METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE COMPRISING A DUMP BODY

• US 20100327649A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Kvist, Roland, Miller, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 298/19R
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle including a dump body includes automatically monitoring the contents of the dump body during an elevating motion, determining when the dump body has reached a predefined condition during the elevating motion, and controlling the vehicle when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising a dump body, comprising the steps of automatically

monitoring the contents of the dump body during an elevating motion, determining when the dump body has reached a predefined condition during the elevating motion, and

controlling the vehicle when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined condition is defined as an empty state.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of stopping the elevating motion when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of continuously monitoring the contents of the dump body.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of automatically lowering the dump body when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of monitoring a load receiving part of the dump body during the elevating motion and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the monitoring.

7. A method according to claim 6, comprising the step of radiating the load receiving part of the dump body with electromagnetic waves, receiving an echo signal and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the echo signal.

8. A method according to claim 6, comprising the step of using radar for said monitoring.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of optically detecting a load receiving part of the dump body during the elevating motion and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the optical detection.

10. A method according to claim 6, comprising the step of using a camera for said monitoring.

11. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of determining a weight of a material in the dump body during the elevating motion and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the weight determination.

12. A method according to claim 11, comprising the step of using a load cell in a dump body hinge for determining the weight.

13. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of detecting a pressure in a hydraulic system adapted to operate the elevating motion of the dump body and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the pressure detection.

14. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of detecting a pressure in a hydraulic cylinder adapted to operate the dump body and determining whether the dump body has reached the predefined condition on the basis of the pressure detection.

15. A method according to claim 13, comprising the step of establishing said predefined condition when a certain pressure change is detected.

16. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1.

17. A computer having a computer program for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1.

18. A device for controlling a vehicle comprising a dump body, comprising

means for automatically monitoring the contents of the dump body during an elevating motion, and

means adapted to determine when the dump body has reached a predefined condition during the elevating motion and control the vehicle when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

19. A device according to claim 18, comprising means for stopping the elevating motion when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.

20. A device according to claim 18, comprising means for propelling the vehicle when it is determined that the dump body has reached the predefined condition.