Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

A system for accessing a switch for a ladder of a work machine includes a cover movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position of the cover, the cover encloses the switch. The cover includes a lip portion. The system also includes a retention assembly. The retention assembly includes a spring member. The retention assembly also includes a lever coupled to the spring member. The lever includes a retention portion. The lever is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position of the lever, the lever engages with the lip portion of the cover. In the second position of the lever, the lever disengages from the lip portion of the cover.

It is advantageous for the dump body of a mining or off-road truck to be both strong and lightweight. Accordingly, a dump body with a faceted floor is disclosed. The dump body comprises a floor formed from a plurality of planar plates, arranged in two dimensions, and joined at angles to form a pseudo-curvature. The planar plates are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and the angled joints provide rigidity that eliminates the need for external stiffeners, thereby maintaining the strength of the dump body while decreasing the weight and cost of the dump body.

A frame system for a truck can comprise a chassis for connecting to wheels of the truck, and a removable mounting structure attached to the chassis, wherein the removable mounting structure can be configured to support cooling accessories for a propulsion system of the truck and to receive one or more modular components for supporting cooling accessories for different types of propulsion systems.

A pipe rack for a machine includes a drill carousel for supporting at least two drill strings. The drill carousel defines a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The drill carousel includes a base disposed proximate to the first end of the drill carousel and a plurality of receptacles coupled to and extending from the base. At least two of the plurality of receptacles are adapted to at least partially receive a corresponding drill string from the at least two drill strings. The pipe rack also includes a retainer plate. The retainer plate is adapted to couple with the at least two drill strings. The pipe rack further includes at least one breaker plate disposed between the base and the retainer plate. The at least one breaker plate is spaced apart from the retainer plate along a first axis of the machine.

In an electric rope shovel, the dipper handle must support significant weight, which presents the potential of fatigue cracking at interfaces between sections of the dipper handle. Accordingly, embodiments of a dipper handle are disclosed that reduce stress at the interface between the tube section and the intermediate section, to which the crowd control is coupled. In particular, spacing is provided between the interface and the crowd bores, to separate the interface from the stiffness of the coupling. In addition, the walls of the dipper handle may be thickened, proximate the interface, with beveled edges at the interface, to provide a stronger, more durable, weld.

An electric vehicle includes a battery and an external charging port on the vehicle. A charging interlock system on the vehicle includes a charging interlock module configured to: when engaged by an operator of the vehicle, prevent movement of the vehicle during a battery charging procedure executable by a battery charging technician outside the vehicle and, when disengaged by the battery charging technician following the battery charging procedure, allow movement of the vehicle.

A slidable current collector has frame formed as central substrate and sloped shoulders on opposing lateral sides of the central substrate. Electrical terminals pass through orifices arranged in at least two rows within the central substrate. At least one bumper is disposed on an underside of the central substrate between the at least two rows. During sliding on a power rail, the electrical terminals contact a rail surface, and the current collector can shift laterally on the rail surface across a distance between the bumper and one of the sloped shoulders. If disengagement of the electrical terminals from the rail surface occurs, angles on the sloped shoulders and the at least one bumper resist excessive lateral shifting and urge the electrical contacts to reengage with the rail surface.

A wrench assembly for a machine includes a wrench base including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The wrench base defines a first central opening extending from the first surface to the second surface and a slot extending from at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The wrench assembly also includes an insert removably coupled to the wrench base. The insert includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The insert defines a second central opening extending from the third surface to the fourth surface. The second central opening is adapted to receive a portion of a component associated with the machine. The insert is received within the slot in the wrench base. The wrench assembly further includes a plurality of fastening elements that removably couple the insert with the wrench base.

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.

During drilling operations by a drilling rig, drill bits may need to be changed, which can lead to inefficiency. Thus, a process is disclosed for automatically changing drill bits. The process utilizes the existing ability of the drill to tilt. In particular, a magazine may be provided that comprise a plurality of drill-bit pockets arranged in at least one column. Each of the drill-bit pockets within one column holds a drill bit at a different angle within the range of angles at which the drill is able to tilt. The process may control the angle of the drill to align with the angle of any one of the drill-bit pockets, and operate a drill string to release a drill bit into, or engage a drill bit within, that drill-bit pocket. Also, the magazine may comprise two or more columns, in which case, the magazine may be configured to slide laterally.