Excavating system utilizing machine-to-machine communication

• US 20090062993A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Vik, Timothy A., Burt, Quentin D., Morey, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6436 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/6445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6481 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/651 Hydraulic or pneumatic drives; Electric or electro-mechanical control devices E02F3/652, E02F3/653 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004

Abstract

A method for enhancing productivity for an excavating operation is disclosed. The method includes establishing a machine-to-machine communication system for a fleet of machines, including at least two machines. The method also includes removing material during the excavating operation with at least a first machine of the fleet of machines. The method additionally includes operating a second machine of the fleet of machines in a mode involving contact between at least the first machine and the second machine. The method further includes employing the machine-to-machine communication system to effect controlled contact between at least the first machine and the second machine.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing productivity for an excavating operation, comprising:

establishing a machine-to-machine communication system for a fleet of machines, including at least two machines;

removing material during the excavating operation with at least a first machine of the fleet of machines;

operating a second machine of the fleet of machines in a mode involving contact between at least the first machine and the second machine; and

employing the machine-to-machine communication system to effect controlled contact between at least the first machine and the second machine.

2. The method of claim 1, including controlling contact between at least the first machine and the second machine by employing one or more of GPS, radar, and satellite vision technologies to monitor the positions of at least the first machine and the second machine.

3. The method of claim 2, including controlling contact between more than two machines of the fleet of machines.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein employing the machine-to- machine communication system to effect controlled contact between at least the first machine and the second machine includes one of pushing the first machine with the second machine and pulling the second machine with the first machine.

5. The method of claim 4, further including employing the machine-to-machine communication system to effect controlled contact between one of the first machine and second machine, and a third machine, and wherein the contact includes one of pushing the second machine with a third machine and pulling a third machine by the second machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first machine is a first wheel tractor scraper, and removing material includes operating the first wheel tractor scraper in a load phase.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second machine is one of a second wheel tractor scraper and a track-type tractor, and operating the second machine includes contacting and pushing the first wheel tractor scraper with one of the second wheel tractor scraper and the track-type tractor to assist the first wheel tractor scraper in a load phase.

8. The method of claim 7, including employing a camera to determine when the second machine completes pushing the first wheel tractor scraper.

9. The method of claim 8, including moving the first wheel tractor scraper into a haul phase responsive to determination that the second machine has completed pushing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first machine and the second machine are first and second wheel tractor scrapers, respectively, and further including operating the first and second wheel tractor scrapers in push/pull mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein operating the first and second wheel tractor scrapers in push/pull mode includes employing the second wheel tractor scraper to assist loading the first wheel tractor scraper by pushing the first wheel tractor scraper, and employing the loaded first wheel tractor scraper to load the second wheel tractor scraper by pulling the second wheel tractor scraper.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein pushing the first wheel tractor scraper includes engaging a front portion of the second wheel tractor scraper with a push block associated with a rear portion of the first wheel tractor scraper, and pulling the second wheel tractor scraper includes engaging a bail mechanism, associated with the front portion of the second wheel tractor scraper, with a hook mechanism associated with the rear portion of the first wheel tractor scraper.

13. The method of claim 12, including controlling engagement of the bail mechanism, associated with the front portion of the second wheel tractor scraper, with the hook mechanism that is associated with the rear portion of the first wheel tractor scraper, and controlling disengagement of the bail mechanism from the hook mechanism responsive to a signal that the second tractor scraper is loaded.

14. The method of claim 10, further including operating a third machine of the fleet of machines in a mode involving contact between the third machine and one of the first and second wheel tractor scrapers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third machine is one of a third wheel tractor scraper and a track-type tractor, and operating the third machine includes contacting and pushing the second wheel tractor scraper with one of the third wheel tractor scraper and the track-type tractor.

16. A system for enhancing productivity for an excavating operation, comprising:

a fleet of mobiles machines, including at least two machines, a first of the at least two machines configured to remove material during the excavating operation, and the at least two machines configured to operate in a mode involving contact between the at least two machines during the excavating operation; and

a machine-to-machine communication system configured to provide communication between the at least two machines of the fleet of machines and effect controlled contact between at least the first machine and a second machine of the at least two machines.

17. The system of claim 16, further including a controller associated with the machine-to-machine communication system, the controller configured to permit an operator of one of the first machine and second machine to control the operation of both the first machine and the second machine.

18. The system of claim 16, further including a controller associated with the machine-to-machine communication system, the controller configured to autonomously control operation of both the first machine and the second machine.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first machine is a first wheel tractor scraper and the second machine is one of a second wheel tractor scraper and a track-type tractor, further including a push block associated with the rear of the first wheel tractor scraper and configured to cooperate with one of the second wheel tractor scraper and the track-type tractor and facilitate pushing the first wheel tractor scraper.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second machine is a second wheel tractor scraper, further including:

a push block associated with the rear of the second wheel tractor scraper;

a hook mechanism associated with the rear of each of the first and second wheel tractor scrapers;

a bail mechanism associated with each of the first and second wheel tractor scrapers;

wherein the controller is configured to autonomously control contact between the first wheel tractor scraper and the second wheel tractor scraper.

21. The system of claim 20, further including a third machine, wherein the third machine is one of a third wheel tractor scraper and a tract-type tractor, and wherein the controller is configured to control contact between the third machine and any one of the first and second machine.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the machine-to-machine communication system is configured to coordinate operation of the fleet of mobile machine to minimize the impact of bunching of machines on operation productivity.

23. A machine configured to load and transport a quantity of material, comprising:

an element configured to enable the machine to contact and exert a force on an additional machine of a fleet of machines;

a machine-to-machine communication system associated with the machine and configured to enable communication between the machine and the additional machine of the fleet of machines; and

a controller configured to effect controlled contact between the machine and the additional machine.

24. The machine of claim 23, wherein the machine is a wheel tractor scraper, including:

front and rear ground supporting units;

a payload carrier intermediate the front and rear ground supporting units;

a steering unit for steering the wheel tractor scraper during transport of loaded material;

at least one power unit for delivering power to the wheel tractor scraper;

a bail mechanism associated with the front of the wheel tractor scraper and configured to cooperate with one of the additional machine or another machine of the fleet of machines to facilitate pulling the wheel tractor scraper; and

a push block and a hook mechanism associated with the rear of the wheel tractor scraper and configured to cooperate with one of the additional machine or another machine of the fleet of machines to facilitate pushing the wheel tractor scraper and/or to facilitate pulling the wheel tractor scraper.

25. The machine of claim 23, further including a camera mounted adjacent a rear portion of the machine and positioned to detect when contact exists between the machine and the additional machine of the fleet of machines and when contact between the machine and the additional machine ceases.