Patent Application
20230116011
The present disclosure relates generally to tractor machines, and more specifically to machines with a secondary control system.
Work machines are used for innumerable purposes across many industries. These machines includes construction machines such as motor graders, excavators, and bulldozers; farm equipment such as tractors and combines; mining equipment; cement trucks; dump trucks; garbage trucks; and the like, During the performance of tasks, the machines may operate in situations that are unsuitable or undesirable for a human operator such as hazardous conditions, extreme environmental conditions, uncomfortable for an operator, or at work locations remote from civilization. Because of these factors, the completion of some tasks by an onboard operator may be dangerous, expensive, and otherwise undesirable.
One solution is to control and operate the machines with a secondary control system. In some situations, a remote control system may be added to a machine as an after-market addition. U.S. Pat. No. 9,213,331 to Johnson describes such a remote control system.
However, many of these systems must be removed completely from the machine for maintenance, diagnostics, and other servicing. Therefore, there is a need for a method for mounting a secondary control system that allows for in-situ maintenance.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a work machine is disclosed. The work machine includes a frame, a traction system, an engine, an implement system, an operator cab with a roof a machine control system, and a secondary control system. The secondary control system is configured to interface with the machine control system and includes a secondary control device, a control module, a communication module, a base plate, and two rails. The base plate configured to support the control module and the communication module, and protect the plurality of harness connections. The two rails are configured to support the base plate in an operation orientation and a service orientation and each include a plurality of channels configured to support the base plate in the service orientation.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a secondary control system is disclosed. The secondary control system includes a secondary control device configured to accept input from a remote operator, a plurality of electrical components including a secondary control module and a communications module, a base plate configured to support the plurality of components, a first rail, and a second rail. Each of the rails is configured to support the secondary control system in an operation orientation and a service orientation and includes a first flange configured to be attached to a surface, a web, a second flange, and a plurality of channels extending from the second flange into the web.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of moving a secondary control system into a service orientation is disclosed. The method includes providing a secondary control system with a base plate mounted to two rails in an operation orientation, removing a plurality of bolts attaching the base plate to the rails, lifting the base plate and lowering the base plate into a channel on each of the two rails, the base plate being supported by the channels in a service orientation
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be more readily understood after reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts.
Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to
The work machine includes a frame 110, a propulsion system 120 mounted to the frame 110, and a traction system 130 supporting the frame 110 and driven by the propulsion system 120. The propulsion system 120 may include a power source such as a combustion engine or electric motor and a transmission. The traction system 130 may include wheels (as shown), tracks, treads, or the like which enable the work machine 100 to engage the ground and move.
The machine 100 may additionally have an implement system 140 supported by the frame 110. The implement system 140 may include various implements 150 attached to the machine 100 to perform a variety of jobs. The illustrated machine 100 is equipped with a bucket 150; however, many other implements may be used on other machines to perform different types of work. Some machines 100 may include more than one implement, while others such as trucks may have no implement. A hydraulic system 160 may be utilized to drive the movement of the implement system 140.
The machine 100 also includes an operator cab 170 supported by the frame 110. The cab includes a roof 180, A top surface of the roof 185 is generally flat and parallel to the plane of the ground surface 190 below the machine 100. The operator cab 170 is configured to allow an operator to control the systems 120, 130, 140, 160 of the machine through an operator interface 210 (see
In addition, the machine 100 is equipped with a plurality of sensors 220 that gather data from various components and systems and generate signals that are indicative of the performance and operating conditions of the machine 100. Sensors 220 may be associated with, for example, the propulsion system 120, the traction system 130, the operator cab 170 and interface 210, the implement system 140 and hydraulics 160, and/or other systems and components of the machine 100.
A machine control system 230 is provided to control the operation of the machine 100. As shown in
The machine 100 may also be equipped with a secondary control system 250. The secondary control system 250 is configured to interface with the machine control system 230 and allow control of the machine 100. For example, the secondary control system 250 may allow control of the machine from the machine 100, may allow for video recording ay allow for collision avoidance, may allow for machine automation, and the like. The secondary control system 250 includes a plurality of electrical components which may include a secondary control module 260, a communication module 270, a secondary control device 280, and a plurality of harnesses 290. The secondary control module 260 interfaces between the machine control module 240 and the secondary control device 280 to allow the operator to control the machine 100. The communication module 270 is configured to provide wireless communication between the secondary control module 260 and the secondary control device 280. The communication module 270 may include a plurality of transmitters and receivers. The wireless communication may be through radio, Bluetooth, an wireless network, or other similar means. The remote control device 280 includes an operator interface which may include a plurality of displays and input devices. The secondary control device 280 also includes transmitters and receivers to communication with the communication module 270. The control module 260 and the communication module 270 are mounted on the machine, while the secondary control device 280 may be located at a distance from the machine, limited by the range of the communication method used. The plurality of harnesses 290 provide electrical connections between the machine 100 and the control 260 and communication modules 270 to provide power to the components and interface between the secondary control system 250 and the machine control system 230.
In order to allow for an efficient connection between the secondary control system 250 and the machine 100, the secondary control system 250 may be located adjacent to the machine control module 240. In order to be protected from the environment and wear caused by the operation of the machine 100, the roof 180 of the cab 170 provides a suitable location, hut other locations are possible.
In some alternative embodiments, the secondary control system 250 may be mounted to a different surface of the machine other than the roof 180 of the operator cab 170. This machine surface should be substantially flat and parallel to a ground surface and located to allow the secondary control system 250 to interface with the machine control system 230.
In order to mount the secondary control system 250 to the roof 170 of the operator cab 170, the secondary control system 250 further includes a mounting system 300, as shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the long sides 420 of the panel 410 may be between 1290 mm and 1500 mm, and the short sides 430 of the panel 410 may be between 50 mm and 150 mm, although of course, other dimensions may be used as dictated by the size of the surface on which the remote control system is to be mounted.
As shown in
The second flange 530 extends perpendicularly from a second side 550 of the web 510. The second flange 530 is configured to extend away from the longitudinal axis of the machine 100 when mounted. The second flange 520 of each rail 340 is configured to connect to the mounting surface 440 of the base plate 310 in order to support the base plate 310 with its mounted components in the operation orientation. Together, the first flange 520, web 510, and second flange 530 may form a Z-shape in cross-section, as shown in
Each of the rails 340 also includes a plurality of channels 560. Each channel 560 extends through the second flange 530 into the web 510, perpendicular to the rail 340. A channel 560 on the first rail 320 has a corresponding channel on the second rail 330. The rails 340 have at least one channel 560 each and may have a second channel 560. The channels may be at each end of the rail. Multiple channels 560 provides options for the location of the baseplate 310 on the roof 180 when in the service orientation. Some locations may be preferred for the particular machine 100 or by a particular service provider.
The rails 340 may also include an upright tab 570 extending from the web 510 to aid in guiding the base plate 310 into place. In some embodiments, as shown, the upright 570 may be located adjacent to a channel 560.
The height of the web (H) is greater than the lip 460 of the base plate 310 plus any components that may be mounted on the lower face 415. In one embodiment, the height H may be 80 mm, but of course other dimensions may be used as needed to accommodate the required components.
The channels 560 are configured to allow the mounting surface 440 to slide within. Therefore, the width of each channel 560 must be wider than the thickness of the mounting surface 440. In some embodiments, the mounting surface 440 may have a thickness of 6 mm and the channels 560 may have a width of 9 mm, but other dimensions are possible.
The rails 340 are mounted on each side of the roof 180 (or other machine surface) and positioned to be parallel to one another. The rails 340 may also be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the machine 100. The distance between the rails 340 when mounted is configured to allow the long sides 420 of the base plate 310 to fit between the web 510 of the first and second rails 340.
When in the operation orientation, the plane of the base plate 310 is parallel to the plane of the roof 180, as shown in
In the service orientation, the base plate 310 is perpendicular to the roof 180, as shown in
The present disclosure finds application for any machine with a secondary control system mounted on a roof or other machine surface. More generally, the mounting system disclosed above may be advantageous for numerous machines in which a secondary control system such was but not limited to remote control, video recording, collision avoidance and machine automation must be mounted to the outside of a machine and accessible for maintenance.
A method 600 for moving a mounted secondary control system into a service orientation is shown in
In order to begin moving to the service position, all of these bolts are removed, as shown in block 620. Next, the base plate 310 is lifted and rotated (block 630). This may be done manually by an operator, or by attaching a crane to the base plate 310. The crane may be connected to the lip 460 on either long edge 420 of the base plate 310, as preferable for the particular servicing required or the arrangement of the roof 180. As the base plate 310 is lifted, it rotates into a position perpendicular to the roof 180. Finally, the base plate 310 is lowered into the channels 560 on each rail 340, as shown in block 640. Each mounting surface 440 fits within a channel so that the base plate 310 is supported in an upright position between the two rails 340. Kickstands 480 on the base plate 310 may provide additional support.
The method 600 may be reversed to return the base plate 310 to the operation orientation. During the process of moving between orientations, the secondary control system 250 does not need to be disconnected from the machine control system 230.
While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of protection is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the scope of protection.
