AN AUTOMATED CONTROL MODULE FOR A POWER MACHINE

BACKGROUND

Power machines, such as skid steer loaders or diggers include one or more lift arms or other devices that support or actuate an implement or tool. The lift arms or other devices are typically operated or actuated hydraulically via input from operator controls. The operator input is used to generate a control signal to energize hydraulic circuitry to actuate the lift arms or other devices. Different models or manufacturers utilize different circuit configurations for hydraulically operating the lift arms or other devices of the power machine. The different circuit configurations make it difficult to adapt the power machine for automated control. The present invention addresses these and other issues and provides advantages over prior control systems.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a control assembly including an automated control module. In illustrated embodiments, the automated control module is configured to receive a signal from a sensor and generate a universal control signal that can be processed by different machine controllers having different control configurations to generate a device-specific control signal for one or more components of the power machine. In one embodiment, the universal control signal is transmitted to a machine controller on the power machine through a connector assembly including a connector plug and socket. In another embodiment, the universal control signal is transmitted through a wireless interface. The machine controller processes the universal control signal and outputs a device-specific control signal to operate different devices on board the power machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a power machine including operator controls that interface with a machine controller.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a control assembly for a power machine including automated machine control.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a lift arm of a power machine including an automated control module and sensors coupled to the lift arm.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a wireless interface for an automated control module for automated machine control.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment for implementing automated machine control.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an automated machine control module or assembly connected to a machine controller or component through a controller area network (CAN).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The application discloses embodiments of a control application or assembly implementable on a power machine 100 of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. The power machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a skid steer loader including a bucket attachment, however, application of the control system described herein is not limited to a skid steer loader or the particular skid steer loader illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, other implements or tools can be coupled to different power machines or vehicles and controlled via embodiments of the control system described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the illustrated power machine 100 includes a lift arm assembly 102, which in the illustrated embodiment supports a bucket 104. The lift arm assembly 102 includes a plurality of lift arms 105 (only one lift arm visible in FIG 1) to raise and lower the bucket 104 or other attachment. Lift arms 105 of the lift arm assembly 102 are raised and lowered hydraulically via a lift cylinder 106 or other actuator device. The bucket 104 or other attachment is pivotally coupled to the lift arms 105 to adjust an orientation or tilt of the bucket or attachment relative to the lift arms 105. The orientation or tilt is adjusted via operation of one or more tilt cylinders 108 or other actuator device. Operation

of the lift and tilt cylinders 106, 108 is controlled via lift arm control circuitry 110 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The lift arm circuitry 110 controls hydraulic flow to the hydraulic cylinders 106, 108 through various valves or other hydraulic circuitry as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the illustrated power machine or vehicle 100 includes an operator cab 112 supported relative to a body or frame 114 of the vehicle. The cab 112 includes via various operating controls 116 (illustrated schematically) to drive or operate the vehicle. The operating controls 116 include lift/tilt operating controls 120 to raise, lower and/or orient the bucket or other attachment as well as drive controls 122 to impart forward, reverse or steer motion to the power machine or vehicle through wheels 124. Illustratively the operator controls 116 include various levers, buttons or joystick devices to input commands to control lift, drive or other functions of the power machine or vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, input from the operator controls 116 is provided to a machine controller 126. The machine controller 126 processes the input from the operator controls 116 to operate the lift arm assembly and drive functions of the power machine. In particular, the machine controller 126 provides input to drive control circuitry 130 to impart forward, reverse and steer motion to the power machine or vehicle and input to the lift arm control circuitry 110 to raise/ lower or orient the bucket 104 or other attachment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a control assembly for the vehicle of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. Although the power machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is a wheeled vehicle, application is not limited to wheeled vehicles and embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted for a track vehicle or other vehicles as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control assembly 140 includes operator and automated control components to provide automated and user operator control of the power machine or vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, control assembly 140 includes a drive control component 142 and a lift arm control

component 144. The drive control component 142 operates left drive motor 145 and right drive motor 146 through the drive control circuitry 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the left and right drive motors 145, 146 are hydrostatic motors and the drive control circuitry 130 includes various valves and components that provide hydraulic fluid flow to the left and right drive motors 145, 146 to drive and steer the power machine in response to drive signals 148 generated by the drive control component 142.

The lift arm control component 144 operates the lift and tilt cylinders 106, 108 through the lift arm control circuitry 110. Illustratively, the control circuitry 110 includes various valves and components that provide hydraulic fluid flow to lift and tilt cylinders 106, 108 to raise, lower or tilt an implement or tool coupled to the lift arm assembly 102. The hydraulic fluid flow is controlled in response to the arm control signal 150 generated by the lift arm control component 144.

As previously described, the machine controller 126 receives input from operator controls 116. In the illustrated embodiment, drive control input 122 is processed by the drive control component 142 to generate the drive signals 148 to energize the left and right drive motors 145, 146 to impart forward, reverse or steer motion. Lift/tilt control input 120 is processed by the lift arm control component 144 to generate the arm control signal 150 to operate the lift and tilt functions. The lift arm control component 144 is programmed to include device specific control parameters, such as how much current is needed to move the hydraulic cylinder 106, 108 a specified distance. The lift arm control component 144 utilizes these device specific parameters to generate the arm control signal 150.

As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, machine controller 126 also utilizes input from an automated control assembly 160 to operate the power machine. In the illustrated embodiment, the automated control assembly 160 includes an automated control module 162, which as shown is configured to receive input from one or more sensors 164 as shown. In the illustrated

embodiment, the automated control module 162 generates a universal signal 166 based upon the input from the one or more sensors 164. The universal control signal 166 is transmitted to the machine controller 126 to generate a device- specific control signal.

Illustratively, sensors 164 include laser receivers or other sensor devices, which provide an electrical signal to locate a position of the power machine or components on the power machine relative to a reference position. To provide automated control of the lift arm assembly 102, the universal signal 166 is transmitted to the lift arm control component 144. The lift arm control component 144 uses the programmed device parameters to generate the device specific control signal.

Thus as described, the universal signal 166 is adapted for use for different control components and circuitry and thus can be adapted for use on machines having different control configurations. In the illustrated embodiment, the universal signal 166 generated by the automated control module 162 includes a position signal, which is utilized to generate the device specific control signal to actuate or energize on-board devices (e.g. hydraulic cylinders 106, 108) in response to location input from the sensors 164.

As shown, in FIG. 2, the machine can be operated based upon user input through the operator controls 116 and/or based upon sensor input through the automated control module 162. In the illustrated embodiment, the operator controls 116 include a control selector 168 to allow the operator to choose user based control or automated control. Illustratively, the control selector 168 can be a toggle switch or other device that allows the user to switch between user control and automated control.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an automated control assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the automated control module 162 is attached to the lift arm 105 of the power machine and receives input from one or more sensors 164 coupled to the lift arm 105 or attachment (e.g. bucket 104).

The one or more sensors 164 are coupled to the lift arm 105 or attachment to provide position information for the lift arm 105 or attachment.

As previously described, input from the one or more sensors 164 is processed by the automated control module 162 to generate the universal control signal 166. The universal control signal 166 is transmitted to the machine controller 126 to control functions of the power machine, for example lift and tilt functions, as previously described. In the embodiment shown, the automated control module 162 is removably attached to the lift arm. Sensors are mounted remote from the automated control module 162 and are electrically connected to the automated control module 162 via wires.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the automated control module 162 is electrically coupled to one or more machine controllers 126 through a connector assembly 170. The connector assembly 170 includes an electrical cable 172 and connector plug 174 that is insertable into an electrical socket or port 176 to removably connect the automated control module 162 to the machine controller 126. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable 172 and connector plug 174 are connected to the automated control module 162 and the connector plug 174 is inserted into socket 176 connected to the power machine via a bracket or support 178. The socket 176 is electrically coupled to the machine controller 126 to provide the electrical interface between the automated control module 162 and the machine controller 126 when the connector plug 174 is inserted into the socket 176.

Alternatively, the automated control module 162 includes socket 176 and the automated control module 162 is electrically connected to the machine controller 126 via a cable (not shown) "on-board" the power machine to provide the electrical interface to the machine controller 126 as previously described.

In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the automated control module 162 is electrically coupled to the machine controller 126 via a wireless interface. In the embodiment shown, the automated control module

162 includes a wireless communication device 180 that is configured to interface or talk to a wireless communication device 182 "on-board" the power machine.

The wireless communication devices 180, 182 wirelessly transmit and receive data or information through known communication protocols. In the embodiment shown, the wireless communication device 180 coupled to the automated control module 162 transmits the universal control signal 166 to the wireless communication device 182 coupled to the machine controller 126. The machine controller 126 receives the universal control signal 166 and generates a device control signal to operate devices or motors "on-board" the power machine.

In an alternate embodiment, the wireless communication component 180 is separate from the automated control module 162 and is electrically connected to the automated control module 162 for use. Similarly, the wireless communication device 182 can be an integral component of the machine controller 126 or separately attached.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an illustrated embodiment of an automated control assembly. As shown in step 184, the automated control module 162 is attached to the power machine to provide automated control. The automated control module 162 can be attached to the one or more lift arms as illustrated in FIG. 3 via a mounting bracket (not shown in FIG. 5). Sensors 164 are connected to the automated control module 162 to provide position input as described. Sensors 164 can be connected prior to or following attachment of the automated control module 162 to the power machine.

In step 186 in FIG. 5, the automated control module 162 is enabled to implement automated control. In the illustrated embodiment, the automated control module is electrically coupled to the machine controller 126 to transmit and/or receive data as described. In the embodiments illustrated, the automated control module 162 is electrically coupled to the machine controller 12 by plugging connector plug 174 into socket 176 or via a wireless interface.

Thereafter automated control is enabled via control selector 168 as previously illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an automated control assembly including an automated control module 162 that is implemented through a controller area network. (CA-M). In the illustrated embodiment, the automated control module 162 is connected to a controller area network bus 190 to communicate with machine controller 126 on the CAN bus 190. As shown, input from the operator controls 116 is also transmitted to the machine controller 126 through the CAN bus 190 via an operator controls component 192. The illustrated machine controller 126 receives input from the operator controls 116 or automated control module 162 and outputs a control signal to operate actuator devices 106, 108, 145, 146 or other devices of the power machine.

Although a particular machine controller is shown, application is not limited to interface with the particular machine controller 126 shown and other embodiment can be utilized to implement embodiments of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.