CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF AN AERIAL APPARATUS

• US 20150376945A1
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iveco-Magirus AG (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Iveco-Magirus AG (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: KARREMANN, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,739,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/04 capable of being elevated or extended ; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/32 Accessories , e.g. brakes on ladders
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

The present invention is related to a control system for controlling the movement of an aerial apparatus, in particular for controlling a turnable ladder of a firefighting vehicle, comprising a manually operable input device that is deflectable in at least one spatial direction by a deflecting force, an processing unit for converting the amount of deflection of the input device into a corresponding speed signal and an actuating unit for moving the aerial apparatus with a speed corresponding to the speed signal. The invention is characterized by determining means for determining a possible maximum speed and restricting means for counteracting or limiting the deflection of the input device according to the determined possible maximum speed.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling the movement of an aerial apparatus, in particular for controlling a turnable ladder of a firefighting vehicle, comprising a manually operable input device that is deflectable in at least one spatial direction by a deflecting force, an processing unit for converting the amount of deflection of the input device into a corresponding speed signal and an actuating unit for moving the aerial apparatus with a speed corresponding to the speed signal, characterized by determining means for determining a possible maximum speed and restricting means for counteracting or limiting the deflection of the input device according to the determined possible maximum speed.

2. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the restricting means is provided to apply a restoring force according to the determined possible maximum speed to the input device acting to restore the input device against the deflecting force.

3. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the input device is a joystick.

4. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the determining means comprise at least one of the following:

speed sensors, acceleration sensors, load sensors, deflection sensors, and distance sensors for determining a distance to an object.

5. The control Control system according to claim 4, characterized in that the determining means is provided for determining a possible maximum speed on the basis of measured sensor data and predetermined data related to construction parameters of the aerial apparatus to be controlled.

6. A method for controlling the movement of an aerial apparatus, in particular for controlling a turnable ladder of a firefighting vehicle, wherein a manually operable input device is deflected in at least one spatial direction by a deflecting force, the amount of deflection of the input device is converted into a corresponding speed signal, and the aerial apparatus is moved with a speed corresponding to the speed signal, characterized in that a possible maximum speed is determined, and the deflection of the input device is counteracted or limited according to the determined possible maximum speed.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a restoring force according to the determined possible maximum speed is applied to the input device acting to restore the input device against the deflecting force.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a possible maximum speed is determined on the basis of measured sensor data and predetermined data related to construction parameters of the aerial apparatus to be controlled.

9. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of claim 6, when said program is run on a computer.

10. A computer readable medium having a program recorded thereon, said computer readable medium comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of claim 6, when said program is run on a computer.