Automatic shut down system for machine having engine and work implement

• US 8,335,618 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Knapp, Lucas Adam, Welch, Mark Alan, Bakken, Arick Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, KYUNG J
• Application Number:
  US12/292,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 701/34, 701/50, 701/84
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0833 Vehicle conditions F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state

Abstract

An automatic shut down system for a machine having an engine and a work implement is disclosed. The automatic shut down system may have a position sensor, which may be associated with the work implement. The position sensor may be configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of the work implement. The automatic shut down system may also have a controller, which may be in communication with the position sensor. The controller may be configured to shut down the engine, based on the position signal.

Claims

1. An automatic shut down system for a machine having an engine and a work implement, the automatic shut down system comprising:

a position sensor associated with the work implement and configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of the work implement; and

a controller in communication with the position sensor, the controller being configured to;

determine whether the position of the work implement is below a predetermined height, based on the position signal; and

shut down the engine when the position of the work implement is below the predetermined height, based on the position signal.

2. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to determine whether the position sensor is malfunctioning, based on the position signal; and

the controller is configured to shut down the engine when the position sensor is not malfunctioning.

3. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, further including a work implement control, the work implement control being configured to generate an actuation signal indicative of an operation of the work implement, wherein:

the controller is in communication with the work implement control;

the controller is further configured to determine whether the operation of the work implement includes movement of the work implement relative to the machine, based on the actuation signal; and

the controller is configured to shut down the engine when the operation of the work implement includes no movement of the work implement relative to the machine.

4. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, further including a warning device, wherein:

the controller is in communication with the warning device; and

the controller is further configured to activate the warning device before shutting down the engine.

5. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, further including a timer, wherein:

the controller is in communication with the timer; and

the controller is configured to shut down the engine when an accumulated time of the timer is greater than a threshold shut down time.

6. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined height is less than a maximum height of the work implement.

7. The automatic shut down system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to measure the position of the work implement with respect to a ground surface.

8. A method of automatically shutting down an engine of a machine having a work implement, the method comprising:

receiving with a controller a position signal indicative of a position of the work implement;

shutting down the engine automatically with the controller, based on the position signal; and

determining with the controller whether the position of the work implement is below a predetermined height, based on the position signal, wherein the shutting down the engine occurs in response to the position of the work implement being below the predetermined height.

9. The method of claim 8, further including determining with the controller whether a position sensor is malfunctioning, based on the position signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the position sensor is not malfunctioning.

10. The method of claim 8, further including:

receiving with the controller an actuation signal indicative of an operation of the work implement; and

determining with the controller whether the operation of the work implement includes movement of the work implement relative to the machine, based on the actuation signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the operation of the work implement includes no movement of the work implement relative to the machine.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

receiving with the controller an engine speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of the engine; and

determining with the controller whether the engine is idling, based on the engine speed signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the engine is idling.

12. The method of claim 11, further including:

receiving with the controller a gear signal indicative of a selected gear of a transmission of the machine; and

determining with the controller whether the selected gear is a neutral gear, based on the gear signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the selected gear is a neutral gear.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving with the controller a ground speed signal indicative of a ground speed of the machine; and

determining with the controller whether the machine is stationary, based on the ground speed signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the machine is stationary.

14. The method of claim 13, further including:

receiving with the controller a service brake signal indicative of whether a service brake of the machine is applied; and

determining with the controller whether the service brake is applied, based on the service brake signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the service brake is not applied.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

receiving with the controller a throttle position signal indicative of a position of a throttle valve of the engine; and

determining with the controller whether the position of the throttle valve surpasses a predetermined position, based on the throttle position signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the position of the throttle valve fails to surpass the predetermined position.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

receiving with the controller a parking brake signal indicative of whether a parking brake of the machine is applied; and

determining with the controller whether the parking brake is applied, based on the parking brake signal, wherein the shutting down of the engine occurs when the parking brake is applied.

17. The method of claim 8, further including, before the shutting down of the engine, activating a warning device.

18. The method of claim 8, further including, after the shutting down of the engine, electrically disconnecting components of the machine from a battery of the machine.

19. A machine, comprising:

an engine;

a work implement; and

an automatic shut down system, including;

a position sensor associated with the work implement and configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of the work implement; and

a controller in communication with the position sensor, the controller being configured to;

determine whether the position of the work implement is below a predetermined height, based on the position signal; and

shut down the engine in response to the position of the work implement being below the predetermined height.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein:

the controller is further configured to determine whether the position sensor is malfunctioning, based on the position signal; and

the controller is configured to shut down the engine when the position sensor is not malfunctioning.