Features of main control for a power machine

• US 7,496,441 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• 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: Brandt, Kenneth A., Rossow, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/583,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 701 50- 51, 701/53, 701/55, 172/12, 172/263, 172/812, 172/2, 184/6.1, 604/20, 604/84, 745/015.H, 180/287, 180/273, 700/83, 414/680
• 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, an ignition, a traction system coupled to the engine to move the power machine, a plurality of hydraulic actuators, and a hydraulic power system providing hydraulic fluid under pressure, the control system comprising:

a user input device providing a user input signal indicative of a series of letters or numbers input;

a controller coupled to the user input device and having associated memory storing at least three levels of passwords, the controller being configured to control different functions of the power machine based on a level of password input, wherein the controller is configured to accept and implement requested modifications of a normal operation of the power machine if a password having a sufficient predetermined level is input; and

a speed select input coupled to the controller providing a speed select input signal indicative of a user input request to select one of a plurality of operating speeds and wherein the controller is configured such that modification of normal operation comprises changing enablement status of the speed select input.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to change operation of the power machine between the operating speeds according to a transition profile and wherein modification of normal operation comprises changing the transition profile.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control different functions by accepting an input request to change or disable a lower level password so long as a password having a sufficient predetermined level is received.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to implement a locking feature by locking predetermined functions of the power machine until, upon power-up, a password having a sufficient predetermined level is received, and to control different functions by accepting an input request to disable the locking feature.