System and method for swing control

• US 10,267,016 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Friend, Paul Russell, Brandt, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaRose, Renee
• Application Number:
  US15/259,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20180066413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/308 working outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/46 with reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes ; Drives or control devices therefor E02F3/205, E02F3/905 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/123 Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2033 Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/262 with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller

Abstract

A swing control assembly for a first machine is provided. The swing control assembly includes a position detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a relative position of a second machine with respect to the first machine. The swing control assembly includes a controller communicably coupled to the position detection module. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine. The controller is configured to determine a direction of swing associated with the first machine based on the received signal. The controller is configured to provide an instruction to initiate a swing operation of the first machine based on the determined direction of swing.

Claims

1. A swing control assembly for a first machine, the swing control assembly comprising:

a position detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a relative position of a second machine with respect to the first machine; and

a controller communicably coupled to the position detection module, the controller configured to;

receive the signal indicative of the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine;

determine a direction of swing associated with the first machine based on the received signal of the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine;

provide an instruction to initiate a swing operation of the first machine based on the direction of swing;

determine if a loading operation is in progress by the first machine;

identify a current direction of swing of the first machine if the loading operation is in progress; and

provide, if the loading operation is in progress, an instruction to initiate a next swing operation of the first machine in a same direction as the current direction of swing.

2. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the position detection module includes a position detection sensor provided on the second machine, and

wherein the position detection sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the second machine.

3. The swing control assembly of claim 2, wherein the position detection sensor includes at least one of a global positioning system, an accelerometer, or a gyroscope.

4. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the position detection module includes a perception sensor provided on the first machine, and

wherein the perception sensor is configured to sense the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine.

5. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the controller is communicably coupled to a machine control unit of the first machine, and

wherein the controller is configured to provide the instruction to the machine control unit to automatically initiate the swing operation.

6. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the controller is communicably coupled to an output unit, and

wherein the controller is configured to provide the instruction to an operator through the output unit.

7. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a signal indicative of a current mode of operation of the first machine, and

wherein, when determining if the loading operation is in progress, the controller is configured to;

determine if the loading operation is in progress based on the received signal of the current mode of operation of the first machine.

8. The swing control assembly of claim 1,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a signal indicative of a current status of the second machine; and

determine if the second machine is in a ready state based on the received signal of the current status,

wherein, when determining the direction of swing of the first machine, the controller is configured to;

determine the direction of swing of the first machine based on the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine and the ready state of the second machine, and

wherein, when providing the instruction to initiate the swing operation of the first machine, the controller is configured to;

provide the instruction to initiate the swing operation of the first machine along the determined direction of swing.

9. The swing control assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the first machine is performing a single-sided loading operation;

identify another current direction of swing of the first machine if the first machine is performing the single-sided loading operation; and

provide another instruction to initiate another next swing operation of the first machine in a same direction as the other current direction of swing.

10. The swing control assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine if the first machine is performing a double-sided loading operation;

identify another current direction of swing of the first machine if the first machine is performing the double-sided loading operation; and

provide another instruction to initiate another next swing operation of the first machine in an opposite direction from the other current direction of swing.

11. A method for controlling a swing of a first machine, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a signal indicative of a relative position of a second machine with respect to the first machine;

determining, by the controller, if the second machine is in a ready state;

determining, by the controller and if the second machine is in the ready state, a direction of swing of the first machine based on the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine and the ready state; and

providing, by the controller, an instruction to initiate a swing operation of the first machine based on the determined direction of swing.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, a signal indicative of a current mode of operation of the first machine;

determining, by the controller, if a loading operation is in progress based on the current mode of operation of the first machine;

identifying, by the controller, a current direction of swing of the first machine if the loading operation is in progress; and

providing, by the controller and if the loading operation is in progress, an instruction to initiate a next swing operation of the first machine in a same direction as the current direction of swing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, a signal indicative of a current status of the second machine,

where determining if the second machine is in the ready state comprises;

determining, by the controller, if the second machine is in the ready state based on the current status of the second machine.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, if the first machine is performing a single-sided loading operation;

identifying, by the controller, a current direction of swing of the first machine if the first machine is performing the single-sided loading operation; and

providing, by the controller, an instruction to initiate a next swing operation of the first machine in a same direction as the current direction of swing.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, if the first machine is performing a double-sided loading operation;

identifying, by the controller, a current direction of swing of the first machine if the first machine is performing the double-sided loading operation; and

providing, by the controller, an instruction to initiate a next swing operation of the first machine in an opposite direction from the current direction of swing.

16. A machine comprising:

an engine; and

a swing control assembly comprising;

and

a controller configured to;

determine if the machine is performing a single-sided loading operation or a double-sided loading operation;

identify a current direction of swing of the machine if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation or the double-sided loading operation; and

provide an instruction to initiate a swing operation based on the current direction of swing.

17. The machine of claim 16,

wherein the controller is communicably coupled to a machine control unit of the machine, and

wherein the controller is configured to provide the instruction to the machine control unit to automatically initiate the swing operation.

18. The machine of claim 16,

wherein the controller is communicably coupled to an output unit, and

wherein the controller is configured to provide the instruction to an operator through the output unit.

19. The machine of claim 16,

wherein, when determining if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation or the double-sided loading operation, the controller is configured to:

determine if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation,

wherein, when identifying the current direction of swing of the machine if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation or the double-sided loading operation, the controller is configured to;

identify the current direction of swing of the machine if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation, and

wherein, when providing the instruction to initiate the swing operation, the controller is configured to;

provide the instruction to initiate the swing operation of the machine in a same direction as the current direction of swing.

20. The machine of claim 16,

wherein, when determining if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation or the double-sided loading operation, the controller is configured to:

determine if the machine is performing the double-sided loading operation, and

wherein, when identifying the current direction of swing of the machine if the machine is performing the single-sided loading operation or the double-sided loading operation, the controller is configured to;

identify the current direction of swing of the machine if the machine is performing the double-sided loading operation; and

wherein, when providing the instruction to initiate the swing operation, the controller is configured to;

provide the instruction to initiate the swing operation of the machine in an opposite direction from the current direction of swing.