Operator control station for controlling different work machines

• US 20030230447A1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Guron, Sukhwinder S,, Portscheller, James I., Wulfert, Wayne J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/329
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G

Abstract

In order to enhance an operator'"'"'s ability to control a work machine, an operator control station includes a seat assembly that is moveably mounted to a body of the work machine. The operator can control, at least in part, primary operator controllable aspects of the work machine by manipulating work machine operating controls attached to move with the seat assembly. The operator can monitor a work machine operating condition, at least in part, via a work machine operating condition display panel also attached to move with the seat assembly. In addition, the operator control station is interchangeable among a plurality of work machines of different types and sizes.

Claims

1. An operator control station, comprising:

a seat assembly;

at least one implementation control attached to the seat assembly; and

an electronic control module attached to the seat assembly and operably coupled to at least one implementation control.

2. The operator control station of claim 1 wherein the electronic control module is operably coupled to at least one driving control attached to the seat assembly;

and

the implementation control is attached to a first side of the seat assembly and the driving control is attached to a second side of the seat assembly.

3. The operator control station of claim 2 wherein at least one of the implementation control and the driving control includes a joystick.

4. The operator control station of claim 1 wherein the electronic control module is operably coupled to a work machine operating condition display panel attached to the seat assembly.

5. The operator control station of claim 1 wherein the seat assembly is moveable.

6. The operator control station of claim 5 including a foot rest attached to move with the seat assembly.

7. The operator control station of claim 1 including a climate control system attached to the seat assembly.

8. The operator control station of claim 1 including a noise cancellation system attached to the seat assembly.

9. The operator control station of claim 1 including an active suspension system operably coupled to the seat assembly.

10. The operator control station of claim 3 wherein the seat assembly is moveable;

at least one implementation control and at least one driving control are attached to move with the seat assembly;

a work machine operating condition display panel is operably coupled to the electronic control module and attached to move with the seat assembly;

a foot rest is attached to move with the seat assembly; and

an active suspension system is attached to the seat assembly.

11. A work machine comprising:

an operator control station including a seat assembly;

the seat assembly being moveably mounted to a body of the work machine; and

at least one of a work machine operating condition display panel and work machine operation controls being attached to move with the seat assembly.

12. The work machine of claim 11 including an electronic control module attached to the seat assembly.

13. The work machine of claim 12 wherein at least one of the work machine operating condition display panel and the work machine operation controls are in communication with the electronic control module.

14. The work machine of claim 13 wherein the electronic control module being a first electronic control module in communication with a second electronic control module attached to the body of the work machine.

15. The work machine of claim 11 wherein a position of the work machine operating condition display panel is adjustable with respect to the seat assembly.

16. The work machine of claim 11 wherein the work machine operation controls include implementation controls and driving controls;

and

the implementation controls including at least one hand control attached to a first side of the seat assembly, and the driving controls including at least one hand controls attached to a second side of the seat assembly.

17. The work machine of claim 11 including an active suspension system operably positioned between the work machine and seat assembly.

18. The work machine of claim 11 wherein the operator control station includes a climate control system attached to the seat assembly.

19. The work machine of claim 11 wherein the operator control station includes a noise cancellation system attached to the seat assembly.

20. The work machine of claim 11 wherein the operator control station includes a foot rest attached to move with the seat assembly.

21. The work machine of claim 14 wherein a position of the work machine operating condition display panel is adjustable with respect to the seat assembly;

the work machine operation controls include implementation controls attached to a first side of the seat assembly, and driving controls attached to a second side of the seat assembly;

an active suspension system operably positioned between the work machine and the seat assembly; and

a foot rest attached to move with the seat assembly.

22. A method of controlling a work machine, comprising the steps of:

moveably mounting a seat assembly in a work machine;

controlling primary operator controllable aspects of work machine operation, at least in part, by manipulating work machine operation controls attached to move with the seat assembly; and

monitoring a work machine operating condition, at least in part, via a work machine operating condition display panel attached to move with the seat assembly.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of controlling includes a step of controlling implements of the work machine by manipulating implementation controls attached to a first side of the seat assembly, and driving the work machine by manipulating driving controls attached to a second side of the seat assembly.

24. The method of claim 22 including a step of adjusting a position of the operator by rotating the seat assembly around a vertical axis.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of adjusting the position of the operator includes a step of moving the seat assembly along at least one axis.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of monitoring includes a step of adjusting a position of the work machine operating condition display panel relative to the seat assembly.

27. A plurality of different work machines comprising:

a plurality of interchangeable operator control station.

28. The work machines of claim 27 wherein each interchangeable operator control station includes at least one of work machine operation controls and a work machine operating condition display panel being attached to move with the seat assembly.

29. The work machines of claim 28 wherein each interchangeable operator control station includes an electronic control module.

30. The work machines of claim 29 wherein each electronic control module being a first electronic control module and being in communication with a second electronic control module attached to a body of each of the work machine.

31. The work machines of claim 30 wherein the first electronic control module includes programming specific to each work machine.

32. The work machines of claim 31 wherein the work machine operation controls include implementation controls and driving controls;

and

the implementation controls being mounted on a first side of the seat assembly and the driving controls being mounted on a second side of the seat assembly.

33. A method of installing an interchangeable operator control station in a work machine, comprising the steps of:

attaching non-specific work machine operation controls and an electronic control module to a seat assembly;

supplying data specific to the work machine to the electronic control module; and

moveably mounting the seat assembly to the work machine.