Hand operated auxiliary drive and retard torque control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282918-A1
Application number	US-201515511334-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Sep 18, 2014
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A control system for an off-highway vehicle including a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control. The auxiliary drive/retard control is operable in a first state to signal a request for drive torque and a second state to signal a request for retard torque.

First claim

1 . A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control, the auxiliary drive/retard control being operable in a first state to signal a request for drive torque and a second state to signal a request for retard torque.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is at least one of a lever, a joystick, a rotary knob, programmable push-buttons, and a touchscreen.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein drive/retard request signals from at least one of the foot operated drive pedal and the foot operated retard pedal override torque/retard request signals from the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control.

4 . The control system of claim 1 further comprising a memory bank that can record and recall a sequence of drive/retard request signals from at least one of the auxiliary drive/retard control, the foot operated drive pedal, and the foot operated retard pedal.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control further comprises a resume function that can return at least one of the drive torque request and retard torque request to a level previously set by an operator.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined default drive torque is requested when the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is operated in the first state.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined default drive torque request is 15% of a maximum available drive torque.

8 . The control system of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined default drive torque request can be step increased or step decreased by the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined default retard torque is requested when the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is operated in the second state.

10 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined default retard torque request is 20% of a maximum available retard torque.

11 . The control system of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined default retard torque request can be step increased or step decreased by the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control.

12 . A method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle comprising the steps of:
providing a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control; operating the auxiliary drive/retard control to request drive torque; determining if the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; comparing the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request to the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request if it is determined that the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; and sending the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request is greater than the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request.

13 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of sending the foot operated drive pedal torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request is less than the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request.

14 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
determining if the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; and canceling the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request if it is determined that the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque.

15 . A method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle comprising the steps of:
providing a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control; operating the auxiliary drive/retard control to request retard torque; determining if the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; comparing the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request to the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request if it is determined that the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; and sending the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request is greater than the foot operated drive pedal retard torque request.

16 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of sending the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request is less than the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request.

17 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
determining if the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; and canceling the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request if it is determined that the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque.

18 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
determining if the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a drive torque step increase or step decrease; and sending a step increase drive torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a drive torque step increase.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of sending a step decrease drive torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control requested a drive torque step decrease.

20 . The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
determining if the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a retard torque step increase or step decrease; and sending a step increase retard torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a retard torque step increase.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of sending a step decrease retard torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control requested a drive retard step decrease.

22 . A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard lever, the lever being movable to a first position to signal a request for drive torque and a second position to signal a request for retard torque, the lever having a resume function that can return at least one of the drive torque request and retard request to a level previously set by an operator; a memory bank for recording and recalling a sequence of drive/retard request signals from at least one of the lever, the foot operated drive pedal, and the foot operated retard pedal; wherein a predetermined default drive torque is requested when the lever is moved to the first position and a predetermined default retard torque is requested when the lever is moved to the second position.

23 . A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising:
a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard le

Assignees

• Hitachi Construction Mach Co

Inventors

• Chang Yidan

Classifications

• B60W2540/10

  Accelerator pedal position · CPC title

• B60W2555/60

  Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way · CPC title

• B60K2026/029

  Joystick type control devices for acceleration · CPC title

• B60W10/06

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• B60W30/18109

  Braking · CPC title