Deere & Company

Erik W McWethy

Amy K Jones

Kristen Dawn Cadman

Mark E Breutzman

Mark D Anderson

Madeline T Oglesby

Jaccob Bruce Eichinger

Embodiments of a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device having a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor monitoring movement of the joystick relative to the base housing. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom. A controller architecture is coupled to the joystick position sensor and to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to increase the joystick stiffness when the joystick is moved into a first predetermined detent position to generate a first MRF detent; and (ii) selectively activate a first detent-triggered function of the work vehicle based, at least in part, on joystick movement relative to the first MRF detent.

Magnetorheological fluid joystick systems providing detent-triggered work vehicle functions

An engine on an excavator provides power to a hydraulic pump that pumps hydraulic fluid under pressure to a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is controlled to place a load on the engine. Engine response to the load placed on it by the hydraulic actuator is detected and logged. The logged engine response data can be accessed to identify engine response.

Excavator control for load delivery

A work vehicle including a hydraulic circuit having a cooled return line with a cooler, a bypass return line that bypasses the cooler on the cooled return line, and a controller that electronically controls the flow of hydraulic fluid between the cooled return line and the bypass return line.

Hydraulic fluid warm-up

A work vehicle has a pump group with two fixed-displacement pumps, an electro-hydraulic diverter openable to divert flow from one of the pumps to a fluid reservoir, and a controller configured to command the diverter to open.

Growing community of inventors

Asbury, IA, United States of America

Erik W McWethy