US 6,025,686 A · Method and system for controlling movement of a digging dipper

Abstract

A new method for controlling movement of a digging dipper includes providing an earthmoving machine with two drive systems for moving the dipper along two respective paths. Also provided is a control apparatus having a reference axis and a knob mounted for movement between a first, repose position and a maximum position spaced from the repose position by a maximum displacement dimension. The knob is displaced along a control axis to a second position which is spaced from the repose position by an actual displacement dimension less than the maximum displacement dimension. The drive systems are energized and the dipper is powered along a digging axis generally parallel to the control axis. A new apparatus for controlling movement of the dipper has a single control knob having a repose position and also has first and second motion transducers mechanically coupled to the knob. In a Cartesian coordinate system, the repose position is at the origin, the first transducer provides a first output signal when the knob is displaced along the "X" axis and the second transducer provides a second output signal when the knob is deflected from the repose position along the "Z" axis.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for controlling movement of a digging dipper including:

providing an earthmoving machine having a machine upper portion with a rigid, cable-supported boom extending therefrom, a digging dipper, a first drive system having a first electric motor which moves the dipper along a generally linear first path and a second drive system having a second electric motor which moves the dipper along a second path;
providing a control apparatus having a linear reference axis and a knob mounted for movement between a first, repose position and a maximum position spaced from the repose position by a maximum displacement dimension;
displacing the knob along a substantially linear control axis to a second position, the control axis defining an angle with respect to the reference axis, the second position being spaced from the repose position by an actual displacement dimension less than the maximum displacement dimension;
energizing the drive systems;
and
powering the dipper along a digging axis generally parallel to the control axis;
and wherein:
the drive systems coact to power the dipper at a speed ranging from zero to a maximum dipper speed;
the powering step includes powering the dipper at a digging speed generally equal to the maximum speed multiplied by the ratio of the actual displacement dimension to the maximum displacement dimension;
and
the powering step includes maintaining the boom at a fixed angle relative to the upper portion.

8 more elements

In combination, an earthmoving machine having a boom supported by a cable and an apparatus for controlling movement of a dipper on the machine and wherein:

the machine includes a first electrical drive system for moving the dipper alone a generally linear first path, a second electrical drive system for moving the dipper along an arcuate second path and a third electrical drive system for moving the dipper along a third path in a swing direction;
the first electrical drive system includes a first adjustable speed drive coupled to a first motor for moving the dipper along the first path;
the second electrical drive system includes a second adjustable speed drive coupled to a second motor for moving the dipper along the second path;
the third electrical drive system includes a third adjustable speed drive coupled to a third motor for moving the dipper along the third path;
and wherein the apparatus includes:
a single control knob having a repose position;
first, second and third motion transducers mechanically coupled to the knob;
and wherein, in a Cartesian coordinate system having an origin and "X," "Z" and "Y" axes perpendicular to one another,:
the repose position is at the origin;
the first motion transducer provides a first output signal when the knob is displaced from the repose position along the "X" axis;
the second motion transducer provides a second output signal when the knob is deflected from the repose position in a "Z" axis direction;
the third motion transducer provides a third output signal when the knob is deflected from the repose position in a "Y" axis direction;
and wherein:
when the first, second and third motion transducers provide, respectively, the first, second and third output signals, first, second and third command voltages representing the first, second and third output signals are applied to the first, second and third adjustable speed drives, respectively.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for controlling movement of a digging dipper

Life of this patent

Method and system for controlling movement of a digging dipper

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18