System for determining position of service pin within pinhole of work machines
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsFaheem Mohammed Konnakkodan, Riley Aaron Albers, Matthew Thomas Hansen, David Michael Worth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for determining a position of a pin inserted within a pinhole of a work machine is disclosed. The system includes a follower, a sensor, and a controller. The follower is biased to be in contact with the pin to follow the pin throughout a movement of the pin within the pinhole. The sensor is configured to detect a state of the follower corresponding to the position of the pin with respect to the pinhole. The controller is configured to determine the position of the pin based on the state of the follower.
Claims20
A system for determining a longitudinal position of a pin having a longitudinal axis inserted within a pinhole of a work machine, the system comprising:
- a follower biased to be in contact with the pin to follow the pin throughout a longitudinal movement of the pin within the pinhole from a first longitudinal position within the pinhole wherein the pin permits movement of a lift arm of the work machine relative to a frame of the work machine to a second longitudinal position within the pinhole wherein the pin restricts movement of the lift arm relative to the frame;
- a sensor configured to detect a state of the follower corresponding to the second longitudinal position of the pin with respect to the pinhole;
- and
- a controller configured to determine whether the pin is in the second longitudinal position based on the state of the follower.
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a lift arm coupled to the frame and configured to pivot relative to the frame, the lift arm defining a pinhole;
- a pin having a longitudinal axis inserted within the pinhole and, wherein the pin is movable within the pinhole between a first longitudinal position wherein the pin permits pivoting of the lift arm relative to the frame and a second longitudinal position wherein the pin restricts pivoting of the lift arm relative to the frame;
- a system for determining a longitudinal position of the pin inserted within the pinhole, the system including:
- a follower biased to be in contact with the pin to follow the pin throughout the movement of the pin within the pinhole from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position;
- a sensor configured to detect a state of the follower corresponding to the second longitudinal position of the pin with respect to the pinhole;
- and
- a controller configured to determine whether the pin is in the second longitudinal position based on the state of the follower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.