Boom and trailing arm control system for dynamic energy transfer
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorIgor STRASHNY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boom and trailing arm control system includes an electronic control module, a plurality of sensors, and a rail connector assembly with a boom, an arm assembly, and a contactor assembly, the rail connector assembly configured to connect with a plurality of conductor rails. The control system also includes an input receiver for the electronic control module configured to receive an input to extend the rail connector assembly from a frame of a mobile machine. The electronic control module is configured to generate commands to extend the boom and arm assembly.
Claims20
A method of operating a rail connector assembly of a mobile machine, the method including steps of:
- receiving, with an electronic control module:
- a request to extend the rail connector assembly from a frame of the mobile machine, the rail connector assembly including a boom, a trailing arm assembly, and a contactor assembly, and
- a request to extend the trailing arm assembly to electrically connect to a plurality of conductor rails;
- generating movement commands, with the electronic control module, to operate the rail connector assembly;
- and
- determining, with the electronic control module, a presence of electrical energy along the plurality of conductor rails using a continuity sensor connected to the contactor assembly.
A mobile machine power system, the system comprising:
- an electronic control module, the electronic control module including an input receiver;
- a plurality of sensors;
- and
- a rail connector assembly, the rail connector assembly including a boom, an arm assembly, and a contactor assembly, wherein the rail connector assembly is configured to connect with a plurality of conductor rails,
- wherein the input receiver is configured to receive an input to extend the rail connector assembly from a frame of a mobile machine and the electronic control module is configured to generate commands to extend the boom and the arm assembly.
A method of disconnecting a connector assembly of a mobile machine from a plurality of conductor rails, the method comprising steps of:
- receiving, by a control system, an operator input to disengage the connector assembly from the plurality of conductor rails, the connector assembly including a boom, a trailing arm assembly, and a contactor assembly;
- generating connector assembly commands, through the control system, including:
- a first command for controlling the contactor assembly, the contactor assembly including a plurality of magnets and a plurality of extendable brushes,
- a second command for controlling the trailing arm assembly, and
- a third command for controlling the boom, the boom including a hydraulic system;
- and
- securing the connector assembly to a frame of the mobile machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.