Ronald Bruno Warnat

20100152968, Jun 17, 2010

Dec 14, 2009

12/637588

Steven D. Jones - Metamora IL, US
Ronald B. Warnat - Howell MI, US
Nathan S. Pauli - Peoria IL, US
Lindner J. Timothy - Morton IL, US

CATERPILLAR, INC. - Peoria IL

G06F 19/00
B62D 33/06
B60K 26/00
B62D 55/00

701 36, 180 8912, 180315, 180 923

A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on operator input are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so is the stiffness and damping of the controllable mount. Depending on various factors, the operator may want a particular level of feedback. For example, when fine grading, the operator may want to feel every vibration and thus the controllable mounts should be as stiff as possible. The present disclosure therefore provides the operator with the ability to select the desired level of feedback. This can be done through an operator interface that enables an operator to specifically set the current to each mount, or enter other information whereupon a processor of the control system executes the necessary algorithm to provide the operator with the optimum level of feedback.

20100152978, Jun 17, 2010

Dec 14, 2009

12/637539

Steven D. Jones - Metamora IL, US
Ronald B. Warnat - Howell MI, US
Brett D. Ellen - Peoria Heights IL, US
Nathan S. Pauli - Peoria IL, US
Michael S. Contratto - Chillicothe IL, US

CATERPILLAR, INC. - Peoria IL

G06F 17/00
F16F 15/03

701 49, 188267

A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts to maintain ideal snubbing height and provide mount diagnostics are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. The pin may be held in the housing with a limited degree of play by an elastomeric member and in so doing hold the pin at the ideal snubbing height. Over time the elastomeric member may degrade and begin to sag. Sensors associated with the housing may monitor this sag and if necessary energize a field across the rheological fluid or pressurize gas within the housing so as to adjust to the position of the pin back to the ideal snubbing height. The data gathered by the sensors can also be stored and used to determine the remaining serviceable life of the controllable mount and diagnose when it should be replaced.

20100152979, Jun 17, 2010

Dec 14, 2009

12/637555

Steven D. Jones - Metamora IL, US
Ronald B. Warnat - Howell MI, US
Brett D. Ellen - Peoria Heights IL, US
Nathan S. Pauli - Peoria IL, US
Michael S. Contratto - Chillicothe IL, US

CATERPILLAR, INC. - Peoria IL

G06F 17/00
F16F 9/53

701 49, 1882672

A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on machine operation are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so are the damping and stiffness properties of the controllable mount. With certain machine operations such as fine grading, plowing and loading, this may be helpful to the operator to more quickly or effectively perform the given task. With other operations such as roading or working on a flat surface, the feedback afforded by the mounts is not as important as operator comfort, in which case the current applied to the coils can be lowered and thus the mount can be made more relaxed. The machine of the present disclosure identifies the machine operation being performed through sensors, predictive algorithms, implement position, and operator input and sets the current and properties of the controllable mounts accordingly.

20100152980, Jun 17, 2010

Dec 14, 2009

12/637567

Steven D. Jones - Metamora IL, US
Ronald B. Warnat - Howell MI, US
Brett D. Ellen - Peoria Heights IL, US

CATERPILLAR, INC. - Peoria IL

G06F 17/00
F16F 9/53

701 49, 1882672

A machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts based on machine location are disclosed. The controllable mount may include a housing, a pin, rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid. As current is applied to the coils, the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid is increased, and in so doing so is the stiffness of the controllable mount. Depending on machine location, however, the operator may want differing levels of stiffness in one or more of the controllable mounts. For example, when roading on rocky terrain, the operator may want relatively loose mounts so as to absorb the large vibration inputs and make for a more comfortable ride. The present disclosure therefore identifies the machine location through global positioning satellite information, topography maps, inclinometers, altimeters, operator input, and the like and controls the current to the coils, and thus the relative stiffness and damping of the controllable mounts, accordingly.

20100147640, Jun 17, 2010

Dec 14, 2009

12/637167

Steven D. Jones - Metamora IL, US
Brett D. Ellen - Peoria Heights IL, US
Ronald B. Warnat - Howell MI, US
Kevin D. Ehrenhardt - Eureka IL, US

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

F16F 9/53

1882672

A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.