Work Machine System with Tractor Unit and Interchangeable Trailer Units
AssigneeCaterpillar SAR
InventorsStephen HERD, Ashwin RAVEENDRAN, Mark STOKER, Mathankumar GUNASEKARAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work machine system comprising a tractor unit releasably connectable to interchangeable trailer units by a coupling. When a trailer unit is coupled to the tractor unit a fully integrated work machine is formed for performing work functions. The work machine system can perform different work functions with only one tractor unit by connecting different trailer units capable of performing the different work functions to the tractor unit. The tractor and/or trailer units comprise a steering system for steering the work machine by controlling pivoting about an articulation joint.
Claims15
A work machine system comprising:
- a tractor unit comprising a tractor coupling and at least one tractor ground engager driven by a tractor power system;
- and
- a plurality of interchangeable trailer units, each trailer unit comprising at least one trailer ground engager and a trailer coupling, wherein:
- the tractor coupling is releasably coupleable to the trailer coupling of each trailer unit for coupling the tractor unit to each trailer unit to form a work machine;
- and
- the tractor and/or trailer units comprise a steering system for controlling pivoting about the articulation joint for steering the work machine.
A tractor unit for a work machine system, the tractor unit comprising:
- a tractor coupling for releasably coupling to a trailer coupling of a plurality of interchangeable trailer units;
- at least one tractor ground engager driven by a tractor power system;
- a tractor frame to which the tractor coupling, at least one tractor ground engager and tractor power system are mounted;
- an articulation joint mounted to the tractor frame, to which the tractor coupling is mounted and about which the tractor coupling is configured to pivot relative to the tractor frame;
- and
- a steering system for controlling the pivoting of the trailer coupling relative to the tractor frame for, when the tractor unit is coupled to a trailer unit, steering the tractor unit relative to the trailer unit about the articulation joint.
A plurality of trailer units for a work machine system, wherein, each trailer unit comprises:
- a different at least one haul body or tool to the other trailer units for performing different work functions;
- at least one ground engager for supporting the trailer unit on the ground;
- a trailer coupling, the trailer couplings of the trailer units being configured for independently releasably coupling to a tractor coupling of a tractor unit to form a work machine.
A method of operating a work machine system, the work machine system comprising:
- a tractor unit releasably coupleable to a trailer unit of a plurality of interchangeable trailer units to form a work machine;
- and
- a steering system for steering the work machine by pivoting at least part of the tractor unit relative to at least part of the trailer unit about an articulation joint,
- wherein the method comprises:
- operating a first work machine comprising a tractor unit coupled to a first trailer unit to perform a first work function, the tractor unit comprising at least one tractor ground engager driven by a tractor power system;
- uncoupling the tractor unit from the first trailer unit by uncoupling a tractor coupling of the tractor unit from a trailer coupling of the first trailer unit;
- aligning the tractor unit with a second trailer unit;
- coupling the tractor unit to the second trailer unit by coupling the tractor coupling with a trailer coupling of the second trailer unit, thereby forming a second work machine;
- and
- operating the second work machine to perform a second work function different to the first work function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.