a hydraulic circuit connected to the traveling pump, a traveling motor connected to the traveling pump via the hydraulic circuit, a rotational speed sensor configured to output a signal indicative of engine speed a hydraulic pressure sensor configured to output a signal indicative of hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic circuit, a controller. The controller receives the signals from the rotational speed sensor and the hydraulic pressure sensor. The controller determines whether the engine is in an over-rotation state based on engine speed. The controller determines an upper limit value of a displacement of the traveling pump based on hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic circuit. The controller limits the displacement of the traveling pump to the upper limit value or less upon determining that the engine is in the over-rotation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Takahisa Oasa
  • Patent number: 11028691
    Abstract: A drive system with both fixed-displacement hydraulic motors and variable-displacement hydraulic motors for a cutter head of a boring machine and a control method thereof are provided. The drive system includes a variable-displacement hydraulic motor group, a fixed-displacement hydraulic motor group and a variable-displacement hydraulic pump group. The variable-displacement hydraulic motor group, the fixed-displacement hydraulic motor group, and the variable-displacement hydraulic pump group are all connected to a main oil circuit of a cutter head system of the boring machine. The variable-displacement hydraulic pump group inputs flow to the main oil circuit; and, the variable-displacement hydraulic motor group and the fixed-displacement hydraulic motor group acquire flow from the main oil circuit. Displacements of the fixed-displacement hydraulic motor group and the variable-displacement hydraulic motor group are set in a way of specific displacement combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guofang Gong, Xu Yang, Lintao Wang, Chao Wang, Yakun Zhang, Weiqiang Wu, Tong Liu, Liwen Duan
  • Patent number: 10953768
    Abstract: A detachable transportation seat assembly for facilitated and secure attachment to the rear row of a mass transportation vehicle, which is releasable and replaceable as desired to enable access to vehicle componentry under the rear seat, or behind the rear wall. A pivot bar on the front of a single or a collection of rear row vehicle seats projects to cooperate with a pivot hook retention bracket, to facilitate removal of the seat or seats, or, alternatively, to facilitate the restoration of the seats for use by passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Freedman Seating Company
    Inventors: William Bellin O'Connor, Vlad Balef, Paul Vidri
  • Patent number: 10926795
    Abstract: A work vehicle including: an engine mounted on a traveling body; a straight-traveling system transmission path including a first stepless transmission device; and a turning system transmission path including a second stepless transmission device. The work vehicle combines an output of the straight-traveling system transmission path and an output of the turning system transmission path to drive left and right traveling units. The work vehicle further includes: control sections that control the output of the straight-traveling system transmission path and the output of the turning system transmission path in cooperation with each other; and a driving force blocking mechanism that blocks a driving force transfer from the straight-traveling system transmission path. When the driving force transfer from the straight-traveling system transmission path is blocked by the driving force blocking mechanism, the mutually reverse rotation operations of the left and right traveling units is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Iwamura
  • Patent number: 10746181
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor section with a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor having a downstream end. A cooling air system includes a tap from a location upstream of the downstream most location. The tap passes air to a boost compressor, and the boost compressor passes the air back to a location to be cooled. The boost compressor is driven by a shaft in the engine through an epicyclic gear system. A speed control changes the relative speed between an input and an output to the epicyclic gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gary D. Roberge
  • Patent number: 10554845
    Abstract: An engine output control unit of a work vehicle is configured to set a target rotation speed of an engine by using an engine output torque curve, to control an output of the engine. The engine output control unit is configured to control the output of the engine so as to set torque to be higher than torque at an actual rotation speed obtained using the engine output torque curve. Typically, when the actual rotation speed of the engine becomes smaller than the target rotation speed, the engine output control unit sets an engine output torque curve that is greater in torque at the actual rotation speed than the engine output torque curve, and switches control of the output of the engine from control performed using the engine output torque curve to control performed using the engine output torque curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Ohigashi, Kimihiro Mori, Kazuki Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10435069
    Abstract: A zero turn radius vehicle with a single steered wheel is described. The vehicle may include a pair of power transfer mechanisms driving a pair of wheels, an operator control mechanism for controlling the steering, speed and direction of the vehicle and a controller in communication with the operator control mechanism. A steerable wheel is located adjacent the front of the vehicle frame, on a first side of the vehicle frame and an electric actuator is connected to the controller for steering the front steerable wheel. A second, non-steerable front caster wheel is located on a second side of the vehicle frame. The controller controls the pair of power transfer mechanisms and the electric actuator based on operator input to the operator control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, Scott W. Keller
  • Patent number: 10407045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wheel speed of a wheel of a drivable axle of a two-track vehicle with two drivable axles as well as to a corresponding vehicle, with the vehicle having a first drive motor for driving the first axle, a second drive motor for driving the second axle, a device for detecting driving state variables, and a control device. The method comprises the steps: Detecting an actual speed of the first axle, determining a target speed for the second axle as a function of the actual speed of the first axle, and controlling the second drive motor such that the determined target speed is achieved on the second axle. In order to determine the target speed, a synchronous target speed at which the same wheel circumferential speed is achieved on at least one wheel of the second axle as on the wheels of the first axle is determined as a function of the actual speed of the first axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AVL COMMERCIAL DRIVELINE & TRACTOR ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Kneitz, Gerhard Stempfer, Bernhard Wittmann
  • Patent number: 10281035
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission for a working machine having a frame, an engine on the frame, and at least one wheel driven by the hydrostatic transmission is disclosed. The hydrostatic transmission includes a housing, a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump driven by an output shaft from the engine, a hydraulic motor for driving an output shaft connected to the at least one wheel, a first fluid line fillable with hydraulic fluid to be maintained under a first pressure, a second fluid line fillable with hydraulic fluid to be maintained under a second pressure, a first check valve for allowing hydraulic fluid to enter the first fluid line, a second check valve for allowing hydraulic fluid to enter the second fluid line, and an entrained air deflector for preventing hydraulic fluid entrained with air from entering the first check valve and the second check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin William Lee, Eric Philip Mlcoch, Robert Clifton Whitehead, Stephen Hang Shan, Richard Brendon Huntley
  • Patent number: 10233949
    Abstract: A method for minimizing a fuel consumption rate of a vehicle and a method for tracking an optimal state of charge function for a hydrostatic accumulator are provided. The first method includes the steps of providing a motor and pump, determining an efficiency of the motor and pump using an efficiency map, providing a power source, and controlling the motor independent from the pump with a controller. The controller employs the efficiency of the motor and the pump to minimize the fuel consumption rate of the vehicle. The second method includes the steps of determining the optimal state of charge control function, calculating an optimal state of charge of the hydrostatic accumulator, determining a state of charge error, calculating a corrective value, and adjusting a state of a charge based on the corrective value and the state of charge error by adjusting the charge of the hydrostatic accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Mark R J Versteyhe, Mathieu P E Dutre, Veerle Vandoorsselaere, Bart De Beer, Bruno Meertens, Thomas J. Vyncke, Jonas De Kooning
  • Patent number: 10190676
    Abstract: A working vehicle, including: an HST pedal which operates an HST; a damper arm which interlocks with an HST pedal rotation-shaft of the HST pedal; a damper attached to the damper arm; and a transmission case, wherein the transmission case has a first transmission case swelling part swelling to at least one side with respect to a left-and-right direction, and the damper is arranged behind the first transmission case swelling part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ISEKI & CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10150504
    Abstract: A resilient power device is adapted to drive a transmission rod of a vehicle, and includes a housing, a rotary shaft adapted to extend and be spaced apart from the transmission rod along a first axis, a power release unit including a first rod and a second rod that extend and are spaced apart from each other along a second axis parallel to the first axis, a power storage clutch adapted to be connected between the transmission rod and the rotary shaft, a power release clutch connected between the first and second rods, a first gear unit mounted to the first rod and the transmission rod, a second gear unit mounted to the rotary shaft and said second rod, and at least one resilient member connected between the housing and the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Hsuan Hung, Hsueh-Chung Han, Ji-Jia Xu, Kai-Chieh Kang
  • Patent number: 10065616
    Abstract: A motion control system adapted for use on a vehicle having a prime mover with a power range and a speed range and at least one wheel. The preferred motion control system comprises a first control device that is operatively connected to the prime mover, a pump that is operatively connected to the prime mover and adapted to convey fluid, a second control device that is operatively connected to the pump, a fluid line that is adapted to convey fluid from the pump, a motor that is adapted to receive fluid from the fluid line and control the rotational speed of the at least one wheel, and a microprocessor that is adapted to provide a required amount of power and speed infinitely proportional through the power and speed range of the prime mover. A method for controlling the motion of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Breaker Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad D. Toole, Andy Jackson, Chris Marchl, Gary Posey
  • Patent number: 9964130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic system of a self-propelled road paver, in particular, for the supply of hydraulic oil as needed to a closed hydraulic circuit of the road paver, a hydraulic system of a road paver for performing the method and a road paver having such a hydraulic system. The extraction and/or return of the quantity of hydraulic oil occur depending on at least one operating parameter of the road paver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Moritz Nick, Hermann Christ
  • Patent number: 9820441
    Abstract: A vehicle 10 includes a prime mover engine 15, a drive wheel 16, and a hydrostatic transmission 20. The prime mover engine 15 has a substantially vertical prime mover output shaft 18. The hydrostatic transmission 20 has a hydraulic pump 24 with a substantially vertical pump input shaft 28. A drive link 31 drivingly connects the pump input shaft 28 to the prime mover output shaft 18. The hydraulic motor 25 has a substantially vertical output shaft 30. An interface connector 32 establishes fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. A gear set is intermediate the hydrostatic transmission 20 and drive wheel 16. The gear set includes a vertically disposed bevel gear 41 drivingly connected to the motor output shaft 30 and a horizontally disposed bevel gear 42 drivingly connected to the drive wheel 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: David Mark Heathcoat, Gale Maddy
  • Patent number: 9809120
    Abstract: Health status signals generated by components of a power supply system, including health status signals generated by a control processor, are logically combined together using discrete electronic components and which provide a single, highly-reliable enable/disable signal to a master switch. The master switch connects and disconnects the power supply to and from electrical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Sparling, Russ Dalbke, Amit Bahl
  • Patent number: 9764700
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling a voltage limit for a maximally permissible operating voltage in an on-board electrical system of a vehicle, including the step of adapting the voltage limit in dependence on vehicle data, wherein an actual voltage is ascertained and the actual voltage is short-circuited or limited if the actual voltage exceeds the voltage limit. Also described is a device for controlling a voltage limit for a maximally permissible operating voltage in an on-board electrical system of a vehicle, having an adaptation device for adapting the voltage limit in dependence on vehicle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9638112
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a vehicle, more particularly, the power train of a compacting machine for earth moving operations, comprising a hydraulic travel pump and a hydraulic travel motor. Control is effected according to a specified control profile when a specified driving operation is to be carried out in that an adjustment of the travel pump is carried out which is independent of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. This makes it possible to retain, on the one hand, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine in the case of abrupt stops of movement or changes in the direction of movement and, on the other hand, to adapt the rotational speed of the engine in the case of somewhat longer uninterrupted pauses between two changes in the traveling behavior, wherein comparatively large fluctuations in the rotational speed are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Laux, Timo Loew, Manfred Hammes
  • Patent number: 9605757
    Abstract: A method for estimating torque transmitted to a structure located downstream of a transmission system of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises an engine for generating torque, a transmission system configured to transmit a fraction of the torque generated by the engine to a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, and a further fraction of the torque generated by the engine to the structure. The transmission system includes a shaft arrangement interposed between the engine and the structure, a planetary gearing supported by the shaft arrangement, and a transmission unit arranged in parallel to the shaft arrangement. The torque transmitted to the structure is estimated on the basis of a group of parameters which comprise torque upstream of the transmission system, twist of the shaft arrangement, and a parameter which is indicative of the ratio between an output rotational speed at an output of the transmission unit and an input rotational speed at an input of the transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Mancarella, Matteo Venturelli, Gabriele Morandi
  • Patent number: 9316310
    Abstract: A pressure control valve for controlling a travel primary side pressure that is a pressure of a primary side of a travel operation device is controlled by a control unit, thus the travel primary side pressure is controlled, and thereby a traveling speed is intended to be increased, preventing an engine stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kinugawa, Keisuke Miura, Isao Tanaka, Kazuyoshi Arii, Yuji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9120376
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a large single engine sweeper includes a two-mode transfer case assembly inserted into the chassis drive train of the vehicle on which a package of sweeping equipment is mounted. In road mode operation, power from the chassis engine passes through a chassis automatic transmission, through a two-mode transfer case assembly to the differential and real wheel assembly. In sweep mode, power passes from a propel hydraulic motor into the two-mode transfer case assembly and then to the differential and real wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Alamo Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A Brooker
  • Patent number: 9096230
    Abstract: A drive system for a machine is disclosed. The drive system may have an engine, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, a motor connected to the pump via an inlet passage and an outlet passage, and a traction device driven by the motor. The drive system may also have an operator input device movable from a neutral position through a range to a maximum displaced position to affect a speed of the engine, and a controller in communication with the input device and at least one of the pump and motor. The controller may be configured to gradually adjust a displacement of the at least one of the pump and motor to slow the traction device over a period of time after the operator input device is returned to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, Paul A. Dvorak, Mark L. Norton, Jon M. Scharf, Christopher J. Demick, Christopher M. Elliott
  • Patent number: 9097341
    Abstract: A brake system and method includes a test mode for determining a capacity of the brake system provided on a machine having a hydrostatic drive. A hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range is determined to simulate a test torque. A machine ground speed limit, hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure, and actual ground speed of the machine are determined. An output pressure of the hydrostatic pump is modulated to drive the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure toward the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range. A first test fault condition is determined when the actual ground speed exceeds the machine ground speed limit. A second test fault condition is determined when the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure is outside the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas Micah Newlon, Bradley John Will, Sudarshan Aravamuthan Maiyur
  • Patent number: 8997914
    Abstract: A pump supplying reservoir oil reservoired in an input case to devices to be supplied with the reservoir oil and a filter for filtering the reservoir oil circulating in the input case are provided in the input case. A pump supplying reservoir oil in each of left and right axle cases to a hydraulic continuously variable transmission provided in each of the axle cases and a filter filtering the reservoir oil circulating in each of the left and right axle cases are provided in each of the left and right axle cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hideya Umemoto, Akira Minoura
  • Patent number: 8985252
    Abstract: A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. Each driven wheels is driven by a hydraulic motor with a continuous adjustment of the motor displacement, with the motor being driven by a pump also having continuous displacement. The motor displacement is controlled by an electronic controller in response to stroking of the speed control lever to manage the displacement to provide required drive torques at different points in the stroke. There is provided an automatic steering system having a guidance controller arranged to receive GPS position information which controls the steering by differentially adjusting the displacement of the motors so that the automatic steering is independent of the manual steering which controls the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Phil Otto, Don MacGregor, Leonard Bergman
  • Patent number: 8899371
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a bulldozer has a left side frame, a right side frame, a base plate, and a cross member. The left and right side frames each extend in the front and back direction. The base plate spans across between the left and right side frames. The cross member is positioned between a hydraulic pump and left and right hydraulic motors. The cross member protrudes upward from the base plate. The cross member spans across between the left and right side frames. The cross member has a left conduit hole and a right conduit hole which are spaced apart in a left and right direction of the bulldozer. The first and second left hydraulic fluid tubes pass through the left conduit hole. The first and second right hydraulic fluid tubes pass through the right conduit hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Uno, Ikuo Kita
  • Patent number: 8807263
    Abstract: An excavator includes a frame, and a platform on top of the frame. A hydraulic distribution system is received on top of the frame but below the platform. A pilot valve unit is at least partly received on top of the platform. The platform includes a dedicated hole capable of receiving therethrough at least that part of the pilot valve unit which is received on top of the platform. The pilot valve unit is fixed, directly or indirectly, on the platform. The pilot valve unit can be mounted from below the platform, through the dedicated hole, and is fixed on the platform from above the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Compact Equipment SAS
    Inventors: Roger Caillieret, Gregory Arnal
  • Publication number: 20140200775
    Abstract: A work vehicle is provided with an engine, a hydraulic pump, a movement hydraulic motor, an acceleration operation member, and a control section. The hydraulic pump is driven by the engine. The movement hydraulic motor is driven by hydraulic fluid which is discharged from the hydraulic pump. The acceleration operation member is operated in order to set a target rotation speed for the engine. The control section is configured to perform traction control where the maximum traction force is reduced by limiting the displacement of the movement hydraulic motor to an upper limit displacement which is smaller than the maximum displacement. The control section increases the upper limit displacement of the movement hydraulic motor according to an increase in the operation amount of the acceleration operation member or the engine rotation speed in the traction control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Atsushi Shirao
  • Patent number: 8751132
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a wheel reference speed of a wheel of a vehicle having a hydrostatic drive which uses a transfer medium, the hydrostatic drive acting at least on the one wheel, and the hydrostatic drive having an oscillating motor which may be swiveled to a pumping mode via which a torque may be applied to the wheel, and a wheel speed sensor for detecting the particular wheel speed being situated near the wheel, and the oscillating motor being appropriately adjusted while the wheel speed sensor ascertains the wheel reference speed in order to allow resistance-free flow of the transfer medium through the oscillating motor. The exemplary embodiments and/or exemplary methods of the present invention further relates to a device having arrangements for carrying out the method, and configured as a hydraulic drive control unit, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Grepl
  • Publication number: 20140138177
    Abstract: An engine (10) electronically controlled by a control device (33), a hydraulic motor (24) for traveling which is driven by a pressurized oil delivered from a hydraulic pump (13), and a traveling speed switching member (29) which switches a traveling speed by the hydraulic motor (24) at least in two stages of a low speed and a high speed. The control device (33) includes an output lowering determination unit for determining whether or not a fuel injection amount to be supplied to the engine (10) is limited and an engine output is in a lowered state and a low-speed control unit in which, when the engine (10) output is in a lowered state, a traveling speed is controlled to a low speed state kept lower than a high speed even if the traveling speed switching member (29) has been switched to the high speed side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshida, Hajime Ishii, Syuuhei Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8708088
    Abstract: Adjustable control arms for dual path hydrostatic pumps have first and second arms interconnected by an eccentric mechanism with a common pivot point on a pivotal control input shaft for the pumps. The control arms are adjusted at a minimal pump output such as 500 r.p.m. by varying the eccentric to achieve equal r.p.m. The throw of the pump arms is adjusted at a maximum pump output r.p.m., such as approximately 4000 r.p.m., to achieve uniform tracking, steering, and directional control from the dual path hydrostatic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David V. Rotole, Eric R. Lang, Tom Nichols
  • Patent number: 8706363
    Abstract: A system for modifying a boundary of operation of a machine has a change in terrain sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in terrain signal. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller modifies the boundary of operation of the machine. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stratton, Troy K. Becicka, Michael Taylor, Thandava K. Edara
  • Patent number: 8678113
    Abstract: A dual-path hydrostatic drive arrangement for driving ground wheels at the opposite sides of the front of a self-propelled windrower is controlled for effecting steering and ground speed changes by a control mechanism including a gear train defined by a steering input gear and idler gear and steering output gears carried by a gear support member mounted for pivoting about a fixed axis of rotation of the input gear. The output gear is coupled for transmitting movement to first and second pump displacement control rods and steering is effected by turning a steering wheel which is coupled for rotating the input gear so as to impart rotation to the output gear which rotates so as to cause the control rods to move different amounts or in different directions. Speed changes are effected by a speed control device that is coupled for selectively swinging the speed/direction control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Thomas Daryl Bebernes
  • Patent number: 8668042
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic pump configured to be coupled to a prime mover, a hydraulic motor configured to be coupled to an output shaft, and fluid lines coupling the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor to provide a fluid circuit providing flow communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, such that operation of the hydraulic pump provides fluid flow to the hydraulic motor, and the hydraulic motor supplies torque to the output shaft. A controller is configured to control operation of the hydraulic transmission. The controller is configured to receive signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit and reduce an output of the hydraulic pump when the pressure in the fluid circuit reaches a pressure level, and a rate of response of the reduction of the output of the hydraulic pump is varied based on a temperature of fluid in the fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Elliott
  • Patent number: 8651219
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid construction machine capable of facilitating the hybridization (conversion, redesigning, etc. into a hybrid construction machine) even for construction machines of the minimal tail swing radius type or the minimal swing radius type. A hybrid mini-shovel of the minimal tail swing radius type comprises an engine, a hydraulic pump whose input shaft is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the engine, a generator/motor whose rotating shaft is connected to the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the hydraulic pump via a gear mechanism, and a battery which receives and supplies electric power from/to the generator/motor. The generator/motor is placed at a vertical position where its lower end is situated above the shaft center of the input shaft of the hydraulic pump, and when viewed from above at a horizontal position where it overlaps with the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshida, Hajime Ishii
  • Patent number: 8649945
    Abstract: A traction force control section of a wheel loader reduces maximum traction force to below the maximum traction force with traction force control in an off state when the traction force control is in an on state. The traction force control section increases the maximum traction force when determination conditions are satisfied with the traction force control in the on state. The determination conditions include that the work situation is digging, that the operation amount of the acceleration operation member is the predetermined operation threshold or more, and that a boom angle is the predetermined angle threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Shirao
  • Patent number: 8639429
    Abstract: A tractive force control part of a wheel loader reduces the maximum tractive force when determination conditions are satisfied during tractive force control. The determination conditions include that the work phase is excavation, that the working implement is in the raising hydraulic stall condition and that drive circuit pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Shirao
  • Patent number: 8607919
    Abstract: An upper limit speed control part controls the lower limit of motor displacement in conformance with the target upper limit speed via a motor displacement control part when the target upper limit speed is within the normal speed range. The upper limit speed control part controls the upper limit of pilot pressure via a pilot pressure control part in conformance with the target upper limit speed when the target upper limit speed is within the low speed range. Further, when the target upper limit speed is within the low speed range, the upper limit speed control part controls a pilot pressure valve such that the upper limit of pilot pressure increases as drive circuit pressure increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shirao, Hidehiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8596404
    Abstract: A method for commissioning a hybrid vehicle includes providing a vehicle having a chassis, a first power source disposed on the chassis and a second power source disposed on the chassis. The first power source includes a prime mover and a transmission. The prime mover is selectively engaged to a driveline of the vehicle. The second power source includes a pump/motor assembly, a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the pump/motor assembly and an energy storage unit in fluid communication with the pump/motor assembly. A neutral position of the pump/motor assembly is determined. The pump/motor assembly of the second power source is coupled to the prime mover of the first power source during pumping mode of the pump/motor assembly. Gas is purged from the second power source by routing fluid from the energy storage unit to the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Stoner, Robert Leslie Issacs, Vincent Joseph Duray
  • Patent number: 8585156
    Abstract: A travel control device for a work vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump; a plurality of hydraulic motors connected to the hydraulic pump in parallel through a closed-circuit connection, that drive different wheels with pressure oil delivered from the hydraulic pump; a slip detection device that detects a slip occurring at each of the wheels; and a flow control device that reduces, upon detection of a slip occurring at any of the wheels by the slip detection device, a quantity of pressure oil supplied to a hydraulic motor for driving the wheel at which the slip has been detected, among the plurality of hydraulic motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Udagawa, Eiji Egawa, Tsukasa Toyooka, Makoto Sugaya, Hideo Sorata, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Akira Nakayama, Kazuo Takiguchi, Kensuke Satou
  • Patent number: 8573349
    Abstract: In order to decrease the number of handling components of a parking brake unit without increasing a length of a wheel base, there is provided a forklift including a main input shaft which is rotationally driven by a hydraulic motor, a differential input shaft which rotates by the rotation of the main input shaft, and a differential mechanism which is provided between the differential input shaft and a front axle, the forklift being configured to run by transmitting power of the hydraulic motor to the front axle through the main input shaft, the differential input shaft, and the differential mechanism, wherein an idle shaft is disposed so as to be parallel to the differential input shaft, a power transmission mechanism obtained by meshing gears and is interposed between the differential input shaft and the idle shaft, and then a parking brake unit is provided in the idle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirashita, Shinichi Naito, Tsutomu Komatsu, Yuuichi Fukata, Hitoshi Miyamoto, Kaoru Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20130264131
    Abstract: A self-movable mine refuge chamber powered by a drive assembly, preferably in the form of a set of crawler or tractor mechanisms, mounted on the chamber, so that the chamber can be moved through the mine without use of any other motive force. The drive assembly further includes a tilt assembly so that one end of the other of the chamber can also be tilted to establish a modified height profile to permit obstacles along the path to be negotiated. The drive assembly is powered by an on-board, detachable power supply module and, using controls from outside the chamber, the chamber can be maneuvered through working tunnels or roadways, crosscuts, or other passageways within the mine, and be positioned and repositioned at will.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Gary Lee Carney
  • Patent number: 8548705
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated clutch, which comprises a hydraulic clutch actuating system having a hydrostatic actuator, the pressure of which is detected. The method includes using the pressure of the hydrostatic actuator to adapt the characteristic curve of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Eich, Markus Baehr
  • Patent number: 8540048
    Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission including a fluid pump and a fluid motor operably coupled to one another in a fluid circuit is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to receive signals indicative of operator inputs, and determine a variable pressure limit in the fluid circuit based on the signals indicative of operator inputs. The controller is further configured to control displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit, such that a pressure level in the fluid circuit is maintained below the variable pressure limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Will, Randall T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8532886
    Abstract: A storage section stores inching characteristic information. The inching characteristic information defines a relationship between an inching operation quantity and an inching characteristic value. The inching characteristic value is a value dependent on pilot pressure that is reduced through inching control. A computing section references the inching characteristic information to thereby compute, from the inching operation quantity detected by the inching operation quantity detector, a command value to the pilot pressure control valve. In the inching characteristic information, a rate of lowering the inching characteristic value when the inching operation quantity is within a first range is greater than a rate of lowering the inching characteristic value when the inching operation quantity is within a second range greater than the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shirao, Masanori Ikari, Isao Ueno
  • Patent number: 8532892
    Abstract: A system includes a pump, accumulator, a sensor which measures line pressure in a fluid circuit, and a controller. The controller plots and calculates respective slopes of first and second sets of measured pressure values from the sensor, calculates a slope ratio, and compares the slope ratio to a threshold. The controller also records the pre-charge pressure as the point of intersection of lines representing the slopes when the ratio exceeds the threshold. A control action is executed when the pre-charge pressure drops below a calibrated minimum threshold. A method includes measuring the pressure values, calculating the respective slopes and the slope ratio, comparing the slope ratio to a ratio threshold, recording the point of intersection of lines representing the slopes as an interpolated pre-charge pressure value when the ratio exceeds the threshold, and executing the control action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Crystal Nassouri, Mark A. Schang, Stephen Lewis Pudvay
  • Patent number: 8517138
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor unit according to the present invention includes an electric motor having an electric motor main body that is electrically controlled, an electric motor case that accommodates the electric motor main body and an electric motor main body output shaft that is rotated around an axis line thereof by the electric motor main body, the electric motor case being detachably mounted to the motor housing, wherein mounting of the electric motor to the motor housing causes the electric motor main body output shaft to be operatively connected to the first end of the control shaft so that the control shaft is rotated around the axis line in accordance with rotation of the electric motor main body output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenta Sashikuma, Toshifumi Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20130192918
    Abstract: A brake system and method includes a test mode for determining a capacity of the brake system provided on a machine having a hydrostatic drive. A hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range is determined to simulate a test torque. A machine ground speed limit, hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure, and actual ground speed of the machine are determined. An output pressure of the hydrostatic pump is modulated to drive the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure toward the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range. A first test fault condition is determined when the actual ground speed exceeds the machine ground speed limit. A second test fault condition is determined when the hydrostatic drive actual differential pressure is outside the hydrostatic drive target differential pressure range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Lucas Micah Newlon, Bradley John Will, Sudarshan Aravamuthan Maiyur
  • Patent number: 8494733
    Abstract: A prime mover rotation speed control system for hydraulically driven vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump driven by a prime mover; a hydraulic motor for traveling driven with pressure oil supplied from the hydraulic pump; an operation member that outputs a travel command in accordance with an amount of operation by the operation member; a flow control device that controls one of a flow of the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and a flow rate of the pressure oil discharged from the hydraulic motor, based on the travel command that is output in accordance with the amount of operation by the operation member; a target rotation number outputting device that outputs a target rotation number of the prime mover based on a command; a rotation number control device that controls a rotation number of the prime mover to be the target rotation number; a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed; and a vehicle speed calculation device that calculates a target vehicle speed in acco
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Kodaka, Hidetoshi Satake, Youichi Kowatari, Yuuki Gotou, Kazuhiro Ichimura