Control system for a work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145084-B2
Application number	US-201615244693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2016
Priority date	Aug 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A control system for a work machine is disclosed that may include an input device, an electronic controller, and a joystick. The input device may be configured to transmit an electronic selection signal. The electronic controller may be in electronic communication with the input device, be configured to receive the electronic selection signal, and transmit an electronic configuration signal. The joystick may be in operative communication with at least one of a ground engaging member and a work implement and be configured to regulate movement of at least one of these. Further, the joystick may be in electronic communication with the electronic controller and may be configured to move along multiple axes. The joystick may be further configured to receive the electronic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable along at least one of its axes in response to this signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a work machine, comprising:
an input device configured to transmit an electronic selection signal;
an electronic controller in electronic communication with the input device and configured to receive the electronic selection signal and transmit an electronic configuration signal in response to the electronic selection signal; and
a joystick in operative communication with at least one of a ground engaging member and a work implement and configured to regulate movement of at least one of the ground engaging member and the work implement, the joystick in electronic communication with the electronic controller and configured to move between a first position and a second position about a first rotational axis, and between a third position and a fourth position about a second rotational axis, the joystick further configured to receive the electronic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the electronic configuration signal.

2. The control system for a work machine according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is selected from a group consisting of a switch, a computer, and an operator display.

3. The control system for a work machine according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic configuration signal is a magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the joystick is a magnetically responsive joystick configured to receive the magnetic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the magnetic configuration signal.

4. The control system for a work machine according to claim 3 , wherein the magnetically responsive joystick includes a magnetorheological material configured to increase its apparent viscosity in response to the magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the magnetically responsive joystick is configured to be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the increase in apparent viscosity of the magnetorheological material.

5. The control system for a work machine according to claim 1 , further including a foot pedal in electronic communication with the electronic controller configured to move between a fifth position and a sixth position about a fifth rotational axis, and between the sixth position and a seventh position about the fifth rotational axis, the foot pedal further configured to receive the electronic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the fifth position and the sixth position and the sixth position and the seventh position in response to the electronic configuration signal.

6. The control system for a work machine according to claim 5 , wherein the electronic configuration signal is a magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the foot pedal is a magnetically responsive foot pedal configured to receive the magnetic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the fifth position and the sixth position and the sixth position and the seventh position in response to the magnetic configuration signal.

7. The control system for a work machine according to claim 6 , wherein the magnetically responsive foot pedal includes a magnetorheological material configured to increase its apparent viscosity in response to the magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the magnetically responsive foot pedal is configured to be selectively non-movable between at least one of the fifth position and the sixth position and the sixth position and the seventh position in response to the increase in apparent viscosity of the magnetorheological material.

8. A work machine, comprising:
a frame;
a power source supported by the frame;
a ground engaging member rotatably associated with the power source and configured to move the work machine about a work site;
a work implement operatively coupled with a work arm;
an input device configured to transmit an electronic selection signal;
an electronic controller in electronic communication with the input device and configured to receive the electronic selection signal and transmit an electronic configuration signal in response to the electronic selection signal; and
a joystick in operative communication with at least one of the ground engaging member and the work implement and configured to regulate movement of at least one of the ground engaging member and the work implement, the joystick in electronic communication with the electronic controller and configured to move between a first position and a second position about a first rotational axis, and between a third position and a fourth position about a second rotational axis, the joystick further configured to receive the electronic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the electronic configuration signal.

9. The work machine according to claim 8 , wherein the input device is selected from a group consisting of a switch, a computer, and an operator display.

10. The work machine according to claim 8 , wherein the electronic configuration signal is a magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the joystick is a magnetically responsive joystick configured to receive the magnetic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the magnetic configuration signal.

11. The work machine according to claim 10 , wherein the magnetically responsive joystick includes a magnetorheological material configured to increase its apparent viscosity in response to the magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the magnetically responsive joystick is configured to be selectively non-movable between at least one of the first position and the second position and the third position and the fourth position in response to the increase in apparent viscosity of the magnetorheological material.

12. The work machine according to claim 8 , further including a foot pedal in electronic communication with the electronic controller configured to move between a fifth position and a sixth position about a fifth rotational axis, and between the sixth position and a seventh position about the fifth rotational axis, the foot pedal further configured to receive the electronic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the fifth position and the sixth position and the sixth position and the seventh position in response to the electronic configuration signal.

13. The work machine according to claim 12 , wherein the electronic configuration signal is a magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the foot pedal is a magnetically responsive foot pedal configured to receive the magnetic configuration signal and be selectively non-movable between at least one of the fifth position and the sixth position and the sixth position and the seventh position in response to the magnetic configuration signal.

14. The work machine according to claim 13 , wherein the magnetically responsive foot pedal includes a magnetorheological material configured to increase its apparent viscosity in response to the magnetic configuration signal, further wherein the magnetically responsive foot pedal is configured to

Assignees

• Caterpillar Sarl

Inventors

• Fredrickson Andrew Arnold

Classifications

• E02F9/2004 Primary

  Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G) · CPC title

• G05G1/30 Primary

  Controlling members actuated by foot · CPC title

• G05G9/047 Primary

  the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} · CPC title

• E02F3/3414

  the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader · CPC title

• G05G5/04

  Stops for limiting movement of members, e.g. adjustable stop (G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence) · CPC title