System for controlling a drive operation of a machine

• US 10,583,736 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2017
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Cardona, Jose M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, David R
• Application Number:
  US15/837,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20190176621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/04 with a tipping movement of load-transporting element dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/125 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill

Abstract

A system for controlling a drive operation of a machine having a payload container. A controller is configured to determine a current payload disposed in the payload container based upon a load sensor and determine a number of completed material loading cycles of a work implement. The controller is further configured to determine an estimated number of material loading cycles required to load the payload container based upon a desired payload, the current payload, and the number of completed material loading cycles, and compare the number of completed material loading cycles to the estimated number of material loading cycles. After the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, a shifting operation may begin to shift the transmission into the drive gear.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a drive operation of a machine,

comprising:

a payload container disposed on the machine and operative to haul a material;

a load sensor configured to generate load signals indicative of a load;

a transmission operative to control propulsion of the machine, the transmission including a drive gear; and

controller configured to;

access a desired payload of the payload container;

receive load signals from the load sensor;

determine a current payload disposed in the payload container based upon the load signals;

determine a number of completed material loading cycles of a work implement, the work implement being used to load the payload container;

determine an estimated number of material loading cycles of the work implement required to load the payload container until the payload container reaches the desired payload based upon the desired payload of the payload container, the current payload, and the number of completed material loading cycles;

compare the number of completed material loading cycles to the estimated number of material loading cycles; and

after the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, generate a command signal to begin a shifting operation to shift the transmission into the drive gear.

2. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein the load signals are indicative of the load in the payload container and the load in the payload container corresponds to the current payload.

3. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is disposed on the machine.

4. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein the load sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein the load signals are indicative of the load in the work implement being utilized to load the payload container.

6. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 5, wherein the load sensor is disposed on another machine comprising the work implement.

7. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to determine the load in the work implement for each material moving cycle and determine the current payload disposed in the payload container based upon the load in the work implement for each material moving cycle.

8. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein upon determining that the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, the controller is configured to apply a trigger delay prior to generating the command signal to begin the shifting operation.

9. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 8, wherein the trigger delay is determined based upon an average time between completed material loading cycles.

10. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 8, wherein the trigger delay corresponds to a predetermined fixed time period.

11. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 10, wherein the predetermined fixed time period corresponds to a type of machine being used to load the machine.

12. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, further comprising service brakes configured to control braking of the machine and the controller is configured to generate a braking command signal to control the service brakes.

13. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a brake release command signal to disengage the service brakes after completing a final material loading cycle.

14. The system for controlling a drive operation of a machine of claim 1, wherein the payload container has an open top to permit material to be loaded therein from above the payload container.

15. A method of controlling a drive operation of a machine, comprising:

accessing a desired payload of a payload container disposed on the machine and operative to haul a material;

receiving load signals from a load sensor indicative of a load;

determining a current payload disposed in the payload container based upon the load signals;

determining a number of completed material loading cycles of a work implement, the work implement being used to load the payload container;

determining an estimated number of material loading cycles of the work implement required to load the payload container until the payload container reaches the desired payload based upon the desired payload of the payload container, the current payload, and the number of completed material loading cycles;

comparing the number of completed material loading cycles to the estimated number of material loading cycles;

after the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, generating a command signal to begin a shifting operation to shift a drive gear of a transmission, the transmission being operative to control propulsion of the machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein upon determining that the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, applying a trigger delay prior to generating the command signal to begin the shifting operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the trigger delay is based upon an average time between completed material loading cycles.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the trigger delay corresponds to a predetermined fixed time period.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising disengaging service brakes of the machine after completing a final material loading cycle, the service brakes being configured to control braking of the machine.

20. A machine, comprising:

a prime mover;

drive wheels;

a transmission operatively connected to the prime mover and the drive wheels to control propulsion of the machine, the transmission including a drive gear;

a payload container disposed on the machine and operative to haul a material;

a load sensor configured to generate load signals indicative of a load; and

a controller configured to;

access a desired payload of the payload container;

receive load signals from the load sensor;

determine a current payload disposed in the payload container based upon the load signals;

determine a number of completed material loading cycles of a work implement, the work implement being used to load the payload container;

determine an estimated number of material loading cycles of the work implement required to load the payload container until the payload container reaches the desired payload based upon the desired payload of the payload container, the current payload, and the number of completed material loading cycles;

compare the number of completed material loading cycles to the estimated number of material loading cycles;

after the number of completed material loading cycles is one or less than the estimated number of material loading cycles, generate a command signal to begin a shifting operation to shift the transmission into the drive gear.