Method and apparatus for controlling an extendable stick on a work machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorRoger D. Koch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically controlling the movement of an extendable stick on a work machine. The extendable stick is slidably connected to a stick, and the stick is pivotally connected to a boom. The method and apparatus includes determining a position of the stick relative to the boom, determining a position of the extendable stick relative to the stick, receiving a stick movement command to move the stick relative to the boom, moving the stick relative to the boom, and moving the extendable stick in coordination with the movement of the stick as a function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
Claims26
A method for automatically controlling the movement of an extendable stick on a work machine, the extendable stick being slidably connected to a stick, the stick being pivotally connected to a boom, including the steps of:
- determining a position of the stick relative to the boom;
- determining a position of the extendable stick relative to the stick;
- receiving a stick movement command to move the stick relative to the boom;
- moving the stick relative to the boom;
- and
- automatically moving the extendable stick in coordination with the movement of the stick as a predetermined function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
An apparatus for automatically controlling the movement of an extendable stick on a work machine, the extendable stick being slidably connected to a stick, the stick being pivotally connected to a boom, comprising:
- means for determining a position of the stick relative to the boom;
- means for determining a position of the extendable stick relative to the stick;
- means for receiving a stick movement command to move the stick relative to the boom;
- means for moving the stick relative to the boom;
- and
- means for automatically moving the extendable stick in coordination with the movement of the stick as a predetermined function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
An apparatus for automatically controlling the movement of an extendable stick on a work machine, the extendable stick being slidably connected to a stick, the stick being pivotally connected to a boom, comprising:
- a first sensor for determining a position of the stick relative to the boom;
- a second sensor for determining a position of the extendable stick relative to the stick;
- and
- a controller for receiving a stick movement command to move the stick relative to the boom, for moving the stick, and for automatically moving the extendable stick in coordination with the movement of the stick as a predetermined function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
A method for controlling the movement of an extendable stick on a work machine, the extendable stick being slidably connected to a stick, the stick being pivotally connected to a boom, including the steps of:
- selecting one of a manual control mode and a coordinated control mode;
- operating each of a stick control device and an extendable stick control device to control the respective movement of each of the stick and the extendable stick in response to selecting the manual control mode;
- and
- operating only the stick control device to control the movement of the stick and the extendable stick in response to selecting the coordinated control mode, the movement of the extendable stick being made in coordination with the movement of the stick as a function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
A work machine, comprising:
- a boom;
- a stick having a first end pivotally connected to the boom;
- an extendable stick having a first end slidably connected to a second end of the stick;
- a work implement controllably attached to a second end of the extendable stick;
- a first sensor for determining a position of the stick relative to the boom;
- a second sensor for determining a position of the extendable stick relative to the stick;
- a stick control device for delivering a stick movement command;
- and
- a controller for receiving the stick movement command and responsively moving the stick relative to the boom, and for automatically moving the extendable stick in coordination with the movement of the stick as a predetermined function of a desired position of the extendable stick relative to the position of the stick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.