System and method for controlling a multi-axle work vehicle based on axle loading

• US 10,017,035 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Vik, Brian, Novacek, Jason, Krogen, Mark, Tveito, David, Stoltman, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Application Number:
  US15/051,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20170242447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/44 Tracked vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1843 Overheating of driveline components B60W30/186 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/25 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/04 mechanically-driven
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/02 Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears drives therefor E02F9/20; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18

Abstract

A method for controlling a multi-axle work vehicle based on axle loading may generally include monitoring a load associated with loads transmitted through a pivot pin of a track assembly of the work vehicle, wherein the track assembly is configured to be rotatably coupled to an engine of the work vehicle via an axle assembly. In addition, the method may include estimating an axle load applied through the axle assembly based on the monitored load and providing a control output for the work vehicle based on the estimated axle load.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a multi-axle work vehicle based on axle loading, the work vehicle include a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the system comprising:

a track assembly including a drive wheel and a undercarriage support beam, the drive wheel configured to be rotatably coupled to the engine via an axle assembly, the track assembly further including a pivot pin configured to pivotally couple the undercarriage support beam to the chassis;

a sensor configured to monitor a load associated with loads transmitted through the pivot pin; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller being configured to estimate an axle load applied through the axle assembly based on the monitored load, the controller being further configured to regulate the operation of an engine based on the estimated axle load,

wherein the pivot pin corresponds to a load-sensing pin such that the sensor is integrated into the pivot pin.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare the estimated axle load to a predetermined load threshold associated with the axle assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to reduce a torque output limit for the engine when the estimated axle load exceeds the predetermined load threshold.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the torque output limit to a reduced torque output limit ranging from 50% to less than 100% of a maximum torque output for the engine when the estimated axle load exceeds the predetermined load threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pivot pin is located inboard or outboard of the drive wheel of the track assembly.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the axle assembly corresponds to a first axle assembly, the sensor corresponds to a first sensor and the load corresponds to a first load, further comprising:

a second track assembly including a second drive wheel and a second undercarriage support beam, the second drive wheel configured to be rotatably coupled to the engine via a second axle assembly, the second track assembly further including a second pivot pin configured to pivotally couple the second undercarriage support beam to the chassis; and

a second sensor configured to monitor a second load associated with loads transmitted through the second pivot pin,

wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to estimate an axle load differential between the first and second axle assemblies based on the first and second loads, the controller being further configured to reduce a torque output limit for the engine when the estimated axle load differential increases above a load differential threshold.

7. A method for controlling a multi-axle work vehicle based on axle loading, the method comprising:

monitoring a load associated with loads transmitted through a pivot pin of a track assembly of the work vehicle, the track assembly configured to be rotatably coupled to an engine of the work vehicle via an axle assembly;

estimating an axle load applied through the axle assembly based on the monitored load;

providing a control output for the work vehicle based on the estimated axle load;

comparing the estimated axle load to a predetermined load threshold associated with the axle assembly; and

reducing a torque output limit for the engine when the estimated axle load exceeds the predetermined load threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control output is associated with regulating the operation of the engine.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control output is associated with adjusting a setting for the work vehicle based on the estimated axle load.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting is associated with at least one of a ballast of the work vehicle or a service or maintenance interval for the work vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the control output is used to provide a notification to an operator of the work vehicle associated with adjusting the setting for the work vehicle.

12. A method for controlling a multi-axle work vehicle based on axle loading, the method comprising:

monitoring a first load associated with loads transmitted through a first pivot pin of a first track assembly of the work vehicle, the first track assembly configured to be rotatably coupled to an engine of the work vehicle via a first axle assembly;

monitoring a second load associated with loads transmitted through a second pivot pin of a second track assembly of the work vehicle, the second track assembly configured to be rotatably coupled to the engine via a second axle assembly;

estimating an axle load differential between the first and second axle assemblies based on the first and second loads; and

reducing a torque output limit for the engine when the estimated axle load differential increases above a load differential threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing the torque output limit for the engine comprises reducing the torque output limit to a reduced torque output limit ranging from 50% to less than 100% of a maximum torque output for the engine.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing the torque output limit for the engine comprises reducing the torque output limit to a reduced torque output limit determined based on the greater of the first and second loads.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, when the first load exceeds the second load, selecting the reduced torque output limit based on a torque limit associated with the first axle assembly.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, when the second load exceeds the first load, selecting the reduced torque output limit based on a torque limit associated with the second axle assembly.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the first load comprises monitoring the first load with a first sensor associated with the first pivot pin and wherein monitoring the second load comprises monitoring the second load with a second sensor associated with the second pivot pin.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second pivot pins correspond to load-sensing pins, the first sensor being integrated into the first pivot pin and the second sensor being integrated into the second pivot pin.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first pivot pin is configured to pivotally couple a first undercarriage support beam of the first track assembly to a chassis of the work vehicle and wherein the second pivot pin is configured to pivotally couple a second undercarriage support beam of the second track assembly to the chassis of the work vehicle.