Machine joystick control system

• US 7,497,298 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Shearer, Daniel Edward, Kelley, Craig B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/872,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 180/333, 744/71.XY
• US Class Current: 180/333
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7663 Graders with the scraper blade mounted under a frame supported by wheels, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/06 Details of their grip parts G05G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04788 comprising additional control elements

Abstract

A control system for a work machine, having an articulated joint and a work implement with at least one axis of rotation, has a first lever with a first longitudinal axis. A twist angle of the first lever about the first longitudinal axis is related to an articulation speed of the work machine. The control system also has a second lever having a second longitudinal axis. A twist angle of the second lever about the second longitudinal axis is related to a rotation speed of the work implement about the at least one axis of rotation. A plurality of operator control devices are disposed on the first and second levers.

Claims

1. A control system for a machine having an implement with at least one axis of rotation, the control system comprising:

a first lever having a first longitudinal axis, wherein a twist angle of the first lever about the first longitudinal axis is related to an articulation speed of an articulated joint of the machine;

a second lever having a second longitudinal axis, wherein a twist angle of the second lever about the second longitudinal axis is related to a rotational speed of the implement about the at least one axis of rotation; and

a plurality of operator control devices disposed on the first and second levers.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first lever and the second lever is configured to tilt about at least one tilt axis, a steering direction of the machine being related to a tilt angle of the at least one of the first lever and the second lever about the at least one tilt axis.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a steerable traction device configured to tilt with respect to a tilt plane, and a tilt speed of the steerable traction device relative to the tilt plane is related to an engagement position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is configured to place the articulated joint in a neutral articulation position.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a plurality of driven traction devices and a differential gear mechanism that allows the plurality of driven traction devices to rotate at different speeds relative to each other, and at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is configured to selectively lock the differential gear mechanism and to cause the plurality of driven traction devices to rotate at a substantially uniform speed.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second levers has an operator hand interface including:

a forward portion having a first longitudinal ridge corresponding to a joint of an operator'"'"'s fingers; and

an aft portion having a second longitudinal ridge corresponding to a joint between a thumb and palm of an operator'"'"'s hand.

7. The control system of claim 1, further including at least one guard disposed on at least one of the first and second levers and configured to impede movement of an operator'"'"'s hand towards at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control system further includes a hand stabilizer proximally disposed to an end of at least one of the first and second levers, the hand stabilizer configured to provide leverage to an operator'"'"'s hand during manipulation of the at least one of the first and second levers.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the implement includes a second axis of rotation, and an orientation speed of the implement with respect to the second axis of rotation is related to a position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein an articulation direction of a forward portion of the machine about an articulation joint is in the same direction as a twist direction of the first lever, and a rotation direction of the implement about the at least one axis of rotation is in the same direction as the twist direction of the second lever.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first lever and the second lever is configured to tilt about at least one tilt axis, and a linear movement of at least a portion of the implement in a first direction is related to a tilt direction of the at least one of the first lever and the second lever about the at least one tilt axis.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the first lever and the second lever is configured to tilt about a second tilt axis generally orthogonal to the first tilt axis wherein a linear movement of the implement in a second direction, generally orthogonal to the first direction, is related to a tilt direction of the at least one of the first and second levers about the second tilt axis.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein a movement speed of the implement in a second direction, generally orthogonal to the first direction, is related to an engagement position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

14. The control system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a transmission having a range of output speed ratios selectable by at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is a three-way control device configured to toggle between a forward, reverse, and neutral condition of the transmission.

16. The control system of claim 1, wherein a first and a second of the plurality of operator control devices are recessed into one of the first and second levers, with a ridge separating the first and second of the plurality of operator control devices.

17. The control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of control devices is configured to engage a throttle feature of the machine.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the throttle feature causes the throttle to move to a predetermined throttle position in response to the at least one of the plurality of control devices being moved to an engaged position.

19. The control system of claim 1, further including at least one four-way control device configured for movement in a first direction to cause a first implement movement and for movement in a second direction orthogonal to the first to cause a second implement movement.

20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the at least one four-way control device may be moved in a direction between the first and second directions to simultaneously cause both the first implement movement and the second implement movement.

21. A machine comprising:

a steerable traction device;

a driven traction device;

a frame having an articulated joint for articulately connecting the steerable traction device to the driven traction device;

a power source supported by at least one of the frame and the driven traction device;

a transmission operatively connected to the power source and configured to transmit power from the power source to the driven traction device, the transmission having a range of output speed ratios;

an implement operatively connected to the frame and having at least one axis of rotation; and

a control system comprising;

a first lever having a first longitudinal axis, wherein a twist angle of the first lever about the first longitudinal axis is related to an articulation speed of the machine;

a second lever having a second longitudinal axis, wherein;

a twist angle of the second lever about the second longitudinal axis is related to a rotational speed of the implement about the at least one axis, at least one of the first lever and the second lever being configured to tilt about at least one tilt axis, and

a steering direction of the machine is related to a tilt angle of the at least one of the first lever and the second lever about the at least one tilt axis;

a plurality of operator control devices disposed on the first and second levers, wherein;

the machine includes a steerable traction device configured to tilt with respect to a tilt a plane, a tilt speed of the steerable traction device relative to the tilt plane relating to an engagement position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices,

an output speed ratio of the transmission is selectable by at least one of the plurality of operator control devices,

at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is configured to place the articulated joint in a neutral articulation position,

the machine includes a plurality of driven traction devices and a differential gear mechanism that allows the plurality of driven traction devices to rotate at different speeds relative to each other, and at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is configured to selectively lock the differential gear mechanism and to cause the plurality of driven traction devices to rotate at a substantially uniform speed, and

one of the plurality of operator control devices is configured to engage a throttle feature of the machine; and

at least one four-way control device configured for movement in a first direction to cause a first implement movement and for movement in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to cause a second implement movement.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the implement includes a second axis of rotation, and an engagement position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is related to an orientation speed of the implement with respect to the second axis of rotation.

23. The machine of claim 21, wherein an articulation direction of a forward portion of the machine about an articulation joint is in the same direction as a twist direction of the first lever and a rotation direction of the implement about the at least one axis of rotation is in the same direction as the twist direction of the second lever.

24. The machine of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first lever and the second lever is configured to tilt about at least one tilt axis, and a linear movement of at least a portion of the implement in a first direction is related to a tilt direction of the at least one of the first lever and the second lever about the at least one tilt axis.

25. The machine of claim 24, wherein the at least one of the first lever and the second lever is configured to tilt about a second tilt axis generally orthogonal to the at least one tilt axis, and a linear movement of the implement in a second direction, generally orthogonal to the first direction, is related to a tilt direction of the at least one of the first and second levers about the second tilt axis.

26. The machine of claim 24, wherein a movement speed of the implement in a second direction, generally orthogonal to the first direction, is related to a position of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

27. The machine of claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of operator control devices includes a three-way control device configured to toggle between a forward, reverse, and neutral condition of the transmission.

28. The machine of claim 21, wherein the at least one four-way control device may be moved in a direction between the first and second directions to simultaneously cause both the first implement movement and the second implement movement.

29. A method of controlling a machine, comprising:

twisting a first lever through a first twist angle in one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to cause an articulation of an articulated joint of a machine such that a portion of the machine rotates about the articulated joint in the one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction and at an articulation speed related to the first twist angle; and

twisting a second lever through a second twist angle in one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to cause a rotation of a implement about a first axis in the same one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction and at a rotation speed related to the second twist angle,

wherein a plurality of operator control devices are disposed on the first and second levers.

30. The method of claim 29, further including tilting at least one of the first and second levers at a tilt angle about at least one tilt axis to steer a steerable traction device in a direction related to the tilting direction and by an amount related to the tilt angle.

31. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to tilt a steerable traction device at an angle relative to a tilt plane, a tilt speed relative to the tilt plane corresponding to a position of the at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

32. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to place an articulation joint of the machine in a neutral articulation position.

33. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to lock a differential gear mechanism of the machine and to cause all of a plurality of driven traction devices of the machine connected to the differential gear mechanism to rotate at a substantially uniform speed.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the implement is a drawbar-circle-moldboard assembly that includes a blade and the method further includes manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to cause a rotation of the blade about a second axis, substantially orthogonal to the first axis, at a rotation speed related to an engagement position of the at least one of the plurality of operator control devices.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the blade has a first end and a second end, the method further including tilting one of the first and second levers in a tilting direction and at a tilt angle to cause at least one of the first end and the second end to move in a direction related to the tilting direction and by at a speed corresponding to the tilt angle.

36. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to select an output speed ratio of a transmission of the machine.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operator control devices includes a three-position control device and the method further includes manipulating the three-position control device to toggle between a forward, reverse, and neutral condition of the transmission.

38. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to move a throttle to a predetermined throttle position.

39. The method of claim 29, further including manipulating a four-way control device in a first direction to cause a first implement movement and manipulating the four-way control device in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to cause a second implement movement.

40. The method of claim 39, further including moving the four-way control device in a direction between the first and second directions to simultaneously cause both the first implement movement and the second implement movement.