Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a trencher control system that is reliable and easy to service. The trencher control system according to the present disclosure includes an improved wiring layout that, in part, results in a trencher that is more reliable and also easier to repair. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, control nodes of the control system are located near the trencher components that they control. The layout of the control nodes significantly reduces the overall wiring, and particularly reduces the amount of wiring extending to and from the cab. A method of controlling a trencher remotely is also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/008,934 filed on Dec. 19, 2007 titled Trencher Control System, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a trencher control system and a method of controlling a trencher. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Trencher functions are typically controlled by an operator seated within a cab of the trencher. From the cab the operator can maneuver the trencher and direct trenching operations. A typical trencher control system includes several wires connecting the cab to each of the components of the trencher. An average trencher includes 80-100 separate wires that connect the cab to trencher components. Since some trencher cabs are configured to move relative to the chassis of the trencher (e.g., raise and lower) to provide operators a better view of the trenching site during trenching, the numerous wires that connect the cab to the trencher regularly flex and are therefore prone to failure. Identifying the failed wire(s) from the group of wires can be time-consuming and difficult. The present disclosure provides an improved trencher control system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure provides a trencher control system that is reliable and easy to service. The trencher control system according to the present disclosure includes an improved wiring layout that, in part, results in a trencher that is more reliable and also easier to repair. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, control nodes of the control system are located near the trencher components that they control. The layout of the control nodes significantly reduces the overall wiring, and particularly reduces the amount of wiring extending to and from the cab. A method of controlling a trencher remotely is also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a trencher control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a trencher including the trencher control system of the  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a trencher of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a trencher of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an end view of a trencher of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a portion of the control system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a portion of the control system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a portion of the control system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a figure showing the wiring paths between components of the trencher system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  identifies various trencher components and control nodes of an embodiment of the trencher control system according to the present disclosure. The layout of the components and control nodes minimizes the wiring and improves the reliability and cost of the trencher. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a trencher  10  according to the present disclosure. The trencher includes a cab  12  supported on a frame adjacent a first end  16  of the trencher  10  and an engine  18  ( FIG. 6 ) supported on the frame at a second end  20  of the trencher  10 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the trencher  10 . Section A-A references the location of control components near the valve bank  26 , which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 . Section B-B references the location of control components near the engine  18 , which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 . Section C-C references the location of control components near the cab, which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 8 . It should be appreciated that sections A-A, B-B, and C-C in  FIG. 3  show the relative vertical (Y) and front-to-back (X) positions of the control components of the trencher  10  from a side view according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Other alternative layouts according to the present disclosure are also possible. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the trencher  10 . Again, section A-A references the location of control components near the valve bank, which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 ; section B-B references the location of control components near the engine  18 , which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 ; and section C-C references the location of control components near the cab, which are shown in more detail in  FIG. 8 . It should be appreciated that sections A-A, B-B, and C-C in  FIG. 4  show the relative left-to-right (Z) and front-to-back (X) positions of the control components of the trencher  10  from a top view according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Other alternative layouts according to the present disclosure are also possible. 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the trencher  10 . Again, section A-A references the location of control components that are shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 ; section B-B references the location of control components that are shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 ; and section C-C references the location of control components that are shown in more detail in  FIG. 8 . It should be appreciated that sections A-A, B-B, and C-C in  FIG. 5  show the relative left-to-right (Z) and vertical (Y) positions of the control components of the trencher  10  from an end view according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Other alternative layouts according to the present disclosure are also possible. 
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the engine  18  and the main controller devices  22 ,  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a valve bank  26  and the valve controller devices  24 ; and  FIG. 8  is a front view of a control panel (also referred to as the dash)  28  and a perspective view of the control panel/dash controllers  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the control components (e.g., main controller devices  22 , the valve controller devices  24 , and the dash controllers  30 ) also referred to herein as control nodes are located near the components (drive units (engines, cylinders, pumps), sensor, etc.) that they directly control. In the depicted embodiment, each control node includes a microprocessor capable of sending and receiving control signals from the components and controlling the components based in part on such signals. For example, the main controller  22  controls the engine function based on signals received from the dash controller  30  and the valve controller  24 . 
         [0020]    In the depicted embodiments the control node that is nearest the component is the one that controls it. In the depicted embodiment the control node that is nearest the component is wired to the component. In the depicted configurations the length of the wire between the control node and the component is less than 15 feet, more preferably the wire is less than 10 feet, even more preferably the wire is less than 5 feet, and most preferably the wire is less than three feet long. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the main controller devices  22  are located in section B-B near the engine  18  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the main controller  22  is located in the battery box (not shown) of an engine compartment of the trencher  10 . The main controller devices  22  are configured to receive two to four wires from each of the following functional components of the trencher  10 : track speed sensors, the track drive, the track pressure sensor, the track tilt sensor, the attachment speed sensor, the attachment drive, the attachment pressure sensor, fuel sensors, hydraulic tank temperature sensors, hydraulic tank level sensor, and hydraulic charge pressure sensor. The above-listed components are typically located relatively close to the main controller devices  22 ; therefore, the wires from the above-identified functional components to the main controller devices  22  are relatively short. Also, central to the main controller devices  22  is the engine  18 , which is connected to the main controller devices  22  via CAN (Controller Area Network) technology, which is essentially a network established among microcontrollers. The location of the controller devices  22  in section B-B allows minimal wiring. For example, instead of individual wires running between the cab  12  and the engine  18  for controlling the throttle and for gathering engine feedback (e.g., RPM, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, etc.), the present disclosure provides a system wherein only a few wires connect the controller devices  22  to the control device in the cab  12 . The few wires transmit feedback and control signals from the operator to the above-identified trencher components. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the valve controller devices  24  located in section A-A are near the valve bank  26 . The controller devices  24  control the function of subcomponents of the trencher by controlling the distribution of hydraulic fluid through hydraulic hoses (not shown) that are connected to the valve bank  26 . The directional control valves of the valve bank  26  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure control the following functions: crane lift and extend, boom lift, tilt track level and tilt, cab lift, dirt drags, crumber shoe, park brake, track speed, and attachment tilting terrain leveler. Each of the above-listed example functions typically include wires, a few running to the controller devices  24 . The location of the controller devices  24  near the valve bank  26  allows each of these wires to be relatively short. According to the present disclosure, a few longer runs of non-centralized wiring are also directed to the valve controller devices  24 , for example, for the accumulator, attachment charge pressure, attachment temperature sensor, attachment speed sensor, horn, back-up alarm, auto greaser, terrain level sensor, and conveyor drives. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a front view of a dash  28  and perspective view of the dash controller devices  30  located in section C-C are shown. The control panel/dash controller devices  30  are located in the dash  28 , which is located in the cab  12 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure the dash controller devices  30  are connected to wiring from the following: propel handle that controls the tracks; attachment switch and knob that control the attachment; conveyor switches and knobs that control the conveyor; steering knob that controls the tracks; load control knob that controls the boom, attachment and track with respect to the engine RPM; mode switches that control the track and attachment; crane switches that control a crane attachment; boom control switches that control the boom lift, which is a hydraulic valve function; tilt track switches that control the tilt track, which is a hydraulic valve function; cab movement switches that control the cab lift, which is a hydraulic function; dirt drag switch that controls the dirt drags, which is a hydraulic function; crumber shoe switch that controls the crumber shoe, which is a hydraulic function; park brake switch which controls the park brake, which is a hydraulic function; E-stop which controls all power; key that controls all power and the starter; horn switch that controls the horn, and throttle switch that controls the engine throttle. Each of the above devices is generally referred to herein as user interface devices. Also, each of these devices typically uses two to six wires. The location and layout of the dash controller devices  30  keep each of these wires as short as possible. According to the present disclosure, the wires run between the user interface and the dash controller devices  30  instead of from the user interface to the devices themselves. 
         [0024]    In the disclosed embodiment the control system consists of two or more microprocessors connected via CANbus wires that feed information to each other. An advantage of the CANbus is that it only requires two shielded wires to communicate, instead of separate wires for each function. In an alternative embodiment the signals that would otherwise be transmitted via the shielded wires are, instead, communicated to the control panel wirelessly. Accordingly, the disclosed layout streamlines the control and feedback signals to and from the cab, thereby making it feasible to remove the control panel from the cab to control the trencher remotely. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an example of the above-described wiring configuration is shown in more detail. In the depicted arrangement, each of the controllers  30 ,  24 ,  22  are connected to a CAN High and CAN Low line for communication. As discussed above, each of the controllers  30 ,  24 ,  22  are also wired to the components that are local to the controllers  30 ,  24 ,  22 . For example, the dash controller  30  is shown wired to the steering knob, the propel handle, and the attachment switch. The valve controller  24  is shown wired to the crane lift, the boom lift, and the cab lift. The main controller  22  is shown wired to the track drive, the attachment drive, and the track speed sensor. 
         [0026]    In the depicted configuration, the microprocessors in each of the controllers are able to communicate directly to each other. For example, the dash controller  30  can send a control signal from the propel handle to the main controller  22  relating to the desired function of the attachment drive (e.g., drive forward), and the main controller  22  can also send and receive signals from the valve controller  24  based on the received control signal regarding the desired function of the attachment drive (e.g., requesting information regarding the position of the boom). The main controller  22  can then determine if the desired function can be carried out and in what manner (e.g., the forward drive speed may be limited by the position of the boom). The ability of each of the controllers to directly communicate with the other controllers about the components that it is wired to enables the system to operate efficiently with very few wires. This simplified wiring layout provides many advantages (e.g., reliability, relatively easy to maintain, fast communications, relatively easy to install, relatively easy to modify the machine, etc.). 
         [0027]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended