# US 2014/0196558 A1 · Machine foot control operational pattern and method thereof

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- Number: US 2014/0196558 A1
- Document ID: US20140196558A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/739,035
- Filed: 2013-01-11
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Applicants: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Scott Meislahn; Sean A. Mairet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196558A1

## CPC

- E02F 3/3414: {the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader}
- E02F 9/2087: {Control of vehicle steering (for steering with hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/225)}
- Y10T 74/20201: Control moves in two planes
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a foot control pattern for operably controlling an electrohydraulic machine. The machine includes a cab, ground engaging mechanisms, a boom, and a bucket. The foot control pattern includes a machine controller having a plurality of inputs. A first foot control is electrically coupled to a first of the plurality of inputs, where the first foot control is adapted to control the boom. A second foot control is electrically coupled to a second of the plurality of inputs, where the second foot control is adapted to control the bucket. A first hand control is electrically coupled to a third of the plurality of inputs, where the first hand control is adapted to propel and steer the machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foot control pattern for operably controlling an electrohydraulic machine, the machine having a cab, ground engaging mechanisms, a boom, and a bucket, comprising:
a machine controller having a plurality of inputs;
a first foot control electrically coupled to a first of the plurality of inputs, where the first foot control is adapted to control the boom;
a second foot control electrically coupled to a second of the plurality of inputs, where the second foot control is adapted to control the bucket; and
a first hand control electrically coupled to a third of the plurality of inputs, where the first hand control is adapted to propel and steer the machine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foot control pattern of claim 1, further comprising a second hand control electrically coupled to a fourth of the plurality of inputs, where the second hand control is operably disabled from performing any machine function.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The foot control pattern of claim 2, wherein the second hand control is movable in a plurality of directions, where a movement in any one of the plurality of directions does not correspond to any movement of the machine, boom, or bucket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foot control pattern of claim 1, wherein the first foot control is movable in a first direction and a second direction;
further wherein, a movement in the first direction corresponds to a downward movement of the boom and a movement in the second direction corresponds to an upward movement of the boom.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The foot control pattern of claim 1, wherein the second foot control is movable in a first direction and a second direction;
further wherein, a movement in the first direction corresponds to a downward movement of the bucket and a movement in the second direction corresponds to an upward movement of the bucket.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The foot control pattern of claim 1, wherein the first hand control is movable in at least eight directions, where:
a movement in a first direction corresponds to a forward movement of the machine;
a movement in a second direction corresponds to a reverse movement of the machine;
a movement in a third direction corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the machine; and
a movement in a fourth direction corresponds to a counterclockwise rotation of the machine.

### Claim 7

A method for controlling a machine, the machine including a controller, a first foot control, a second foot control, a first hand control, a second hand control, a boom, a work tool, a control valve electrically coupled to the controller, and a pump electrically coupled to the controller, the method comprising:
enabling the controller to receive an input signal from only the first foot control, the second foot control, and the first hand control;
receiving an input signal from one of the first foot control, the second foot control, and the first hand control, where the input signal corresponds to a desired machine function;
sending an output signal to the control valve or pump based on the input signal; and
operably controlling the machine in accordance with the output signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising determining which of the first foot control, second foot control, and first hand control sent the input signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the input signal corresponds to a movement of one of the first foot control, the second foot control, and the first hand control in a desired direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
controllably moving the boom to a down position when the movement of the first foot control is in a first direction; and
controllably moving the boom to a raised position when the movement of the first foot control is in a second direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
controllably moving the work tool to a down position when the movement of the second foot control is in a first direction; and
controllably moving the work tool to a raised position when the movement of the second foot control is in a second direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
propelling the machine in a forward direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a first direction;
propelling the machine in a reverse direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a second direction;
steering the machine in a counterclockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a third direction; and
steering the machine in a clockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a fourth direction;
wherein, the first direction is substantially opposite the second direction and the third direction is substantially opposite the fourth direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
simultaneously propelling the machine in a forward direction and steering the machine in a counterclockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a fifth direction, the fifth direction being angularly disposed between the first direction and third direction;
simultaneously propelling the machine in a forward direction and steering the machine in a clockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a sixth direction, the sixth direction being angularly disposed between the first direction and fourth direction;
simultaneously propelling the machine in a reverse direction and steering the machine in a clockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in a seventh direction, the seventh direction being angularly disposed between the second direction and third direction; and
simultaneously propelling the machine in a reverse direction and steering the machine in a counterclockwise direction when the movement of the first hand control is in an eighth direction, the eighth direction being angularly disposed between the second direction and fourth direction;
wherein, the fifth direction is substantially opposite the eighth direction and the sixth direction is substantially opposite the seventh direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
sending an electrical signal to the control valve; and
regulating fluid flow to a first hydraulic cylinder or a second hydraulic cylinder, where the first hydraulic cylinder is fluidly coupled to the boom and the second hydraulic cylinder is fluidly coupled to the work tool.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
sending an electrical signal to the pump;
regulating fluid pressure and flow to a drive motor; and
operably driving a ground-engaging mechanism.

### Claim 16

A work machine, comprising:
a cab;
a ground-engaging mechanism for moving the machine along a ground surface;
a boom and a work tool, the work tool being operably coupled to the boom;
a controller;
a control valve electrically coupled to the controller, the control valve being in fluid communication with the boom and work tool;
a pump electrically coupled to the controller, the pump being in fluid communication with the ground-engaging mechanism;
a first foot control and a second foot control disposed in the cab and being electrically coupled to the controller, where each of the first foot control and second foot control is movable in a first direction and a second direction;
a hand control disposed in the cab and being electrically coupled to the controller, the hand control being movable in at least one of eight different positions;
wherein, a movement of the first foot control corresponds to a controllable movement of the boom, a movement of the second foot control corresponds to a controllable movement of the work tool, and a movement of the hand control corresponds to propel or rotational movement of the machine.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, further comprising a second hand control disposed in the cab and electrically coupled to the controller, where a movement of the second hand control does not correspond to any function or movement of the machine.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein a movement of the first foot control in the first direction corresponds to a downward movement of the boom and a movement in the second direction corresponds to an upward movement of the boom.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein a movement of the second foot control in the first direction corresponds to a downward movement of the work tool and a movement in the second direction corresponds to an upward movement of the work tool.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein:
a movement of the hand control in a first direction corresponds to a forward movement of the machine;
a movement of the hand control in a second direction corresponds to a reverse movement of the machine;
a movement of the hand control in a third direction corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the machine; and
a movement of the hand control in a fourth direction corresponds to a counterclockwise rotation of the machine.