Side-by-side diesel utility vehicle

• US 9,022,160 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited), Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited), Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Schlangen, Adam J, Ripley, Richard D, Kinsman, Anthony J, Morison, Angus M, Smith, Jeremy C, Peterson, Shawn D, Stenberg, Kurt E, Elia, David A, Wosick, Steve M, Bohnsack, Michael C, Kaldor, Matthew J, Lacher, Robert R, Marotte, David E
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/725,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20140060954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 180/67.4, 180/312, 296/190.03, 280/756, 280/781, 701/50, 373/48, 414/699
• US Class Current: 180/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/052 Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/21 Trailing arms connected by a torsional beam, i.e. twist-beam axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/22 Trailing arms connected by a straight torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/31 with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/314 with longitudinally arranged arms articulated on the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/32 pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/141 The recess being integrally or seamlessly formed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/16 the arm having a U profile and/or made of a plate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/20 Constructional features of semi-rigid axles, e.g. twist beam type axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/124 Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/02 the axle or housing being pivotally mounted on the vehicle , e.g. the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle B60G9/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/022 the axle having an imaginary pivotal point
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00207 characterised by the position of the HVAC devices with respect to the passenger compartment B60H1/00021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00407 for open or convertible vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00242 Devices in the rear area of the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/02 concerning intake
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/22 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2005/003 : the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 : for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/04 : from static or dynamic pressure or vacuum, developed by the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 : of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 : responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 : including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 : including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 : Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18181 : Propulsion control with common controlling member for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1886 : Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 : Off-Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/111 : Aggregate identification or specification, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/18 : characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups B62D21/02 - B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/183 : specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts tubular skeleton B62D23/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/186 : for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/96 : with arrangements for alternate or simultaneous use of different digging elements E02F3/7604, E02F3/769, E02F3/78 take precedence; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0808 : Improving mounting or assembling, e.g. frame elements, disposition of all the components on the superstructures for disposition of specific components, E02F9/0858
• 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: E02F 9/2079 : Control of mechanical transmission for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2087 : Control of vehicle steering for steering with hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/225
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 : with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 : Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 : Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

A utility vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The utility vehicle further comprises an attachment supported at the frame. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat. The utility vehicle includes a seat switch coupled to the operator seat and a controller configured to detect a loaded and unloaded state of the operator seat based on the seat switch.

Claims

1. A vehicle including:

at least one ground engaging member;

a frame supported by the at least one ground engaging member;

an auxiliary power system;

a work attachment coupled to the frame and powered by the auxiliary power system;

a controller operative to control at least one operation of the work attachment;

an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat, the operator seat including a seat cushion and a rigid plate positioned in an interior of the seat cushion between a top surface of the seat cushion and a bottom surface of the seat cushion, the seat cushion having a height, a width, and a length, the plate extending across a majority of at length and the width of the seat cushion; and

a seat switch coupled to the operator seat and configured to detect a position of the plate, the controller being in communication with the seat switch to detect at least one of an unloaded state and a loaded state of the operator seat based on the position of the plate, the controller being operative to disable an operation of the work attachment in response to detecting the unloaded state of the operator seat.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to enable the operation of the work attachment in response to detecting the loaded state of the operator seat.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller disables the operation of the work attachment in response to determining that the operator seat is in the unloaded state for a predetermined amount of time.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the predetermined amount of time is less than or equal to one second.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to calculate a force on the operator seat based on the detected position of the plate, and wherein the controller determines the unloaded state of the operator seat based on the calculated force being less than a threshold force.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power system includes a clutch assembly, and the controller disables the operation of the work attachment by disengaging the clutch assembly to remove power from the auxiliary power system to the work attachment.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plate is positioned in the interior of the seat cushion and above the seat switch.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the operator seat further includes a base supporting the seat cushion, the base includes an opening, and the seat switch is received through the opening of the base and into the interior of the seat cushion proximate the plate.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plate extends substantially to an edge of the seat cushion.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plate is substantially flat.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat switch is configured to detect a movement of the plate towards the seat switch.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat switch comprises a magnetic switch configured to detect a change in a magnetic field between the plate and the seat switch.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller includes at least one processor and memory accessible by the at least one processor, the memory containing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to detect the unloaded state of the operator seat based on the position of the plate and to disable the operation of the work attachment upon detecting the unloaded state of the operator seat.

14. A method operating a vehicle, the vehicle including a power system, a work attachment powered by the power system, and an operator seat including a seat cushion, the method including:

detecting, by a controller of the vehicle, a position of a plate coupled to the seat cushion based on output from a sensor, the plate being positioned in an interior of the seat cushion;

calculating, by the controller, a force on the operator seat based on the detected position of the plate;

comparing, by the controller, the calculated force to a threshold force;

determining, by the controller, an unloaded state of the operator seat based on the calculated force being less than the threshold force; and

disabling, by the controller, an operation of the work attachment in response to determining the unloaded state of the operator seat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the disabling the operation of the work attachment includes removing power directed to the work attachment from the power system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the disabling the operation of the work attachment is performed after a predetermined delay following the determining the unloaded state of the operator seat.

17. A vehicle including:

at least one ground engaging member;

a frame supported by the at least one ground engaging member;

a work attachment coupled to the frame;

a controller operative to control at least one operation of the vehicle;

an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat, the operator seat including a seat cushion and a rigid plate positioned in an interior of the seat cushion between a top surface of the seat cushion and a bottom surface of the seat cushion, the plate extending substantially to an edge of the seat cushion; and

a seat sensor coupled to the operator seat and configured to detect a position of the plate, the controller being in communication with the seat sensor to detect at least one of an unloaded state and a loaded state of the operator seat based on the position of the plate, the controller being operative seat.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the seat sensor is positioned in the interior of the seat cushion.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plate is positioned in a central portion of the seat cushion.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the operation of the vehicle disabled by the controller includes the operation of the work attachment.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the seat cushion includes a height, a width, and a length, and the plate extends a majority of the length and the width of the seat cushion.