System and method for detecting low tire pressure on a machine

• US 20100131147A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Donnelli, Aaron M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• 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 method of detecting a low tire pressure condition on a machine is disclosed. The method may include determining at least one of an actual pitch of the machine and an actual roll of the machine, at a known location and determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location. The method may further include comparing at least one of the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine and the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine. The method may also include outputting a signal indicative of the low tire pressure condition of at least one tire, if at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from the expected pitch and the expected roll of the machine, respectively.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a low tire pressure condition on a machine, comprising:

determining at least one of an actual pitch of the machine and an actual roll of the machine, at a known location;

determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location;

comparing at least one of;

the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine; and

the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine;

outputting a signal indicative of the low tire pressure condition of at least one tire, if at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from the expected pitch and the expected roll of the machine, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing at least one of the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine and the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine includes calculating an offset for at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine, the offset adjusting for a change in a weight and a center of mass of the machine relative to the weight and the center of mass of the machine associated with the expected pitch and the expected roll.

3. The method of claim 1, further including determining if a tire location has two or more tires and adjusting the expected pitch and the expected roll to account for two or more tires at the tire location when comparing at least one of the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine and the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location includes setting at least one of the expected pitch and the expected roll equal to a previous actual pitch and a previous actual roll.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location includes calculating at least one of the expected pitch and the expected roll from at least one of a grade of the known location, a weight and a center of mass of the machine, a tire size, and an estimated tire pressure of one or more tires of the machine.

6. The method of claim 1, further including comparing at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll to previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls, respectively, to detect a change in tire status over time.

7. The method of claim 6, further including comparing at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll to previous actual pitches and actual rolls, respectively, to detect a change in tire status over time, wherein if the machine is loaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously loaded, and if the machine is unloaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously unloaded.

8. A system for detecting a low tire pressure condition on a machine, comprising:

a sensor for measuring an actual pitch and an actual roll of the machine;

a position location system communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to record a location of the machine corresponding to a location wherein the actual pitch and actual roll of the machine were measured; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the position location system, the controller configured to;

receive information indicative of the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine from the sensor;

receive information indicative of the location of the machine from the position location system;

determine whether at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from an expected pitch and an expected roll of the machine, respectively, at the location of the machine corresponding to where the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine were measured; and

output a signal indicative of the low tire pressure condition of at least one tire if at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from the expected pitch and the expected roll of the machine, respectively, at the location of the machine corresponding to where the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine were measured.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller configured to determine whether at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from an expected pitch and an expected roll includes the controller calculating an offset for at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine, the offset adjusting for a change in a weight and a center of mass of the machine compared to when the expected pitch and the expected roll were determined.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if a tire location has two or more tires and adjusting the expected pitch and the expected roll to account for two or more tires at the tire location, when calculating whether at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from an expected pitch and an expected roll, respectively, at the known location.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein an expected pitch and an expected roll of the machine at the known location is determined by the controller from a previous actual pitch and a previous actual roll.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein an expected pitch and an expected roll of the machine at the known location is determined by the controller from calculating at least one of the expected pitch and the expected roll from at least one of a grade of the known location, a weight and a center of mass of the machine, a tire size, and an estimated tire pressure of one or more tires of the machine.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to compare at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll to previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls, respectively, to detect a change in tire status over time, wherein if the machine is loaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously loaded, and if the machine is unloaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously unloaded.

14. A computer-readable medium for use on a computer system, the computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing, when executed by a processor, a method for detecting a low tire pressure condition on a machine, the method comprising:

determining at least one of an actual pitch of the machine and an actual roll of the machine, at a known location;

determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location;

comparing at least one of;

the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine; and

the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine;

outputting a signal indicative of the low tire pressure condition of at least one tire, if at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll deviate from the expected pitch and the expected roll of the machine, respectively.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein comparing at least one of the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine and the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine includes calculating an offset for at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll of the machine, the offset adjusting for a change in a weight and a center of mass of the machine compared to when the expected pitch and the expected roll were determined.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further including determining if a tire location has two or more tires and adjusting the expected pitch and the expected roll to account for two or more tires at the tire location when comparing at least one of the actual pitch to the expected pitch of the machine and the actual roll to the expected roll of the machine.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location includes setting at least one of the expected pitch and the expected roll equal to a previous actual pitch and a previous actual roll.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein determining at least one of an expected pitch of the machine at the known location and an expected roll of the machine at the known location includes calculating at least one of the expected pitch and the expected roll from at least one of a grade of the known location, a weight and a center of mass of the machine, a tire size, and an estimated tire pressure of one or more tires of the machine.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further including comparing at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll to previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls, respectively, to detect a change in tire status over time.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including comparing at least one of the actual pitch and the actual roll to previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls, respectively, to detect a change in tire status over time, wherein if the machine is loaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously loaded, and if the machine is unloaded, using previous actual pitches and previous actual rolls from when the machine was previously unloaded.