Forestry machine speed controls

• US 9,303,761 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Forest Products Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Forest Products Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Storey, Joseph Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/282,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20150337954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/50, 701/70, 701/93, 180/6.7, 180/9.1, 373/02, 700/304, 305/185
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/00 Forestry
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/06 with tracks without ground wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2253 Controlling the travelling speed of vehicles, e.g. adjusting travelling speed according to implement loads, control of hydrostatic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/47 for achieving a target output speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 13/00 Control of linear speed; Control of angular speed; Control of acceleration or deceleration, e.g. of a prime mover
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a speed of a machine is disclosed. The machine may have a controller in communication with an operator interface and a hydraulic system configured to control tracks of the machine. The method may include the controller setting a current value for a speed limit on the machine according to a first predetermined value; the controller providing a display on the operator interface indicating the current value of the speed limit, the current value being the first predetermined value; the controller receiving input from the operator interface to change the speed limit to a second value; the controller setting the current value for the speed limit on the machine according to the second value; and the controller changing the display to indicate the current value of the speed limit being the second value.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a speed of a machine, the machine having a controller in communication with an operator interface and a hydraulic system configured to control tracks of the machine, the method comprising:

the controller setting a current value for a speed limit on the machine according to a first predetermined value;

the controller providing a display on the operator interface indicating the current value of the speed limit, the current value being the first predetermined value;

the controller receiving input from the operator interface to change the speed limit to a second value;

the controller setting the current value for the speed limit on the machine according to the second value; and

the controller changing the display to indicate the current value of the speed limit being the second value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller sending a signal to the hydraulic system to limit a speed of the tracks according to the current value of the speed limit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller receiving input from the operator interface to limit a maximum speed of the machine before the step of the controller setting the speed limit on the machine according to the first predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller providing a display on the operator interface indicating a range of values for the speed limit, the display including the current value of the speed limit within the range of values for the speed limit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller receiving input from the operator interface to operate the machine in a low speed mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller receiving input from the operator interface to operate the machine in a high speed mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller storing the current value in a memory associated with the controller.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the controller turning off a speed limit control on the machine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the controller receiving input from the operator interface to turn off the speed limit control on the machine before the step of the controller turning off the speed limit control on the machine.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the controller retrieving the current value stored in the memory, and setting the speed limit according to the retrieved current value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the controller receiving input from the operator interface to activate cruise control, and the controller sending signals to the hydraulic system to control the tracks of the machine without continual input from an operator of the machine.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the controller limiting a speed of the tracks according to the current value of the speed limit while cruise control is activated.

13. A speed control system for a machine having left and right tracks, and a hydraulic system configured to drive the left and right tracks, the speed control system comprising:

an operator interface configured to receive input from and output data to an operator of the machine, the operator interface including;

a left pedal configured to receive input from the operator for manipulating the left track, and

a right pedal configured to receive input from the operator for manipulating the right track; and

a controller in communication with the operator interface and the hydraulic system, the controller configured to;

receive a signal from the operator interface to turn on a speed limit control,

set a speed limit on the left and right tracks according to a predetermined value,

send a signal to the operator interface to display the speed limit to the operator,

receive a signal from the operator interface to set the speed limit to a new value,

set the speed limit on the left and right tracks according to the new value, and

send a signal to the operator interface to display the new value of the speed limit to the operator.

14. The speed control system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a signal from the operator interface to turn on cruise control.

15. The speed control system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to set a direction and speed of the left and right tracks in cruise control when the left and right pedals are pushed in a same direction at a same time.

16. The speed control system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to change the direction and speed of the left and right tracks in cruise control based on operator input received from the operator interface.

17. The speed control system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to limit the speed of the left and right tracks in cruise control when the speed limit control is turned on.

18. A machine comprising:

left and right tracks;

a hydraulic system configured to drive the left and right tracks;

an operator interface configured to receive input from and output data to an operator of the machine; and

a controller in communication with the hydraulic system and the operator interface, the controller configured to;

receive a signal from the operator interface to turn on a speed limit control,

set a speed limit on the left and right tracks according to a first predetermined value,

send a signal to the operator interface to display the speed limit within a range of predetermined values for the speed limit while the speed limit control is turned on,

receive a signal from the operator interface to change the speed limit to a second value, and

change the speed limit on the left and right tracks from the left first predetermined value to the second value.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to store a value of the speed limit in a memory associated with the controller, retrieve the stored value when the speed limit control is turned on, and set the speed limit according to the stored value.

20. The machine of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a signal from the operator interface to turn on cruise control, and send signals to the hydraulic system to drive the left and right tracks without continual input from the operator.