Auto-return function for a bulldozer ripper
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Arstein, Richard J. Skiba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus controls the movement of a ripper for a machine. Tilt and lift cylinders controllably actuate the ripper. Hydraulic control valves control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the respective cylinder. An auto-return button produces an auto-return signal in response to being depressed by the machine operator. A controller receives the auto-return signal and delivers a ripper control signal to the hydraulic control valves to automatically raise the ripper to a predetermined position.
Claims5
An apparatus for automatically controlling the movement of a ripper for a machine, comprising:
- ripper tilt and lift cylinders being connected to the ripper;
- hydraulic control valves being adapted to deliver pressurized hydraulic fluid to the respective ripper tilt and lift cylinders;
- an auto-return button being adapted to produce an auto-return signal in response to being depressed by a machine operator;
- to and
- a controller being adapted to receive the auto-return signal and deliver a ripper control signal to the hydraulic control valves to cause pressurized fluid flow to actuate the cylinders and automatically raise the ripper to a predetermined position.
A method for automatically controlling the movement of a ripper for a machine having tilt and lift hydraulic cylinders connected to the ripper and hydraulic control valves being adapted to deliver hydraulic fluid to the respective cylinders, comprising the steps of:
- producing an auto-return signal;
- receiving the auto-return signal and delivering a ripper control signal to the hydraulic control valves to cause pressurized fluid flow to actuate at least one of the cylinders and raise the ripper;
- determining the position of at least one of the hydraulic cylinders and producing a respective position signal responsive to the position thereof;
- and
- receiving the position signal, determining when the one hydraulic cylinder is at a predetermined position, and stopping the delivery of the ripper control signal to the associated hydraulic control valve in response to the cylinder being at the predetermined position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.