Fine Tuning Work Modes On Excavators

Abstract

Fine tuning work modes on excavators includes a programmable controller, a control panel and a display interface. The control panel preferably includes a work mode selection device and a work mode on-off button. The work mode on-off button in the “on” position shows the current work mode on the display interface. The display interface preferably includes the display of work modes, a display of attachment modes; a power and application indicator display; an engine rpm graphical display; a work mode soft dial with a work mode display; and an engine rpm soft dial with an rpm display. The engine rpm adjustment can be set for a specific work mode. The power and application indicator display shows the amount of power that the operator is selecting for a particular work mode. A tuning algorithm saves commonly used engine rpm and combinations of work mode and attachment settings in an algorithm database.

1 . Fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment, comprising:
 a programmable controller includes control software, said programmable controller receives performance data from an engine, said performance data is monitored by said control software;   a display interface includes a power and application indicator display, a work mode dial, a work mode display, an engine rpm adjustment dial, an engine rpm display, movement of said engine rpm adjustment dial is displayed on said engine rpm display, movement of said work mode dial is displayed on said work mode display, data from said work mode selection device and said performance data from the engine are calculated by said control software and displayed on said power and application indicator display, wherein adjustment of said engine rpm and said work mode selection device by an operator is capable of optimizing the operation of a piece of heavy equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said engine rpm display is at least one of an engine rpm graphical display and a rpm display.   
     
     
         3 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said display interface includes a display of work modes.   
     
     
         4 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said display of work modes includes an idle mode, a grading mode, a lift mode, a standard mode, a power mode and an attachment mode.   
     
     
         5 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said display interface includes a display of attachment modes.   
     
     
         6 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said display of attachment modes includes hammer, sheer, thumb, rake, grapple and bracket.   
     
     
         7 . Fine tuning work modes for heavy equipment, comprising:
 a programmable controller includes control software, said programmable controller receives performance data from an engine, said performance data is monitored by said control software;   a control panel includes a work mode selection device; and   a display interface includes a power and application indicator display, an engine rpm adjustment dial, an engine rpm display and a work mode display, movement of said engine rpm adjustment dial is displayed on said engine rpm display, movement of said work mode dial is displayed on said work mode display,   
       data from said work mode selection device and said performance data from the engine are calculated by said control software and displayed on said power and application indicator display, 
       wherein adjustment of said engine rpm and said work mode selection device by an operator is capable of optimizing the operation of a piece of heavy equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said engine rpm display is at least one of an engine rpm graphical display and a rpm display.   
     
     
         9 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said display interface includes a display of work modes.   
     
     
         10 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said display of work modes includes an idle mode, a grading mode, a lift mode, a standard mode, a power mode and an attachment mode.   
     
     
         11 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said display interface includes a display of attachment modes.   
     
     
         12 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said display of attachment modes includes hammer, sheer, thumb, rake, grapple and bracket.   
     
     
         13 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a work mode button is located on said control panel, when said work mode on-off button is in the “on” position, said work mode is shown on said display of work modes.   
     
     
         14 . The fine tuning of work modes for heavy equipment, comprising:
 a programmable controller includes control software, said control software includes a tuning algorithm for recording commonly used engine rpm and work mode combinations for attachment settings in an algorithm database; and   a manual override button and a toggle algorithm button, wherein said manual override button is capable of overriding manual settings, said toggle algorithm button is capable of displaying different combinations of engine rpm and work mode for specific attachments.   
     
     
         15 . The fine tuning of work modes of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a display interface includes a display of work modes.   
     
     
         16 . The fine tuning of work modes of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said display of work modes includes an idle mode, a grading mode, a lift mode, a standard mode, a power mode and an attachment mode.   
     
     
         17 . The fine tuning of work modes of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a display device includes a display of attachment modes.   
     
     
         18 . The fine tuning of work modes of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said display of attachment modes includes hammer, sheer, thumb, rake, grapple and bracket.   
     
     
         19 . The fine tuning of work modes of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 said display interface includes a power and application indicator display, data from said control software is displayed on said power and application indicator display.