Method for automatically controlling the articulation angle of a motor grader

• US 6,152,237 A
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Craig B., Shearer, Daniel E., Shane, Mark D., Hartman, Matthew A., Lunsford, Bernie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/210,511
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 172/2, 172/4, 172/4.5, 172/5, 172/779, 172/780, 172/781, 172/789, 172/1, 701/50, 180/131
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/842 using electromagnetic, optical or photoelectric beams, e.g. laser beams
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/847 using electromagnetic, optical or acoustic beams to determine the blade position, e.g. laser beams

Abstract

A method for automatically rotating a motor grader to a predetermined articulation angle. The method includes the steps of: providing an electronic controller, a displacement sensor, articulation cylinders, and an input switch; obtaining information from the displacement sensor indicating the present articulation angle of the motor grader; receiving an input signal from the input switch requesting a predetermined articulation angle; and producing a control signal for actuating the articulation cylinders to rotate the motor grader from the present articulation angle to the predetermined articulation angle.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling an articulation angle of a motor grader comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic controller, a displacement sensor, articulation cylinders, and an input switch;

obtaining information from the displacement sensor indicating a present articulation angle of the motor grader;

receiving an input signal from the input switch requesting a predetermined articulation angle; and

producing a control signal for actuating the articulation cylinders to rotate the motor grader from the present articulation angle to the predetermined articulation angle.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the displacement sensor is a rotary sensor.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the predetermined articulation angle is one of a maximum right articulation angle, a maximum left articulation angle, and a neutral articulation angle.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the motor grader includes a front frame having a longitudinal axis and a rear frame having a longitudinal axis and wherein the predetermined articulation angle is defined as the angle formed by the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the front frame and the longitudinal axis of the rear frame.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the neutral articulation angle is defined as a zero degree angle formed between the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the front frame and the longitudinal axis of the rear frame.