Hydraulic Control System

• US 20170123447A1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Kukuk, Brant Douglas, Sewell, Cody L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,114,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/64 mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle A01D34/695 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/82 Other details
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/06 with digging elements mounted on an endless chain E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08
• 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: E02F 9/2012 Setting the functions of the control levers, e.g. changing assigned functions among operations levers, setting functions dependent on the operator or seat orientation
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/226 Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/06 for use with two or more servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30565 having multiple valves for a single output member, e.g. for creating higher valve function by use of multiple valves like two 2/2-valves replacing a 5/3-valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/324 manually, e.g. by using a lever or pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/8643 the abnormal condition being a human failure
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/00 Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body F16P5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/04 Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2505/00 Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member

Abstract

A hydraulic control for an attachment on a work vehicle. Power is provided to the attachment by manually actuating a control lever that is biased toward a first position. This first position corresponds to a deactuated mode of the attachment. By unlocking a lock mechanism, the lever may be maintained in a second position under hand pressure. This second position corresponds to an actuated mode of the attachment. The lock mechanism may be actuated by an operator platform-actuated release mechanism. While an operator is on a platform on the vehicle, the loch mechanism remains unlocked, and the lever may be maintained, without hand pressure, in its second position. The release mechanism actuates the lock mechanism when an operator is not on the platform. As a result, the bias of the control lever returns it to its first position, and the attachment is deactuated. A filter may be utilized to prevent premature actuation of the release mechanism.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a lever movable from a first position to a second position;

a lock configured to hold the lever in the first position;

a release mechanism configured to release the lock; and

a platform movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the platform contacts the release mechanism in the first position and does not contact the release mechanism in the second position; and

wherein the release mechanism releases the lock when the platform is in the first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism generates a signal when the platform is in the first position such that the signal causes the release mechanism to release the lock.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a filter configured to cancel transmission of the signal unless the platform has been in the first position for a predetermined time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the predetermined time is two seconds.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a work machine, wherein the platform, lever, lock, and release mechanism are supported on the work machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lever actuates operation of an attachment disposed on the work machine when in the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the attachment comprises a trencher boom.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform comprises a spring to bias the platform in the first position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the joystick is biased to the second position.

10. A work machine comprising:

a chassis;

a work attachment disposed on a first end of the chassis;

a platform disposed on a second end of the chassis movable from a second position to a first position;

a hydraulic power source;

a valve operable in a first mode wherein hydraulic power from the hydraulic power source is provided to the work attachment and in a second mode wherein hydraulic power is not provided to the work attachment;

a lever for toggling the valve from the first mode to the second mode wherein the lever is biased to maintain the valve in the second mode;

a lock that holds the lever such that the valve is in the first mode; and

a release mechanism that releases the lock when the platform is in the first position.

11. The work machine of claim 10 further comprising a filter for cancelling the release of the lock unless the platform has been in the first position for a predetermined time.

12. The work machine of claim 10 wherein the hydraulic power source comprises:

a first hydraulic motor having a first power level; and

a second hydraulic motor having a second power level;

wherein the second power level is different than the first power level.

13. The work machine of claim 12 further comprising a three way valve operable in three modes, wherein the first mode provides only power from the first hydraulic motor to the attachment, the second mode provides only power from the second hydraulic motor to the attachment, and the third mode provides power from both the first hydraulic motor and second hydraulic motor to the attachment.

14. The work machine of claim 10 wherein the platform is biased to the first position by a spring disposed between the platform and the chassis.

15. A method comprising:

placing a weight on a platform to move the platform from a first position to a second position;

actuating a control to provide power to a work attachment, wherein the control is biased to a position wherein power is not provided to the work attachment;

locking the control in a position wherein power is provided to the work attachment; and

removing the weight from the platform, causing the platform to move to the first position and actuate a release mechanism to unlock the control and cut off power to the work attachment.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising unlocking the control only if the platform has been in the first position for a predetermined time.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein power is provided by a first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic motor, each having different power outputs.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting from the first hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor to provide a selected power level to the attachment.