Snow groomers and control system therefor
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorsClaude Trahan, Michel Pelletier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to an improved snow grooming vehicle featuring a multifunction joystick adapted to selectively control a plurality of independent functions of various work implements installed on the snow grooming vehicle. More specifically, the multifunction joystick is adapted to select specific functions of a work implements and apply the movements of the joystick to these specific functions. If a new function is selected, the movements of the joystick are applied to the newly selected function while disabling the previously selected function From a single joystick, the operator may control a wide array of functions of the work implements installed on the snow grooming vehicle.
Claims49
A snow grooming vehicle comprising:
- a frame supported and propelled by ground engaging tracks;
- an operator's cabin mounted to said frame;
- implement coupling means for at least one snow working implement carried by said frame;
- at least two sets of implement actuators which are subject to operational control by the operator from within the operator's cabin;
- each set of implement actuators being controllable by a joystick independently of the control of any other set of implement actuators;
- an engine for driving said ground engaging tracks;
- said joystick having a hand grip portion positioned for convenient manipulation into various positions by the operator when sitting into said operator's cabin in a normal command position;
- electrical transducer means operatively associated with said joystick for generating an electrical signal representative of the position of said joystick;
- manual control switching means operable by the operator from its normal command position for selecting a set of implement actuators of which the operator desires to change the condition by means of said joystick thereby to adjust the position or setting of an implement according to the position of said joystick;
- a controller having at least two inputs and one output and generating an output signal representative of the position of said joystick for operatively controlling the set of implement actuators selected by the operator;
- said manual control switching means being coupled to a first input of said controller;
- the electrical signal produced by said electrical transducer means being coupled to a second input of said controller;
- whereby while said manual control switching means is actuated, said controller generates an output signal representative of the position of said joystick, which is used to operatively control a predetermined set of implement actuators;
- said joystick being adapted to control at least one other set of implement actuators when said manual control switching means is not actuated.
A multifunction joystick control system for a snow grooming vehicle which has a frame, ground engaging tracks, an operator's cabin, an engine for driving said vehicle, implement coupling means for at least one snow grooming implement and at least two sets of implement actuators separately controlled by the operator, each set of implement actuators being controllable by a joystick;
- said multifunction joystick control system comprising:
- a joystick having a hand grip portion positioned for convenient manipulation by the operator into various positions when sitting into said operator's cabin in a normal command position;
- a set of electrical transducers operatively associated with said joystick for generating an electrical signal representative of the position of said joystick;
- a first manual control switching means operable by the operator from said normal command position for selecting a first set of implement actuators that the operator desires to operationally control, said first manual control switching means generating an electrical signal representative of said first set of implement actuators;
- a controller having at least two inputs and one output and generating an output signal for effecting the operational control of the set of implement actuators selected by the operator;
- said electrical signal generated by said first manual control switching means being coupled to a first input of said controller;
- said electrical signal generated by said set of electrical transducers being coupled to a second input of said controller;
- said controller generating a first output signal when said first manual control switching means is actuated, said first output signal being representative of the position of said joystick and being used to control the operation of said first set of implement actuators;
- said multifunction joystick control system being adapted to control the operation of at least one other set of implement actuators as a function of the position of said joystick when said first manual control switching means is not actuated.
A multifunction joystick control system for a utilitarian vehicle having at least one implement and at least two sets of implement actuators which are subject to operational control by the operator from within an operator's cabin in said utilitarian vehicle;
- each set of implement actuators being controllable by a joystick independently of the control of any other set of implement actuators;
- said multifunction joystick control system comprising:
- a joystick having a hand grip portion positioned for convenient manipulation by the operator into various positions when sitting into said operator's cabin in a normal command position;
- a set of electrical transducers operatively associated with said joystick for generating an electrical signal representative of the position of said joystick;
- a first manual control switching means operable by the operator from said normal command position for selecting a first set of implement actuators that the operator desires to operationally control, said first manual control switching means generating an electrical signal representative of said first set of implement actuators;
- a controller having at least two inputs and one output and generating an output signal for effecting the operational control of the set of implement actuators selected by the operator;
- said electrical signal generated by said first manual control switching means being applied to a first input of said controller;
- said electrical signal generated by said set of electrical transducers being applied to a second input of said controller;
- said controller generating a first output signal when said first manual control switching means is actuated, said first output signal being representative of the position of said joystick and being used to control the operation of said first set of implement actuators;
- said multifunction joystick control system being adapted to control the operation of at least one other set of implement actuators when said first manual control switching means is not actuated.
A snowgrooming vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a frame, an operator's cabin supported by said frame, a set of ground engaging tracks, a drive mechanism linking said internal combustion engine to said ground engaging tracks enabling said snow grooming vehicle to move on snow, implement coupling means for at least one implement, said at least one implement being subject to functional control by the operator from within said operator's cabin, a multifunction joystick control system for selectively controlling an implement carried by said implement coupling means, said multifunction joystick control system comprising a joystick having a hand grip portion positioned for convenient manipulation by the operator when sitting into said operator's cabin in a normal command position, manual control switching means operable by the operator from said normal command position for selecting a function of an implement that the operator desires to control by normal bi-axial manipulation of said joystick, a controller for generating an output signal which is used for effecting the operational control of the function of an implement selected by the operator whenever said manual control switching means is actuated;
- said multifunction joystick control system being adapted to also control the operation of at least one other function of an implement by normal bi-axial manipulation of said joystick while said manual control switching means is not actuated.
A multifunction joystick for controlling a plurality of independent operations of implements, comprising:
- a handle mounted on a movable shank;
- a signal actuator positioned adjacent to the shank and connected to a controller;
- and
- a hydraulic actuator coupled to the shank and connected to a hydraulic system;
- wherein the handle is selectively movable to actuate the hydraulic actuator and to actuate the signal actuator to control operation of the implements based on a position of the shank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.