Systems and methods for pile spacing

• US 10,248,127 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Michael A., Empson, Steven E., Wei, Mo
• Primary Examiner(s): Mott, Genna M
• Application Number:
  US15/602,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 701 50
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/02 Improving by compacting E02D3/11 takes precedence; compacting soil locally before or while forming foundations E02D27/26, E02D27/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 1/00 General working methods with dredgers or soil-shifting machines methods for making embankments E02D17/18; methods for mining E21C
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7604 Combinations of scraper blades with soil loosening tools working independently of scraper blades soil loosening attachments fixed on blades E02F3/8152, E02F3/8155
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7609 Scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the sides of the tractor, e.g. bulldozers
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/841 Devices for controlling and guiding the whole machine, e.g. by feeler elements and reference lines placed exteriorly of the machine construction of roads E01C19/008
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/261 Surveying the work-site to be treated

Abstract

A method for depositing piles of material, by a machine, in a work zone of a worksite. The method comprising detecting, by a controller, a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in the work zone, determining, by the controller, an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone, determining, by the controller, a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area, determining, by the controller, a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and generating, by the controller, a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location.

Claims

1. A method for depositing piles of material, by a machine, in a work zone of a worksite, the method comprising:

detecting, by a controller, a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in the work zone;

determining, by the controller, an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone;

determining, by the controller, a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area;

determining, by the controller, a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and

generating, by the controller, a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first pile is deposited by the machine in the first area.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, by the controller, a ramp signal to operate the machine and form a substantially triangular pile adjacent to the remaining number of piles.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising generating a ramp formation signal to operate a compaction machine and compact the substantially triangular pile to form an inclined ramp surface having a positive slope.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a compaction signal to operate a compaction machine to compact the first pile and the remaining number of piles to produce a smooth surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pile is deposited in the first area by another machine operating at the worksite.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the work zone is defined based on one of an operator input and/or a predetermined zone of the worksite.

8. A pile spacing system for a machine operating at a worksite, the pile spacing system comprising:

a controller operatively coupled to the machine, the controller configured to;

detect a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in a work zone, in the worksite;

determine an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone;

determine a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area;

determine a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and

generate a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location in the available area.

9. The pile spacing system of claim 8, wherein the first pile is deposited by the machine in the first area.

10. The pile spacing system of claim 9, wherein the first area is a crest end region of the work zone.

11. The pile spacing system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a compaction signal to operate a compaction machine, operating at the worksite, for compacting the first pile and the remaining number of piles to produce a smooth surface.

12. The pile spacing system of claim 8, wherein the first pile is deposited in the first area by another machine operating at the worksite.

13. The pile spacing system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to generate a ramp signal to operate the machine and form a substantially triangular pile proximate to the remaining number of piles.

14. A machine configured to operate at a worksite, the machine comprising:

a controller operatively coupled to the machine, the controller configured to;

detect a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in a work zone, in the worksite;

determine an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone;

determine a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area;

determine a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and

generate a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location in the available area.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first pile is deposited by the machine in the first area.

16. The machine of claim 15 wherein the first area is a crest end region of the work zone.

17. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first pile is deposited in the first area by another machine operating at the worksite.

18. The machine of claim 14 further comprising an input device configured to allow an operator to define the work zone in the worksite.

19. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a compaction signal to operate a compaction machine, operating at the worksite, for compacting the first pile and the remaining number of piles to produce a smooth surface.

20. The machine of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to generate a ramp signal to operate the machine and form a substantially triangular pile proximate to the remaining number of piles.