E02F3/845

CLOSED LOOP FEEDBACK CIRCLE DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR GRADERS
20210131060 · 2021-05-06 ·

A closed loop feedback circle drive system utilized onboard a motor grader includes an operator input device, a blade, and a multi-speed hydraulic motor having a motor output shaft. The motor output shaft is mechanically linked to blade such that motor output shaft rotation drives rotation of the blade about a blade rotation axis. A controller is operably coupled to the operator input device and to the multi-speed hydraulic motor. The controller is configured to: (i) receive blade rotation commands via the operator input device to rotate the blade about the rotation axis in a commanded manner; and (ii) control the multi-speed hydraulic motor to implement the blade rotation commands, while repeatedly adjusting the rotational speed of the motor output shaft to reduce variations in a rotational velocity of the blade due to changes in blade loading conditions occurring during motor grader operation.

Method of controlling motor grader and motor grader
10961685 · 2021-03-30 · ·

A motor grader includes a blade between a front wheel and a rear wheel, the blade being attached to a swing circle which adjusts a blade angle. A control method performed in the motor grader includes obtaining current topography in front of the motor grader and adjusting the blade angle to an angle in accordance with the current topography by revolving the swing circle.

Slope assist chassis compensation

Systems and methods for implementing a machine control system within a construction machine. The machine control system may include a chassis orientation sensor configured to be mounted to a chassis of the construction machine for detecting a chassis pitch angle. The machine control system may also include an implement orientation sensor configured to be mounted to an implement of the construction machine for detecting an implement pitch angle. The machine control system may further include one or more processors configured to perform operations including receiving, from the chassis orientation sensor, the chassis pitch angle, receiving, from the implement orientation sensor, the implement pitch angle, determining a target pitch angle of the implement based on the chassis pitch angle and the implement pitch angle, and causing movement of one or more implement arms so as to set a pitch angle of the implement to the target pitch angle.

Hydraulic Excavator
20210207339 · 2021-07-08 ·

In a hydraulic excavator including a track structure, a swing structure swingably disposed on an upper portion of the track structure, a work implement coupled to the swing structure, an earth removal device including a blade coupled to the track structure and a lift cylinder configured to raise and lower the blade, an operation sensor configured to detect an operation of a travelling lever, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the blade with respect to the track structure, an antenna for a satellite positioning system, the antenna being mounted on the swing structure, and a controller configured to calculate positional data regarding the blade, the controller is configured to determine a travelling operation on the basis of a signal of the operation sensor, calculate a travelling direction of straight forward travelling of the track structure as an orientation of the track structure when the straight forward travelling of the track structure is detected from a trajectory of the antenna with a state in which no turn travelling operation is being performed as a precondition, calculate horizontal coordinates of the blade on the basis of the orientation of the track structure, and calculate the height of the blade on the basis of a position of the antenna and a measured value of the height sensor.

YAW ESTIMATION
20210207341 · 2021-07-08 ·

Methods and systems are described for estimating yaw of an implement relative to a machine. The yaw is estimated using gyro signals. The gyro signals may be provided by gyro sensors such as IMUs that are coupled to the implement and machine.

Work machine

A work machine includes: a satellite communication antenna for detecting a position of an upper swing structure; angle sensors detecting postures of two work devices; position computing devices that calculate postures/positions of the two work devices on the basis of outputs from the satellite communication antenna and the angle sensors; a display device on which the position of at least one work device of the two work devices and a position of a target surface are displayed; a display selection switch that outputs a first input signal for displaying a work device selected by an operator from between the two work devices on the display device; and a display changeover section that displays the work device corresponding to the first input signal input from the display selection switch out of the two work devices and the position of the target work object of the work device on the display device.

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WORK VEHICLE, METHOD, AND WORK VEHICLE
20210025142 · 2021-01-28 · ·

A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes a controller. The controller determines a target design terrain indicating a target trajectory of the work implement, and operates the work implement to dump materials on a current terrain sequentially from a nearer side to a farther side of the work vehicle in accordance with the target design terrain. At least a part of the target design terrain is located above the current terrain.

CIRCLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A GRADING MACHINE
20210002856 · 2021-01-07 · ·

A control system for a grading machine includes a circle angle sensor coupled to a circle. The circle is coupled to and supports a grading blade, and the circle angle sensor is configured to measure an angular position of the circle. The control system also includes a blade load sensor configured to measure a load on the grading blade. The control system also includes a circle drive system including a circle drive motor and a controller. The circle drive motor is configured to engage with and rotate the circle around a circle axis, and the controller is configured to control the rotation of the circle under a circle rotation command by monitoring the angular position of the circle and the load on the grading blade.

Depth gauge tool and grader blade assembly
10883246 · 2021-01-05 ·

A depth gauge tool for a grader blade includes a first mounting bracket, a first depth wheel assembly carried on the first mounting bracket, a second mounting bracket and a second depth wheel assembly carried on the second mounting bracket. Each depth wheel assembly includes a plurality of radially arrayed fingers. A grader blade assembly and a method of grading are also provided.

Road maintenance using stored maintenance passes
10883248 · 2021-01-05 · ·

In accordance with an example embodiment, a work vehicle may include a vehicle positioning system providing a vehicle position signal, a ground-engaging blade moveable by blade actuators, a blade sensing system providing a blade position signal, and a controller in communication with the vehicle positioning system, the blade actuators, and the blade sensing system. The controller may be configured to receive the vehicle position signal, receive the blade position signal, determine a target blade position using the vehicle position signal and a stored maintenance pass, the stored maintenance pass indicative of a past position of the blade associated with a past position of the vehicle for a plurality of past vehicle positions, and control the blade actuators to move the blade toward the target blade position.