US 12,702,097 B2Granted

System for providing rotary power to implements of machines

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorJason Stephen Knowles

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Abstract

A system, for providing a rotary power to an implement of a machine, includes a first motor control valve associated with a first motor of the machine and a second motor control valve associated with a second motor of the machine. The first motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a first shift point to shift the first motor such that the first motor and the second motor switch between a first implement drive speed and a second implement drive speed. The second motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a second shift point to shift the second motor such that the first motor and the second motor switch between the second implement drive speed and a third implement drive speed. The first and second shift points are based on loading of the implement during operation. In addition, the first and second shift points are different.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for providing rotary power to an implement of a machine, the system comprising:

one or more ground engaging members configured to move the machine along a ground surface;
a first motor control valve associated with a first motor;
and
a second motor control valve associated with a second motor,
wherein:
the first motor control valve is biased towards a first state and the second motor control valve is biased towards a third state, the first and third states corresponding to a higher speed, lower torque drive of the implement via the respective first and second motors,
when the second motor control valve is in the third state, the first motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a first shift point, from the first state to a second state, that combined with the third state of the second motor control valve, corresponds to a lower speed, higher torque drive of the implement via the respective first and second motors,
when the first motor control valve is in the second state, the second motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a second shift point, from the third state to a fourth state, that combined with the second state of the first motor control valve, corresponds to an even lower speed, even higher torque drive of the implement via the respective first and second motors,
the first and second shift points are based on loading of the implement,
the first and second shift points are different,
the higher speed, lower speed, and even lower speed are different fixed speeds,
the implement is driven at the higher speed and lower torque before reaching the first shift point,
the implement is driven at the lower speed and higher torque between the first shift point and the second shift point,
the implement is driven at the even lower speed and even higher torque after reaching the second shift point, and
the implement is a cutting drum.

12 more elements

A machine, comprising:

one or more ground engaging members configured move the machine along a ground surface;
an implement configured to perform an operation on materials that the machine comes in contact with outside the machine, wherein the implement is a cutting drum;
a first motor and a second motor to rotatably drive the implement;
and
a system configured to provide rotary power to the implement, the system including:
a first motor control valve associated with the first motor and a second motor control valve associated with the second motor,
wherein:
the first and second motor control valves are biased towards respective states that correspond to a first fixed implement drive speed for the implement, wherein the first fixed implement drive speed is a higher speed, lower torque drive of the implement,
the first motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a first shift point to shift the first motor such that the first motor and the second motor switch between the first fixed implement drive speed for the implement and a second fixed implement drive speed for the implement, wherein the second fixed implement drive speed is a lower speed, higher torque drive of the implement,
the second motor control valve is configured to be actuated at a second shift point to shift the second motor such that the first motor and the second motor switch between the second fixed implement drive speed and a third fixed implement drive speed for the implement, wherein the third fixed implement drive speed is an even lower speed, even higher torque drive of the implement,
the first and second shift points are based on loading of the implement,
the first and second shift points are different,
a first plurality of pressures is communicated to the first motor and the second motor at the first fixed implement drive speed, and
a second plurality of pressures is communicated to the first motor and the second motor at the second fixed implement drive speed.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/660,719Filed 26 Apr 2022
Published: US 2023/0341049 A126 Oct 2023
Granted: 11 Aug 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A01G 23/067
Uprooting or pulling up trees; Extracting or eliminating stumps: by comminuting the tree stumps
F16H 61/423
Involving adjustment of a pump or motor with adjustable output or capacity: motor capacity control by fluid pressure control means
F16H 61/44
Hydrostatic: with more than one pump or motor in operation
F16H 61/47
Automatic regulation in accordance with output requirements: for achieving a target output speed