SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MACHINE

• US 20090012679A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Prasetiawan, Eko A., Guha, Satyaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/166 movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G

Abstract

A machine is provided. The machine includes a body, an engine, a transmission, a seat assembly, an electronic control module, a first transmission controller, and a second transmission controller. The engine is mounted within the body and powers the machine. The transmission is coupled to the engine. The seat assembly is rotatably mounted to the body and moveable between a first position and a second position. The electronic control module is in electrical communication with the engine and the seat assembly. The first transmission controller is in electrical communication with the electronic control module and operable to control the transmission with a first transmission command. The second transmission controller is in electrical communication with the electronic control module and operable to control the transmission a second transmission command when the seat assembly is in the first position and the first transmission command is neutral.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a body;

an engine mounted within the body and powering the machine;

a transmission coupled to the engine;

a seat assembly being rotatably mounted to the body and moveable between a first position and a second position;

an electronic control module in electrical communication with the engine and the seat assembly;

a first transmission controller in electrical communication with the electronic control module and operable to control the transmission with a first transmission command; and

a second transmission controller in electrical communication with the electronic control module and operable to control the transmission with a second transmission command when the seat assembly is in the first position and the first transmission command is neutral.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first transmission controller is operable to control the transmission with the first transmission command when the seat assembly is in the first position.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the machine is a backhoe loader.

4. A control system for use in a machine, comprising:

a seat assembly position sensor operable to detect the position of a seat assembly;

an electronic control module in electrical communication with the seat assembly position sensor and including a transmission control algorithm to control a transmission;

a first transmission controller in electrical communication with the electronic control module;

a second transmission controller in electrical communication with the electronic control module; and

the transmission control algorithm using the first transmission controller to control the transmission when the seat assembly is in a first position, and the transmission control algorithm using the second transmission controller to control the transmission when the seat assembly is in the first position and the first transmission controller is in a neutral position.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the machine is a backhoe loader.

6. The control system of claim 4, wherein the transmission control algorithm commands the transmission to neutral when the seat assembly is not in the first position.

7. A method of operating a machine having a transmission and a first and second transmission controller, including the steps of:

detecting the position of a rotatable seat assembly;

controlling the transmission with the first transmission controller when the seat assembly is in a first position; and

controlling the transmission with the second transmission controller when the seat assembly is in the first position and the first transmission controller is in a neutral position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the machine is a backhoe loader.

9. The method of claim 7, further including the step of:

controlling the transmission to neutral when the seat assembly is not in the first position.