Adaptive vibration management system for a work machine

• US 20060136110A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomson, Norval Paul, Casey, Kent Allen, Smith, Vernon Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/09 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/206 Body oscillation speed; Body vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/91 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/84 Drives or control devices therefor , e.g. hydraulic drive systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06

Abstract

A vibration management system for a work machine may include at least one machine component configured to respond to input commands from an operator of the machine. One or more vibration sensors may be configured to output a signal indicative of a vibration level experienced by the operator. A controller may be configured to monitor the output signal from the one or more vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator. The controller may also be configured to monitor the input commands from the operator and calculate a predicted response of the at least one machine component to at least one of the input commands. The controller may also be configured to determine a predicted vibration effect on the operator based on the predicted response and adjust an actual response of the at least one machine component to the at least one operator input command based on the predicted vibration effect and the average vibration level.

Claims

1. A vibration management system for a work machine, comprising:

at least one machine component configured to respond to input commands from an operator of the work machine;

one or more vibration sensors configured to output a signal indicative of a vibration level experienced by the operator; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the output signal from one or more vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator;

monitor the input commands from the operator and calculate a predicted response of the at least one machine component to at least one of the input commands;

determine a predicted vibration effect on the operator based on the predicted response; and

adjust an actual response of the at least one machine component to the at least one operator input command based on the predicted vibration effect and the average vibration level.

2. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component based on a rate of change of the average vibration level.

3. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component if the predicted vibration effect will cause the average vibration level to exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

4. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more vibration sensors include three vibration sensors each being associated with an independent axis of motion.

5. The vibration management system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the output signal from each of the three vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator with respect to each of the independent axes of motion.

6. The vibration management system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component if the average vibration level for any of the independent axes of motion would exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

7. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component based on at least one of a predetermined operator vibration threshold level and a predetermined operator time usage limit

8. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compile machine usage statistics for the operator and to further base the adjustment to the actual response of the at least one machine component on the compiled machine usage statistics for the operator.

9. The vibration management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one machine component includes one or more electrically controlled components, power train components, electronically controlled components, and hydraulically controlled components.

10. The vibration management system of claim 1, further including a display unit configured to display to the operator at least one of the average vibration level and an actual response adjustment status indicator.

11. A method of controlling vibrations on a work machine, comprising:

determining an average vibration level to which an operator of the work machine has been exposed;

monitoring input commands from the operator;

determining a vibration effect as a result of a predicted response of at least one machine component to at least one of the input commands; and

adjusting an actual response of the at least one machine component based on the determined vibration effect and the average vibration level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting of an actual response is further based on a rate of change of the average vibration level.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the average vibration level includes determining an average vibration level for each of three independent motion axes.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the actual response of the at least one machine component is further based on at least one of a predetermined operator vibration threshold level and a predetermined operator time limit on the machine.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the actual response of the at least one machine component includes controlling the at least one machine component to limit a vibration output of the at least one machine component when the determined vibration effect would cause the average vibration level to exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the actual response of the at least one machine component includes controlling at least one of an electrically controlled component, power train component, electronically controlled component, hydraulically controlled component and a suspension component to at least partially counteract the vibration effect.

17. The method of claim 11, further including compiling machine usage statistics for the operator and basing the adjusting of the actual response of the at least one machine component on the machine usage statistics for the operator.

18. The method of claim 11, further including displaying, on a display unit, information relating to vibrations of the work machine.

19. A work machine, comprising:

a frame;

a power source operably connected to the frame;

one or more traction devices operably connected to the frame;

at least one machine component configured to respond to input commands from an operator of the machine;

one or more vibration sensors configured to output a signal indicative of a vibration level experienced by the operator; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the output signal from one or more vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator;

monitor the input commands from the operator and calculate a predicted response of the at least one machine component to at least one of the input commands;

determine a predicted vibration effect on the operator based on the predicted response; and

adjust an actual response of the at least one machine component to the at least one operator input command based on the predicted vibration effect and the average vibration level.

20. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component based on a rate of change of the average vibration level.

21. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component if the predicted vibration effect will cause the average vibration level to exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

22. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the one or more vibration sensors include three vibration sensors each being associated with an independent axis of motion.

23. The work machine of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the output signal from each of the three vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator with respect to each of the independent axes of motion.

24. The work machine of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component if the average vibration level for any of the independent axes of motion would exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

25. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the actual response of the at least one machine component based on at least one of a predetermined operator vibration threshold level and a predetermined operator time usage limit.

26. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to compile machine usage statistics for the operator and to further base the adjustment to the actual response of the at least one machine component on the compiled machine usage statistics for the operator.

27. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the at least one machine component includes one or more electrically controlled components, power train components, electronically controlled components, and hydraulically controlled components.

28. The work machine of claim 19, further including a display unit configured to display to the operator at least one of the average vibration level and an actual response adjustment status indicator.

29. A vibration management system for a work machine, comprising:

at least one machine component configured to respond to input commands from an operator of the machine;

one or more vibration sensors configured to output a signal indicative of a vibration level experienced by the operator;

at least one vibration reduction unit; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the output signal from the one or more vibration sensors and determine an average vibration level experienced by the operator;

monitor the input commands from the operator and calculate a predicted response of the at least one machine component to at least one of the input commands;

determine a predicted vibration effect on the operator based on the predicted response; and

operate the at least one vibration reduction unit in a manner to at least partially counteract the predicted vibration effect on the operator when the predicted vibration effect would cause the average vibration level to exceed a predetermined vibration threshold value.

30. The vibration management system of claim 29, wherein the at least one vibration reduction unit includes an element selected from a group including an active suspension component for the work machine, a stabilized operator platform, and a stabilized operator seat.

31. The vibration management system of claim 29, wherein the one or more vibration sensors include three vibration sensors each being associated with an independent axis of motion.

32. The vibration management system of claim 29, wherein the at least one machine component includes one or more hydraulically controlled components.