Apparatus and method for controlling the position of an arm on a hitch
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsEric P. Gengler, Jeffrey M. Thate
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling a lateral position of a first member on a hitch of a work machine. A processing device receives a first signal indicative of a turn radius of the work machine, and transmits a second signal as a function of the first signal. The second signal controls the lateral position of the first member. An actuator is coupled with the processing device to receive the second signal. The actuator controls the lateral position of the first member as a function of the second signal.
Claims19
An apparatus for controlling a lateral position of a first member on a hitch of a work machine, comprising:
- a first processing device operable to receive a first signal indicative of a desired turn radius of the work machine and to transmit a first desired hitch position as a function of the first signal;
- a second processing device operable to receive a second signal indicative of an actual hitch position and coupled with the first processing device to receive the first desired hitch position, the second processing device operable to transmit an error signal as a function of the second signal and the desired hitch position;
- and
- a first member modulator coupled with the second processing device controller to receive the error signal, the first member modulator operable to transmit a first activation signal as a function of the error signal, the first activation signal operable to control the lateral position of the first member.
An apparatus for controlling a lateral position of a first member on a hitch of a work machine, comprising:
- a first processing device operable to receive a first signal indicative of a turn radius of the work machine and to transmit a first desired hitch position as a function of the first signal;
- a second processing device operable to receive a second signal indicative of an offset and coupled with the first processing device to receive the first desired hitch position, the second processing device operable to transmit a second desired hitch position as a function of the second signal and the first desired hitch position;
- a third processing device operable to receive a third signal indicative of an actual hitch position and coupled with the second processing device to receive the second desired hitch position, the third processing device operable to transmit an error as a function of the third signal and the desired hitch position;
- and
- a first member modulator coupled with the third processing device to receive the error, the first member modulator operable to transmit a first activation signal as a function of the error, the first activation signal operable to control the lateral position of the first member.
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- an engine coupled with the frame and operable to provide a locomotive force;
- a ground engaging traction device coupled with the frame and with the engine to receive the locomotive force, the ground engaging traction device operable to move relative to the frame as a function of the locomotive force;
- a hitch assembly coupled with the frame and having a first member capable of lateral movement along a first axis;
- a first sensor coupled with the frame, the first sensor operable to transmit a first signal indicative of a turn radius of the work machine;
- and
- an apparatus for controlling a lateral position of the first member of the hitch assembly, comprising:
- a processing device coupled with the first sensor to receive the first signal, the processing device operable to transmit a second signal as a function of the first signal, the second signal operable to control the lateral position of the first member;
- and
- an actuator coupled with the processing device to receive the second signal, the actuator operable to control the lateral position of the first member as a function of the second signal.
A method for controlling a lateral position of a member on a hitch of a work machine, comprising:
- determining a turn radius of the work machine;
- and
- automatically adjusting the lateral position of the member as a function of the turn radius.
A method for controlling a position of a first member on a hitch of a work machine along a first axis, comprising:
- determining a turn radius of the work machine;
- determining a desired hitch position as a function of the turn radius;
- determining an actual hitch position;
- determining an error as a function of the desired hitch position and the actual hitch position;
- and
- controlling the lateral position of the first member along the first axis as a function of the error.
An apparatus for controlling a lateral position of a first member on a hitch of a work machine, comprising:
- a processing device operable to receive a first signal indicative of a turn radius of the work machine, the processing device operable to transmit a second signal as a function of the first signal, the second signal operable to control the lateral position of the first member;
- and
- an actuator coupled with the processing device to receive the second signal, the actuator operable to control the lateral position of the first member as a function of the second signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.