System and method for automatic tilting of operator cabin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11959249-B2
Application number	US-202117474184-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2021
Priority date	Sep 14, 2021
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A system for automatic tilting of an operator cabin of a work machine includes a first sensor that generates a first signal indicative of a first pitch angle of a frame structure relative to a non-inclined surface. The system also includes a tilting mechanism to tilt the operator cabin relative to the frame structure. The system further includes a controller that receives the first signal indicative of the first pitch angle. The controller determines a second pitch angle based on the first pitch angle. The controller controls first and second actuators to tilt the operator cabin by the second pitch angle relative to the non-inclined surface. The second pitch angle is opposite in direction to the first pitch angle. Further, based on a tilting of the operator cabin, a plane defined by the operator cabin is substantially parallel to the non-inclined surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for automatic tilting of an operator cabin of a work machine, the work machine including a frame structure, the system comprising:
at least one first sensor coupled to the work machine, wherein the at least one first sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of a first pitch angle of the work machine relative to a non-inclined surface;
a lower structure rotatably coupled to the frame structure, the lower structure supporting the frame structure;
a tilting mechanism adapted to tilt the operator cabin relative to the frame structure, the tilting mechanism including:
a mounting structure fixedly coupled with the operator cabin;
a first actuator defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first actuator is movably coupled to the frame structure and the second end of the first actuator is movably coupled to the mounting structure; and
a second actuator defining a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the second actuator is movably coupled to the frame structure and the fourth end of the second actuator is movably coupled to the mounting structure; and
a controller communicably coupled to the at least one first sensor, the first actuator, and the second actuator, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive the first signal indicative of the first pitch angle of the work machine;
determine a second pitch angle based on the first pitch angle; and
control at least one of the first and second actuators to tilt the operator cabin by the second pitch angle relative to the non-inclined surface, wherein the second pitch angle is opposite in direction to the first pitch angle;
determine an uphill movement of the work machine and generate a first control signal to retract each of the first actuator and the second actuator for tilting the operator cabin in an anti-clockwise direction based on the uphill movement of the work machine; and
determine a downhill movement of the work machine and generate a second control signal to extend the first actuator and retract the second actuator for tilting the operator cabin in a clockwise direction based on the downhill movement of the work machine; and
wherein, based on a tilting of the operator cabin relative to the frame structure, a plane defined by the operator cabin is substantially parallel to the non-inclined surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tilting mechanism further includes an adjustable linkage assembly, such that the second end of the first actuator is movably coupled to the mounting structure via the adjustable linkage assembly.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable linkage assembly is an I-shaped adjustable linkage assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tilting mechanism further includes:
a second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a position of the first actuator; and
a third sensor configured to generate a third signal indicative of a position of the second actuator,
wherein the controller is configured to receive the second and third signals for controlling at least one of the first and second actuators, respectively, such that the second pitch angle is substantially equal to the first pitch angle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum value of the second pitch angle is less than 14 degrees.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum value of the second pitch angle is about 11 degrees.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the work machine includes a rollover protection structure, such that a maximum height defined by the operator cabin relative to a ground surface after the titling of the operator cabin is lesser than a height defined by the rollover protection structure relative to the ground surface.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the maximum height defined by the operator cabin relative to the ground surface is less than 3.5 meters.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the second pitch angle with a predetermined threshold range of the second pitch angle; and
control at least one of the first and second actuators for tilting the operator cabin such that the second pitch angle lies within the predetermined threshold range of the second pitch angle.

10. A method for automatic tilting of an operator cabin of a work machine, the work machine including a frame structure, the method comprising:
mounting the operator cabin on the frame structure, wherein the frame structure is rotatably coupled to a lower structure;
generating, by at least one first sensor coupled to the work machine, a first signal indicative of a first pitch angle of the work machine relative to a non-inclined surface;
receiving, by a controller of the work machine, the first signal indicative of the first pitch angle of the work machine;
determining, by the controller, a second pitch angle based on the first pitch angle; and controlling at least one of a first actuator of the work machine and a second actuator of the work machine to tilt the operator cabin by the second pitch angle relative to the non-inclined surface,
determining, by the controller, an uphill movement of the work machine, and generating, by the controller, a first control signal to retract each of the first actuator and the second actuator for tilting the operator cabin in an anti-clockwise direction based on the uphill movement of the work machine;
determining, by the controller, a downhill movement of the work machine, and generating, by the controller, a second control signal to extend the first actuator and retract the second actuator for tilting the operator cabin in a clockwise direction based on the downhill movement of the work machine;
wherein the first actuator defines a first end and a second end, the first end of the first actuator being movably coupled to the frame structure and the second end of the first actuator being movably coupled to a mounting structure of the work machine;
wherein the second actuator defines a third end and a fourth end, the third end of the second actuator being movably coupled to the frame structure and the fourth end of the second actuator being movably coupled to the mounting structure;
wherein the second pitch angle is opposite in direction to the first pitch angle;
and
wherein, based on a tilting of the operator cabin relative to the frame structure, a plane defined by the operator cabin is substantially parallel to the non-inclined surface.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
generating, by a second sensor, a second signal indicative of a position of the first actuator;
generating, by a third sensor, a third signal indicative of a position of the second actuator; and
receiving, by the controller, the second and third signals for controlling at least one of the first and second actuators, respectively, such that the second pitch angle is substantially equal to the first pitch angle.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling, by the controller, at least one of the first and second actuators such that a maximum value of the second pitch angle is about 11 degrees.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising tilting the operator cabin such that a maximum height defined by the operator cabin relative to a ground surface is lesser than a height defined by a rollover protection structure of the work machine relative to the ground surface.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising tilting the operator cabin such that the maximum height defined by the operator cabin relative to the ground surface is less than 3.5 meters.

15

Assignees

• Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment Llc

Inventors

• Selvam Sudhagar
• Mathivanan Saravanan

Classifications

• E02F9/166 Primary

  movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins (seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00) · CPC title

• B62D33/067 Primary

  tiltable · CPC title

• B62D33/073

  characterised by special adaptations of vehicle control devices · CPC title

• B62D33/07

  characterised by the device for locking the cab in the tilted or in the driving position · CPC title

• B62D33/0617

  for tractors or off-the-road vehicles (protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131) · CPC title