Electronic ride control system for off-road vehicles
First Claim
1. A control system for reducing the oscillation of a work vehicle as it moves across a surface, the work vehicle of the type including an implement moveable relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a hydraulic fluid source;
a hydraulic actuator coupleable between the vehicle and the implement to lift the implement;
an electronic valve coupled to the source and the actuator to control the flow of hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator by the source;
an accelerometer coupleable to the work vehicle to generate an acceleration signal related to an acceleration of the work vehicle;
a position transducer mechanically coupleable between the implement and the vehicle to generate a position signal representative of a position of the implement with respect to the vehicle; and
an electronic controller coupled to the electronic valve, the accelerometer, and the position transducer, the controller generating valve command signals for the work vehicle based upon the acceleration signal and the position signal and applying the command signals to the electronic valve to cause the electronic valve to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator to reduce the oscillation of the work vehicle as it moves across the surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for improving the roadability of a wheeled excavator is disclosed herein. The excavator is the type including an implement such as a bucket or backhoe which is moved relative to the excavator by hydraulic actuators. Hydraulic fluid is applied to the actuators via electronic valves which are controlled by an electronic controller. Based upon acceleration of the vehicle, the electronic controller controls the electronic valve to maintain fluid pressure in the actuator or the acceleration substantially constant. Additionally, the controller can be configured to maintain the average position of the implement generally constant. By controlling the pressure in the hydraulic actuator, the undesirable bouncing or pitching of the excavator can be reduced when the vehicle is traveling at road or loading speeds.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A control system for reducing the oscillation of a work vehicle as it moves across a surface, the work vehicle of the type including an implement moveable relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a hydraulic fluid source; a hydraulic actuator coupleable between the vehicle and the implement to lift the implement; an electronic valve coupled to the source and the actuator to control the flow of hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator by the source; an accelerometer coupleable to the work vehicle to generate an acceleration signal related to an acceleration of the work vehicle; a position transducer mechanically coupleable between the implement and the vehicle to generate a position signal representative of a position of the implement with respect to the vehicle; and an electronic controller coupled to the electronic valve, the accelerometer, and the position transducer, the controller generating valve command signals for the work vehicle based upon the acceleration signal and the position signal and applying the command signals to the electronic valve to cause the electronic valve to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator to reduce the oscillation of the work vehicle as it moves across the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 19)
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6. An excavator comprising:
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a wheeled vehicle; an implement movably supported by the vehicle; a hydraulic fluid source supported by the vehicle; a hydraulic actuator coupled between the implement and the vehicle to move the implement relative to the vehicle; an electronic valve coupled to the source and the actuator to control the flow of hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator by the source; means for generating an acceleration signal related to an acceleration of the vehicle; means mechanically coupled between the implement and the vehicle for generating a position signal representative of a position of the implement with respect to the vehicle; and an electronic controller coupled to the electronic valve, the means for generating an acceleration signal, and the means for generating a position signal, the controller generating valve command signals for the vehicle based upon the acceleration signal and the position signal, and applying the command signals to the electronic valve to cause the electronic valve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator to reduce the oscillation of the vehicle as it moves across a surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 9, 17, 20)
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10. An excavator comprising:
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a wheeled vehicle; an implement movably supported by the vehicle; a hydraulic fluid source supported by the vehicle; a hydraulic actuator coupled between the implement and the vehicle to move the implement relative to the vehicle; an electronic valve coupled to the source and the actuator to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator by the source; an accelerometer supported relative to the vehicle and implement to generate an acceleration signal representative of a vertical acceleration of the excavator; a position transducer mechanically coupled between the implement and the vehicle to generate a position signal representative of a position of the implement with respect to the vehicle; and an electronic controller coupled to the electronic valve, the accelerometer, and the position transducer to determine a vertical velocity signal of the excavator based upon the acceleration signal, to utilize the velocity signal to generate valve control signals, and to apply the valve control signals to the electronic valve to cause the electronic valve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid applied to the actuator to reduce the oscillation of the vehicle as it moves across a surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21)
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Specification