Method and apparatus for maintaining contact between a slidable current collector and a conductor rail
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorLuke T. Melchior
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alignment assist assembly for a work machine includes a camera supported to a lateral side of the work machine and at an elevation above at least one power rail, the camera being oriented toward the haul route and configured to capture an image field and generate an image signal indicative of the image field. A display is operably connected to the camera and disposed in the cab, the display configured to generate a displayed image based on the image signal from the camera. The display further is configured to display an alignment overlay indicative of a range of distances between the frame and the at least one power rail that permit the current collector to engage the surface of the at least one power rail.
Claims20
An alignment assist assembly for a work machine, the work machine including a frame, a cab coupled to the frame, an electric motor coupled to the frame, traction devices coupled to the frame and operably coupled to the electric motor to cause movement of the work machine disposed proximate a haul route when powered by the electric motor, a boom coupled to and extending laterally from the frame, a trailing arm assembly pivotably coupled to the boom, and a current collector coupled to the trailing arm assembly and configured to move across a surface of at least one power rail along the haul route and conduct electrical energy to the electric motor, the alignment assist assembly comprising:
- a camera configured to be supported to a lateral side of the work machine and at an elevation above the at least one power rail, wherein the camera is configured to be oriented downward toward the haul route and to capture an image field and generate an image signal indicative of the image field;
- a display operably connected to the camera and configured to be disposed in the cab, the display configured to generate a displayed image based on the image signal from the camera;
- and
- the display further being configured to display an alignment overlay indicative of a range of distances between the frame and the at least one power rail that permit the current collector to engage the surface of the at least one power rail.
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a cab coupled to the frame;
- an electric motor coupled to the frame;
- traction devices coupled to the frame and operably coupled to the electric motor to cause movement of the work machine disposed proximate a haul route when powered by the electric motor;
- a boom coupled to and extending laterally from the frame;
- a trailing arm assembly pivotably coupled to the boom;
- a current collector coupled to the trailing arm assembly and configured to move across a surface of at least one power rail along the haul route and conduct electrical energy to the electric motor;
- and
- an alignment assist assembly comprising:
- a camera coupled to the work machine and supported to a lateral side of the work machine and at an elevation above the at least one power rail, the camera being oriented downward toward the haul route and configured to capture an image field and generate an image signal indicative of the image field;
- a display operably connected to the camera and disposed in the cab, the display configured to generate a displayed image based on the image signal from the camera;
- and
- the display further being configured to display an alignment overlay indicative of a range of distances between the frame and the at least one power rail that permit the current collector to engage the surface of the at least one power rail.
A method of aligning a work machine, traveling along a haul route, with at least one power rail so that a current collector of the work machine is in contact with a surface of the at least one power rail, the method comprising:
- supporting a camera to a lateral side of the work machine and at an elevation above the at least one power rail and the haul route;
- capturing an image field from the camera, the camera being oriented downward toward the haul route and configured to generate an image signal indicative of the image field;
- displaying, on a display operably connected to the camera and disposed in a cab of the work machine, a displayed image based on the image signal from the camera;
- and
- displaying, on the display, an alignment overlay indicative of a range of distances between a frame of the work machine and the at least one power rail that permit the current collector to engage the surface of the at least one power rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.