AUXILIARY HYDRAULIC FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SMALL LOADER

• US 20090078488A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kraft, Troy David, Bock, Timothy John
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/305
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2225 using pressure-compensating valves
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2267 Valves or distributors position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2271 Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor

Abstract

A vehicle having an auxiliary power system for supplying power to an implement is disclosed. The power system includes a power enablement device having an enablement component that allows or prevents supplying power to the implement, and an auxiliary actuator operably coupled to the power enablement device. The auxiliary actuator can be manipulated between a first, de-actuated position and a second, actuated position. An operator actuable continuous actuation device is moveable between engaged and disengaged positions, providing an actuation signal indicative of its position. A continuous enablement actuator is capable of engaging the enablement component when the enablement component is in the actuated position to discourage the enablement component from moving to the de-actuated position. The continuous enablement actuator engages the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates one of the engaged and disengaged positions and is disengaged from the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates the other position.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an engine, a drive system operably coupled to the engine for causing the vehicle to move relative to a support surface including a drive handle operable by an operator for providing a signal indicative of a desired direction of travel, and an auxiliary power system operably coupled to the engine for supplying a power source to an implement during an active state and refraining from supplying the power source to the implement during an inactive state, the auxiliary power system comprising:

an auxiliary power enablement device having an enablement component moveable between an actuated position, wherein the auxiliary power enablement device enables the power source to be supplied to the implement, and a de-actuated position, wherein the auxiliary power enablement device prevents the auxiliary power from being supplied to the implement;

an auxiliary actuator, operably coupled to the power enablement device, and capable of being manipulated by an operator between a first position corresponding to the de-actuated position of the enablement component and a second position corresponding to the actuated position of the auxiliary power enablement component;

an operator actuable continuous actuation device movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position that is configured to provide an actuation signal indicative of the position of the operator actuable continuous actuation device; and

a continuous enablement actuator, capable of engaging the enablement component when the power enablement device is in the actuated position to discourage the enablement component from moving to the de-actuated position while the continuous enablement actuator is engaging the enablement component;

wherein the continuous enablement actuator is configured to engage the enablement component when the actuation signal is indicative of one of the engaged position and the disengaged position and is configured to attempt to be disengaged from the enablement component with the actuation signal is indicative of the other of the engaged position and the disengaged position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, and further comprising:

a control device capable of receiving the actuation signal and providing an output to the continuous enablement actuator based on the position of the operator actuable continuous actuation device indicated by the actuation signal.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 and further comprising:

an auxiliary mode input device actuable by an operator between an position indicative of a first mode and a position indicative of a second mode and configured to provide a mode signal to the control device indicative one of the first mode and the second mode.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the output provided to the continuous enablement actuator is configured to attempt to engage the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates that the operator actuable continuous actuation device is in the engaged position and the mode signal is indicative of one of the first mode and the second mode and wherein the output provided to the continuous enablement actuator is configured to attempt to disengage the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates that the operator actuable continuous actuation device is in the engaged position and the mode signal is indicative of the other of the first mode and the second mode.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the output provided to the continuous enablement actuator is configured to attempt to engage the power enablement device when the actuation signal indicates that the operator actuable continuous actuation device is in the disengaged position and the mode signal is indicative of one of the first mode and the second mode and wherein the output provided to the continuous enablement actuator is configured to attempt to engage the enablement component when the actuation signal indicates that the operator actuable continuous actuation device is in the engaged position and the mode signal is indicative of the other of the first mode and the second mode.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power system is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the implement during the active state, wherein the enablement component is a spool having an indentation formed therein moveable between a first spool position corresponding to the de-actuated position of the power enablement device and a second spool position corresponding to the actuated position of the power enablement device;

wherein the enablement component is operably coupled to the auxiliary actuator; and

wherein the continuous enablement actuator includes a solenoid actuated plunger that is positioned to engage the indentation in the enablement component when the enablement component is in the actuated position.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the enablement component is moveable between the first spool position, the second spool position corresponding to the first mentioned actuated position and a third spool position corresponding to a second actuated position;

wherein the enablement component includes the first mentioned indentation and a second indentation, wherein when the enablement component is in the second spool position, hydraulic fluid is capable of flowing to the implement in a first direction and the first mentioned continuous enablement actuator is capable of engaging the first mentioned indentation, and when the spool is in the third position, hydraulic fluid is capable of flowing to the implement in a second direction and further comprising;

a second continuous enablement actuator capable of engaging the second indentation when the enablement component is in the third spool position.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operator actuable continuous actuation device is operably coupled to the drive handle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operator actuable continuous actuation device further comprises:

an actuable member capable of being moved between the engaged position and the disengaged position; and

a sensing mechanism proximal to the actuable member for providing the actuation signal indicative of one of the engaged position and the disengaged position.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a starter in communication with the engine for providing a signal to start the engine and a keyswitch moveable to a start position and wherein the signal for starting the engine is not provided to the starter if the operator actuable continuous actuation device is in the engaged position.

11. A method of providing a power source to an implement from a vehicle having an engine, a drive system operably coupled to the engine, and a power control system for providing the power source including a power enablement device moveable between an actuated position and a de-actuated position for selectively providing the power source to the implement, the method comprising:

receiving an operator signal from a sensing mechanism indicative of the position of a operator actuable continuous actuation device, wherein the operator actuable continuous actuation device has an engaged position and a disengaged position and is biased toward the disengaged position; and

providing an enablement signal to a continuous enablement actuator indicative of urging the continuous enablement actuator to attempt one of engaging the power enablement device and disengaging the power enablement device, wherein;

engaging the power enablement device with the continuous enablement actuator prevents the power enablement device from moving to the de-actuated position; and

dis-engaging the continuous enablement actuator from the power enablement device allows the power enablement device to move to the de-actuated position;

wherein the signal indicative of engaging the power enablement device is provided when the operator signal received is indicative of one of the engaged position and the disengaged position, but not the other of the engaged position and the disengaged position.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

receiving a mode signal indicative of one of a first position and a second position of an actuable mode input; and

providing the enablement signal to the continuous enablement actuator based in part on the status of the mode signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the enablement signal indicative of engaging the power enablement device is provided when the operator signal received is indicative of the actuated position and the mode signal is indicative of the first position.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the enablement signal indicative of engaging the power enablement device is provided when the operator signal received is indicative of de-actuated position and the mode signal is indicative of the second position.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the power control system provides hydraulic fluid to the implement, wherein the power control system includes a spool having a first position, which prevents hydraulic fluid to flow to the implement, and a second position, which allows hydraulic fluid from flowing to the implement, and wherein engaging the power enablement device includes discouraging the spool from moving from the second position to the first position.

16. A hydraulic system for a loader configured to provide hydraulic fluid to an implement attached to the loader, the hydraulic system comprising:

a valve having a de-actuated position, which blocks hydraulic fluid from being supplied to the implement and actuated position, which allows hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the implement, wherein the valve has a bias toward the de-actuated position;

an actuator, operably coupled to the valve, and capable of being manipulated by an operator to overcome the bias and cause the valve to move from the de-actuated position to the actuated position;

an enabling member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and configured to provide an enablement signal indicative of the position of the enabling member;

a continuous engagement member, capable of engaging the valve when the valve is the actuated position to encourage the valve to remain in the actuated position while the continuous engagement member is engaged with the valve; and

wherein the continuous engagement member is configured to attempt to engage the valve when the enablement signal is indicative of one of the engaged position and the disengaged position and disengage from the valve when the enablement signal is indicative of the other of the engaged position and the disengaged position.

17. The hydraulic system of claim 16 and further comprising:

a mode input having an actuable member capable of being moved from a first position to a second position and capable of providing a signal indicative of the position of the actuable member;

wherein the continuous engagement member is configured to attempt to engage or disengage the valve based in part on the signal provided by the mode input.

18. The hydraulic system of claim 17, wherein the continuous engagement member is configured to attempt to engage the valve when the signal provided by the mode input is indicative of a first position and the enablement signal is indicative of the engaged position.

19. The hydraulic system of claim 17, wherein the continuous engagement member is configured to attempt to engage the valve when the signal provided by the mode input is indicative of a second position and the enablement signal is indicative of the disengaged position.

20. The hydraulic system of claim 19 wherein the continuous engagement member is configured to attempt to disengage the valve when the signal provided by the mode input is indicative of a second position and the enablement signal is indicative of the engaged position.