Soft Shift Reversing Control System for Construction Vehicles

In the operation of certain earthmoving and other construction vehicles, efficient use of the vehicle requires frequent reversal of direction. When a drive reversal is executed with the vehicle in motion, a severe strain or damage may be imposed on the driveline, and, additionally, the sudden change of direction may be uncomfortable or possibly hazardous to the operator of the vehicle. The electronic reversing control system described here prevents excessive shock loading of a construction vehicle driveline when the operator calls for a direction reversal with the vehicle in motion. It is a digital-logic forward-reverse control channel, which can be inhibited by a speed-responsive signal. It also includes a speed-retarding channel, which can control the vehicle brakes and throttle, and a logic power loss detector system.