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US 8,312,956 B2Granted
Auto inter-axle differential lock engagement for improved braking capacity
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorDavid Frederick Rindfleisch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work vehicle is provided having a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. The front wheel assembly may include a front axle assembly, and the rear wheel assembly may include a rear axle assembly. The vehicle may include a braking system configured to transfer front axle braking torque to the rear axle assembly when the vehicle is positioned on a slope.
Claims31
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a front wheel assembly supporting the chassis and including a first axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the first axle;
- a front brake coupled to the front wheel assembly and configured to apply a braking force to the front wheel assembly to inhibit rotation of the first axle;
- a rear wheel assembly supporting the chassis and including a second axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the second axle;
- a drive shaft coupled between the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly;
- a differential coupled to the drive shaft, the differential including a lock device configured to substantially block operation of the differential;
- a direction sensor configured to detect a moving direction of the vehicle;
- a controller in communication with the differential and the direction sensor, the controller being configured to engage the lock device upon detection of the vehicle moving in a reverse direction.
5 more elements
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a front wheel assembly operably coupled to the chassis to support the chassis, the front wheel assembly including a first axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the first axle;
- a rear wheel assembly operably coupled to the chassis to support the chassis, the rear wheel assembly including a second axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the second axle;
- a drive shaft coupled between the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly;
- a differential coupled to the drive shaft, the differential including a lock device configured to substantially lock the differential;
- a first sensor configured to detect a slope of the ground;
- a second sensor configured to detect a speed of the vehicle;
- and
- a controller in communication with the differential and the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to engage the lock device upon detection of the vehicle being at least one of stopped on a slope and reversing on a slope.
6 more elements
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis to support the chassis, the front wheel assembly including a first axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the first axle;
- a rear wheel assembly coupled to the chassis to support the chassis, the rear wheel assembly including a second axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the second axle;
- a front brake coupled to the front wheel assembly and configured to apply a braking torque to the front wheel assembly to inhibit rotation of the first axle;
- at least one sensor for detecting movement of the vehicle in a reverse direction;
- a transfer means for transferring a braking torque from the front wheel assembly to the rear wheel assembly;
- and
- a means for activating the transfer means based on a detection of the movement of the vehicle in the reverse direction by the at least one sensor.
5 more elements
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a front wheel assembly supporting the chassis and including a first axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the first axle;
- a rear wheel assembly supporting the chassis and including a second axle and a pair of wheels coupled to the second axle;
- a drive shaft coupled between the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly;
- a differential coupled to the drive shaft, the differential including a lock device configured to substantially lock the differential;
- an inclination sensor configured to detect an inclination angle of the vehicle;
- at least one weight sensor configured to detect a weight of the vehicle;
- and
- a controller in communication with the differential, the inclination sensor, and the at least one weight sensor, the controller being operative to
- detect the inclination angle of the vehicle based on output provided with the inclination sensor and detect a weight of the vehicle based on output provided with the at least one weight sensor,
- engage the lock device based on the detected inclination angle of the vehicle exceeding a minimum threshold angle, and
- adjust the minimum threshold angle based on the detected weight of the vehicle.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.