Ejector control for spreading material according to a profile

• US 9,803,324 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Kean, Michael G., Meyer, Douglas G., Stander, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramesh, Krishnan
• Application Number:
  US15/006,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20170211244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/201 with driven loosening, discharging or spreading parts, e.g. power-driven, drive derived from road-wheels E01C19/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/2015 solely reciprocating, swinging to-and-fro, jolting or vibrating, e.g. oscilating stirrers, shaking spreading shoots
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2019/2055 Details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6436 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/6445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6481 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/651 Hydraulic or pneumatic drives; Electric or electro-mechanical control devices E02F3/652, E02F3/653 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2029 Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/262 with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment, a method of operating a work vehicle with an ejector body may include receiving a position signal indicative of a position of the work vehicle, receiving a target profile indicative of a target topography for an area, receiving an ejection command at a controller and entering the controller into an ejection mode based on the ejection command, and controlling, with the controller, in the ejection mode, at least one of a speed of the work vehicle and a speed of an ejector included in the ejector body based on the position signal and the target profile, to spread a load of material from the ejector body onto a ground surface.

Claims

1. A method of operating a work vehicle with an ejector body, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a position signal indicative of a position of the work vehicle;

receiving a target profile indicative of a target topography for an area, the target topography indicative of a three-dimensional surface for an area of land;

receiving an ejection command at a controller and entering the controller into an ejection mode based on the ejection command; and

controlling, with the controller, in the ejection mode, at least one of a speed of the work vehicle and a speed of an ejector included in the ejector body based on the position signal and the target profile, to spread a load of material from the ejector body onto a ground surface in the area;

wherein;

the speed of the work vehicle is controlled based on the speed of the ejector and a comparison of the target profile and the position signal;

or

the speed of the ejector is controlled based on the speed of the work vehicle and the comparison of the target profile and the position signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a target parameter based on a comparison of the target profile and a current profile, the current profile indicative of a current topography for the area, wherein at least one of the speed of the work vehicle and the speed of the ejector is controlled based on the target parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining the current profile based on a plurality of received position signals.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the speed of the work vehicle is controlled based on the target parameter and the speed of the ejector.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the speed of the ejector is controlled based on the target parameter and the speed of the work vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving the ejection command from an input actuated by an operator of the work vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of entering the ejection mode based on a comparison of the position signal and a first position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of exiting the ejection mode based on a comparison of the position signal and a second position.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of limiting a maximum speed of the work vehicle prior to entering the ejection mode based on the comparison of the position signal and the first position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the maximum speed is based on a comparison of the target profile and a current profile, the current profile indicative of a current topography for the area.

11. A work vehicle with an ejector body comprising:

an engine;

a transmission;

a GNSS receiver configured to provide a position signal indicative of a position of the work vehicle;

a vehicle speed sensor configured to provide a speed signal;

an ejector connected to the ejector body and movable by an actuator at an ejector speed between a retracted position and an extended position; and

a controller in communication with the GNSS receiver, the controller configured to;

receive the position signal;

receive a target profile indicative of a target topography for an area, the target topography indicative of a three-dimensional surface for an area of land;

receive an ejection command;

enter an ejection mode after receiving the ejection command; and

control, in the ejection mode, at least one of a speed of the engine, a gear selection of the transmission, and the ejector speed based on the target profile and the position signal;

wherein the controller is further configured to;

control the speed of the engine based on a comparison of the target profile and the position signal;

or

control the ejector speed based on the speed signal and the comparison of the target profile and the position signal.

12. The work vehicle of claim 11, further comprising

an operator input configured to provide the ejection command when actuated.

13. The work vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a target parameter based on a comparison of the target profile and a current profile, the current profile indicative of a current topography for the area, and control at least one of the speed of the engine, the gear selection of the transmission, and the ejector speed based on the target parameter.

14. The work vehicle of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the current profile based on a plurality of received position signals.