Signaling device and method of alerting a work machine operator to a predetermined condition using same

• US 7,508,315 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/270,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 340/660, 340/663, 340/664, 320/162, 320/164, 361/21, 361/30, 361/33, 361/56, 361/90, 361/92, 361/20
• US Class Current: 340/663
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/24 responsive to undervoltage or no-voltage H02H3/207 takes precedence

Abstract

A signaling device includes an electrical circuit which discharges an electrical energy storage device through an electrically powered alert mechanism via a biased open transition switch upon disruption of electrical power in an electrical system of a work machine. A work machine is further provided having an alert device coupled with a normally closed electrical power circuit, the alert device being activated upon opening of the normally closed electrical circuit via a transistor switch. An associated method includes using the signaling device to alert a work machine operator to a predetermined condition by closing a normally open electrically switch to connect an electrical energy storage device with an electrically powered alert mechanism, via an electronic controller or via interruption of electrical power in a normally closed electrical circuit of a work machine.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a chassis;

at least one steering system connected to the chassis;

an electrical system connected to the chassis;

a signaling device operably coupled with said electrical system and including an electrical energy storage device, an alert mechanism and a normally open electrical switch disposed between said electrical energy storage device and said alert mechanism, said electrical switch having an open/closed state based at least in part on an electrical system voltage;

said electrical system comprises a power supply including first and second input/output lines coupled with said signaling device;

said electrical switch comprising a biased open transistor switch having a gate/base coupled with one of said input/output lines and being configured to close upon de-coupling from said power supply;

said electrical energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and a capacitor;

said electrical switch comprises a p-channel FET disposed between said electrical energy storage device and said alert mechanism; and

at least one pre-determined condition monitor and an electronic controller in communication therewith, said electronic controller being configured to selectively de-couple said signaling device from said power supply based on a control signal or a control signal failure between said electronic controller and said at least one pre-determined condition monitor.

2. A machine comprising:

a chassis;

at least one steering system connected to the chassis;

an electrical system connected to the chassis;

a signaling device operably coupled with said electrical system and including an electrical energy storage device, an alert mechanism and a normally open electrical switch disposed between said electrical energy storage device and said alert mechanism, said electrical switch having an open/closed state based at least in part on an electrical system voltage;

said electrical system comprises a power supply including first and second input/output lines coupled with said signaling device;

said electrical switch comprising a biased open transistor switch having a gate/base coupled with one of said input/output lines and being configured to close upon de-coupling from said power supply;

said electrical energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and a capacitor;

said electrical switch comprises a p-channel FET disposed between said electrical energy storage device and said alert mechanism; and

an electronic controller that includes a startup diagnostic algorithm to temporarily de-couple the power supply from the signaling device during initialization.

3. A machine comprising:

a chassis;

at least one steering system connected to the chassis;

an electrical system connected to the chassis;

a signaling device operably coupled with said electrical system and including an electrical energy storage device, an alert mechanism and a normally open electrical switch disposed between said electrical energy storage device and said alert mechanism, said electrical switch having an open/closed state based at least in part on an electrical system voltage said electrical system comprises a normally closed electrical circuit having first and second input/output lines including a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

said electrical switch is a normally open transistor switch having a gate/base coupled with said positive terminal and maintained at a normally positive voltage thereby; and

an electronically controlled redundant machine steering system coupled with said normally closed electrical circuit, wherein said transistor switch is configured to close upon opening of said normally closed electrical circuit.

4. A method of alerting a machine operator to the occurrence of a predetermined condition of a machine comprising the steps of:

steering the machine responsive to an operator riding on the machine;

supplying electrical power to a normally closed electrical circuit in an electrical system of the machine;

closing an electrical switch in a signaling device to electrically connect an electrically powered operator alert device with an electrical energy storage device, if a disruption in electrical power in the normally closed electrical circuit occurs;

the electrical switch is a transistor switch, the step of closing an electrical switch comprising a step of adjusting a voltage at a gate/base of the transistor switch, if the normally closed electrical circuit is opened;

monitoring at least one machine operating parameter at least in part via an electronic controller; and

opening the normally closed electrical circuit of the signaling device via a control signal from the electronic controller, if the at least one machine operating parameter other than a power failure meets a predetermined criterion.