US 11,691,541 B2Granted

Utility vehicle

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsGregory O. McConoughey, Brian M. Huenink, Jeremy G. Hamilton

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a chassis and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis. An operator support is positioned within an operator cab. The operator support includes a seat and a backrest coupled to the seat. A position of the operator support is selectively adjustable relative to the chassis. The utility vehicle further includes a control system in communication with the operator support. The control system includes a sensor operable to sense a position of the work implement relative to the chassis, and a controller including a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor representative of the position of the work implement. The controller is further configured to generate a signal to automatically adjust the position of the operator support relative to the chassis based in part on the position of the work implement relative to the chassis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a prime mover supported by the chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis;
an operator cab supported by the chassis;
an operator support positioned within the operator cab, the operator support including a seat and a backrest coupled to the seat, the operator support configured to support an operator of the utility vehicle, and wherein a position of the operator support is selectively adjustable relative to the chassis;
and
a control system in communication with the operator support, the control system including
a first sensor operable to sense a position of the work implement relative to the chassis,
a second sensor operable to sense a position of the operator support relative to a side of the operator cab, and
a controller including a processor and a memory, the controller configured to
receive a first signal from the sensor representative of the position of the work implement, and
receive a second signal from the second sensor representative of the position of the operator support relative to the side of the operator cab, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a signal to automatically adjust the position of the operator support relative to the chassis based in part on the position of the work implement relative to the chassis and the position of the operator support relative to the side of the operator cab.

9 more elements

A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a prime mover supported by the chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis;
an operator cab supported by the chassis;
an operator support positioned within the operator cab, the operator support including a seat and a backrest coupled to the seat, the operator support configured to support an operator of the utility vehicle, and wherein a position of the operator support is selectively adjustable relative to the chassis;
and
a control system in communication with the operator support, the control system including
a sensor operable to sense a position of the work implement relative to the chassis, and
a controller including a processor and a memory, the controller configured to
receive a signal from the sensor representative of the position of the work implement, and
receive the position of the operator support,
wherein the controller is further configured to generate a signal to permit adjustment of the position of the operator support relative to the chassis based in part on the position of the work implement relative to the chassis and the position of the operator support relative to a side of the operator cab.

9 more elements

A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a prime mover supported by the chassis;
a work implement movably coupled to the chassis;
an operator cab supported by the chassis;
an operator support positioned within the operator cab, the operator support including a seat and a backrest coupled to the seat, the operator support configured to support an operator of the utility vehicle, and wherein a position of the operator support is selectively adjustable relative to the chassis;
and
a control system in communication with the operator support, the control system including
a sensor assembly operable to sense an angle of incline of a ground surface upon which the utility vehicle moves, and
a controller including a processor and a memory, the controller configured to
receive a signal from the sensor assembly representative of the angle of incline, and
receive the position of the operator support,
wherein the controller is further configured to generate a signal to permit adjustment of the position of the operator support relative to the chassis based in part on the angle of incline and the position of the operator support relative to a side of the operator cab.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/158,883Filed 26 Jan 2021
Published: US 2022/0234474 A128 Jul 2022
Granted: 4 Jul 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B60N 2/0244
Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation: with logic circuits
B60N 2/04
The seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable: the whole seat being movable
A01B 63/14
Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements: for implements drawn by animals or tractors
B60N 2/0272
With logic circuits: using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts