Machine control interlocks for an electrohydraulically controlled vehicle

• US 7,784,581 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Meyeres, Rian Scot, Bagby, Donald Joseph, Weires, Ricky Lee, Mast, Leonard Keith, Klas, David Joseph, Tyler, Robert Scott, Scheer, Glenn Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/521,054
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 374/43, 744/71.R, 744/71.XY, 172/435, 180/326, 180/329, 180/330, 180/331, 180/333, 180/334, 296/65.01, 296/65.06, 297/344.21, 297/344.22
• US Class Current: 180/329
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/166 movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/62 Arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20012 Multiple controlled elements

Abstract

A mobile vehicle is disclosed which includes a plurality of proportional controls to control the operation of a first set of equipment and a second set of equipment.

Claims

1. A moveable vehicle including a first set of equipment having a first tool positioned proximate a front portion of the moveable vehicle and a second set of equipment having a second tool positioned proximate to a rear portion of the moveable vehicle, the moveable vehicle comprising:

a movable operator seat movable between a forward facing position facing the front portion of the moveable vehicle and a rearward facing position facing the rear portion of the moveable vehicle;

a first proportional control moveable with the operator seat;

a second proportional control moveable with the operator seat;

a third proportional control moveable with the operator seat; and

a controller coupled to the first proportional control, the second proportional control, and the third proportional control, wherein the first proportional control and the second proportional control operate the second set of equipment positioned proximate the rear portion of the moveable vehicle to move the second tool in at least three degrees of freedom and the third proportional control operates the first set of equipment positioned proximate the front portion of the moveable vehicle to move the first tool in at least two degrees of freedom in a first operating mode.

2. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operator seat includes a left-side portion including a left-side arm rest and a right-side portion including a right-side arm rest, the first proportional control being positioned on the left-side portion of the operator seat and the second proportional control being positioned on the right-side portion of the operator seat.

3. The moveable vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first proportional control and the second proportional control are joystick controls.

4. The moveable vehicle of claim 3, wherein the third proportional control is a joystick control.

5. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the third proportional control is positioned proximate a first one of the first proportional control and the second proportional control.

6. The moveable vehicle of claim 5, wherein the third proportional control is supported by the first one of the first proportional control and the second proportional control.

7. The moveable vehicle of claim 5, wherein the third proportional control is positioned forward of the first one of the first proportional control and the second proportional control relative to a back of the operator seat.

8. The moveable vehicle of claim 5, wherein the third proportional control is positioned outward of one of the first proportional control and the second proportional control relative to a seat portion of the operator seat.

9. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first operating mode is activated with an override input.

10. The moveable vehicle of claim 9, wherein the operator seat is in a first forward facing position when the first operating mode is activated.

11. The moveable vehicle of claim 10, wherein a first seat input provides an indication of whether the operator seat is located in the first forward facing position and a second seat input provides an indication of whether the operator seat is secured in the first forward facing position.

12. The moveable vehicle of claim 9, wherein the operator seat is in a rearward facing position when the first operating mode is activated.

13. The moveable vehicle of claim 12, wherein a third seat input provides an indication of whether the operator seat is located in the rearward facing position.

14. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least two degrees of freedom associated with the first tool include:

curling and dumping the first tool; and

moving the first tool up and down.

15. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least three degrees of freedom associated with the second tool are selected from the group consisting of:

curling and dumping the second tool;

moving the second tool up and down;

moving the second tool side to side; and

moving the second tool forward and backward.

16. The moveable vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first proportional control operates the first set of equipment in a second operating mode.

17. A moveable vehicle including a first set of equipment positioned proximate a front portion of the moveable vehicle and a second set of equipment positioned proximate a rear portion of the moveable vehicle, the moveable vehicle comprising:

a movable operator seat movable between a forward facing position facing the front portion of the moveable vehicle and a rearward facing position facing the rear portion of the moveable vehicle;

a controller;

a first proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the second set of equipment in a first operating mode, the first proportional control having more than one degree of freedom;

a second proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the second set of equipment in the first operating mode, the second proportional control having more than one degree of freedom; and

a third proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the first set of equipment in the first operating mode.

18. The moveable vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first proportional control is spaced apart from the second proportional control.

19. The moveable vehicle of claim 17, wherein the third proportional control is spaced apart from at least one of the first and second proportional controls.

20. The moveable vehicle of claim 17, wherein the third proportional control moves relative to the first and second proportional controls.

21. The moveable vehicle of claim 20, wherein the first proportional control moves relative to the second proportional control.

22. The moveable vehicle of claim 17, wherein the third proportional control has more than one degree of freedom.

23. A moveable vehicle including a first set of equipment having a first tool positioned proximate a front portion of the moveable vehicle and a second set of equipment having a second tool positioned proximate a rear portion of the moveable vehicle, the moveable vehicle comprising:

a movable operator seat movable between a forward facing position facing the front portion of the moveable vehicle and a rearward facing position facing the rear portion of the moveable vehicle;

a first proportional control moveable with the operator seat, wherein the first proportional control has more than one degree of freedom;

a second proportional control moveable with the operator seat, wherein the second proportional control has more than one degree of freedom;

a third proportional control moveable with the operator seat; and

a controller coupled to the first proportional control, the second proportional control, and the third proportional control, wherein the first proportional control and the second proportional control operate the second set of equipment positioned proximate the rear portion of the moveable vehicle and the third proportional control operates the first set of equipment positioned proximate the front portion of the moveable vehicle in a first operating mode, wherein, in combination, the first, second, and third proportional controls move the first and second tools in at least five degrees of freedom.

24. The moveable vehicle of claim 23, wherein the at least five degrees of freedom associated with the first and second tools are selected from the group consisting of:

curling and dumping the first tool;

moving the first tool up and down;

curling and dumping the second tool;

moving the second tool up and down;

moving the second tool side to side; and

moving the second tool forward and backward.

25. A moveable vehicle including a first set of equipment positioned proximate a front portion of the moveable vehicle and a second set of equipment positioned proximate a rear portion of the moveable vehicle, the moveable vehicle comprising:

a movable operator seat movable between a forward facing position facing the front portion of the moveable vehicle and a rearward facing position facing the rear portion of the moveable vehicle;

a controller;

a first proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the second set of equipment in a first operating mode;

a second proportional control independent of the first proportional control, the second proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the second set of equipment in the first operating mode, wherein the first proportional control is spaced apart from the second proportional control; and

a third proportional control independent of the second proportional control, the third proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller to operate the first set of equipment in the first operating mode.

26. The moveable vehicle of claim 25, wherein the third proportional control is spaced apart from at least one of the first and second proportional controls.

27. The moveable vehicle of claim 25, wherein the third proportional control moves relative to the first and second proportional controls.

28. The moveable vehicle of claim 27, wherein the first proportional control moves relative to the second proportional control.

29. A moveable vehicle including a first set of equipment positioned proximate a front portion of the moveable vehicle and a second set of equipment positioned proximate a rear portion of the moveable vehicle, the moveable vehicle comprising:

a movable operator seat movable between a forward facing position facing the front portion of the moveable vehicle and a rearward facing position facing the rear portion of the moveable vehicle;

a controller;

a first proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller, the first proportional control having a first input body that is moveable to operate the second set of equipment in a first operating mode;

a second proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller, the second proportional control having a second input body that is moveable to operate the second set of equipment in the first operating mode, wherein the first input body is spaced apart from the second input body; and

a third proportional control moveable with the operator seat and coupled to the controller, the third proportional control having a third input body that is moveable to operate the first set of equipment in the first operating mode.

30. The moveable vehicle of claim 29, wherein the first input body has more than one degree of freedom and the second input body has more than one degree of freedom.

31. The moveable vehicle of claim 29, wherein the third input body is spaced one of forward and lateral of the first input body.

32. The moveable vehicle of claim 29, wherein the third input body is supported by the first input body.

33. The moveable vehicle of claim 29, wherein the third input body moves relative to the first and second input bodies.

34. The moveable vehicle of claim 33, wherein the first input body moves relative to the second input body.