Motor grader protection of wire harnesses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10815645-B2
Application number	US-201816165273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2018
Priority date	Oct 19, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A protection system for a wire harness in a motor grader includes a controller and a sensor. The controller has a processor executing stored commands and a datastore with memory architecture containing stored angular orientation values for the circle frame. The sensor is coupled to one or more of the circle frame, the draft frame, and a circle actuator that rotates the circle frame relative to the draft frame. The sensor is configured to detect an angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame. The controller is configured to: receive input signals from the sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame; query the datastore for a maximum angular orientation value of the circle frame; and terminate actuation of the circle actuator when the circle frame is at the maximum angular orientation value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protection system for a wire harness in a motor grader having a draft frame carrying a rotatable circle frame, the wire harness extending from the draft frame to the circle frame, the protection system comprising:
at least one controller having a processor executing stored commands and a datastore with memory architecture containing stored angular orientation values for the circle frame; and
at least one sensor coupled to one or more of: the circle frame, the draft frame, and a circle actuator that rotates the circle frame relative to the draft frame, the at least one sensor being configured to detect an angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame;
wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
receive input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame;
query the datastore for a maximum angular orientation value of the circle frame; and
terminate actuation of the circle actuator when the circle frame is at the maximum angular orientation value.

2. The protection system of claim 1 , wherein the datastore contains a threshold angular orientation value that is less than the maximum angular orientation value; and
wherein the at least one controller is configured to slow actuation of the circle actuator upon receiving input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame is at the threshold angular orientation value.

3. The protection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive input signals of a connection status of the wire harness from one or more of a Controller Area Network (“CAN”) bus to which the wire harness is connected and a terminal cap associated with an intermediate connection terminal in-line with the wire harness.

4. The protection system of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate connection terminal is a breakaway connector.

5. The protection system of claim 4 , wherein the breakaway connector signals the at least one controller when disconnected.

6. The protection system of claim 5 , wherein the datastore contains a threshold angular orientation value that is less than the maximum angular orientation value; and
wherein the at least one controller is configured to slow actuation of the circle actuator upon receiving input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame is at the threshold angular orientation value.

7. The protection system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to output an operator notification signal to a display or audio device.

8. A method of protecting a wire harness extending from a draft frame to a rotatable circle frame in a motor grader, the method comprising:
sensing, by at least one controller receiving input signals from at least one sensor, an angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame;
comparing, by the at least one controller, a maximum angular orientation value of the circle frame to the sensed angular orientation of the circle frame; and
terminating, by the at least one controller, rotation of the circle frame when the circle frame is at the maximum angular orientation value.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including:
actuating, by the at least one controller, a hydraulic actuator at a reduced pressure upon receiving input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame is at a threshold angular orientation value.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including:
receiving, by the at least one controller, input signals of a connection status of the wire harness from one or more of a Controller Area Network (“CAN”) bus to which the wire harness is connected and a terminal cap associated with an intermediate connection terminal in-line with the wire harness.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including:
outputting, by the at least one controller, an operator notification signal to a display or audio device indicating the connection status of the wire harness.

12. A protection system for a wire harness in a motor grader having a draft frame carrying a rotatable circle frame, the wire harness extending from the draft frame to the circle frame, the protection system comprising:
at least one controller having a processor executing stored commands and a datastore with memory architecture containing stored angular orientation values for the circle frame; and
at least one sensor coupled to one or more of: the circle frame, the draft frame, and a circle actuator that rotates the circle frame relative to the draft frame, the at least one sensor being configured to detect an angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame;
wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
receive input signals indicating a connection status of the wire harness;
receive input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame relative to the draft frame;
query the datastore for a maximum angular orientation value of the circle frame; and
terminate actuation of the circle actuator when the circle frame is at the maximum angular orientation value and the connection status indicates the wire harness is connected.

13. The protection system of claim 12 , wherein the datastore contains a threshold angular orientation value that is less than the maximum angular orientation value; and
wherein the at least one controller is configured to slow actuation of the circle actuator upon receiving input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame is at the threshold angular orientation value.

14. The protection system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the input signals of the connection status from one or more of a Controller Area Network (“CAN”) bus to which the wire harness is connected and a terminal cap associated with an intermediate connection terminal in-line with the wire harness.

15. The protection system of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate connection terminal is a breakaway connector.

16. The protection system of claim 15 , wherein the breakaway connector signals the at least one controller when disconnected.

17. The protection system of claim 14 , wherein, when the connection status indicates the wire harness is connected, the at least one controller is configured to execute a first set of commands, and, when the connection status indicates the wire harness is disconnected, the at least one controller is configured to execute a second set of commands.

18. The protection system of claim 17 , wherein the first set of commands includes slowing actuation of the circle actuator upon receiving input signals from the at least one sensor indicating the angular orientation of the circle frame is at a threshold angular orientation value less than the maximum angular orientation value.

19. The protection system of claim 18 , wherein the first set of commands includes outputting an operator notification signal to a display or audio device.

20. The protection system of claim 17 , wherein the second set of commands permits the circle frame to rotate past the maximum angular orientation value.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Peat Michael D
• Sherlock Lance R
• Veasy David A
• Villalobos Angel N
• Christofferson Craig

Classifications

• E02F9/226

  Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating · CPC title

• B60Q5/005

  automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60D1/28

  for preventing unwanted disengagement, e.g. safety appliances · CPC title

• E02F9/24

  Safety devices {, e.g. for preventing overload (E02F9/226 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E02F9/2275 Primary

  Hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor · CPC title