Vehicle Having Guiding Display
AssigneeKomatsu America Corp.
InventorsCatalin CITEA, Nicholas STURM, Joel HATTERMANN, Douglas SURRATT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work vehicle includes a pantograph assembly disposed above a cab where an operator rides, a sensor assembly mounted to the pantograph, a control module that includes a guidance system, and steering control system. A visual display is provided in the cab and is configured to display visual indicia of the position of the work vehicle relative to trolley wires by a plurality of lights based on the data received from the sensor assembly. By the steering control system manually or automatically, the pantograph assembly is able to align with the trolley lines so that electric power can be supplied to the work vehicle.
Claims20
A work vehicle comprising:
- a frame including a cab;
- a plurality of wheels that are rotatable relative to the frame;
- an electrical system associated with an electric motor configured to drive one or more of the wheels;
- a pantograph assembly mounted to the frame and movable relative to the frame between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the pantograph assembly includes a current-collecting rail that is configured to slidingly contact an overhead wire and transmit electrical current from the overhead wire to the electrical system when the pantograph assembly is in the deployed position, and wherein the current-collecting rail is electrically disconnected from the overhead wire when the pantograph assembly is in the stowed position;
- a sensor assembly mounted to pantograph assembly and configured to detect a distance from the overhead wire;
- a visual display disposed within the cab and configured to provide visual indicia of a position of the work vehicle relative to the overhead wire;
- and
- a control module in communication with the sensor assembly and the visual display and configured to control the visual indicia on the visual display based on data received from the sensor assembly.
A method of guiding a work vehicle to maintain connect between a current-collecting rail and an overhead wire, the method comprising:
- determining a first distance from a first point on the current-collecting rail to the overhead wire;
- determining a second distance from a second point on the current-collecting rail to the overhead wire;
- and
- presenting, on a visual display, a visual indicia of the first distance and the second distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.