2.2.0.25truefalse4224 - Disclosure - Segment information (Details 5)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$I2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$I2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingAssetReconcilingItemLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentAssetsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4749300000047493falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4661700000046617falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse5178400000051784falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal assets for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON)
-Number 6
-Paragraph 25
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 18
-Article 5
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Machinery and Engines
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Machinery and Engines
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingAssetReconcilingItemLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse15false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentAssetsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1714700000017147falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1438700000014387falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1720600000017206falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal assets for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c
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available.falsefalse20false0cat_InvestmentsInFinancialProductsNotIncludedInSegmentAssetscatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount of investments in financial products not included in segment assets.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse42750000004275falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse45140000004514falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse37880000003788falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of investments in financial products not included in segment assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse21false0cat_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndPrepaidsNotIncludedInSegmentAssetscatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount of deferred income taxes and prepaids not included in segment assets.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse36870000003687falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse41310000004131falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse47390000004739falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of deferred income taxes and prepaids not included in segment assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse22false0cat_GoodwillIntangibleAssetsAndOtherAssetsNotIncludedInSegmentAssetscatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount of goodwill, intangible assets and other assets not included in segment assets.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11720000001172falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse13640000001364falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse11970000001197falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of goodwill, intangible assets and other assets not included in segment assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23false0cat_LiabilitiesIncludedInSegmentAssetscatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount of liabilities included in segment assets.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse31870000003187falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse22700000002270falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse29680000002968falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of liabilities included in segment assets.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse24false0cat_InventoryMethodologyDifferencescatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the amount of inventory due to methodology differences.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-2940000000-2940falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-2735000000-2735falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2746000000-2746falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of inventory due to methodology differences.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse25false0cat_OtherSegmentAssetscatfalsedebitinstantRepresents other segment assets not otherwise specified or not individually reported or separately disclosed in the financial...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse543000000543falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse564000000564falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse735000000735falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents other segment assets not otherwise specified or not individually reported or separately disclosed in the financial statements or notes.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse26false0us-gaap_Assetsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse3949100000039491falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3419600000034196falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3827900000038279falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON)
-Number 6
-Paragraph 25
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 18
-Article 5
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_FinancialProductsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFinancial Productsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_FinancialProductsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Financial Products
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_FinancialProductsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFinancial Productsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_FinancialProductsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Financial Products
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_FinancialProductsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFinancial Productsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_FinancialProductsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse28true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingAssetReconcilingItemLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse29false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentAssetsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3034600000030346falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3223000000032230falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3457800000034578falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal assets for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON)
-Number 6
-Paragraph 25
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 18
-Article 5
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_BusinessIntersegmentEliminationsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseConsolidating Adjustmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_BusinessIntersegmentEliminationsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$11falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Consolidating Adjustments
12/31/2009
USD ($)
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12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON)
-Number 6
-Paragraph 25
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 18
-Article 5
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7
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