Vibration management system

• US 20080243344A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Casey, Kent A., Thomson, Norval P., Raab, Frank J.
• Application Number:
  US11/642,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243344A1
• 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 3/841 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 9/262 with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/002 characterised by the control method or circuitry control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00
• 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 (20) for a machine (10) may receive a signal indicative of an amount of vibration experienced via one or more sensors or an amount of vibration to be expected based on data from a surveying system (26) which may be combination with data from a positioning system (28) and a speed monitoring system (27). The vibration management system (20) may add this data to a vibration history of a machine member 11 to predict the accumulative vibration the machine member 11 may be exposed to. This characteristic is compared to a desired characteristic and an adjusting action may be taken in response to a deviation as to have a second predicted characteristic approach the desired characteristic. A site management system (500) may use the deviation to allocate resources.

Claims

1. A method of managing vibration exposure, the method comprising:

receiving at least one vibration characteristic relating to a machine member;

referencing a vibration history;

predicting a first vibration exposure characteristic relating to said machine member using at least said vibration history and said at least one vibration characteristic;

determining that said first predicted vibration exposure characteristic deviates from a desired characteristic; and

performing an adjusting action in response to said deviation such that a second predicted vibration exposure characteristic subsequent to said first vibration exposure characteristic moves toward said desired characteristic.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of predicting said vibration exposure characteristic includes the step of predicting an accumulative vibration exposure characteristic.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of referencing a vibration history includes the step of referencing an operator history.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of referencing a vibration history includes the step of referencing a machine history.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving said vibration characteristic includes the step of receiving a signal indicative of a vibration level experienced by said machine member.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said vibration level is an average vibration level.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of predicting said vibration characteristic.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein predicting said vibration characteristic includes using data relating to at least one of geographical data, machine location data and vehicle speed data.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said vibration history includes at least one value indicative of an accumulated level of vibration experienced by said machine member over a first period of time.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said vibration history includes at least one value indicative of machine control behaviour of a machine operator.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein said first vibration exposure characteristic includes at least one value indicative of an expected accumulated level of vibration experienced by said machine member.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said desired characteristic includes at least one value set to prevent said machine member from being exposed to vibration levels exceeding an acceptable limit.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said desired characteristic includes at least one value indicative of a balance between high productivity of said machine member and acceptable exposure of said machine member to vibration.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting action is at least one of a) a change in machine speed, b) a signal to said machine operator to perform a specific action, c) adjusting the output of said at least one component, d) a change in the direction of travel, e) a replacement of said machine operator with another machine operator, e) a replacement of said machine with another machine, or f) indicating that said machine operator is at risk of being exposed to a vibration level exceeding acceptable levels.

15. A method of managing vibration levels of at least one machine having a machine member and at least one adjustable component, said method comprising:

receiving a geographical dependent vibration characteristic;

referencing a vibration history;

predicting a first accumulative vibration exposure characteristic using at least said vibration history and said geographical dependent vibration characteristic;

determining that said first predicted accumulative vibration exposure characteristic deviates from a desired characteristic; and

adjusting said at least one machine component in response to said deviation such that a second predicted accumulative vibration exposure characteristic subsequent to said first accumulative vibration exposure characteristic approaches said desired characteristic.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the using of said geographical dependent vibration characteristic includes predicting a value based on a survey of a geographical terrain.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of predicting of a value based on a survey of a geographical terrain includes evaluating data corresponding to at least one of a) machine location, b) an obstacle ahead of said machine, or c) terrain roughness.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein said vibration history includes at least one value indicative of an accumulated level of vibration experienced by said machine member over a first period of time.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said first accumulative vibration exposure characteristic includes at least one value indicative of an expected accumulated level of vibration experienced by said machine member over a second period of time.

20. A method of managing resources on a work site, said resources including at least one machine and at least one operator for said at least one machine, said method comprising:

receiving at least one vibration characteristic;

referencing a vibration history;

predicting a first accumulative vibration exposure characteristic using at least said vibration history and said at least one vibration characteristic;

determining that said first predicted accumulative vibration exposure characteristic deviates from a desired characteristic; and

allocating resources in response to said deviation.