Features of main control computer for a power machine

• US 7,142,967 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited)
• Inventors: Brandt, Kenneth A., Rossow, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/360,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 701 50- 51, 701/35, 701/33, 701/30, 701/36, 701/2, 701/29, 701/110, 701/115, 701/113, 701/53, 707/203, 712/37, 374/14, 372/34, 172/8, 172 9- 12, 172/4, 172/5, 172/812, 172/263, 172/260.5, 172/2, 172/7, 123/179.3, 123/179.2, 341/176, 184/6.1, 745/015.H, 298/22.C, 702/114, 702/94, 137/883, 137/861, 137/624.64, 604/84, 604/20, 604/27, 605/70, 914/59, 914/97, 913/61, 477/120
• 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.

Claims

1. A power machine control system for a power machine having an engine, a hydraulic power system providing hydraulic fluid under pressure, and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, the control system comprising:

a plurality of operator inputs each, when actuated, providing an input signal requesting operation of a hydraulic actuator;

a detent request input which, when actuated, provides a signal indicative of a detent request; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of operator inputs and the detent request input and configured to operate a hydraulically plumbed selected one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators in a detent mode when an associated operator input is actuated and the detent request input is substantially simultaneously actuated.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to discontinue operating a hydraulic actuator in detent mode when the detent request input is again subsequently actuated.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to maintain operation of the selected hydraulic actuator in detent mode when an additional one of the plurality of operator inputs is actuated requesting operation of one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators other than said selected hydraulic actuator.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein, if the hydraulic actuator requested by the additional operator input requires no hydraulic flow conflict with the selected hydraulic actuator, the controller is configured to operate the hydraulic actuator requested by the additional operator input.

5. The control system of claim 3 wherein, if the hydraulic actuator requested by the additional operator input requires a hydraulic flow conflict with the selected hydraulic actuator, the controller is configured to operate the hydraulic actuator requested by the additional operator input, and discontinue operation of the selected hydraulic actuator.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a memory containing a look-up table with associated detent functions and wherein the controller is configured to access the memory based on actuation of the detent request input to determine whether the detent request is possible, and to operate the selected hydraulic actuator based on the determination.