US 11,946,229 B2
Work machine with sensor enabled user control
Alessandro Rossi, Seaham (GB)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/294,725
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 12, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/060832
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/106489, PCT Pub. Date May 28, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1818809 (GB), filed on Nov. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0010531 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. E02F 9/24 (2006.01); B60N 2/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/75 (2018.01); B60W 50/12 (2012.01); E02F 9/20 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 9/24 (2013.01) [B60N 2/002 (2013.01); B60N 2/797 (2018.02); B60W 50/12 (2013.01); E02F 9/2025 (2013.01); E02F 9/2004 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A work machine comprising:
a tool;
a seat;
an armrest;
a control system, the control system including a control operable by a left or right hand of an operator to control the work machine or the tool when the operator is seated in the seat and a corresponding, left or right arm of the operator is resting on the armrest;
an armrest sensor; and
a timer adapted to measure a time period between the armrest sensor sensing the presence of the operator arm and the armrest sensor not sensing the presence of the operator arm;
wherein the armrest sensor is configured to operate the control system:
to enable the control responsive to sensing application of the operator's arm to the armrest and the timer, and
to disable the control responsive to sensing removal of the operator's arm from the armrest and the timer.