Features of main control computer for a power machine

• US 6,202,014 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited)
• Inventors: Rossow, Scott R., Brandt, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/298,671
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/53, 184/6.1, 372/34, 745/015.H, 172/812, 172/263, 172/260.5, 172/12, 298/22.C, 702/114, 137/883, 137/861, 604/84, 604/20, 604/27
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3414 the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/431 for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2029 Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2062 Control of propulsion units for control of the prime mover depending on the load in a hydraulic or pneumatic drive E02F9/2246
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/226 Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2267 Valves or distributors position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2271 Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/40 Oil temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/044 using hydraulic drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/023 Temperature of lubricating oil or working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/083 taking into account engine load variation, e.g. air-conditionning
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/087 Control strategy, e.g. with block diagram
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86614 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20414 Hydraulic control

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a computer based control system for controlling hydraulic and electromechanical actuators on a power machine, such as a skid steer loader. The computer based control system is configured to implement a number of features to enhance certain operational aspects of the power machine. One such feature includes an operator actuable selector which provides a selector signal based on an operator input. A controller receives the selector signal and provides an auxiliary output signal to control an auxiliary valve in a selected one of an on/off mode and a proportional mode based on the selector signal.

Claims

1. A power machine control system, comprising:

a hydraulic system including, a primary hydraulic coupler connected, through a primary valve, to a source of hydraulic fluid and an auxiliary hydraulic coupler connected, through an auxiliary valve, to the source;

an operator actuable selector providing a selector signal based on an operator input; and

an electronic controller, coupled to the auxiliary valve and the selector, configured to receive the selector signal and provide an auxiliary output signal to control a valve spool in the auxiliary valve in a selected one of an on/off mode and a proportional mode based on the selector signal.

2. The power machine control system of claim 1 wherein the selector comprises:

a toggle switch, wherein the controller is configured to switch between controlling the auxiliary valve in the on/off and proportional modes when the toggle switch is toggled.

3. The power machine control system of claim 1 wherein the selector switch comprises:

a depressible button.

4. The power machine control system of claim 1 wherein the selector switch comprises:

a keypad input.

5. The power machine control system of claim 1 wherein the selector switch comprises:

a user actuable input located on a handgrip.

6. The power machine control system of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary output signal, when in the proportional mode, comprises a modulated signal applied to proportionally control a valve solenoid in the auxiliary valve.

7. A power machine, comprising:

a hydraulic system including, a source of hydraulic fluid, a primary valve, a primary hydraulic coupler connected, through the primary valve, to the source of hydraulic fluid, an auxiliary valve, and an auxiliary hydraulic coupler connected, through the auxiliary valve, to the source;

a primary hydraulic actuator coupled to the primary hydraulic coupler;

an auxiliary hydraulic actuator coupled to the auxiliary hydraulic coupler;

an operator actuable selector, disposed on a hand grip of a steering lever, providing a selector signal based on an operator input; and

an electronic controller, coupled to the auxiliary valve and the selector, configured to receive the selector signal and provide an auxiliary output signal to control a valve spool in the auxiliary valve in a selected one of an on/off mode and a proportional mode based on the selector signal.

8. The power machine of claim 7 wherein the selector comprises:

a toggle switch, wherein the controller is configured to switch between controlling the auxiliary valve in the on/off and proportional modes when the toggle switch is toggled.

9. The power machine in claim 7 wherein the selector switch comprises:

a depressible button.

10. The power machine of claim 7 wherein the selector switch comprises:

a keypad input.

11. The power machine of claim 7 and further including a plurality of steering levers with hand grips thereon, and wherein the selector switch comprises a user actuable input disposed on one of the hand grips.

12. The power machine of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary output signal comprises a modulated signal applied to proportionally control a valve solenoid in the auxiliary valve.