Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Industrial Inc.

James C Barton

Kevin Jay Lueschow

Ken L Stratton

Frank R Sable

Paul A Reid

Robert E Hefner

Thomas G Hayes

An automatic lift and tip coordination system for use in connection with an off-highway vehicle having an implement causes an automatic adjustment to the implement lift actuators in response to an operator change in the implement tip angle so that the implement height remains constant.

Automatic lift and tip coordination control system and method of using

An off-highway vehicle having an earth moving implement has a tilt function associated with the implement. For example, a bulldozer has a tilt function associated with the bulldozer blade. The vehicle has a processor adapted to receive a position signal from a position sensor associated with the tilt function of the implement. The operator engages a switch to activate an automatic tilt function. A selector switch is provided so that the operator can select between a plurality of pre-set blade angles. The selector switch outputs a target position signal associated with a pre-set angle to the processor. The processor automatically calculates a command signal for the tilt function based on the difference between the position signal and the target position signal. The processor issues the command signal to the tilt function causing the tilt function to move the implement to the pre-set angle associated with the switch position.

Automatic tip angle control

Operator restraint systems of the type having a lap belt restrain the operator at all times including side tipovers. An operator restraint system has an apparatus for connecting a lap belt first end portion to an operator's station at a location adjacent a seat first side and an apparatus for connecting a lap belt second end portion to the operator's station at a location adjacent a seat second side and an apparatus for releasing one of the first and second lap belt end portions from connection with the operator's station in response to an impact being applied in a direction transverse to one of the first and second seat side portions. Therefore, the lap belt is released during side tipover impacts and the problems associated therewith are overcome. The operator restraint system is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.

Operator restraint system

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

James C Barton