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Cruise Control on A Work Machine
| Content Provider | The Lens |
|---|---|
| Abstract | A cruise control system for work machines. The system comprises one or more levers for controlling the velocity of the work machine and one or more magnet assemblies. The magnet assemblies comprise means of overcoming the neutral bias of a control lever so that the velocity of the work machine may be maintained without manual input from the operator. The magnets may act directly upon a control lever or a surface adjacent a control lever. Additional controls may be employed to set a maximum cruising speed for the work machine when cruise control is engaged. |
| Related Links | https://www.lens.org/images/patent/099-559-989-613-828/pdf/US_2023_B2_11767656_099-559-989-613-828.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2020-01-30 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Patent |
| Jurisdiction | United States of America |
| Date Applied | 2019-07-22 |
| Applicant | Charles Machine Works |
| Application No. | 201916518072 |
| Claim | A system, comprising: a work machine, comprising: a control assembly, comprising: a lever configured to control an operating parameter of the work machine and having a range of motion around a neutral position and a bias toward that neutral position; a rotating component carried by or included within the lever; and a non-rotating component that maintains a face-to-face relationship with at least a portion of the rotating component throughout the lever's range of motion; in which a selected one of the rotating and non-rotating components is an electromagnet having a field strength sufficient, when actuated, to engage the unselected one of the components and overcome the bias of the lever; and in which the unselected one of the rotating and non-rotating components is a body of ferromagnetic materia The system of claim 1 further comprising a switch for activating the magnetic field of the magnet. The system of claim 2 further comprising a control panel supported on the work machine, wherein the switch for activating the magnetic field of the magnet is disposed at the control pane The system of claim 1 wherein a body of ferromagnetic material is affixed to the lever. The system of claim 4 wherein the body of ferromagnetic material is affixed to the lever by a cruise block, the cruise block comprising a body and an internally disposed hole through which the lever passes. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control panel supported on the work machine, wherein the magnet is affixed to the control panel by a retainer bracket. The system of claim 6 wherein the retainer bracket is flexible, such that activation of the magnet causes the bracket to flex. The system of claim 6 wherein the retainer bracket is rigid, holding the non-rotating component in continuous contact with the rotating component. The system of claim 4 wherein the magnet is affixed to the control panel by a retainer bracket. The system of claim 9 wherein the retainer bracket is rigid, holding the magnet in continuous contact with the magnetic plate. ii. The system of claim 9 wherein the retainer bracket is flexible, such that activation of the magnet causes the bracket to flex. The system of claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of the lever and the rotating component extends through the non-rotating component. The system of claim 1 in which the field strength of the magnet is small enough, when actuated, to permit an operator to manually rotate the control element. The system of claim 1 in which the lever is characterized as a first lever, the rotating component is characterized as a first rotating component, the non-rotating component is characterized as a first non-rotating component, and the operating parameter is characterized as a first operating parameter, in which: the control assembly further comprises: a second lever configured to control a second operating parameter of the work machine and having a range of motion around a neutral position and a bias towards that neutral position; and a second rotating component carried by or included within the lever; and further comprising: a second non-rotating component that maintains a face-to-face relationship with at least a portion of the second rotating component throughout the lever's range of motion; in which a selected one of the second rotating and second non-rotating components is a second electromagnet having a field strength sufficient, when actuated, to engage the unselected one of the second components and overcome the bias of the second lever. The system of claim 14 in which the work machine comprises first and second laterally-spaced ground engagement motive elements, in which: the first operating parameter is power to the first ground engagement motive element; and the second operating parameter is power to the second ground engagement motive element. The system of claim 15 in which the first and second laterally-spaced ground engagement motive elements are tracks. A method of operating the system of claim 15 , comprising: moving the first lever to a first position; moving the second lever to a second position; and thereafter, activating the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet to hold the first lever and the second lever in their respective positions. The method of claim 17 further comprising: deactivating the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet. The method of claim 17 wherein: the first position and the second position are set to maintain the work vehicle in a curve while the first electromagnet and second electromagnet are activated. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: moving the first lever to a third position while the first electromagnet is activated. A system, comprising: a work machine, comprising: first and second independently operated motive force elements; a control assembly, comprising: first and second manual control elements, each configured to control one of the first and second motive force elements of the work machine, each of the first and second manual control elements having a range of motion around a neutral position and a bias toward that neutral position; one or more non-rotating components, in face-to-face relationship with at least a portion of the first and second manual control elements throughout its range of motion; and a first electromagnet carried by or included in the one or more non-rotating components or the first manual control element, having a field strength sufficient, when actuated, to overcome the bias of the first manual control element; and a second electromagnet carried by or included in the one or more non-rotating component or the second manual control element, having a field strength sufficient, when actuated, to overcome the bias of the second manual control element. The system of claim 21 , further comprising an actuator having a first condition and a second condition, wherein the first and second electromagnets are not activated when the activator is in the first position and are activated when the actuator is in the second position. The system of claim 21 in which the one or more non-rotating components comprise a flexible retainer bracket. The system of claim 23 in which the first electromagnet is disposed on the flexible retainer bracket. A method of using the system of claim 21 comprising: selecting a speed and turn angle for the work machine; positioning the first and second manual control elements to a position corresponding to the selected speed and turn angle; and thereafter, activating the first and second electromagnets. The method of claim 25 further comprising: deactivating the first and second electromagnets. The method of claim 25 further comprising: after activating the first and second electromagnets, changing the position of one or both of the first and second manual control element to change the speed and turn angle of the work machine. A system comprising: a work machine having first and second track assemblies; a control assembly, comprising: first and second levers, wherein the first lever is configured to control speed and direction to the first track assembly and the second lever is configured to control the speed and direction of the second track assembly, each of the first and second levers having a range of motion around a neutral position and a bias toward that neutral position; wherein a ferromagnetic material is carried by or included with the lever; a first electromagnet, disposed in face-to-face relationship with the ferromagnetic material of the first lever; and a second electromagnet, disposed in face-to-face relationship with the ferromagnetic material of the second lever; wherein the first electromagnet and second electromagnet each have a field strength sufficient, when actuated, to overcome the bias of the first manual control element. The system of claim 28 in which the ferromagnetic material of each lever is affixed to its respective lever by a cruise block, each cruise block comprising a body and an internally disposed hole through which its lever passes. The system of claim 29 further comprising a retainer bracket, wherein the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet are disposed on the retainer bracket. |
| CPC Classification | GEARING DREDGING;SOIL-SHIFTING CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES |
| Extended Family | 104-769-106-902-971 171-784-057-989-403 184-600-316-599-93X 086-558-470-539-362 072-654-679-090-211 099-559-989-613-828 |
| Patent ID | 20200032480 |
| Inventor/Author | Kukuk Brant D Trimble Christopher |
| IPC | E02F9/20 G05D9/04 G05G5/00 G05G9/02 |
| Status | Active |
| Owner | The Charles Machine Works Inc |
| Simple Family | 099-559-989-613-828 171-784-057-989-403 184-600-316-599-93X 072-654-679-090-211 086-558-470-539-362 104-769-106-902-971 |
| CPC (with Group) | F16H61/47 E02F5/06 E02F9/2004 E02F9/225 E02F9/2253 G05G1/04 G05G5/26 E02F9/2012 G05D9/04 G05G5/005 G05G9/02 G05G2009/0474 |
| Issuing Authority | United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| Kind | Patent Application Publication |
