Control system for actuated pins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12325972-B2
Application number	US-202217712907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2022
Priority date	Apr 4, 2022
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

An actuated shear pin includes an actuator and pin body coupled to the actuator. The actuator selectively configures the pin body in a locking configuration or a stowed configuration. In the locking configuration, the pin body is placed in a travel path of two components configured to move relative to each other, to inhibit such relative movement. In the stowed configuration, the pin body is out of the travel path, thereby allowing the two components to move relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine comprising:
a frame;
one or more lift arms coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame;
a sensor;
an actuated pin assembly comprising a locking pin actuatable between a stowed configuration and a locked configuration; and
a controller configured to perform actions comprising:
with the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration, receiving a signal to lock the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
receiving sensor data from the sensor,
determining, based on the sensor data, a position of the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the one or more lift arms, actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration,
with the locking pin in the locked configuration, restricting power to an actuator configured to actuate the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
with power to the actuator restricted, actuating, via the actuator, the one or more lift arms to move relative to the frame such that the frame and the one or more lift arms are in contact with the actuated pin assembly.

2. The machine of claim 1 ,
wherein actuating the one or more lift arms to move relative to the frame such that the frame and the one or more lift arms are in contact with the actuated pin assembly comprises lowering the one or more lift arms relative to the frame, with power to the actuator restricted, and in a direction toward a surface on which the machine is disposed.

3. The machine of claim 1 ,
wherein the signal to lock the one or more lift arms relative to the frame is received by the controller via a network and from a device separate from the machine.

4. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a locking pin sensor, the actions further comprising:
receiving data from the locking pin sensor; and
determining, based on the data from the locking pin sensor and in response to actuating the locking pin, that the locking pin is in the locked configuration.

5. The machine of claim 4 , wherein the locking pin sensor comprises a proximity switch configured to generate a signal as the locking pin sensor data when the locking pin is extended into the locked configuration.

6. The machine of claim 1 , the actions further comprising:
based at least in part on the position not corresponding to the lock out position of the one or more lift arms, actuating the one or more lift arms relative to the frame toward the lock out position.

7. The machine of claim 6 , further comprising a user interface, wherein:
the signal to lock the one or more lift arms is generated in response to a first user input at the user interface.

8. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration is at least in part in response to a second user input at the user interface.

9. A method of locking out an implement on a machine, the method comprising:
receiving a signal to lock the implement relative to the machine;
receiving sensor data from a sensor on the machine;
determining, based on the sensor data, a position of the implement relative to the machine;
based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the implement, actuating a locking pin of an actuated pin assembly from a stowed configuration to a locked configuration, the locked configuration being characterized by the locking pin extending laterally away from the actuated pin assembly, and
with the locking pin in the locked configuration, causing movement of the implement relative to a frame of the machine in a first direction, wherein:
such movement of the implement causes the locking pin to contact a surface separate from the actuated pin assembly, and
such contact impedes further movement of the implement in the first direction.

10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein: such movement of the implement causes the machine and the implement to be in contact with the locking pin, and the surface comprises a surface of the frame.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
with the locking pin in the locked configuration, restricting power to an actuator that actuates the implement relative to the machine,
wherein the actuating the implement comprises actuating the implement with power restricted to the actuator.

12. The method claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving data from a locking pin sensor; and
determining, based on the data from the locking pin sensor and in response to actuating the locking pin, that the locking pin is in the locked configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the locking pin sensor comprises a proximity switch configured to generate a signal as the locking pin sensor data when the locking pin is extended into the locked configuration.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: based at least in part on the position not corresponding to the locking position of the implement, actuating the implement relative to the machine toward the locking position.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the signal to lock the one or more lift arms is generated, by a device remote from the machine, in response to a user input at a user interface provided by the device.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration is at least in part in response to a user input at a user interface.

17. A machine comprising:
a frame;
an implement coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame;
an actuated pin assembly comprising a locking pin actuatable between a stowed configuration and a locked configuration; and
a controller configured to perform actions comprising:
with the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration, receiving a signal to lock the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
determining a position of the implement relative to the frame,
based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the implement, generating a signal to actuate the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration,
actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration based at least in part on the signal, the locked configuration being characterized by the locking pin extending laterally away from the actuated pin assembly, and
with the locking pin in the locked configuration, causing movement of the implement relative to the frame in a first direction, wherein:
such movement of the implement comprises lowering the locking pin onto a component of the machine separate from the actuated pin assembly, the component:
defining a surface configured to support the locking pin, and
enabling unimpeded movement of the locking pin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.

18. The machine of claim 17 , wherein the actuated pin assembly further includes
a cylinder,
a piston configured to move in a first direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the locking pin within the cylinder,
a piston rod attached to the piston, and
a resilient member mated with the locking pin and disposed on the piston rod, the resilient member enabling movement of the locking pin, relative to the piston rod, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

19. The machine of claim 17 , the actions further comprising: confirming that the frame and the implement are in contact with the locking pin by at least one of identifyi

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Albers Riley A
• Wigg Jason P
• Dicker Dennis W
• Franks Rowan T
• Herold Robert A
• Krause Steven R
• Sayeed Fuaad A
• Thompson Brodie L

Classifications

• E02F3/431

  for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like · CPC title

• E02F9/2033

  Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin (sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123) · CPC title

• E02F9/267

  Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles · CPC title

• E02F3/388 Primary

  Mechanical locking means for booms or arms against rotation, e.g. during transport of the machine (transporting-cranes B66C23/344) · CPC title

• E02F3/627 Primary

  Devices to connect beams or arms to tractors or similar self-propelled machines, {e.g. drives therefor (connection of beams or booms or arms to the frame per se E02F3/382; connection of scraper bowls to the vehicle main body E02F3/653; connecting devices for agriculture tractors A01B59/06)} · CPC title