Method and apparatus for controlling a work implement

• US 6,286,606 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Krieg, Randy K., Cheek, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/370,868
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 172/4.5, 172/2, 172/779, 172/818-821, 172/812, 701/50
• US Class Current: 172/4.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/764 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/765 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to the blade
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/844 for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/845 using mechanical sensors to determine the blade position, e.g. inclinometers, gyroscopes, pendulums

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a work implement movably connected to a work machine. An implement controller automatically controls simultaneous first and second control modes of operation assigned to the work implement. A sensor applies a signal to the implement controller indicating position of the work implement. The implement controller reverses the simultaneous first and second control modes assigned to the work implement upon detecting a predetermined movement of the work movement. The simultaneous first and second control mode assignments may also be changed by actuation of a manually actuatable device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

an implement controller operable to assign the first and second control modes of operation to the work implement wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second mode assignments to the work implement upon receipt of a signal; and

a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying said signal to the implement controller indicating position of the work implement, whereby the implement controller is operable to change the control mode assignments to the work implement upon determining a predetermined movement of the work implement as indicated by the sensor.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the implement controller is operable to detect a predetermined rotation of the work implement.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including a manually actuatable device coupled to the implement controller for selecting the first and second control mode assignments to the work implement.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying signals to the implement controller indicating pitch and roll positions of the work implement.

5. A geographic surface altering work machine, comprising:

a moveable machine frame;

a work implement moveably connected to the machine frame; and

an apparatus for controlling the work implement in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation according to claim 1.

6. An apparatus for controlling opposite sides of a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

an implement controller operable to assign the first and second control modes of operation to the opposites sides of the work implement, wherein one side of the work implement is assigned to the first control mode and the other side of the work implement is assigned to the second control mode; and

a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying a signal to the implement controller indicating position of the work implement, whereby the implement controller is operable to change the first and second control mode assignments to the opposite sides of the work implement upon determining a predetermined movement of the work implement as indicated by the sensor.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the implement controller is operable to detect a predetermined rotation of the work implement.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second control mode assignments to the opposite sides of the work implement upon receipt of the signal from the sensor.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, including a manually actuatable device coupled to the implement controller for selecting the first and second control mode assignments to the opposite sides of the work implement.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, including a sensor associated with each side of the work implement and coupled to the implement controller, wherein each sensor is operable to apply a signal to the implement controller indicating elevational position of the corresponding side of the work implement.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, including a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying a signal to the implement controller indicating slope of the work implement.

12. An apparatus for controlling opposite sides of a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second modes of operation, comprising:

an implement controller operable to assign the first and second control modes of operation to the opposites sides of the work implement, wherein one side of the work implement is assigned to the first control mode and the other side of the work implement is assigned to the second control mode;

positioning mechanisms connected to each side of the work implement for altering the position of each side of the work implement, wherein one of the positioning mechanisms is operable to move one side of the work implement to a first position and the other positioning mechanism is operable to move the other side of the work implement to a second position; and

a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying a signal to the implement controller indicating position of the work implement, whereby the implement controller is operable to change the control mode assignments to, and the first and second positions of, the opposite sides of the work implement upon determining a predetermined movement of the work implement as indicated by the sensor.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second control mode assignments to the opposite sides of the work implement upon receipt of the signal from the sensor.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second positions of the opposite sides of the work implement upon receipt of the signal from the sensor.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, including a sensor associated with each side of the work implement and coupled to the implement controller, wherein each sensor is operable to apply a signal to the implement controller indicating elevational position of the corresponding side of the work implement.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, including a sensor associated with the work implement and coupled to the implement controller for applying a signal to the implement controller indicating slope of the work implement.

17. An apparatus for controlling a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

an implement controller operable to assign the first and second control modes of operation to the work implement;

a drive mechanism operatively connected to the implement controller and the work implement for moving the work implement between a first rotational position and a second rotational position under control of the implement controller; and

a manually actuatable device electrically coupled to the implement controller, whereby the implement controller is operable to change the control mode assignments to, and the position of, the work implement upon actuation of the manually actuatable device.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second control mode assignments to the work implement upon actuation of the manually actuatable device.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the implement controller is operable to reverse the first and second rotational positions of the work implement upon actuation of the manually actuatable device.

20. A geographic surface altering work machine, comprising:

a moveable machine frame;

a work implement moveably connected to the machine frame; and

an apparatus for controlling the work implement in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation according to claim 17.

21. A method for controlling a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

as signing a first control mode to the work implement;

assigning a second control mode to the work implement;

sensing movement of the work implement;

and reversing the first and second control modes assigned to the work implement upon a predetermined movement of the work implement as detected during the sensing step.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the sensing step includes sensing rotational movement of the work implement.

23. A method for controlling a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

assigning a first control mode to the work implement;

assigning a second control mode to the work implement;

detecting actuation of a manually actuatable device; and

reversing the first and second control modes assigned to the work implement upon actuation of the manually actuatable device as detected during the detecting step.

24. A method for controlling opposite sides of a work implement of a work machine in simultaneous first and second control modes of operation, comprising:

assigning a first control mode to one side of the work implement;

assigning a second control mode to the other side of the work implement;

sensing movement of the work implement;

and reversing the first and second control modes assigned to the work implement upon a predetermined movement of the work implement as detected during the sensing step.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the sensing step includes sensing rotational movement of the work implement.

26. A method as recited in claim 24, including the steps of:

positioning one of the sides of the work implement at a first position;

positioning the other side of the work implement at a second position; and

reversing the first and second positions of the work implement upon a predetermined movement of the work implement as detected during the sensing step.