Tool recognition and control system for a work machine

• US 6,542,789 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ufheil, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAIN, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US09/219,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/65, 701/93, 700/275
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2228 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49303 Tool identification and tool offset, compensation data together

Abstract

A tool recognition and control system for electronically configuring certain systems of a work machine based upon the operating parameters associated with a particular work tool to be attached thereto, the work machine including systems operable to control the operation of a plurality of different work tools, each work tool having a set of operating parameters associated therewith which affect the operation of at least some of the systems of the work machine, the present control system identifying the particular work tool attached to the work machine based upon either a signal generated by a tool recognition system associated with the work tool when the work tool is attached to the work machine, or based upon operator selectable commands for selecting any one of a plurality of different sets of operating parameters based upon the particular work tool attached to the machine. Once the work tool has been identified and the appropriate set of operating parameters selected, an electronic controller coupled to the various systems of the work machine operable to control the operation of the various work tools outputs appropriate signals to such systems for electronically configuring such systems in accordance with the selected set of operating parameters for a particular work tool. Once configured, the affected systems will be compatible with the selected operating parameters for that particular work tool.

Claims

1. A control system for electronically configuring certain systems of a work machine wherein the work machine includes an implement system and other systems operable for controlling the operation of certain work tools which are mountable to the work machine, each work tool having a set of operating parameters associated therewith which affect the operation of at least some of the systems of the work machine used to control the operation of the work tools, said control system comprising:

at least one operator input device actuatable to control at least certain operations of a work tool when that work tool is mounted to the work machine;

means for selecting any one of a plurality of different sets of operating parameters for controlling at least certain operations of the work machine, each set of operating parameters corresponding to the operation of a different work tool when that work tool is mounted to the work tool; and

an electronic controller coupled with said at least one operator input device and with said selecting means for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said selecting means indicative of which set of operating parameters have been selected for use, and a signal from said at last one operator input device indicative of controlling at least certain operations of a particular work tool based upon the selected set of operating parameters;

said electronic controller being further coupled with the implement and other systems of the work machine operable for controlling the operation of the work tools and outputting appropriate signals thereto for electronically configuring such systems in accordance with the selected set of operating parameters for a particular work tool when said controller receives a signal from the selecting means indicative of which set of operating parameters has been selected for use, said certain machine systems being thereafter configured such that operation of such systems will be compatible with the selected operating parameters for that particular work tool; and

wherein the work machine includes a transmission system for controlling the direction of movement of the work machine and an operator input drive control device actuatable to command a particular direction of movement of the work machine, and wherein at least one of the parameters associated with the selected set of operating parameters affects the steering of the work machine, said electronic controller being coupled with said transmission system and with said operator input drive control device and outputting signals to said transmission system to control the steering operation of the work machine based upon said at least one parameter affecting such steering, said outputted signal being indicative of a particular steering mode gain effective between actuation of the operator input drive control device and operation of the transmission system.