Winch and plow control system
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsTimothy P. Norstad, Joseph P. Nuxoll, Elaine M. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A winch and plow control system is disclosed. The winch and plow control system enables automatic control of a plow attached to a vehicle in order to raise and lower the plow based upon a vehicle parameter. The vehicle parameter can be a gear input that is monitored to automatically raise and lower the plow depending upon the gear selected. Wireless and remote control of the winch is also available, as well as a back-dragging automatic plow mode and a normal automatic plow mode.
Claims18
A plow control system for use in controlling a plow on a vehicle, comprising:
- a plow mechanism configured to move the plow in a first direction and a second direction;
- a parameter sensor configured to sense a vehicle parameter;
- a control module configured to operate the plow in a manual mode and an automatic mode;
- a mode select switch configured to select the manual mode or the automatic mode;
- and
- a direction control switch configured to direct the plow mechanism to move the plow in the first direction or the second direction;
- wherein in the automatic mode, the plow is moved in the first direction or the second direction upon the control module receiving the vehicle parameter from the parameter sensor;
- wherein the automatic mode includes a normal plow mode and a back drag plow mode;
- wherein in the automatic back drag plow mode, the control module is configured to automatically move the plow in a first raised direction upon the parameter sensor sensing a forward gear vehicle parameter of the vehicle and configured to automatically move the plow in a second lowered direction upon the parameter sensor sensing a reverse gear vehicle parameter of the vehicle.
A plow control system for use in controlling a plow in a vehicle, comprising:
- an electric winch mechanism configured to move the plow up and down;
- a gear position sensor configured to sense a vehicle gear position of the vehicle;
- a display module having a processor and configured to control the electric winch mechanism;
- a mode select switch configured to select a normal plow mode or a back drag plow mode;
- and
- a direction control switch configured to direct the electric winch mechanism to move the plow up or down;
- wherein in the back drag plow mode, the plow is automatically moved down upon the display module receiving a reverse gear position from the gear position sensor and the plow is automatically moved up upon the display module receiving a forward gear position from the gear position sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.