Loader pivot angle sensor system and method thereof with lever discs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714499-B2
Application number	US-201514739653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 30, 2012
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A loader includes a tool carrier arranged on a loader boom. The tool carrier is connected at a first pivot point to the loader boom and at a second pivot point to a pivot linkage. The pivot linkage has first and second links which are pivotably connected to one another at a first link point. The first link is pivotably connected at a second link point to the loader boom, and the second link is pivotably connected at a second link point at the second pivot point to the tool carrier. A sensor senses a pivot angle between the tool carrier and loader boom. The sensor is positioned in a cavity on the loader. An actuating device is connected to the sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pivot angle sensor system comprising:
a tool carrier connected at a first pivot point to a loader boom and at a second pivot point to a pivot linkage comprising a first link connected to a second link at a first link point, wherein the first link is connected to the loader boom at a pivot pin and the second link is connected to the tool carrier;
a pivot angle sensor for sensing the angle between the tool carrier and the loader boom, wherein the sensor is within a loader boom cavity; and
an actuating device comprising a first rotary lever connected to both the pivot angle sensor and a control arm and a second rotary lever connected to the first link,
wherein the first rotary lever comprises two lever discs that form a pin receptacle configured to couple to the control arm, and
wherein the second rotary lever is a transverse pin which extends through a transverse bore in the pivot pin and is connected to the first link at the pivot pin.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pivot angle sensor is mounted on a mounting plate within a loader boom cavity.

3. A method for determining the angle between a tool carrier and a loader boom comprising:
rotating the tool carrier thereby moving an actuating device connected to the tool carrier;
sensing the movement of the actuating device with a pivot angle sensor that is connected to and housed within the loader boom; and
sending a signal from a pivot angle sensor to a data processor to determine the angle between a tool carrier and a loader boom,
wherein the tool carrier is connected at a first pivot point to a loader boom and at a second pivot point to a pivot linkage comprising a first link connected to a second link at a first link point,
wherein the first link is connected to the loader boom at a pivot pin and the second link is connected to the tool carrier,
wherein the actuating device further comprises a first rotary lever connected to both the pivot angle sensor and a control arm and a second rotary lever connected to the first link,
wherein the first rotary lever comprises two lever discs that form a pin receptacle configured to couple to the control arm, and wherein the second rotary lever is a transverse pin which extends through a transverse bore in the pivot pin and is connected to the first link at the pivot pin.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the signal from a pivot angle sensor to a data processor is sent by at least one of a cable and a wireless communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pivot angle sensor is mounted on a mounting plate within a loader boom cavity.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Faivre Damien
• Martinez Ignacio Alonso
• Wehle Andreas

Classifications

• E02F9/264

  Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool · CPC title

• E02F9/006

  Pivot joint assemblies (in general F16C11/04) · CPC title

• E02F3/3408 Primary

  of the parallelogram-type · CPC title

• E02F3/431

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

• E02F3/845 Primary

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