Patent ID: 7032332
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a backhoe wherein the backhoe includes a work vehicle, a backhoe implement pivotally coupled to the work vehicle, at least one boom swing cylinder coupled to the implement and to the vehicle to pivot the implement with respect to the vehicle, a bi-directional hydraulic control valve fluidly coupled to the at least one cylinder to control the flow of hydraulic fluid flow thereto, an electronic bypass valve fluidly coupled between two ports of the hydraulic cylinder to permit hydraulic fluid flow therebetween, and an electronic controller electronically coupled to the bypass valve to drive the bypass valve, the method comprising the steps of: electronically monitoring in the electronic controller at least one physical parameter indicative of the incipient oscillation of the backhoe implement with respect to the vehicle; determining in the electronic controller whether the incipient oscillation is going to occur; electronically opening the bypass valve by the electronic controller if the incipient oscillation has been determined to occur in the foregoing step; maintaining the bypass valve in an open condition for a predetermined period of time until a quantity of fluid sufficient to damp incipient oscillation has passed through the bypass valve; and closing the bypass valve once the quantity of fluid has passed through the bypass valve.