Case Corporation

Cnh America LLC

Alan D Berger

Danley C Chan

Mohammad Javaid Arshad

Peter John Dix

Ketan B Patel

Aftab Ali Khan

Danley C K Chan

Daniel L Maierhafer

Richard L Hall

George H Hale

Richard J Lech

Dennis J Heyne

Zhejun Fan

Hong Chin Lin

Wael Farag

James M Grupka

Rich Lech

Andrew P Milleville

A method and system for controlling the operation of a vehicle is disclosed that includes a radio frequency transponder and a vehicle configured to respond to data stored in the transponder by preventing or disabling operation of the vehicle under certain conditions indicated by data stored in the transponder. A communications controller receives the data from the transponder, then monitors the operation of the vehicle to make sure it is operated within the limits that are stored in the transponder. By communicating with other controllers on the vehicle that are in charge of other subsystems, it receives information relating to whether the operational limits of the vehicle have been approached or exceeded, and takes appropriate action in that event, the action may include not enabling the vehicle initially, or disabling the vehicle, or causing an operator display to indicate which limit has been exceeded or approached.

Transponder communication and control system for a vehicle

A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A light guide in one end of the cylinder directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The beam then exits the cylinder through at least two light guides connected to two corresponding optical fibers. Each of the optical fibers are joined together into one fiber that carries the reflected beam of light to a photo-diode located remote from the cylinder. A control circuit measures the time of flight of the laser beam.

Multi-fiber cylinder position sensor using time-of-flight technique

A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A laser diode emits a pulse or pulses of light that form laser light beam. These pulses are provided to two or more optical fibers that extend into two or more corresponding cylinders. For each of these cylinders, the optical fiber enters the cylinder at one end of the cylinder and directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The reflected beam then exits the cylinder through at least two corresponding optical fibers disposed on either side of the fiber that conducted the light into the cylinder. Each of the optical fibers that receives reflected light is joined together with the others of the optical fibers into one fiber that carries the reflected beam of light to a photo-diode located remote from the cylinder. Each of the photo diodes for each of the two or more cylinders has a corresponding photo diode amplifier. The output of these amplifiers are coupled together and provided to a pulse expansion circuit. The timing circuit that generates the pulse that triggers the laser diode also generates gate pulses for each of the photo diode amplifiers. These gate signals suppress the output of all but one of the photo diode amplifiers. In this manner, the pulse expansion circuit and phase comparator circuits that receive the photo diode amplifier signals will generate an output signal indicative of the time-of-flight of the laser light pulse in only one cylinder at a time. This permits the system to select a specific cylinder and generate a signal indicative of the position of the piston within the cylinder: the time-of-flight of the laser light pulse.

Multi-fiber multi-cylinder position method and apparatus using time-of-flight technique

In a work vehicle that has several hydraulic actuators a system and method for controlling and scaling flow between the actuators includes an electronic controller that is connected to several hand controls that provide a proportional signal indicating how far the operator has moved the hand controls. The controller reads the hand controls and proportionally scales the total available flow to make sure the operator does not demand too much fluid from the hydraulic pump.

Flow control for electro-hydraulic systems

A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A light guide in one end of the cylinder directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The beam then exits the cylinder through a second light guide. A control unit measures the time of flight of the laser beam and calculates the piston position.

Laser based reflective beam cylinder sensor

An apparatus for adjusting the ride of a load carrying vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor, a controller, and an adjustable accumulator assembly. The sensor measures a load on a load holding hydraulic circuit. The controller is operatively connected to the adjustable accumulator assembly. The controller is capable of adjusting the precharge pressure in the accumulator in response to the load measured by the sensor.

Ride control apparatus and method

A control system for a backhoe apparatus is disclosed. Backhoe apparatus control system includes a kinematic optimal control including the augmentation of additional tasks that can be formulated into the optimal control problem. Further, the control system may include a dynamic adaptive control that accounts for the backhoe linkage dynamics. Still further, the control system is configured to control the flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the hydraulic actuators.

Unified control of a work implement

A loader of the type controlled with an electronic digital controller is disclosed herein. The loader may include conventional mechanical components. However, the hydraulic valve is electronically controlled to provide improved motion control. In particular, the operator controls the loader with a two-axis joystick. When the joystick is moved left or right, the bucket is rolled at a speed proportional to the rate of change of the joystick position and independent of the loader arms. When the joystick is moved forward or backwards, the loader arms of the bucket are raised or lowered. When the joystick is only moved forward or backward with substantially no component of motion left or right, the controller rolls the bucket to maintain a substantially constant angle between the bucket and the loader's frame. This constant attitude control decreases the operator workload and increases control accuracy. The controller provides velocity-based control over the loader arm and bucket motion, or flow-based control for improved stability and accuracy. The controller can monitor available flow and can then limit the commanded flows to the actuators to avoid exceeding the available flow.

Electronic control for a two-axis work implement

A system for reducing tractor pitching is disclosed, including a tractor with a hitch couplable to an implement, a force transducer that provides a force signal indicative of a force applied to the hitch by an implement, a position transducer to provide a position signal indicative of a position of the hitch, a hydraulic actuator to raise and lower the hitch, a control valve that responds to the force and position transducers to generate a valve signal, where the control circuit receives the force and position signals and drives a pitch-reducing control valve signal therefrom.

EDC draft force based ride controller

A system for determining the extended length or orientation of a hydraulic actuator, or of an implement or joint, is disclosed herein. Electromagnetic (EM) bursts such as ultra-wideband or frequency pulses are generated and applied to a transmitter unit attached to a stationary or moveable portion of the actuator. The EM bursts are launched by the transmitter toward a receiver located on the other of the stationary or moveable portion of the actuator. The time for the EM bursts to travel between the associated antennas of the transmitter and the receiver is determined and converted into a position signal representing the distance therebetween.

Method and apparatus for sensing the orientation of a mechanical actuator

A loader of the type controlled with an electronic digital controller is disclosed herein. The loader may include conventional mechanical component. However, the hydraulic valve is electronically controlled to provide improved motion control. In particular, the operator controls the loader with a two-axis joystick. When the joystick is moved left or right, the bucket is rolled at a speed proportional to the rate of change of the joystick position and independent of the loader arms. When the joystick is moved forward or backwards, the loader arms of the bucket are raised or lowered. When the joystick is only moved forward or backward with substantially no component of motion left or right, the controller rolls the bucket to maintain a substantially constant angle between the bucket and the surface upon which the loader is operating.

Electronic coordinated control for a two-axis work implement

A sensor system for use on drilling equipment to detect the presence of high voltages during horizontal or vertical drilling and providing an alarm signal corresponding to one of three possibilities: (1) the drilling tool hitting a high voltage line; (2) the drilling tool remaining in contact after hitting the high voltage line; and (3) an exposed or damaged high voltage line in close proximity to the drilling implement. The sensor system detects alternating current, converts the alternating current signal to a pseudo square waveform signal, compares the magnitude of the square waveform signal with a reference voltage, and sounds an alarm if the magnitude of the square waveform signal exceeds the reference voltage. The sensor system also incorporates a self-test circuit which allows an operator to check its functionality before use. The operator can also check the sensor at any time during drilling process.

High voltage contact monitor with built-in self tester

An adaptable control system for the efficient use of different implement attachments for a work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle has an actuator for attachment and operation of different implements. The actuator is controlled by a control unit. The control unit has an input coupled to a user operated control device. The control unit is coupled to the actuator and activates the actuator in response to the user operated control device. An attachable implement such as a loader bucket is attached to the actuator. An implement data input such as a card slot is coupled to the processor. A portable data storage device, such as a data card, corresponding with the specific implement is inserted in the data input. The data storage device transmits instruction data relating to the specific implement to the implement data input. The controller operates the actuator in accordance to the data read from the data storage device. Alteratively a sensor may read identification data from an identification indicator on the implement attachment. The controller then selects corresponding instruction data from a memory device.

Adaptable controller for work vehicle attachments

A system for determining the position of a piston moveable within a cylinder, or of an implement or joint, is disclosed herein. Electromagnetic (EM) bursts such as ultra-wideband or frequency pulses are generated and applied to a transmitter/receiver unit. The EM bursts are launched by the transmitter via a focusing antenna assembly from an end of the cylinder housing towards the piston. The fluid in the cylinder housing is in electrical communication with the piston such that a surface of the piston represents an electrical impedance discontinuity which causes the EM bursts to be reflected back to the receiver. The time for the EM bursts to travel from the transmitter to the piston and for the reflections to travel back to the receiver via the antenna assembly is determined and converted into a position signal representing the piston's position. A compensation signal can be used to compensate the position signal for variations in a parameter of the fluid within the cylinder. The parameter may be the dielectric constant, and the variations may be caused by factors such as temperature, contamination and fluid type. The compensation circuit can include a pulse level analyzer, resonance circuit, mini-dipstick, or a capacitance circuit.

Method and apparatus for sensing piston position

An anti-stall and bias control for a hydrostatic drive train system is disclosed. The system is used on a hydrostatic drive vehicle with an engine coupled to a first and second hydraulic pump. The first and second hydraulic pumps are coupled to first and second drive motors which drive wheels of the vehicle. The power to the drive motors is controlled by a control unit which output signals proportional to the desired power output from the motors. An engine speed sensor determines the speed of the engine. The control circuit reads the engine speed and determines whether the engine is in a stall condition. If the engine is in a stall condition, the control circuit scales the control signals of the first and second motor to reduce power output. A bias control is also provided to allow the vehicle operator to select greater relative power to either the first or second motor. The bias control outputs a bias signal which is read by the control unit. The bias signal is converted into a scaling value which is multiplied by the control signal to the nonselected motor to reduce power of the motor.

Growing community of inventors

Winfield, IL, United States of America

Alan D Berger