Cold planer yield measurement system

• US 10,024,708 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Power Systems Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Power Systems Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marsolek, John Lee, Argenziano, Nicholas, Engelmann, Eric S., Aardema, James Alvin
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US14/720,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/088 Rotary tools, e.g. milling drums for forming recesses to receive marking materials E01C23/0946
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/76 Devices for measuring mass flow of a fluid or a fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/78 Direct mass flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/003 comprising a conveyor belt
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/006 Special taring or checking devices therefor devices for determining tare weight in general G01G23/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/08 wherein the main feed is effected by mechanical conveying means, e.g. by belt conveyors, by vibratory conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

A yield measurement system for a cold planer having a conveyor is disclosed. The yield measurement system may include a hydraulic motor configured to propel the conveyor, a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a force acting on the conveyor by material being moved by the conveyor, and a second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a pressure differential across the hydraulic motor. The yield measurement system may also include a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to determine when the conveyor is not transferring material based on the second signal, and automatically recalibrate the yield measurement system based on the first signal when the conveyor is not transferring material.

Claims

1. A yield measurement system for a cold planer having a conveyor, the yield measurement system comprising:

a hydraulic motor configured to propel the conveyor;

a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a force acting on the conveyor by material being moved by the conveyor;

a second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a pressure differential across the hydraulic motor; and

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to;

determine a power output of the hydraulic motor based on the second signal;

determine when the conveyor is not transferring material based on the second signal;

automatically recalibrate the yield measurement system based on the first signal when the conveyor is not transferring material, the automatic recalibration including setting the determined power output of the hydraulic motor as a tare power when the conveyor is not transferring material; and

determine a mass flow rate of material being transferred by the conveyor based on the second signal.

2. The yield measurement system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a force exerted on the first sensor based on the first signal; and

set the force as a tare force when the conveyor is not transferring material.

3. The yield measurement system of claim 2, wherein the determining that the conveyor is not transferring material based on the second signal includes determining when the power output of the hydraulic motor is about equal to a tare power.

4. The yield measurement system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a mass flow rate of material being transferred by the conveyor based on the first signal.

5. The yield measurement system of claim 1, further including an inclinometer in communication with the controller and configured to generate a third signal indicative of an angle of inclination of the conveyor, wherein the controller is configured to determine the mass flow rate of the material being transferred by the conveyor based further on the third signal.

6. The yield measurement system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a total weight of material transferred by the conveyor based on the mass flow rate and an elapsed period of conveying time.

7. The yield measurement system of claim 6, wherein:

the conveyor is configured to transfer material into a receptacle; and

the controller is configured to determine a fill level of the receptacle based on at least one of the mass flow rate and the total weight of material transferred by the conveyor and known geometry of the receptacle.

8. A method of operating a yield measurement system for a cold planer having a conveyor driven by a hydraulic motor, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal indicative of a force on the conveyor applied by material being transferred by the conveyor;

determining the force on the conveyor based on the first signal;

receiving a second signal indicative of a pressure differential across the hydraulic motor;

determining a power output of the hydraulic motor based on the second signal;

determining that the conveyor is not transferring material when the power output of the hydraulic motor is within a range of a tare power;

determining when the conveyor is not transferring material based on the second signal;

automatically recalibrating a tare force and the tare power of the yield measurement system based on the first and second signals when the conveyor is not transferring material, the automatically recalibrating the tare force and the tare power including setting the force on the conveyor as the tare force when the conveyor is not transferring material and setting the power output of the hydraulic motor as the tare power when the conveyor is not transferring material; and

determining a mass flow rate of material being transferred by the conveyor based on the first signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further including determining the mass flow rate of material being transferred by the conveyor based on the second signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further including:

receiving a third signal indicative of an angle of inclination of the conveyor; and

determining the mass flow rate of the material being transferred by the conveyor based further on the third signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

transferring material into a receptacle via the conveyor;

determining a total weight of material transferred by the conveyor based on the mass flow rate and an elapsed period of conveying time; and

determining a fill level of the receptacle based on at least one of the mass flow rate and the total weight of material transferred by the conveyor and known geometry of the receptacle.