Machine configurations employing passive and controllable cab mounts

• US 8,678,478 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Steven D., Ellen, Brett D., Warnat, Ronald B., Ehrenhardt, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US12/637,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187.13, 296/190.01, 296/190.04, 296/190.05, 296/190.03, 296/190.07, 280/756, 180 8912- 8915
• US Class Current: 296/190.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0608 pneumatic or hydraulic suspension
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/08 the plastics spring forming at least a part of the wall of the fluid chamber of the damper F16F13/20 - F16F13/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/20 with the piston-rod extending through both ends of the cylinder , e.g. constant-volume dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/53 Means for adjusting damping characteristics by varying fluid viscosity, e.g. electromagnetically F16F13/30 takes precedence; brakes comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled friction F16D57/002; electrorheological fluids per se C10M171/001; magnetorheological fluids per se H01F1/447
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/532 Electrorheological [ER] fluid dampers

Abstract

A machine includes a frame and an operator cab supported by the frame. One or more passive mounts and one or more controllable mounts operatively connect the operator cab to the frame. The one or more controllable mounts include a housing, a pin mounted within the housing, a rheological fluid within the housing, and coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid. An electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a frame;

an operator cab supported by the frame;

an external roll-over protection structure;

one or more passive mounts mounted between the cab and the frame;

one or more controllable mounts mounted between the cab and the external roll-over protection structure, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned near an inertial pitch axis of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned remotely from the inertial pitch axis of the cab, the one or more controllable mounts including;

a housing;

a pin mounted within the housing;

a rheological fluid within the housing; and

coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid; and

an electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned at a front of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned at a rear of the cab.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned at a rear of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned at a front of the cab.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit includes instructions to selectively adjust the apparent viscosity of each of the rheological fluid of the one or more controllable mounts to actively minimize pitch motion of the cab.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllable mounts consists of two controllable mounts, wherein the position of each of the two controllable mounts on the frame is known by the electronic control unit.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit includes instructions to selectively adjust the apparent viscosity of each of the rheological fluid of the two controllable mounts to actively minimize roll motion of the cab.

7. The machine of claim 5, wherein the position of each of the two controllable mounts on the frame is known by the electronic control unit via the wiring harness.

8. A machine comprising:

a frame;

an operator cab supported by the frame;

an external roll-over protection structure;

one or more passive mounts mounted between the cab and the frame;

one or more controllable mounts mounted between the cab and the external roll-over protection structure, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned near an inertial pitch axis of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned remotely from the inertial pitch axis of the cab,

the one or more controllable mounts each including;

a housing;

a pin mounted within the housing;

a rheological fluid within the housing; and

coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field

through the rheological fluid; and

an electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the one or more controllable mounts, wherein the position of each of the one or more controllable mounts on the frame is known by the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit includes instructions to selectively adjust the apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid of each of the one or more controllable mounts to actively minimize pitch and roll motion of the cab.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned at a front of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned at a rear of the cab.

10. The machine of claim 8, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned at a rear of the cab and the one or more controllable mounts positioned at a front of the cab.

11. A machine comprising:

a frame;

an operator cab supported by the frame;

one or more passive mounts mounted between the cab and the frame, positioned near an inertial pitch axis of the cab;

a controllable mount disposed on the operator cab positioned remotely from the inertial pitch axis, the controllable mount including;

a housing;

a pin mounted within the housing;

a rheological fluid within the housing; and

coils positioned relative to the housing to generate a field

through the rheological fluid; and

an electronic control unit operatively associated with the coils and adapted to change a level of current applied to the coils to adjust an apparent viscosity of the rheological fluid to actively change the damping characteristics of the controllable mount.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the electronic control unit includes instructions to selectively adjust the apparent viscosity of each of the rheological fluid of the controllable mount to actively minimize pitch motion of the cab.

13. The machine of claim 11, wherein the one or more passive mounts are near a front of the cab and the controllable mount is positioned near a rear of the cab.

14. The machine of claim 11, wherein the one or more passive mounts positioned near a rear of the cab and the controllable mount is positioned near a front of the cab.

15. The machine of claim 11, further including an external roll-over protection structure, wherein the controllable mount is disposed above the cab and mounted between the cab and the external roll-over protection structure.