Differential lock control in articulated machine
First Claim
1. A method of operating an articulated machine comprising the steps of:
- determining a first value indicative of an articulation angle of the machine;
determining a second value indicative of a wheel steering angle of the machine that is separate from the articulation angle;
determining a steering radius of the articulated machine based in part upon the first value and the second value; and
controlling a locking state of a differential of the machine responsive to the determined steering radius thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating an articulated machine includes sensing an articulation angle and a wheel steering angle of the machine, and controlling a locking state of a differential responsive to a steering radius of the machine. An articulated frame wheeled machine is further provided, and includes a front frame unit with a wheel steering apparatus, a back frame unit and an articulation apparatus coupled between the front and back frame units. First and second sensors are operable to sense a wheel steering angle and an articulation angle of the machine, and an electronic control is provided which is configured to selectively lock or unlock a differential of the back frame unit responsive to a steering radius of the machine.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating an articulated machine comprising the steps of:
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determining a first value indicative of an articulation angle of the machine; determining a second value indicative of a wheel steering angle of the machine that is separate from the articulation angle; determining a steering radius of the articulated machine based in part upon the first value and the second value; and controlling a locking state of a differential of the machine responsive to the determined steering radius thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An articulated machine comprising:
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a front frame unit including a wheel steering apparatus operable to steer the machine; a back frame unit coupled with the front frame unit and including a lockable differential; an articulation apparatus coupled between the front and back frame units and also operable to steer the machine; a first sensor configured to monitor a first parameter indicative of a wheel steering angle of the machine; a second sensor configured to monitor a second parameter indicative of an articulation steering angle of the machine; and an electronic controller in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor and being configured to determine a steerin radius of the machine based in part on inputs from the first sensor and the second sensor, the electronic controller further being configured to control at least one of locking and unlocking of the differential responsive to the determined steering radius of the machine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. An electronic controller configured to determine a steering radius of an articulated machine based in part upon a first input indicative of a wheel steering angle and a second input indicative of an articulation steering angle, the electronic controller being further configured to control a locking state of a differential in the articulated machine responsively to comparison of the determined steering radius with a minimum steering radius, the minimum steering radius being based at least in part on stress indicia associated with at least one machine operating parameter different from the wheel steering angle and the articulation steering angle.
Specification