Control system for operating a mobile machine with a ripper
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsBradley P. Krone, Christopher M. Gerth, Kristopher Kyarsgaard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile machine with a ripper attached is configured with a control system to conduct a ripping operation. Prior to the ripping operation and travel of the mobile machine, the control system may receive an initiation event. The control system may also determine a riper configuration using ripper configuration sensors. If the control system determines the riper configuration indicates the ripper tip contacts a support surface, the control system can take one or more prevention actions to prevent the ripping operation.
Claims18
A control system for a mobile machine comprising:
- an initiation detector configured to detect an initiation event prior to travel of the mobile machine;
- a ripper configuration sensor associated with a ripper attached to the mobile machine;
- and
- an electronic controller in communication with the initiation detector and with the ripper configuration sensor, the electronic controller configured, based on detecting the initiation event, to determine whether a ripper tip attached to the ripper contacts a support surface, and cause, based on determining that the ripper tip is contacting the support surface, a ripping prevention action prior to travel of the mobile machine,
- wherein the electronic controller includes a counter, and the electronic controller is not responsive to the initiation event prior to expiration of an idle threshold of a power source of the mobile machine measured by the counter.
A method of controlling a mobile machine comprising:
- detecting an initiation event prior to travel of the mobile machine;
- sensing, by a ripper configuration sensor, a ripper configuration of a ripper attached to the mobile machine;
- determining, after detecting the initiation event and based on the ripper configuration, whether a ripper tip that is attached to a ripper shank of the ripper contacts a support surface;
- causing a ripping prevention action prior to travel of the mobile machine;
- comparing an output of a counter with an idle threshold of a power source of the mobile machine;
- and
- delaying the detecting the initiation event until expiration of the idle threshold.
A mobile machine comprising:
- a machine chassis supported on a plurality of traction devices for traveling over a terrain surface in a travel direction;
- an initiation detector configured to detect an initiation event prior to travel of the mobile machine;
- a ripper attached to the machine chassis and including a ripper shank and a ripper tip, at a distal end of the ripper shank, for penetrating the terrain surface;
- a ripper configuration sensor associated with the ripper and configured to sense whether the ripper tip contacts the terrain surface;
- and
- an electronic controller in communication with the initiation detector and with the ripper configuration sensor, the electronic controller configured to determine whether the ripper tip contacts the terrain surface and cause, based on determining that the ripper tip contacts the terrain surface, a ripping prevention action prior to travel of the mobile machine,
- wherein the electronic controller includes a counter, and the electronic controller is not responsive to the initiation event prior to expiration of an idle threshold of a power source of the mobile machine measured by the counter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.