US 5,918,195 A · Calibration of a command device in control system

Abstract

A method of generating a calibrated command signal in a control system including a command device is disclosed herein. The command device (e.g., a control lever) is moveable between predefined positions (e.g., detents). A sensing circuit generates a signal representing the position of the command device. The method includes the steps of calibrating the command device and then generating a calibrated command signal based upon the command device position. The calibrating step includes moving the command device to the predefined positions, converting the sensed position signals into calibration values and storing these values. The generating step includes moving the command device to an operating position, converting the sensed position signal into an operating position signal, and generating the calibrated command signal based upon the operating position signal and the calibration values. In one embodiment, the method is used to read the control levers for auxiliary valves in an auxiliary hydraulic system. The control lever is moveable between extend, neutral, retract and float positions, which causes the calibrated command signal to represent maximum extend, neutral, maximum retract and float flow rates, respectively. When the control lever is between the neutral position and either the extend or the retract position, the calibrated command signal is a proportional signal.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method of generating a calibrated command signal in a control system including at least one command device moveable between first and second predefined positions and a position sense circuit coupled to the command device and configured to generate a position signal representative of the position of the command device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) calibrating the command device by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the command device into the first predefined position, converting the resulting position signal into a first calibration value, and storing the first calibration value in a memory circuit;
and
(2) moving the command device into the second predefined position, converting the resulting position signal into a second calibration value, and storing the second calibration value in the memory circuit;
and
(b) after step (a), generating a calibrated command signal by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the command device into an operating position, and converting the resulting position signal into an operating position signal;
and
(2) generating the calibrated command signal based upon the operating position signal, the first calibration value and the second calibration value, wherein the calibrated command signal represents a first and a second predetermined command value when the operating position signal is within a first and a second deadband defined about the first and the second calibration value, respectively, wherein the calibrated command signal represents a proportional command value when the operating position signal is between the first and the second deadbands.

6 more elements

A method of generating a calibrated command signal in a control system including at least one command device moveable between first detent, neutral and second detent positions, and a position sense circuit coupled to the command device and configured to generate a position signal representative of the position of the command device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) calibrating the command device by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the command device into the first detent position, converting the resulting position signal into a first calibration value, and storing the first calibration value in a memory circuit;
and
(2) moving the command device into the second detent position, converting the resulting position signal into a second calibration value, and storing the second calibration value in the memory circuit;
and
(b) after step (a), generating a calibrated command signal by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the command device into an operating position, and converting the resulting position signal into an operating position signal;
and
(2) generating the calibrated command signal based upon the operating position signal, the first calibration value, a neutral value representing the neutral position of the command device, and the second calibration value.

6 more elements

A method of generating a calibrated command signal in an auxiliary hydraulic control system including a plurality of control levers and auxiliary valves, each control lever moveable between extend detent, neutral, retract detent and float detent positions, the float detent position being beyond one of the extend detent and retract detent positions, the auxiliary hydraulic control system further including a plurality of position sense circuits coupled to the control levers for generating position signals representative of the positions of the control levers, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) calibrating each control lever by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the control lever into the extend detent position, converting the resulting position signal into an extend calibration value, and storing the extend calibration value in a memory circuit;
and
(2) moving the control lever into the retract detent position, converting the resulting position signal into a retract calibration value, and storing the retract calibration value in the memory circuit;
and
(b) after step (a), generating a calibrated command signal based upon the position of each control lever by performing the steps comprising:
(1) moving the control lever into an operating position, and converting the resulting position signal into an operating position signal;
and
(2) generating the calibrated command signal based upon the operating position signal, the extend calibration value, a neutral value representing the neutral position of the control lever, and the retract calibration value.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Calibration of a command device in control system

Life of this patent

Calibration of a command device in control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31