IMPACT SENSING USABLE WITH FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100039247A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Ziegler, Ronald L., Kovach, Michael P., Winner, Dean E., Wellman, Timothy A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,600,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

A method of monitoring operation of a vehicle detects an application of force to the vehicle and a change of momentum of the vehicle is calculated. If the change of momentum and the application of force are determined to occur within a predetermined time period of one another, an impact signal is generated.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring operation of a vehicle:

detecting an application of force to the vehicle has occurred;

calculating a change of momentum of the vehicle;

determining if the change of momentum and the application of the force occur within a predetermined time period of one another; and

generating an impact signal indicating that the change of momentum and the application of the force occurred within the predetermined time period.

2. A method of detecting impacts on a materials handling vehicle comprising:

monitoring g-forces applied to the materials handling vehicle;

comparing g-forces applied to the materials handling vehicle to a selectable g-force limit threshold value;

determining a gross vehicle weight for the materials handling vehicle;

determining acceleration of the materials handling vehicle;

calculating an impulse signal based on said gross vehicle weight of the materials handling vehicle and said acceleration of the materials handling vehicle;

selecting an impulse signal limit for the materials handling vehicle;

comparing said impulse signal of the materials handling vehicle to said impulse signal limit; and

generating an impact signal when g-forces applied to the materials handling vehicle exceed said selectable g-force limit threshold value and said impulse signal exceeds said impulse signal limit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein monitoring g-forces applied to the materials handling vehicle comprises:

mounting at least one accelerometer to the materials handling vehicle; and

receiving g-force signals generated by said at least one accelerometer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein mounting at least one accelerometer to the materials handling vehicle comprises mounting at least one accelerometer to a main body of the materials handling vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein mounting at least one accelerometer to the materials handling vehicle comprises mounting at least one accelerometer to one of a mast or a turret of the materials handling vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining whether the materials handling vehicle is stopped; and

generating an impact signal when g-forces applied to the materials handling vehicle exceed said selectable g-force limit threshold value and the materials handling vehicle is stopped.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a gross vehicle weight for the materials handling vehicle comprises:

determining a service weight for the materials handling vehicle;

determining a load weight for the materials handling vehicle; and

adding said service weight and said load weight to determine said gross vehicle weight.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising limiting said gross vehicle weight to a predetermined maximum value.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein determining acceleration of the materials handling vehicle comprises:

determining speed of the materials handling vehicle; and

performing a three point differentiation of said speed of the materials handling vehicle.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein calculating an impulse signal comprises multiplying said gross vehicle weight by said acceleration of the materials handling vehicle and by 0.146.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein selecting an impulse signal limit for the materials handling vehicle comprises:

selecting an initial impulse signal limit for the materials handling vehicle;

driving the materials handling vehicle around a facility where the materials handling vehicle is to be used;

monitoring impact signals generated while driving the materials handling vehicle; and

selecting an impulse signal limit that is higher than said initial impulse signal limit if impact signals are generated during typical driving of the materials handling vehicle.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing information relating to at least one of g-forces, impulse signals and impact signals on board the materials handling vehicle.

13. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting information relating to at least one of g-forces, impulse signals and impact signals to a remote receiver.

14. The method of claim 2 further comprising disabling operation of the materials handling vehicle based on said impact signal.