Differential lock control system
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling at least one differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith, a differential assembly associated with at least one of the axles and coupled with the transmission system for turning the wheels associated with the at least one axle, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
- a first switch positionable to select at least one of the differential assemblies for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition;
a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies;
a ground speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the work machine; and
an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said ground speed sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine;
said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the selected differential assemblies when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine being below a predetermined ground speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A differential lock control system for controlling the locking of the various differential assemblies associated with a particular work machine wherein such system includes a first switch positionable to select any one or more of the differential assemblies for operation in their locked condition, a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the first switch, a ground speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the work machine, an optional steering pressure sensor for determining the steering effort required to turn the wheels associated with the front axle, and an electronic controller coupled to the first and second switches and to the respective sensors for receiving signals therefrom, the controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the differential assemblies selected by the position of the first switch when the controller receives a signal indicative of the second switch being actuated, and a signal indicative of the ground speed being below a predetermined ground speed. In addition, if the locking mechanism of the front axle differential has been selected for actuation by the first switch, the controller will only lock-up the front axle differential when it receives an additional signal indicative of the steering effort being below a predetermined amount.
47 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling at least one differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith, a differential assembly associated with at least one of the axles and coupled with the transmission system for turning the wheels associated with the at least one axle, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
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a first switch positionable to select at least one of the differential assemblies for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition; a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies; a ground speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the work machine; and an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said ground speed sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine; said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the selected differential assemblies when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine being below a predetermined ground speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control system for controlling at least one differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith, a differential assembly associated with at least one of the axles and coupled with the transmission system for turning the wheels associated with the at least one axle, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
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a first switch positionable to select at least one of the differential assemblies for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition; a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies; a transmission gear position sensor for determining the particular transmission gear in which the work machine is operating; and an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said transmission gear position sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, and a signal indicative of which transmission gear the work machine is operating in; said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the selected differential assemblies when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the transmission gear in which the work machine is operating being below a predetermined gear. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A control system for controlling the front axle differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith including a front axle, a differential assembly associated with at least the front axle and coupled with the transmission system for turning the wheels associated with the front axle, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
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a first switch positionable to select at least the front axle differential assembly for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition; a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies; a steering pressure sensor for determining the steering effort required to turn the wheels associated with the front axle; and an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said steering sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, and a signal indicative of the steering effort being exerted by an operator in order to steer the work machine; said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the front differential assembly when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of said front axle differential assembly having been selected for operation in its locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the steering effort being below a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A control system for controlling at least one differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith including a front axle, an interaxle, a differential assembly associated with at least some of the axles including the front axle for turning the wheels associated with at least some of the axles, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
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a first switch positionable to select at least one of the differential assemblies for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition; a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies; a ground speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the work machine; a steering pressure sensor for determining the steering effort required to turn the wheels associated with the front axle; and an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said ground speed sensor and said steering sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine, and a signal indicative of the steering effort being exerted by an operator in order to steer the work machine; said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the selected differential assemblies except for the front axle differential assembly when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine being below a predetermined ground speed; and said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the front axle differential when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of the front axle differential having been selected for operation in its locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine being below a predetermined ground speed, and a signal indicative of the steering effort being below a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A control system for controlling at least one differential assembly associated with a work machine wherein the work machine includes a drive transmission system, a plurality of axles having wheels associated respectively therewith, an interaxle, a differential assembly associated with at least some of the axles including the interaxle for turning the wheels associated with at least some of the axles, each of the differential assemblies having a locking mechanism operable between an unlocked condition wherein wheel turning is unaffected and such wheels turn differentially and a locked condition wherein wheel turning is affected and such wheels turn at the same speed, said control system comprising:
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a first switch positionable to select at least one of the differential assemblies for operation in its locked condition, said first switch outputting a signal indicative of the differential assemblies selected for operation in their locked condition; a second switch actuatable to control the locking of the differential assemblies selected by the positioning of the said first switch, said second switch being actuatable between a first state corresponding to the condition when an operator is not requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies and a second state corresponding to the condition when an operator is requesting actuation of the locking mechanisms associated with the selected differential assemblies; a ground speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the work machine; and an electronic controller coupled with said first and second switches and with said ground speed sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said first switch indicative of which differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of when said second switch is in its first or second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine; said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of the interaxle differential when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of the interaxle differential having been selected for operation in its locked condition, and a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state; and said controller outputting a signal to actuate the locking mechanism of any remaining selected differential assemblies when said controller receives a signal from said first switch indicative of which additional differential assemblies have been selected for operation in their locked condition, a signal indicative of said second switch being in its second state, and a signal indicative of the ground speed of the work machine being below a predetermined ground speed. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification