Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Sarl

Robert Quincy Elliott

John E Francis

Mark Andrew Sporer

David James Edwards

John M Hadank

Kenneth J McGuire

James Robert Bernhagen

Kem D Ahlers

Terry A Moore

Stephen M Sturhahn

David M Smith

W Frank Landon

Sarah D Caldwell

Michael Scott Britton

Gerald L Graf

An operator restraint system is provided. The operator restraint system includes a seatbelt payout sensor and a seatbelt buckle assembly. The seatbelt buckle assembly includes a housing and an alarm assembly. The alarm assembly includes at least one of a light source configured to generate a visible signal and an annunciator configured to generate an audible signal. A controller is associated with at least one of the seatbelt payout sensor and the alarm assembly. The controller is configured to receive from the seatbelt payout sensor a signal indicative of a length of a seatbelt that has been withdrawn, determine whether the length of the seatbelt that has been withdrawn is within a predetermined range, and control the alarm assembly to selectively generate at least one of the visible signal and the audible signal to remind an operator regarding employment of the seatbelt based on the determination.

Operator restraint system

A method of controlling in-rush current to a DC motor is disclosed. The method may include operating the DC motor in a first mode including applying back-EMF across a relay coil to maintain the relay in an open configuration when the back-EMF is below a predetermined voltage. The method may also include operating the DC motor in a second mode including applying the back-EMF across the relay coil to maintain the relay in a closed configuration when the back-EMF is equal to or above the predetermined voltage.

Soft start motor control using back-EMF

Automatic and simultaneous retraction of a pair of stabilizer legs for a backhoe loader machine is beneficial for the operator when operation of the backhoe loader is complete. Instead of retracting the stabilizer legs by manually holding a pair of control switches continuously in a control position, the operator may simply push an auto-up switch with a single, &ldquo;one-touch&rdquo; contact. Once the auto-up switch has been activated by the &ldquo;one-touch&rdquo; contact, a timer relay is enabled. The timer relay acts independently of the auto-up switch to control the simultaneously retraction of the stabilizer legs without any further contact to the auto-up switch. When the timer relay is enabled, it sends a signal to activate the control switches for a preselected time. The activation of the control switches actuates a pair of solenoid valves which control the movement of the stabilizer legs from any one of a plurality of extended positions to a fully retracted position within the preselected time.

Auto-up switch for simultaneously retracting a pair of stabilizer legs on a backhoe loader machine

The present invention includes preventing an engine from stalling at a preselected low idle range during operation of a work machine. To accomplish this, a controller is located within a tachometer and disposed on the work machine. The controller is responsive to a first specified low idle RPM signal from the engine. The controller converts the RPM signal to an electrical signal that is directed to a relay. The relay is responsive to the electrical signal to automatically switch at least one device operating on the work machine from a first power output level to a second power output level lower than the first power output level. The controller is responsive to a second specified low idle RPM signal from the engine and converts it to another electrical signal. The relay is responsive to the another electrical signal to automatically switch the at least one device from the second power output level to the first power output level so that the engine is maintained within the preselected low idle range throughout operation of the work machine. This allows the preselected low idle range of the engine to have a lower RPM capability for smoother and more precise operational control of the work machine.

Low RPM switching tachometer

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Robert Quincy Elliott