System for estimating a mass of a payload in a hauling machine
First Claim
1. A system for estimating a payload in a bed of a machine, the system comprising:
- a torque sensor for determining an output torque from a prime mover;
a grade detector for determining an angle of inclination of the machine;
a sensor for determining machine acceleration; and
a controller configured to;
store an angle of inclination threshold;
store an inclination rate of change threshold;
store an acceleration threshold;
store an unloaded mass of the machine in an unloaded condition;
determine the output torque from the prime mover;
determine the angle of inclination of the machine based upon signals from the grade detector;
compare the angle of inclination of the machine to the angle of inclination threshold;
generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold;
determine a rate of change in the angle of inclination;
compare the rate of change in the angle of inclination to the inclination rate of change threshold;
generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold;
determine the machine acceleration;
compare the machine acceleration to the acceleration threshold;
generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold; and
determine an estimate of the payload in the bed based on the output torque from the prime mover, the angle of inclination of the machine, and the unloaded mass while;
the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold;
the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; and
the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for estimating a payload includes a torque sensor, a grade detector, and a machine acceleration sensor. A controller compares the angle of inclination to its threshold, compares the rate of change in the angle of inclination to its threshold, and compares the machine acceleration to its threshold. An estimate of the payload is determined based upon the output torque from the prime mover, the angle of inclination of the machine, and the unloaded mass but only if the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold, the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold, and the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for estimating a payload in a bed of a machine, the system comprising:
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a torque sensor for determining an output torque from a prime mover; a grade detector for determining an angle of inclination of the machine; a sensor for determining machine acceleration; and a controller configured to; store an angle of inclination threshold; store an inclination rate of change threshold; store an acceleration threshold; store an unloaded mass of the machine in an unloaded condition; determine the output torque from the prime mover; determine the angle of inclination of the machine based upon signals from the grade detector; compare the angle of inclination of the machine to the angle of inclination threshold; generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold; determine a rate of change in the angle of inclination; compare the rate of change in the angle of inclination to the inclination rate of change threshold; generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; determine the machine acceleration; compare the machine acceleration to the acceleration threshold; generate commands to drive the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold; and determine an estimate of the payload in the bed based on the output torque from the prime mover, the angle of inclination of the machine, and the unloaded mass while; the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold; the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; and the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of estimating a payload in a bed of a machine, the method comprising:
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storing an angle of inclination threshold; storing an inclination rate of change threshold; storing an acceleration threshold; storing an unloaded mass of the machine in an unloaded condition; determining an output torque from a prime mover; determining an angle of inclination of the machine based upon signals from a grade detector; comparing the angle of inclination of the machine to the angle of inclination threshold; driving the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold; determining a rate of change in the angle of inclination; comparing the rate of change in the angle of inclination to the inclination rate of change threshold; driving the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; determining a rate of machine acceleration; comparing the rate of machine acceleration to the acceleration threshold; and driving the machine on a work surface wherein, when driving the machine, the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold; and determining an estimate of the payload in the bed based on the output torque from the prime mover, the angle of inclination of the machine, and the unloaded mass while; the angle of inclination of the machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold; the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; and the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A hauling machine comprising
a plurality of ground engaging elements; -
a prime mover operatively connected to the plurality of ground engaging elements; a bed adapted to carry a payload; a transmission operatively connected to the prime mover and the plurality of ground engaging elements and adapted to operate in a plurality of gears; a torque sensor for determining an output torque from the prime mover; a grade detector for determining an angle of inclination of the hauling machine; a sensor for determining machine acceleration; and a controller configured to; store an angle of inclination threshold; store an inclination rate of change threshold; store an acceleration threshold; store an unloaded mass of the hauling machine in an unloaded condition; determine the output torque from the prime mover; determine the angle of inclination of the hauling machine based upon signals from the grade detector; compare the angle of inclination of the hauling machine to the angle of inclination threshold; determine a rate of change in the angle of inclination; compare the rate of change in the angle of inclination to the inclination rate of change threshold; determine the machine acceleration; compare the machine acceleration to the acceleration threshold; and only if; a) the angle of inclination of the hauling machine is greater than the angle of inclination threshold; b) the rate of change in the angle of inclination is less than the inclination rate of change threshold; and c) the machine acceleration is less than the acceleration threshold, determine an estimate of the payload in the bed based upon the output torque from the prime mover, the angle of inclination of the machine, and the unloaded mass.
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Specification