Dump cycle counting and monitoring system

• US 20060104404A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Todd, Robert, Tansley, Roger, Blackburn, Mark Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 377/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A dump cycle counting system is provided for a work machine. The system may include a payload carrier configured to contain a payload of material and a dump actuator configured to effectuate dumping of the payload out of the payload carrier. The system may also include a controller configured to control actuation of the dump actuator and a dump control device operatively coupled to the controller. The system may further include a load counter configured to record at least one dump cycle based on a command state of at least one of the dump control device and the controller.

Claims

1. A dump cycle counting system for a work machine, comprising:

a payload carrier configured to contain a payload of material;

a dump actuator configured to effectuate dumping of the payload out of the payload carrier;

a controller configured to control actuation of the dump actuator;

a dump control device operatively coupled to the controller; and

a load counter configured to record at least one dump cycle based on a command state of at least one of the dump control device and the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the command state of the dump control device corresponds to at least one of a position of the dump control device and a signal generated by the dump control device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the command state of the controller corresponds to a memory value associated with the controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a hydro-mechanical control system and the command state of the controller corresponds to an operating parameter of the hydro-mechanical control system.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a display configured to display a dump cycle count.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display is configured to display at least one of time, distance, and fuel consumption associated with a dump cycle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the load counter is configured to record at least one dump cycle after a predetermined period of time during which the command state corresponds to a dump state.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined amount of time is less than a total time required to completely dump the payload.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the load counter is enabled to record at least one dump cycle upon the work machine reaching a predetermined ground speed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the load counter is enabled to record at least one dump cycle based on a change in location of the work machine as determined by a positioning system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the positioning system includes at least one global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the dump actuator is configured to effectuate dumping of the payload by lifting the payload carrier at an angle relative to a frame of the work machine.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the dump actuator is configured to effectuate dumping of the payload by moving an ejector plate to push payload material out of the payload carrier.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the load counter is configured to record additional operational information about at least one dump cycle, the information including at least one of time, distance traveled, and fuel consumption.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein recorded information related to dump cycles is configured to be provided to an entity external to the work machine.

16. A work machine, comprising:

a power source;

one or more traction devices;

a payload carrier configured to contain a payload of material;

a dump actuator configured to effectuate dumping of the payload out of the payload carrier;

a controller configured to control actuation of the dump actuator;

a dump control device operatively coupled to the controller; and

a load counter configured to record at least one dump cycle based on a command state of at least one of the dump control device and the controller, the load counter further being enabled to record the at least one dump cycle once the work machine has exceeded a predetermined ground speed, and the command state has remained, for at least a predetermined amount of time, a state corresponding to a dump state.

17. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the predetermined amount of time is less than a total time required to completely dump a payload of known quantity.

18. The work machine of claim 16, further including a display configured to display a dump cycle count.

19. A method for operating a dump cycle counting system, comprising:

monitoring a command state of at least one of a dump control device and a controller operatively coupled to a dump actuator, the dump actuator being configured to effectuate dumping of a payload of material out of a payload carrier, and

recording at least one dump cycle based on the monitored command state.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the command state of the dump control device corresponds to at least one of a position of the dump control device and a signal generated by the dump control device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the command state of the controller corresponds to a memory value associated with the controller.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller includes a hydro-mechanical control system and the command state of the controller corresponds to an operating parameter of the hydro-mechanical control system.

23. The method of claim 19, further including recording the at least one dump cycle in response to the command state corresponding to a dump state for at least a predetermined period of time.

24. The method of claim 19, further including enabling a load counter, upon reaching a predetermined ground speed, to record the at least one dump cycle.

25. The method of claim 19, further including enabling a load counter to record at least one dump cycle based on a change in location of the work machine as determined by a positioning system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the positioning system includes at least one global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

27. The method of claim 19, further including recording and/or displaying additional operational information about at least one dump cycle, the information including at least one of time, distance traveled, and fuel consumption.

28. A computer readable medium, comprising:

instructions for

monitoring a command state of at least one of a dump control device and a controller operatively coupled to a dump actuator, the dump actuator being configured to effectuate dumping of a payload of material out of a payload carrier; and

recording at least one dump cycle based on the monitored command state.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the command state of the dump control device corresponds to at least one of a position of the dump control device and a signal generated by the dump control device.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the command state of the controller corresponds to a memory value associated with the controller.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the controller includes a hydro-mechanical control system and the command state of the controller corresponds to an operating parameter of the hydro-mechanical control system.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including instructions for recording the at least one dump cycle in response to the command state corresponding to a dump state for at least a predetermined period of time.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including instructions for enabling a load counter, upon reaching a predetermined ground speed, to record the at least one dump cycle.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including instructions for enabling a load counter to record at least one dump cycle based on a change in location of the work machine as determined by a positioning system.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including instructions for recording and or displaying additional operational information about at least one dump cycle, the information including at least one of time, distance traveled, and fuel consumption.

36. A method for retrofitting a dump cycle counting system to a work machine, comprising:

configuring a computer readable medium associated with the work machine to include instructions for

monitoring a command state of at least one of a dump control device and a controller configured to effectuate dumping of a payload out of a payload carrier; and

recording at least one dump cycle based on the monitored command state.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the command state of the dump control device corresponds to at least one of a position of the dump control device and a signal generated by the dump control device.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the command state of the controller corresponds to a memory value associated with the controller.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the controller includes a hydro-mechanical control system and the command state of the controller corresponds to an operating parameter of the hydro-mechanical control system.

40. The method of claim 36, further including installing, in the work machine, a display configured to display information about the at least one dump cycle.