System And Method For Controlling An Implement To Maximize Machine Productivity And Protect a Final Grade

• US 20110153170A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kingdon, Ryan A., Doy, Nathaniel S., Eddington, Erik J., Lamb, Wayne A., Krause, Steven R., Dishman, Eric J.
• Application Number:
  US12/645,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/844 for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically
• 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

Abstract

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, an implement control system including a controller operatively connected to an implement. The controller is adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal from a system in operative communication with the implement. The first signal is indicative of a desired load control condition and the second signal is indicative of a desired grade control condition. The controller is further adapted to determine a first target position having a first comparable characteristic associated with the first signal and to determine a second target position having a second comparable characteristic associated with the second signal. The controller is also adapted to generate a control signal to move the implement to the first target position or to the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

Claims

1. An implement control system, comprising:

a controller operatively connected to an implement, the controller adapted to;

receive a first signal and a second signal from a system in operative communication with the implement, wherein the first signal is indicative of a desired load control condition and the second signal is indicative of a desired grade control condition;

determine a first target position having a first comparable characteristic associated with the first signal, and determine a second target position having a second comparable characteristic associated with the second signal; and

generate a control signal to move the implement to the first target position or the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

2. The implement control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

move the implement to the first target position and the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

3. The implement control system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

compare the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic to determine whether the first or the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

move the implement to the first target position if the first comparable characteristic has the highest priority and to the second target position if the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority.

4. The implement control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

receive a third signal indicative of an operator desired movement of the implement;

determine a third target position having a third comparable characteristic associated with the third signal; and

generate a control signal to move the implement to the first, second, and third target positions based in part on the first, the second, and the third comparable characteristics.

5. The implement control system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

compare the third comparable characteristic to the first and second comparable characteristics to determine if the first, the second, or the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

move the implement to the third target position if the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority.

6. The implement control system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

determine a fourth target position based in part on a summation of the first, the second, and third target positions; and

generate a control signal to move the implement to the fourth target position.

7. The implement control system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

determine a fourth target position based in part on an average of the first, the second, and third target positions; and

generate a control signal to move the implement to the fourth target position.

8. The implement control system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

assign the first comparable characteristics to the first target position, the second comparable characteristics to the second target position, and the third comparable characteristics to the third target position.

9. The implement control system of claim 1, wherein the load control condition is based in part on a productivity level.

10. The implement control system of claim 9, wherein the productivity level is based in part on ground speed.

11. A method for controlling an implement, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a system operatively connected to the implement, wherein the first signal is indicative of a desired load control condition;

receiving a second signal from the system, wherein the second signal is indicative of a desired grade control condition;

determining a first target position having a first comparable characteristic associated with the first signal;

determining a second target position having a second comparable characteristic associated with the second signal; and

generating a control signal to move the implement to the first target position or the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

12. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

moving the implement to the first target position and the second target position based in part on the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

comparing the first comparable characteristic and the second comparable characteristic;

determining whether the first comparable characteristic or the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

moving the implement to the first target position if the first comparable characteristic has the highest priority and to the second target position if the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority.

14. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

receiving a third signal from the system, wherein the third signal is indicative of a an operator desired movement of the implement;

determining a third target position having a third comparable characteristic associated with the third signal; and

generating a control signal to move the implement to the first, second, and third desired positions based in part on the first, the second, and the third comparable characteristics.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising:

comparing the third comparable characteristic to the first and second comparable characteristics to determine if the first, second, or third comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

moving the implement to the third target position if the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority.

16. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising:

assigning the first comparable characteristics to the first target position, the second comparable characteristics to the second target position, and the third comparable characteristics to the third target position.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the load control condition is based in part on a productivity level.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the productivity level is based in part on ground speed.

19. A machine, comprising:

an implement;

an implement control system operatively coupled to the implement, including a controller configured to;

receive a first signal and a second signal from a plurality of systems in operative communication with the control system, wherein the first signal is indicative of a desired load control condition and the second signal is indicative of a desired grade control condition;

determine a first target position based in part on the first signal;

assign a first comparable characteristic to the first target position, wherein the first comparable characteristic is associated with the first signal;

determine a second target position based in part on the second signal;

assign a second comparable characteristic to the second target position, wherein the second comparable characteristic is associated with the second signal;

compare the first comparable characteristic and the second characteristic to determine whether the first or the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority;

generate a control signal to move the implement to the first target position if the first comparable characteristic has the highest priority and to the second target position if the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

move the implement to the first target position if the first comparable characteristic has the highest priority or to the second target position if the second comparable characteristic has the highest priority.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the controller of the implement control system is further configured to:

receive a third signal from the plurality of systems, wherein the third signal is indicative of an operator desired movement of the implement;

determine a third target position based in part on the third signal;

assign a third comparable characteristic to the third target position, wherein the third comparable characteristic is associated with the third signal;

compare the third comparable characteristic to the first and the second comparable characteristics to determine whether the first, the second, or the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority;

generate a control signal to move the implement to the third target position if the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority; and

move the implement to the third target position if the third comparable characteristic has the highest priority.