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US 12,325,972 B2Granted
Control system for actuated pins
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRiley A. Albers, Jason P. Wigg, Dennis W. Dicker, Rowan T. Franks, Robert A. Herold, Steven R. Krause, Fuaad A. Sayeed, Brodie L. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuated shear pin includes an actuator and pin body coupled to the actuator. The actuator selectively configures the pin body in a locking configuration or a stowed configuration. In the locking configuration, the pin body is placed in a travel path of two components configured to move relative to each other, to inhibit such relative movement. In the stowed configuration, the pin body is out of the travel path, thereby allowing the two components to move relative to each other.
Claims20
A machine comprising:
- a frame;
- one or more lift arms coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame;
- a sensor;
- an actuated pin assembly comprising a locking pin actuatable between a stowed configuration and a locked configuration;
- and
- a controller configured to perform actions comprising:
- with the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration, receiving a signal to lock the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
- receiving sensor data from the sensor,
- determining, based on the sensor data, a position of the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
- based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the one or more lift arms, actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration,
- with the locking pin in the locked configuration, restricting power to an actuator configured to actuate the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
- with power to the actuator restricted, actuating, via the actuator, the one or more lift arms to move relative to the frame such that the frame and the one or more lift arms are in contact with the actuated pin assembly.
9 more elements
A method of locking out an implement on a machine, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal to lock the implement relative to the machine;
- receiving sensor data from a sensor on the machine;
- determining, based on the sensor data, a position of the implement relative to the machine;
- based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the implement, actuating a locking pin of an actuated pin assembly from a stowed configuration to a locked configuration, the locked configuration being characterized by the locking pin extending laterally away from the actuated pin assembly, and
- with the locking pin in the locked configuration, causing movement of the implement relative to a frame of the machine in a first direction, wherein:
- such movement of the implement causes the locking pin to contact a surface separate from the actuated pin assembly, and
- such contact impedes further movement of the implement in the first direction.
4 more elements
A machine comprising:
- a frame;
- an implement coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame;
- an actuated pin assembly comprising a locking pin actuatable between a stowed configuration and a locked configuration;
- and
- a controller configured to perform actions comprising:
- with the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration, receiving a signal to lock the one or more lift arms relative to the frame,
- determining a position of the implement relative to the frame,
- based at least in part on the position corresponding to a locking position of the implement, generating a signal to actuate the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration,
- actuating the locking pin from the stowed configuration to the locked configuration based at least in part on the signal, the locked configuration being characterized by the locking pin extending laterally away from the actuated pin assembly, and
- with the locking pin in the locked configuration, causing movement of the implement relative to the frame in a first direction, wherein:
- such movement of the implement comprises lowering the locking pin onto a component of the machine separate from the actuated pin assembly, the component:
- defining a surface configured to support the locking pin, and
- enabling unimpeded movement of the locking pin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.