System and method for maintaining a cross-slope angle of a motor grader blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9085877-B2
Application number	US-201213571529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2012
Priority date	Aug 10, 2012
Publication date	Jul 21, 2015
Grant date	Jul 21, 2015

Abstract

A blade control system for a machine. The blade control system includes an input device configured to actuate a first actuator associated with a first blade end in response to a manual command signal triggered by the input device. Further, a controller configured to receive the manual command signal indicative of the trigger initiated by the input device and actuate a second actuator associated with a second blade end with substantially same velocity as of the first actuator in response to the manual command signal.

First claim

We claim:

1. A blade control system for a machine, the blade control system comprising:
an input device configured to actuate a first actuator associated with a first blade end in response to a manual command signal triggered by the input device, the input device includes a first input device and a second input device;
a controller configured to receive the manual command signal indicative of the trigger by the input device and actuate a second actuator associated with a second blade end with substantially same velocity as of the first actuator in response to the manual command signal;
a manually actuable control valve operatively connected to the input device and configured to move the first actuator in response to the manual command signal based on the trigger from the input device, the manually actuable control valve includes a first manually actuable control valve and a second manually actuable control valve operatively connected with the first input device and the second input device, respectively, the first manually actuable control valve and the second manually actuable control valve configured to move the first actuator and the second actuator in response to a first manual command signal and a second manual command signal based on the trigger from the first input device and the second input device, respectively; and
an electrically actuable control valve operatively connected to the controller and configured to move the second actuator in response to a valve control signal based on the manual command signal.

2. The blade control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller configured to receive the first manual command signal and the second manual command signal input signal triggered by the first input device and the second input device, respectively.

3. The blade control system of claim 2 , wherein the electrically actuable control valve includes a first electrically actuable control valve and a second electrically actuable control valve operatively connected with the controller, and configured to move the first actuator and the second actuator in response to a first valve control signal and a second control signal based on the second manual command signal and the first manual command signal, respectively.

4. The blade control system of claim 3 , wherein the first manually actuable control valve and the first electrically actuable control valve are connected in parallel.

5. The blade control system of claim 3 , wherein the second manually actuable control valve and the second electrically actuable control valve are connected in parallel.

6. A machine comprising:
a frame;
a blade is operatively couple to the frame via a first actuator and a second actuator; and
a blade control system including:
an input device configured to actuate a first actuator associated with a first blade end in response to a manual command signal triggered by the input device, the input device includes a first input device and a second input device;
a controller configured to receive the manual command signal indicative of the trigger by the input device and actuate a second actuator associated with a second blade end with substantially same velocity as of the first actuator in response to the manual command signal;
a manually actuable control valve operatively connected to the input device and configured to move the first actuator in response to the manual command signal based on the trigger from the input device, the manually actuable control valve includes a first manually actuable control valve and a second manually actuable control valve operatively connected with the first input device and the second input device, respectively, the first manually actuable control valve and the second manually actuable control valve configured to move the first actuator and the second actuator in response to a first manual command signal and a second manual command signal based on the trigger from the first input device and the second input device, respectively; and
an electrically actuable control valve operatively connected to the controller and configured to move the second actuator in response to a valve control signal based on the manual command signal.

7. The machine of claim 6 , wherein the controller configured to receive the first manual command signal and the second manual command signal input signal triggered by the first input device and the second input device, respectively.

8. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the electrically actuable control valve includes a first electrically actuable control valve and a second electrically actuable control valve operatively connected with the controller, and configured to move the first actuator and the second actuator in response to a first valve control signal and a second control signal based on the second manual command signal and the first manual command signal, respectively.

9. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the first manually actuable control valve and the first electrically actuable control valve are connected in parallel.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the second manually actuable control valve and the second electrically actuable control valve are connected in parallel.

11. A method for controlling a blade in a machine comprising:
actuating a first actuator associated with a first blade end in response to a manual command signal triggered by an input device; the manual command signal received by a manually actuable control valve operatively connected to the input device to move the first actuator; the input device including a first input device and a second input device, the manually actuable control valve including a first manually actuable control valve and a second manually actuable control valve operatively connected with the first input device and the second input device, respectively, the first manually actuable control valve and the second manually actuable control valve configured to move the first actuator and the second actuator in response to a first manual command signal and a second manual command signal based on the trigger from the first input device and the second input device, respectively;
receiving the manual command signal indicative of the trigger by the input device by a controller;
receiving a valve control signal based on the manual command signal by an electrically actuable control valve operatively connected to the controller to move the second actuator; and
actuating a second actuator associated with a second blade end with substantially same velocity as of the first actuator based on the manual command signal.

Assignees

• Wahlmark Christopher A
• Padilla Christopher A
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Wahlmark Christopher A
• Padilla Christopher A

Classifications

• E02F3/764 Primary

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

• E02F3/845

  using mechanical sensors to determine the blade position, e.g. inclinometers, gyroscopes, pendulums · CPC title

• E02F3/7645

  with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed parallel to the blade · CPC title

• E02F9/2012

  Setting the functions of the control levers, e.g. changing assigned functions among operations levers, setting functions dependent on the operator or seat orientation · CPC title

• E02F3/847

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