METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN IMPLEMENT FOR A MACHINE

• US 20080224112A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Epplin, Gregory A., Most, William R., Oliver, James A., Davila, Ben A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/323
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/08 incorporating fluid motors
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/48 automatic

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating an implement for a machine is provided. The machine has a body, a pump, an implement, an operator station, a first operator input device, and a second operator input device. The pump is mounted to the body and has a first operating range. The implement is mounted to the body and coupled to the pump. The operator station is positioned on the body. The first operator input device is located within the operator station and operable to control the implement over the first operating range and the second operator input device is positioned external to the operator station and operable to control the implement over a second operating range. The second operating range is less than the first operating range.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a body;

a pump mounted to the body and having a first operating range;

an implement mounted to the body and coupled to the pump;

an operator station positioned on the body;

a first operator input device located within the operator station and operable to control the implement over the first operating range; and

a second operator input device positioned external to the operator station and operable to control the implement over a second operating range, wherein the second operating range is less than the first operating range.

2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine located within the body and powering the pump; and

a motor powered by the pump and coupled to the implement.

3. The machine of claim 2, further comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to sense the pressure of the pump;

a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first operator input, and the second operator input, and operable to control the implement.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the implement is a winch.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the machine is a track-type tractor.

6. The machine of claim 4, wherein the second operating range is approximately one percent of the first operating range.

7. The machine of claim 4, further comprising a clutch coupled to the motor and the winch, wherein the second operator input is operable to selectively engage and disengage the clutch.

8. A method of operating an implement for a machine, the machine having a body, a pump mounted to the body that powers the implement over a first operating range, an operator station positioned on the body, a first operator input device located within the operator station, and a second operator input device positioned external to the operator station, including the steps of:

operating the implement over the first operating range when a command from the first operator input device is received;

operating the implement over a second operating range when a command from the second operator input device is received, wherein the second operating range is less than the first operating range.

9. The method of claim 8, where the machine includes an engine located within the body powering the pump, a motor powered by the pump and powering the implement, and further includes the steps of:

sensing the pressure supplied by the pump; and

reducing the pressure supplied by the pump if the sensed pressure exceeds a threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the implement is a winch.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the machine is a track-type tractor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second operating range is approximately one percent of the first operating range.