Apparatus and method for enhanced grading control

摘要

A method of operating a digging machine, including damping the response of a boom hydraulic cylinder operationally connected to a boom arm and actuating a bucket hydraulic cylinder operationally connected to a bucket.

主权项

1. A digging machine, comprising:
a tractor portion; at least one boom arm portion operationally connected to the tractor portion; a bucket arm portion operationally connected to the at least one boom arm portion; a bucket portion operationally connected to the bucket arm portion; a boom hydraulic piston portion operationally connected to the at least one boom arm portion; a bucket hydraulic piston portion operationally connected to the bucket portion; a hydraulic fluid source operationally connected to each respective hydraulic piston portion; a hydraulic valve operationally connected to the boom hydraulic piston portion and to the hydraulic fluid source; a microprocessor; and a first sensor operationally connected to the bucket portion and to the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is operationally connected to the hydraulic fluid source, to the hydraulic valve, and to each respective hydraulic pistons; and wherein the microprocessor may be engaged to assist movement of the bucket portion through a predetermined digging profile when the tractor portion is in motion; wherein each respective hydraulic piston portion has a respective first and a respective second hydraulic fluid port formed therethrough; wherein the hydraulic valve may be engaged to connect the respective first and second hydraulic fluid ports formed through the boom hydraulic piston portion in direct hydraulic communication with one another.