Tilt rate compensation implement system and method
First Claim
1. A tilt angle control system for a geographic surface altering implement;
- comprising;
a frame;
first and second lift jacks each having first and second end portions and being connected at the first end portion to said frame and at the second end portion to an implement, said second end portions being extensibly movable relative to the first end portions in response to elevational movement of said implement;
first sensing means for sensing the position of the first end portion of the first lift jack relative to the second end portion of the first lift jack and delivering a responsive first position signal;
second sensing means for sensing the position of the first end portion of the second lift jack relative to the second end portion of the second lift jack and delivering a responsive second position signal;
third sensing means for sensing a tilt angle of the frame relative to a predetermined plane and delivering a responsive frame tilt angle signal;
fourth sensing means for sensing the rate of change of the frame tilt angle relative to the predetermined plane and delivering a responsive rate of change signal;
control means for receiving said first, second, frame tilt angle, and rate of change signals, determining an implement tilt angle relative to the frame based on the first and second signals, determining a frame tilt angle based on the frame tilt angle signal, determining a corrected frame tilt angle based on the frame tilt angle and rate of change signals, combining the implement tilt angle and the corrected frame tilt angle and delivering a responsive corrected actual implement tilt angle signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tilt rate compensating implement system and method utilizes first hand second sensors for sensing the position of the rod end portion of first and second implement lift jacks. A controller calculates a tilt angle of the implement based on a difference in the amount of extension of the lift jacks. An inclinometer senses an angle of the frame relative to a predetermined plane and a tilt rate sensor senses the rate of change of the frame angle relative to said plane. A corrected frame angle based on signals from the inclinometer and tilt rate sensors is combined with the implement tilt angle to provide a corrected implement tilt angle. A display device displays the corrected implement tilt angle. The controller compares the corrected implement tilt angle to the desired implement tilt angle and actuates a fluid operated system to move a tilt jack in response to a difference between the desired and corrected implement tilt angles. The tilt angle control system is particularly suited for use on a bulldozer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tilt angle control system for a geographic surface altering implement;
- comprising;
a frame; first and second lift jacks each having first and second end portions and being connected at the first end portion to said frame and at the second end portion to an implement, said second end portions being extensibly movable relative to the first end portions in response to elevational movement of said implement; first sensing means for sensing the position of the first end portion of the first lift jack relative to the second end portion of the first lift jack and delivering a responsive first position signal; second sensing means for sensing the position of the first end portion of the second lift jack relative to the second end portion of the second lift jack and delivering a responsive second position signal; third sensing means for sensing a tilt angle of the frame relative to a predetermined plane and delivering a responsive frame tilt angle signal; fourth sensing means for sensing the rate of change of the frame tilt angle relative to the predetermined plane and delivering a responsive rate of change signal; control means for receiving said first, second, frame tilt angle, and rate of change signals, determining an implement tilt angle relative to the frame based on the first and second signals, determining a frame tilt angle based on the frame tilt angle signal, determining a corrected frame tilt angle based on the frame tilt angle and rate of change signals, combining the implement tilt angle and the corrected frame tilt angle and delivering a responsive corrected actual implement tilt angle signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- comprising;
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15. A method for determining a corrected tilt angle of an implement pivotally connected to a frame and first and second, spaced apart lift jacks, said lift jacks being connected to the frame;
- comprising the steps of;
sensing a position of a first end portion of the first lift jack relative to a second end portion of the first lift jack; sensing a position of a first end portion of the second lift jack relative to a second end portion of the second lift jack; sensing a tilt angle of the frame relative to a predetermined plane; sensing a rate of change of tilting of said frame relative to said predetermined plane; calculating an implement tilt angle based on the relative positions of the first and second end portions of the first and second lift jacks; calculating a corrected frame tilt angle based on the frame tilt angle and the rate of change of tilting of said frame; and calculating a corrected implement tilt angle based on the implement tilt angle and the corrected frame tilt angle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- comprising the steps of;
Specification