Motor graders and circle drives associated with the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016108604-A1
Application number	US-201414515294-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Motor graders and circle drives associated with the same. An example work vehicle includes a frame, a circle drive coupled to the frame, moldboard coupled to the circle drive and a planetary gear apparatus including an output shaft configured to mesh with the circle drive to rotate the circle drive relative to the frame.

First claim

The status of the claims:

1 . A work vehicle, comprising
a frame; a circle drive coupled to the frame; a moldboard coupled to the circle drive; and a planetary gear apparatus including an output shaft configured to mesh with the circle drive to rotate the circle drive relative to the frame.

2 . The work vehicle of claim 1 , further including a motor coupled to the planetary gear apparatus.

3 . The work vehicle of claim 2 , further including a power source coupled to the frame, the power source to provide power to the motor.

4 . The work vehicle of claim 3 , further including a combustion engine coupled to the frame to provide power to the work vehicle.

5 . The work vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the combustion engine is coupled to a first end of the frame and the power source is coupled to a second end of the frame opposite the first end.

6 . The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the planetary gear apparatus includes first planetary gears and second planetary gears, the first planetary gears to provide a first gear reduction and the second planetary gears to provide a second gear reduction.

7 . A method, comprising:
providing a first current to an electric motor to move a moldboard of a work vehicle, the electric motor coupled to the moldboard via a planetary gear apparatus; providing a second current to the electric motor to secure the moldboard in a first position; monitoring a first output torque of the electric motor; and based on the monitoring, applying a brake to the moldboard and reducing the current flow to the electric motor when the first output torque is greater than a predetermined value.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further including determining a second torque to move the moldboard from the first position.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further including providing a third current to the electric motor to enable the electric motor to output the determined second torque.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further including, when the electric motor outputs the second torque, releasing the brake.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third current is substantially the same as the second current.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further including monitoring a second output torque of the electric motor when the first current is being provided to the electric motor.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including determining the second output torque in substantially real time.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second output torque corresponds to a position of the moldboard relative to the ground.

15 . The method of claim 7 , further including modifying the speed with which the electric motor moves the moldboard based on a torque on the moldboard.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the electric motor moves the moldboard at a first speed when the torque on the moldboard is below a first torque, the electric motor moves the moldboard at a second speed lower than the first speed when the torque on the moldboard is above a second torque.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first torque is equal to the second torque.

18 . The method of claim 7 , further including releasing the brake when a second output torque of the electric motor is substantially the same as a torque on the moldboard.

19 . The method of claim 7 , further including monitoring a second torque on the moldboard when the second current is being provided to the electric motor.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further including automatically reducing a speed of the work vehicle based on the second torque being above a predetermined torque.

21 . A method, comprising:
receiving an input indicative of a circle rotate control being positioned in a non-neutral position; monitoring at least one of a pressure of a hydraulic motor, a torque on a moldboard, or a direction that the moldboard is moving, the hydraulic motor coupled to the moldboard via a planetary gear apparatus; and based on the monitoring, applying a brake to the moldboard when the least one of the pressure, the torque on the moldboard, or the direction that the moldboard is moving is different or greater than a particular value.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the particular value includes the direction that the moldboard is to rotate based on the input.

23 . The method of claim 21 , further including automatically reducing a speed of the work vehicle when the least one of the pressure, the torque on the moldboard, or the direction that the moldboard is moving is different or greater than the particular value.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the input includes data generated by a sensor that monitors the position of the circle rotate control.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• West Sean P
• Horstman Nathan J
• Bindl Reginald M

Classifications

• E02F3/764

  with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis · CPC title

• E02F3/847 Primary

  using electromagnetic, optical or acoustic beams to determine the blade position, e.g. laser beams · CPC title

• E02F3/7668

  with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis · CPC title