Work machine operating system and method

• US 20060129280A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pielmeier, Kevin Edward, Sporer, Mark Andrew, Groves, Joseph Dale, Thomas, Dante Toran
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2029 Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of operating a work machine includes sensing at least one operational characteristic of a work tool indicative of current work tool performance. The method also includes altering the operation of the work machine in response to the sensing to maintain a desired relationship between the at least one operational characteristic of the work tool and at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

Claims

1. A method of operating a work machine, comprising:

sensing at least one operational characteristic of a work tool indicative of current work tool performance; and

altering the operation of the work machine in response to the sensing to maintain a desired relationship between the at least one operational characteristic of the work tool and at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the operation of the work machine requires an operator input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operator input is a work tool identity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the operator input is an instruction to enable the altering of the work machine in response to the sensing.

5. The method of claim 1, further including performing at least one aspect of the altering the operation of the work machine automatically, without operator input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each at least one operational characteristic of the work tool is measured by a plurality of different sensors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the operation of the work machine includes at least one of modifying work machine ground speed, or modifying a flow of hydraulic fluid from the work machine to the work tool.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the operation of the work machine changes the operation of the work tool.

9. The method of claim 1, further including sensing a position of the work tool.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein altering the operation of the work machine includes adjusting the position of an element of the work tool.

11. The method of claim 10, further including controlling the position of the work tool through a range of motion.

12. The method of claim 1, further including sensing multiple operational characteristics of the work tool and combining the multiple operational characteristics to form an indicator of work tool performance.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the work tool is one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the work machine is one of work machine ground speed or work machine fluid flow.

15. A method of operating a work machine, comprising:

sensing at least one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow; and

modifying work machine ground speed in response to the sensing to maintain a desired ratio between the work machine ground speed and at least one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing at least one of an increase in work tool fluid pressure, a decrease in work tool speed, or a decrease in work tool fluid flow causes a corresponding decrease in work machine ground speed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing at least one of a decrease in work tool fluid pressure, an increase in work tool speed, or an increase in work tool fluid flow causes a corresponding increase in work machine ground speed.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying work machine ground speed causes the work tool to operate within a design parameter that is less than an operational tolerance of the work tool.

19. The method of claim 15, further including providing a plurality of different sensors to perform the sensing.

20. A method of operating a work machine, comprising:

sensing at least one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow; and

modifying a flow of fluid from the work machine to the work tool in response to the sensing to maintain a desired ratio between the flow of fluid from the work machine and at least one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein sensing at least one of an increase in work tool fluid pressure, a decrease in work tool speed, or a decrease in work tool fluid flow causes a corresponding increase in the flow of fluid from the work machine to the work tool.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein sensing at least one of a decrease in work tool fluid pressure, an increase in work tool speed, or an increase in work tool fluid flow causes a corresponding decrease in the flow of fluid from the work machine to the work tool.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein modifying the flow of fluid from the work machine to the work tool causes the work tool to operate within a design parameter that is less than an operational tolerance of the work tool.

24. The method of claim 20, further including providing a plurality of different sensors to perform the sensing.

25. A work machine operating system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to sense at least one operational characteristic of a work tool;

at least one operator interface; and

a controller configured to maintain a desired relationship between the at least one operational characteristic of the work tool and at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to alter the operation of the work machine automatically, without operator input.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a work tool fluid pressure sensor, a work tool speed sensor, or a work tool fluid flow sensor.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller combines multiple operational characteristics of the work tool to form an indicator of work tool performance.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the work tool is one of work tool fluid pressure, work tool speed, or work tool fluid flow.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the work machine is one of work machine ground speed or work machine fluid flow.