Granted Patent B2

US 12,528,672 · App. 18/343,053 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Inventors: Aaron J. Gnagey (Morton, IL); Daniel W. Hoyt (Brimfield, IL)

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.

B66C13/18B66C23/44

Abstract

Claims (102)

1 . A controller for a pipelayer machine, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors configured to:

obtain, via one or more first sensors, sensor data indicating positional information of a movable component of the pipelayer machine;

detect, based on the sensor data, a change of an installation state associated with a rigging system of the pipelayer machine; and

perform an action associated with the pipelayer machine,

wherein when the change of the installation state is from an uninstalled state to an installed state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing one or more systems in an operational state,

causing a calibration procedure, associated with the one or more systems or one or more second sensors of the pipelayer machine, to be automatically performed, or

restricting a use of the one or more systems until the one or more systems have been calibrated, or

wherein when the change of the installation state is from the installed state to the uninstalled state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing the one or more systems in a non-operational state, or

disabling or restricting the use of the one or more systems.

2 . The controller of claim 1 ,

wherein the positional information indicates at least one of a position, relative motion, or an orientation of the movable component, and

wherein the one or more processors, to detect the change of the installation state, are configured to:

detect the change of the installation state based on a change in the position, the relative motion, or the orientation of the movable component, indicated by the sensor data, being associated with the change of the installation state.

3 . The controller of claim 1 ,

wherein when the change of the installation state is from the uninstalled state to the installed state or from the installed state to the uninstalled state, the action further comprises:

causing a notification to be indicated via a control panel of the pipelayer machine,

wherein the notification indicates that the one or more systems or the one or more second sensors are to be calibrated.

4 . The controller of claim 1 ,

wherein when the change of the installation state is from the uninstalled state to the installed state, the action comprises:

causing the calibration procedure to be automatically performed.

5 . The controller of claim 4 ,

wherein the movable component includes the one or more systems or the one or more second sensors.

6 . The controller of claim 1 ,

wherein when the change of the installation state is from the installed state to the uninstalled state, the action further comprises:

causing information provided by the one or more systems to be indicated as invalid.

7 . The controller of claim 1 ,

wherein the movable component includes at least one of:

a sensor system,

a hoist winch assembly,

a linkage,

a pin assembly, or

a boom.

8 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein when the change of the installation is from the uninstalled state to the installed state, the action comprises:

placing the one or more systems in the operational state.

9 . A machine, comprising:

a rigging system including a boom;

a movable component;

one or more first sensors coupled to the movable component; and

a controller, configured to:

obtain, via the one or more first sensors, first sensor data indicating a first position of the movable component;

determine, based on the first position of the movable component, an installation state of the rigging system; and

perform an action,

wherein when the installation state is an installed state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing one or more systems in an operational state,

causing a calibration procedure, associated with the one or more systems or one or more second sensors of the machine, to be automatically performed, or

restricting a use of the one or more systems until the one or more systems have been calibrated, or

wherein when the installation state is an uninstalled state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing the one or more systems in a non-operational state, or

disabling or restricting the use of the one or more systems.

10 . The machine of claim 9 ,

wherein when the installation state is the uninstalled state, the action further comprises:

placing the one or more systems in the non-operational state.

11 . The machine of claim 10 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain, via the one or more first sensors, second sensor data indicating a second position of the movable component;

determine, based on the second position of the movable component, that the installation state has changed to the installed state; and

at least one of:

place the one or more systems in the operational state, or

cause the calibration procedure to be automatically performed.

12 . The machine of claim 9 ,

wherein the movable component is associated with a range of motion during the installed state, and wherein the controller, to determine the installation state, is configured to:

determine whether the first sensor data indicates that the first position of the movable component is within the range of motion.

13 . The machine of claim 9 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain, via an operating system of the machine, an input response indicative of whether the operating system is functional, and

wherein the controller, to determine the installation state, is configured to:

determine, based on the first position of the movable component and the input response, the installation state.

14 . The machine of claim 9 ,

wherein the movable component comprises a load measurement system of the machine.

15 . The machine of claim 9 ,

wherein the one or more first sensors include at least one of:

an accelerometer, or

a gyroscope.

16 . A method, comprising:

obtaining, by a controller of a pipelayer machine, sensor data indicating positional information of a movable component of the pipelayer machine;

determining, by the controller and based on the sensor data, an installation state associated with a rigging system of the pipelayer machine; and

performing, by the controller and based on the installation state, an action associated with the pipelayer machine,

wherein when the installation state is an installed state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing one or more systems in an operational state,

causing a calibration procedure, associated with the one or more systems or one or more second sensors of the pipelayer machine, to be automatically performed, or

restricting a use of the one or more systems until the one or more systems have been calibrated, or

wherein when the installation state is an uninstalled state, the action comprises at least one of:

placing the one or more systems in a non-operational state, or

disabling or restricting the use of the one or more systems.

17 . The method of claim 16 ,

wherein when the installation state is the uninstalled state, the action further comprises:

disabling one or more movement restrictions of the movable component or another component of the pipelayer machine.

18 . The method of claim 16 ,

wherein determining the installation state comprises:

detecting that the installation state has changed from the uninstalled state to the installed state, and

wherein performing the action comprises:

restricting, based on detecting that the installation state changed from the uninstalled state to the installed state, the use of the one or more systems.

19 . The method of claim 16 ,

wherein when the installation state is the uninstalled state, the action further comprises:

obtaining, via the one or more systems, operational data; and

causing the operational data to be flagged as invalid.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein when the installation state is the uninstalled state, the action comprises:

disabling or restricting the use of the one or more systems.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)