Control system for a grading machine

Abstract

A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, a blade pitch cylinder coupled to a top portion of the grading blade, a user interface, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive an input from the user interface and extend or retract the blade pitch cylinder to adjust a pitch of the grading blade to one of a plurality of predetermined pitch positions based on the input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grading machine, comprising
 a machine body;   a grading blade;   a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body;   a blade pitch cylinder coupled to a top portion of the grading blade;   a user interface; and   a control system configured to receive an input from the user interface and extend or retract the blade pitch cylinder to adjust a pitch of the grading blade to one of a plurality of predetermined pitch positions based on the input.   
     
     
         2 . The grading machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade pitch sensor configured to measure a pitch of the grading blade. 
     
     
         3 . The grading machine of  claim 2 , wherein the blade pitch sensor includes at least one of an inertial measurement sensor mounted on the top portion of the grading blade or a linear displacement sensor coupled to the blade pitch cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The grading machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of predetermined pitch positions are in a range of negative five degrees to positive 40 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The grading machine of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined pitch positions include a rolled back position at approximately negative five degrees, a neutral position at approximately positive ten degrees, and an aggressive position at approximately positive forty degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The grading machine of  claim 5 , wherein the rolled back corresponds to a spreading mode, wherein the neutral position corresponds to a grading mode, and wherein the aggressive position corresponds to a cutting mode. 
     
     
         7 . The grading machine of  claim 6 , wherein the spreading mode, the grading mode, and the cutting mode are displayed on the user interface to allow for selection of the predetermined pitch position corresponding to the selected mode. 
     
     
         8 . The grading machine of  claim 7 , wherein the spreading mode, the grading mode, and the cutting mode are displayed on the user interface as user selectable icons indicating the respective blade configurations. 
     
     
         9 . The grading machine of  claim 1 , wherein the grading blade is laterally movable relative to the blade pitch cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The grading machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a touch screen interface mounted in a cab of the grading machine. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a grading machine, comprising:
 sensing a pitch of a grading blade with a sensor;   receiving a user input to position the grading blade to a user-selected pitch, wherein the user-selected pitch is one of a plurality of predetermined pitches; and   positioning the grading blade to the user-selected pitch by positioning a blade pitch cylinder.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of an inertial measurement unit mounted on a top portion of the grading blade or a linear displacement sensor coupled to a blade pitch cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined pitch positions include a rolled back position at approximately negative five degrees, a neutral position at approximately positive ten degrees, and an aggressive position at approximately positive forty degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the user input to position the grading blade to a user-selected pitch includes displaying at least one of a spreading mode, a grading mode, or a cutting mode on a user interface as user selectable icons indicating the respective blade configurations, and receiving a user selection of one of the icons. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a second user input to position the grading blade to a second user-selected pitch, wherein the second user-selected pitch is one of the plurality of predetermined pitches; and
 positioning the grading blade to the second user-selected pitch by positioning the blade pitch cylinder.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a grading machine, comprising:
 receiving a user input to position a grading blade to a user-selected orientation, wherein the user-selected orientation is one of a plurality of predetermined pitches;   positioning the grading blade to the user-selected orientation by extending or retracting a blade pitch cylinder;   beginning a grading operation;   sensing the orientation of the grading blade; and   if the sensed orientation is not the user-selected orientation, automatically adjusting the orientation of the grading blade to the user-selected orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined pitch positions include a rolled back position at approximately negative five degrees, a neutral position at approximately positive ten degrees, and an aggressive position at approximately positive forty degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of sensing the orientation of the grading blade includes a controller being in communication with a blade pitch sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of sensing the orientation of the blade includes a controller in communication with a linear displacement sensor coupled to the blade pitch cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the user input includes receiving a user input via a user interface, and wherein the user interface is configured to display icons that correspond to the plurality of predetermined orientations.