Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

A guidance system to assist in alignment between an electric machine and power rails from which the electric machine draws electrical power is disclosed. The power may be drawn by the electric machine from the power rails via an arm having a rotating joint and a rotation sensor that measures the level of rotation of the rotating joint. A controller may receive signals indicative of the rotation angle of the rotating joint and indicate, on a display, the direction and/or magnitude of misalignment between the electric machine and the power rails. The operator of the electric machine can observe the indication of misalignment and use that information to steer the electric machine to the left or the right to better align the electric machine to the power rails. The indication of misalignment may be overlayed on a real-time video display of a path in front of the electric machine.

A system for determining health of a drill string component of a drilling machine is disclosed. The system comprises a controller configured to receive, from a sensing device, a signal indicative of a duty cycle of an actuator corresponding to an engaged position of a deck wrench. The actuator is operably coupled to the deck wrench to facilitate movement of the deck wrench between a disengaged position to allow a rotational movement of the drill string component and the engaged position to restrict the rotational movement of the drill string component. The controller is further configured to determine a wear level of the drill string component based on the duty cycle of the actuator corresponding to the engaged position of the deck wrench.

A work machine having a frame, a ground engaging member supporting the frame, an engine supported by the frame, a control module configured to control operation of the work machine, a bumper associated with the frame forward of the engine, the bumper supporting a walkway for a person to access the engine and the control module, and an autonomous sensor structure mounted to the bumper forward of the walkway having a main structure attached to the bumper, the main structure formed by a pair of vertical posts, a middle cross member, a top cross member, and a diagonal support, each extending between the pair of vertical posts, a pair of rear-facing angled supports extending from the top cross member and attached to the frame such that the walkway is unobstructed, and a plurality of sensors mounted to the main structure and connected to the control module.

A dump body configured to be retrofitted with a front wall exhaust heating system, the dump body having a first horizontally extending heating conduit on the front face of a front wall; one or more longitudinal body support members extending along a bottom face of a bottom floor and across a transition from the bottom floor to a front wall. Each of the one or more longitudinal body support members having an opening extending through the longitudinal body support member to provide for the fitting of horizontal channel sections for a second horizontally extending heating conduit of a front wall exhaust heating system. The dump body also including a first vertically extending heating conduit having a first channel member at a junction of an interior face of the front wall and an interior face of a first one of the pair of opposing side walls; and a second vertically extending heating conduit having a second channel member at a junction of an interior face of the front wall an interior face of a second one of the pair of opposing side walls. The second vertically extending heating conduit being in fluid communication with the first horizontally extending heating conduit via an opening in the front wall.

A modular structure supports elevated rail segments for delivering electrical power to a moving work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site. Opposite ends of a roadside barrier contain complementary tubular couplers arranged vertically. A lower end of a dielectric post positioned in one of the tubular couplers has opposing dielectric plates at an upper end. A top edge of each plate has a creepage concavity between a pair of rail recesses. Another dielectric post of similar configuration is positioned in the other of the tubular couplers. Holes within the couplers and the posts ensure alignment of respective rail recesses in which conductive rails are placed. Dielectric inserts frictionally lock the rails into the rail recesses.

A modular structure supports elevated rail segments for delivering electrical power to a moving work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site. Opposite ends of a roadside barrier contain complementary tubular couplers arranged vertically. A lower end of a dielectric post positioned in one of the tubular couplers has opposing dielectric plates at an upper end. A top edge of each plate has a creepage concavity between a pair of rail recesses. Another dielectric post of similar configuration is positioned in the other of the tubular couplers. Holes within the couplers and the posts ensure alignment of respective rail recesses in which conductive rails are placed. Dielectric inserts frictionally lock the rails into the rail recesses.

An electromechanical joint provides rotational movement in at least two dimensions while conducting electrical power between orthogonal hubs. The joint, shaped as a cross, has four conical shafts positioned orthogonally and apart from each other within an interior of a housing. Apexes of the conical shafts face each other proximate a centroid of the housing. A conductive fluid, such as Galinstan, fills recesses between the conical shafts. Separate yokes attached to pairs of the hubs may impart forces on the shafts, causing the shafts to rotate within the conductive fluid around orthogonal axes. The conductive fluid provides simultaneous conduction of electrical power between the hubs. The yokes may be affixed respectively to a current collector and conductive arms of a work machine for improved movement and power conduction without the need for additional components.

A machine may include a dump body that includes a removable component and a base component, wherein: the removable component includes: a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a floor disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and a welding surface that extends across a surface of the first sidewall, a surface of the second sidewall, and a surface of the floor; and the removable component is connected to the base component at the welding surface of the removable component.

A hydraulic brake system for a work machine is disclosed. The hydraulic brake system comprises a first hydraulic circuit including a first pump for providing fluid flow to a cooling system, a second hydraulic circuit including a second pump for providing fluid flow to a plurality of hydraulic systems, a valve configured to allow fluid flow from the second hydraulic circuit to the first hydraulic circuit, and a control unit configured to control the valve based on real-time braking requirements and signals received from a plurality of sensors disposed on the work machine.

A reversing assist system for a mining truck is described. The reversing assist system includes an image capturing device to capture a wide angled view of a rearward field of the mining truck including portions of two rear tires and portions of a rear end of a dump body of the mining truck. The reversing assist system includes a controller configured to overlay a first static indicator and a second static indicator on the video feed of the wide angled view. The first static indicator spans an inner distance between the two rear tires and the second static indicator represents portions of an outer periphery of the mining truck. The controller is configured to overlay a dynamic indicator on the video feed that dynamically changes to predict a rearward path of the mining truck on the video feed based on an angular movement of the mining truck.