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US 2022/0010531 A1Published application
Work machine with sensor enabled user control
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorAlessandro ROSSI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work machine comprises an armrest and a user control operable by the user to control tool or machine functions when the user's arm rests on the armrest. An armrest sensor is configured to sense the presence of the user's arm and to disable the control when the user's arm is removed from the armrest. The control may be mounted on the armrest and the armrest movable between enabling and disabling positions by the weight of the user's arm. A seat sensor may be configured to disable the control when the user leaves the seated position.
Claims9
A work machine including:
- a tool;
- a seat;
- an armrest;
- a control system, the control system including a control operable by a left or right hand of an operator to control the work machine or the tool when the operator is seated in the seat and a corresponding, left or right arm of the operator is resting on the armrest;
- and
- an armrest sensor, the armrest sensor configured to operate the control system:
- to enable the control responsive to sensing application of the operator's arm to the armrest, and
- to disable the control responsive to sensing removal of the operator's arm from the armrest.
5 more elements
A method of controlling a work machine, the work machine including:
- a tool,
- a seat,
- an armrest, and
- a control system, the control system including a control operable by a left or right hand of an operator to control the work machine or the tool when the operator is seated in the seat and a corresponding, left or right arm of the operator is resting on the armrest;
- the method comprising operating the control system, by an armrest sensor:
- to enable the control responsive to sensing application of the operator's arm to the armrest, and
- to disable the control responsive to sensing removal of the operator's arm from the armrest.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.