US 11,708,685 B2
Tracked vehicle with rotating upper structure and processes therefor
Stephane Peloquin, Saint-Hyacinthe (CA); and Jonathan Thibault, Shefford (CA)
Assigned to Prinoth Ltd., St. John (CA)
Filed by Prinoth Ltd., St. John (CA)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,554.
Application 17/301,554 is a continuation of application No. 16/318,272, granted, now 11,001,986, previously published as PCT/CA2017/050876, filed on Jul. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/364,588, filed on Jul. 20, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0222398 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E02F 9/12 (2006.01); B62D 55/06 (2006.01); B60P 1/16 (2006.01); E02F 9/20 (2006.01); E02F 9/22 (2006.01); B60P 1/44 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 9/123 (2013.01) [B60P 1/162 (2013.01); B62D 55/06 (2013.01); B60P 1/4471 (2013.01); E02F 9/2037 (2013.01); E02F 9/2253 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for execution by a processor of an electronic control unit, comprising:
detecting an operator command to align an upper structure of a tracked vehicle relative to a lower structure of the tracked vehicle; and
in response to detection of the operator command, applying controlled rotation of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about an axis to align the upper structure relative to the lower structure at a predetermined relative angle;
wherein applying controlled rotation of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about the axis to align the upper structure relative to the lower structure at the predetermined relative angle comprises limiting angular displacement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about the axis in accordance with an angular displacement limit curve.
 
16. A tracked vehicle comprising:
a body comprising a lower structure and an upper structure rotatable relative to the lower structure about 360 degrees of an axis;
a motor for rotating the upper structure relative to the lower structure;
first and second track assemblies mounted on, respectively, opposite lateral sides of the body;
an operator interface for allowing an operator of the tracked vehicle to enter operator commands;
an electronic control unit configured for:
detecting an operator command to align an upper structure of a tracked vehicle relative to a lower structure of the tracked vehicle; and
in response to detection of the operator command, applying controlled rotation of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about an axis to align the upper structure relative to the lower structure at a predetermined relative angle;
wherein applying controlled rotation of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about the axis to align the upper structure relative to the lower structure at the predetermined relative angle comprises limiting angular displacement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure about the axis in accordance with an angular displacement limit curve.