Tool control system for work vehicle

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a main body, a boom pivotably connected to the main body, an arm pivotably connected to the boom, and a tool connected to the arm. A tool control system for the work vehicle includes a boom cylinder to extend and retract the boom, an arm cylinder to extend and retract the arm, at least one input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions, a diverter connecting the boom and arm cylinders, and a controller. The diverter can carry working fluid exiting the boom cylinder into the arm cylinder. The diverter includes a diverter passage, and a diverter valve disposed in the diverter passage to control an amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage. The controller controls the boom and arm cylinders, and the diverter valve to control the amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool control system for a work vehicle including a main body, a boom pivotably connected to the main body, an arm pivotably connected to the boom, and a tool connected to the arm, the tool control system comprising:
 a boom cylinder configured to extend the boom from the main body and retract the boom to the main body;   an arm cylinder configured to extend the arm from the boom and retract the arm to the boom;   at least one input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the at least one input device;   a diverter connecting the boom cylinder and arm cylinder, the diverter being configured to carry working fluid exiting the boom cylinder into the arm cylinder, the diverter including
 a diverter passage, and 
 a diverter valve disposed in the diverter passage to control an amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage; and 
   a controller configured to control
 the boom cylinder and the arm cylinder in response to the manipulation directions of the at least one input device, and 
 the diverter valve to control the amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a diverter control element connected to the controller, the diverter control element being operable by the operator to control the diverter valve using the controller.   
     
     
         3 . The tool control system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the diverter control element includes at least one of a button, a switch, and a touch screen.   
     
     
         4 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the diverter valve is switchable between at least a closed position and at least one open position, the working fluid not flowing through the diverter passage when the diverter valve is in the closed position.   
     
     
         5 . The tool control system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 when diverter valve is in the at least one open position, a hydraulic flow from a pump to the arm cylinder may be reduced to save energy.   
     
     
         6 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the diverter path connects an outflow side of the boom cylinder during extending of the boom, and an inflow side of the arm cylinder during extending of the arm.   
     
     
         7 . The tool control system according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the boom cylinder is retracted during extending of the boom, and the arm cylinder is extended during extending of the arm.   
     
     
         8 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one input device includes
 a first input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the first input device, and 
 a second input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the second input device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The tool control system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 one of the first and second input devices is usable to control movement of the boom, and an other of the first and second input devices is usable to control movement of the arm.   
     
     
         10 . The tool control system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first input device is a control lever, and the second input device is a control lever.   
     
     
         11 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one input device includes a control lever.   
     
     
         12 . The tool control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tool includes a feller head.   
     
     
         13 . A work vehicle comprising:
 a main body;   a boom pivotably connected to the main body;   an arm pivotably connected to the boom;   a tool connected to the arm; and   a tool control system including
 a boom cylinder configured to extend the boom from the main body and retract the boom to the main body; 
 an arm cylinder configured to extend the arm from the boom and retract the arm to the boom; 
 at least one input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the at least one input device; 
 a diverter connecting the boom cylinder and arm cylinder, the diverter being configured to carry working fluid exiting the boom cylinder into the arm cylinder, the diverter including
 a diverter passage, and 
 a diverter valve disposed in the diverter passage to control an amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage; and 
 
 a controller configured to control
 the boom cylinder and the arm cylinder in response to the manipulation directions of the at least one input device, and 
 the diverter valve to control the amount of the working fluid flowing through the diverter passage. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the tool control system further includes a diverter control element connected to the controller, the diverter control element being operable by the operator to control the diverter valve using the controller.   
     
     
         15 . The work vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the diverter control element includes at least one of a button, a switch, and a touch screen.   
     
     
         16 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the diverter valve is switchable between at least a closed position and at least one open position, the working fluid not flowing through the diverter passage when the diverter valve is in the closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The work vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein
 when diverter valve is in the at least one open position, a hydraulic flow to the arm cylinder from a pump may be reduced to save energy.   
     
     
         18 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the diverter path connects an outflow side of the boom cylinder during extending of the boom, and an inflow side of the arm cylinder during extending of the arm.   
     
     
         19 . The work vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the boom cylinder is retracted during extending of the boom, and the arm cylinder is extended during extending of the arm.   
     
     
         20 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the at least one input device includes
 a first input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the first input device, and 
 a second input device usable to input intentions of an operator based on manipulation directions of the second input device. 
   
     
     
         21 . The work vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein
 one of the first and second input devices is usable to control movement of the boom, and an other of the first and second input devices is usable to control movement of the arm.   
     
     
         22 . The work vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein
 the first input device is a control lever, and the second input device is a control lever.   
     
     
         23 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the at least one input device includes a control lever.   
     
     
         24 . The work vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the tool includes a feller head.