# US 9,435,104 B2 · Drive system having operator-selectable control modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,104 B2 - Document ID: US9435104B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/599,405 - Filed: 2015-01-16 - Published: 2016-07-21 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-16 - Assignees: Caterpillar SARL - Applicants: Caterpillar S.A.R.L. - Inventors: Steven James Juricak; Joshua David Callaway; Joseph Edward Forcash; Gavin David Oliver Ripley; Ragavender Mailwar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435104B2 ## CPC - E02F 9/2079: {Control of mechanical transmission (for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253)} - B60K 23/00: Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/103: of fluid type - B60W 30/1882: {characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart} - B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling} - E02F 9/2235: {including an electronic controller} - E02F 9/2246: {Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools} - E02F 9/2296: {Systems with a variable displacement pump} - B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position - B60W 2710/1005: Transmission ratio engaged - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - Y02T 10/84: Data processing systems or methods, management, administration - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A drive system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The drive system includes a power source configured to generate mechanical power, and a transmission driven by the power source, a traction device driven by the transmission. The drive system further includes a first input device configured to generate a signal to operate the machine, a second input device configured to receive an operator selection of one of a plurality of transmission modes, and a controller in communication with the first input device and the transmission. The controller is configured to adjust operation of the transmission to control a speed rate of change of the traction device in response to the signal from the first input device and based on the operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive system for a mobile machine, comprising: a power source configured to generate mechanical power; a transmission driven by the power source a traction device driven by the transmission; a first input device configured to generate a signal to operate the machine; a second input device configured to receive an operator selection of one of a plurality of transmission modes; and a controller in communication with the first input device and the transmission, the controller being configured to adjust operation of the transmission to control a speed rate of change of the traction device in response to the signal from the first input device and based on the operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes, wherein the machine includes a tool system operatively driven by the power source; the first input device includes a tool system input device movable through a range from a neutral position to a maximum displaced position; and the controller is further configured to adjust an output torque of the transmission according to an operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes and based on a position of the tool system input device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: the first input device is a throttle input device configured to affect a speed of the power source; and the speed rate of change is an acceleration rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: the first input device is a brake input device configured to affect a speed of the traction device; and the speed rate of change is an acceleration rate or a deceleration rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: the first input device is a direction input device movable to a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position, and configured to affect a travel direction of the traction device; and the speed rate of change is a deceleration rate when the direction input device is moved to the neutral position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: the first input device is a direction input device movable to a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position, and configured to affect a travel direction of the traction device; the drive system further includes a third input device configured to generate a signal to operate the machine, wherein the third input device is a throttle input device configured to affect a speed of the power source; and the controller is configured to adjust operation of the transmission to control a deceleration rate of the traction device in response to the signals from the first input device and the third input device and based on the operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: the transmission is a hystat including at least one pump and at least one motor; and the controller is configured to adjust operation of the transmission to control the speed rate of change of the traction device by adjusting a displacement of at least one of the at least one pump and the at least one motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of transmission modes is associated with a different one of a plurality of control mode profiles, each of the plurality of control mode profiles being derived from a different drive system configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drive system of claim 7, wherein the different drive system configuration includes one of a drive system having a different type of transmission or a drive system wherein the controller includes a different control strategy for controlling a speed rate of change of the traction device in response to the signal from the first input device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drive system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to limit a number of rimpull limit settings available for selection by an operator based on an operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling a mobile machine having a power source connected via a transmission to a traction device, comprising: driving the transmission with the power source; driving the traction device with the transmission; receiving an input from an operator indicative of a desired machine operation; receiving an operator selection of one of a plurality of transmission modes; and selectively adjusting operation of the transmission to control a speed rate of change of the traction device in response to the input and based on an operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes, wherein the machine includes a tool system operatively driven by the power source; the input includes a tool system command; and the method further including adjusting an output torque of the transmission according to an operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes and based on the tool system command. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the input from the operator includes a desired speed of the power source; and the speed rate of change is an acceleration rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the input from the operator includes a desired change to a ground speed of traction device; and the speed rate of change is a deceleration rate or an acceleration rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the input from the operator includes a desired travel direction of the traction device; and the speed rate of change is a deceleration rate when the desired travel direction is a neutral direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the input from the operator includes a desired travel direction of the traction device and a desired speed of the power source; the method further includes adjusting operation of the transmission to control a deceleration rate of the traction device in response to the input and based on the operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the transmission is a hystat including a pump and at least one motor; and the method further includes adjusting operation of the transmission to control the speed rate of change of the traction device includes adjusting a displacement of one or more of the pump and the at least one motor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: each of the plurality of transmission modes is associated with a different one of a plurality of control mode profiles, each of the plurality of control mode profiles being derived from a different drive system configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including limiting a number of rimpull limit settings available for selection by the operator based on an operator-selected one of the plurality of transmission modes.