Work tool float management

A method for transitioning a work tool of a mobile construction equipment between at least one float position, in which the work tool floats with respect to a surface on which the mobile construction equipment is operating, and at least one non-float position, in which the work tool does not float with respect to the surface, the mobile construction equipment having a controller, the method comprising:

• in a work tool float inhibit mode of the controller, in which the work tool is not movable to the at least one float position, receiving, by the controller, a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment;
• under a condition where the machine speed does not exceed a float activation limit, enabling, by the controller, a work tool float mode, in which the work tool is movable to the at least one float position;
• or
• under a condition where the machine speed exceeds the float activation limit, at least one of:
• disabling, by the controller, the work tool float mode so as to prevent the work tool from moving to the at least one float position, or
• providing an indication to an operator of the mobile construction equipment that the machine speed exceeds the float activation limit;
• under a condition where the machine speed does not exceed the float activation limit:
• determining, by the controller, whether the controller has received a float request for the work tool to be moved to the at least one float position, and
• in a case where the float request has been received, moving the work tool to the at least one float position;
• applying a float active machine speed limit to the mobile construction equipment so as to limit the machine speed to the float active machine speed limit while the work tool is in the at least one float position;
• determining, by the controller, whether the controller no longer receives the float request;
• and
• under a condition where the controller no longer receives the float request, moving the work tool from the at least one float position to the at least one non-float position.

A controller for a mobile construction equipment having a work tool movable between at least one float position, in which the work tool floats with respect to the surface, and at least one non-float position, in which the work tool does not float with respect to the surface, the controller being configured to:

• in a work tool float inhibit mode of the controller, in which the work tool is not movable to the at least one float position, receive a machine speed of the mobile construction equipment;
• if the machine speed does not exceed a float activation limit, enable a work tool float mode, in which the work tool is movable to the at least one float position;
• or
• if the machine speed exceeds the float activation limit, at least one of:
• disable the work tool float mode so as to prevent the work tool from moving to the at least one float position, or
• provide an indication to an operator of the mobile construction equipment that the machine speed exceeds the float activation limit;
• if the machine speed does not exceed the float activation limit, enable the work tool float mode so as to allow the work tool to move to the at least one float position;
• determine whether a float request for the work tool to be moved to the at least one float position has been received;
• and
• if the float request has not been received, keep the work tool in the at least one non-float position.