TOOL CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING CONFIGURATION DETECTION

• US 20120059553A1
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Polston, Eric N., Kosowski, Keith R., Kingdon, Ryan A., Wahlmark, Christopher A., Laube, Donna K., Krishnan, Ashok, Drake, Benjamin D., Qian, Ang, Krause, Steven R., Cone, Romona D., Ma, Yan Bai
• Application Number:
  US12/874,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6481 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/65 Component parts, e.g. drives, control devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/652 Means to adjust the height of the scraper bowls, e.g. suspension means, tilt control, earth damping control
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/657 Means to prevent the spilling of dredged material, e.g. apron, baffle

Abstract

A tool control system for a scraper is disclosed. The tool control system may have a tool, a first tool actuator configured to move the tool, and a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal. The tool control system may also have a tool member operatively connected to the tool, a second tool actuator connectable to the tool member in a plurality of configurations to move the tool member, and a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal. The tool control system may further have a controller configured to make a comparison of the first and second signals, and to determine a current connection configuration based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A tool control system, comprising:

a tool;

a first tool actuator operatively connected to the tool and configured to move the tool;

a first sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool and the first tool actuator and to generate a corresponding first signal;

a tool member operatively connected to the tool;

a second tool actuator operatively connectable to the tool member in a plurality of connection configurations and configured to move the tool member relative to the tool;

a second sensor configured to detect a position parameter of at least one of the tool member and the second tool actuator and to generate a corresponding second signal; and

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to;

make a comparison of the first signal with the second signal; and

determine a current connection configuration of the plurality of connection configurations between the second tool actuator and the tool member based on the comparison.

2. The tool control system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tool actuators are cylinders, and the first and second sensors are extension sensors associated with the cylinders.

3. The tool control system of claim 1, wherein the tool is a bowl and the tool member is an apron.

4. The tool control system of claim 3, wherein the second tool actuator is connectable in a first configuration to an upper pin of the apron and in a second configuration to a lower pin of the apron.

5. The tool control system of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive an input indicative of the tool being in a float mode and a locked mode; and

the controller is configured to make the comparison and determine the current connection configuration only when the tool is operating in the locked mode.

6. The tool control system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to receive input indicative of the tool being positioned at a desired location before making the comparison.

7. The tool control system of claim 6, wherein the desired location is at rest on a ground surface.

8. The tool control system of claim 7, wherein:

the controller is further configured to;

regulate the second tool actuator to pivot the tool member to an extreme position away from the tool; and

regulate the first tool actuator to raise the tool to an extreme position away from the ground surface; and

the comparison is made when the tool member and the tool are in the extreme positions.

9. The tool control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to implement automated control of the tool and tool member differently based on the current connection configuration.

10. A computer readable medium for use by a tool control system, the computer readable medium having executable instructions for performing a method of tool configuration detection and control comprising:

receiving a first input indicative of a position of a tool;

receiving a second input indicative of a position of a tool member connectable to the tool in a plurality of connection configurations;

making a comparison of the first and second inputs; and

determining a current connection configuration of the plurality of connection configurations between the tool member and a tool member actuator based on the comparison.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein determining a current connection configuration includes determining connection of the tool member actuator to an upper pin of the tool member and a lower pin of the tool member.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

the method further includes receiving a third input indicative of the tool being in a float mode and a locked mode; and

the method includes making the comparison and determining the current connection configuration only when the tool is in the locked mode.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further includes receiving a fourth input indicative of the tool being located at a desired location before making the comparison.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the desired location is at rest on a ground surface.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

the method further includes;

pivoting the tool member to an extreme position away from the tool; and

raising the tool to an extreme position away from the ground surface; and

making the comparison includes making the comparison when the tool member and the tool are in the extreme positions.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further includes automatically controlling movement of the tool and tool member differently based on the current connection configuration.

17. A scraper, comprising:

a tractor;

a bowl having a blade at a leading edge;

an arm having a first end pivotally connected to the tractor and a second end pivotally connected to the bowl;

a bowl cylinder connected at a first end to the tractor and at a second end to the arm, the bowl cylinder being configured to pivot the arm about the first end and thereby raise and lower the bowl;

a first sensor associated with the bowl cylinder and configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the bowl;

an apron pivotally connected to the bowl and having first and second pins spaced apart from each other;

an apron cylinder connected at a first end to the tractor and connectable at a second end to the first and second pins;

a second sensor associated with the apron cylinder and configured to generate a second signal indicative of a position of the apron; and

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to;

make a comparison of the first signal with the second signal;

determine if a current connection of the apron cylinder is with the first pin or the second pin based on the comparison; and

control movement of the bowl and apron cylinders differently based on the current connection.

18. The scraper of claim 17, wherein:

the controller is further configured to receive an input indicative of the tool being in a float mode and a locked mode; and

the controller is configured to make the comparison and determine the current connection only when the tool is operating in the locked mode.

19. The scraper of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to receive input indicative of the tool being positioned at rest on a ground surface before making the comparison.

20. The scraper of claim 19, wherein:

the controller is further configured to;

regulate the apron cylinder to pivot the apron to an extreme position away from the bowl; and

regulate the bowl cylinder to raise the bowl to an extreme position away from the ground surface; and

the comparison is made when the apron and the bowl are in the extreme positions.