Working vehicle

• US 6,681,877 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Yasuhiko, Ono, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Kelly E
• Application Number:
  US09/953,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20020033289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 180/171, 180/173, 180/174, 180/333, 180/338, 701/93, 701/96, 361/51, 123/350, 123/351, 123/352, 123/349, 123/378
• US Class Current: 180/171
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/662 with endless flexible members

Abstract

A working vehicle is provided for improving safety and work efficiency by changing a travel speed limit appropriately depending on forms and conditions of work. The working vehicle is driven with an engine, and a working machine such as a working pump is mounted on the vehicle. Fuel supplied to the engine is regulated by an injector. Travel speeds of the working vehicle are detected with a vehicle speed sensor. A control unit is provided with a high speed travel mode which limits vehicle speed at or below a predetermined high speed limit and a low speed travel mode which limits vehicle speed at or below a low speed limit which is set below the high speed limit. In this way, either the high speed travel mode or the low speed travel mode is set according to a changeover signal from a travel mode changeover switch.

Claims

1. A working vehicle including an engine and a working machine mounted on the vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a travel speed of said working vehicle;

travel mode changeover means having a position that sets any one of a plurality of travel modes with different predetermined maximum speed limits and that prevents an operator from changing the travel mode; and

control means for controlling said working vehicle in such a manner that the travel speed of said working vehicle detected by said vehicle speed sensor is reduced after said speed exceeds a predetermined speed limit of the travel mode set by said travel mode changeover means.

2. The working vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said travel mode changeover means includes a switch adapted to be operated by a vehicle supervisor, said switch adapted to be non-operable by an operator when the working vehicle is traveling.

3. The working vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

warning means for warning an operator that the travel speed is approaching a predetermined speed limit when entering a predetermined range below a predetermined speed limit of each travel mode.

4. The working vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

fuel regulating means for regulating fuel to be supplied to said engine,

wherein supplying the fuel is stopped by said fuel regulating means when the travel speed exceeds a predetermined speed limit.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said travel mode switch is adapted to be operated by a vehicle supervisor.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said travel mode switch comprises a key switch.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a warning indicator that generates a warning indication in response to said speed signal approaching a speed corresponding to a predetermined speed limit of said current travel mode.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said warning indicator generates said warning indication when said vehicle speed enters a predetermined range below said predetermined speed limit of said current travel mode.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controlling means comprises a fuel regulating means.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said fuel regulating means stops a fuel supply to said vehicle in response to said speed signal indicating a speed of said vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed limit of said current travel mode.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said fuel regulating means resumes said fuel supply in response to said speed signal indicating a speed of said vehicle being lower than a predetermined speed limit of said current travel mode.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said travel modes permit operation of the working vehicle at any speed less than a corresponding predetermined maximum speed limit.

13. A working vehicle comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor that generates a speed signal which indicates a speed of said vehicle;

a travel mode switch having a position that sets one of a plurality of travel modes which each have a predetermined maximum speed limit to determine a current travel mode and that prevents an operator from changing the travel mode; and

a controller in communication with said vehicle speed sensor and said travel mode switch that reduces the speed of said vehicle in response to said speed signal indicating a speed of said vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed limit of said current travel mode.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said travel modes permit operation of the working vehicle at any speed less than a corresponding predetermined maximum speed limit.

15. A working vehicle including an engine and a working machine mounted on the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a travel speed of said working vehicle;

travel mode changeover means for manually setting any one of a plurality of travel modes with different predetermined speed limits; and

control means for controlling said working vehicle in such a manner that the travel speed of the working vehicle detected by the vehicle speed sensor is reduced after said speed exceeds a predetermined speed limit of the travel mode set by said travel mode changeover means,

wherein the travel mode is selected as a function of one of a user'"'"'s experience, a user'"'"'s age, a user'"'"'s skill level, a weight of said working vehicle, and the weather.