Work vehicle having engine drive checking circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10995722-B2
Application number	US-201816134181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Sep 18, 2018
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A work vehicle includes an engine controller for driving an engine, a power supply line, a power supply control line, and a display signal line. When a check switch switchable into a safe position corresponding to safe drive of the engine and a non-safe position is switched to the safe position, the power supply control line renders a power supply relay ON. The display signal line transmits a signal indicative of the switched state of the check switch to a display.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A work vehicle comprising:
an engine controller driving an engine;
a plurality of check switches that are switchable between a safe position corresponding to safe drive of the engine and a non-safe position, the plurality of check switches including at least a first check switch and a second check switch;
a power supply line having a power supply relay, the power supply line supplying electric power to the engine controller when the power supply relay is ON;
a first power supply control line incorporating at least the first check switch and a first relay, and a second power supply control line incorporating at least the second check switch and a second relay, the first power supply control line rendering the first relay ON when at least the first check switch is switched to the safe position and the second power supply control line rendering the second relay ON when at least the second check switch is switched to the safe position;
a display for displaying a switched state of each of the plurality of check switches, the display indicating that the work vehicle may be driven safely; and
a plurality of display signal lines respectively connecting each check switch of the plurality of check switches to the display, each display signal line of the plurality of display signal lines transmitting a signal indicative of the switched state of the respective check switch.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of check switches includes:
a seat switch as the second check switch for detecting whether a driver's seat is under a seated state or not,
a brake switch as the first check switch for detecting whether a brake is under a braking state or not,
a PTO switch for detecting whether a PTO clutch for switching transmission state of a PTO mechanism is under a transmitting state or not,
a first speed changer switch for detecting whether a first speed changer device is under a neutral state or not, and
a second speed changer switch for detecting whether a second speed changer device is under a neutral state or not.

3. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:
the display includes:
a seat lamp, operably coupled to the seat switch, for indicating the seated state;
a brake lamp, operably coupled to the brake switch, for indicating the braking state;
a PTO lamp, operably coupled to the PTO switch, for indicating the transmitting state;
a first neutral lamp, operably coupled to the first speed changer switch, for indicating the neutral state of the first speed changer device;
a second neutral lamp, operably coupled to the second speed changer switch, for indicating the neutral state of the second speed changer device; and

each respective display signal line provides a path for current to travel from each respective check switch to the display when each respective check switch is switched to the safe position.

4. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:
the first speed changer device is operably connected to a first maneuvering lever for controlling a first wheel,
the second speed changer device is operably connected to a second maneuvering lever for controlling a second wheel, and
the first wheel is controlled independently of the second wheel.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
there is provided a key switch having an OFF position, an ON position and a START position; and
when the key switch is at the ON position or the START position and each of the plurality of check switches is respectively switched to the safe position, the power supply line is supplied with power and the power supply relay is switched ON.

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Spitz David

Classifications

• F02N2200/106

  Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor · CPC title

• F02D2041/228

  Warning displays · CPC title

• A01D34/006

  Control or measuring arrangements · CPC title

• F02N2200/0812

  Power-take-off state · CPC title

• F16H63/50

  Signals to an engine or motor · CPC title