Blade positioning system for motor grader

Abstract

A positioning system for a blade associated with a drawbar-circle-moldboard of a motor grader is disclosed. The positioning system may include a cylinder connecting the blade to the drawbar-circle-moldboard and configured to affect movement of the blade relative to the drawbar-circle-moldboard, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the blade. The positioning system may include an input device having a button configured to receive a first operator input indicative of a desire to store a target position of the blade as one of a plurality of predefined blade positions, and receive a second operator input indicative of a selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions. The positioning system may further include a controller configured to selectively actuate the cylinder based on the selection and the signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A positioning system for a blade associated with a drawbar-circle-moldboard of a motor grader, comprising:
 a cylinder connecting the blade to the drawbar-circle-moldboard and configured to affect movement of the blade relative to the drawbar-circle-moldboard;   a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the blade;   an input device having a button configured to:
 receive a first operator input indicative of a desire to store a target position of the blade as one of a plurality of predefined blade positions; and 
 receive a second operator input indicative of a selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions; and 
   a controller configured to selectively actuate the cylinder based on the selection and the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , further including a display configured to display the plurality of predefined blade positions and illustrate the selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions. 
     
     
         3 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the blade includes a cross-slope inclination. 
     
     
         4 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device includes a joystick. 
     
     
         5 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the button is a first button; and   the input device has a second button configured to receive a third operator input indicative of a desire to cause the cylinder to move the blade to a corresponding selected blade position.   
     
     
         6 . The positioning system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to store the target position of the blade as one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the first button is engaged for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The positioning system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to select one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the first button is engaged for less than the predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The positioning system of  claim 5 , wherein the input device has a third button configured to receive a fourth operator input indicative of a predetermined incremental adjustment of the position of the blade. 
     
     
         9 . A method for positioning a blade associated with a drawbar-circle-moldboard of a motor grader, comprising:
 sensing a current position of the blade;   receiving a first operator input indicative of a desire to store a target position of the blade as one of a plurality of predefined blade positions via a button;   receiving a second operator input indicative of a selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions via the same button; and   selectively actuating a cylinder to affect movement of the blade relative to the drawbar-circle-moldboard based on the selection and the current position of the blade.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including displaying the plurality of predefined blade positions and the selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the position of the blade includes a cross-slope inclination. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the button is a first button, and the method further includes receiving a third operator input indicative of a desire to cause the cylinder to move the blade to a corresponding selected blade position via a second button. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including storing the target position of the blade as one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the first operator input is received for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including selecting one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the second operator input is received for less than the predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further including receiving a fourth operator input indicative of a predetermined incremental adjustment of the position of the blade. 
     
     
         16 . A motor grader, comprising:
 a power source;   at least one traction device;   a frame;   a drawbar-circle-moldboard supported by the frame;   a blade pivotally connectable to the drawbar-circle-moldboard;   a cylinder connecting the blade to the drawbar-circle-moldboard and configured to affect movement of the blade relative to the drawbar-circle-moldboard;   a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the blade;   a joystick having:
 a first button configured to:
 receive a first operator input indicative of a desire to store a target position of the blade as one of a plurality of predefined blade positions; and 
 receive a second operator input indicative of a selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions; and 
 
 a second button configured to receive a third operator input indicative of a desire to cause the cylinder to move the blade to a selected blade position corresponding with the selection; and 
   a controller configured to selectively actuate the cylinder based on the first, second, and third operator inputs and the signal.   
     
     
         17 . The motor grader of  claim 16 , further including a display configured to display the plurality of predefined blade positions and illustrate the selection of one of the plurality of predefined blade positions. 
     
     
         18 . The motor grader of  claim 16 , wherein the position of the blade includes a cross-slope inclination. 
     
     
         19 . The motor grader of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to store the target position of the blade as one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the first button is engaged for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The motor grader of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to select one of the plurality of predefined blade positions when the first button is engaged for less than the predetermined period of time.