A METHOD FOR OPERATING A TRANSPORT VEHICLE, A TRANSPORT VEHICLE, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLLING OPERATION OF A WORK SITE AND A WORK SITE SYSTEM

• US 20110066336A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Adolfson, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 Wheel loaders
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a transport vehicle provided with a container with due regard to a weight of a received material in the container. The method includes receiving information associated to the weight of the received material in the container from an external source, and in response to the weight information controlling operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating a transport vehicle (201) provided with a container (211) with due regard to a weight of a received material in said container characterized in that the method comprises the step of receiving information associated to the weight of the received material in said container from an external source (501), and in response to the weight information controlling operation of said vehicle (503).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises the step of receiving information associated to the weight of the received material from a work machine (101) loading the material on the container.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method comprises the step of, in response to the weight information, controlling operation of said vehicle when said vehicle transports the received material to a designation (314).

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method comprises the step of interrupting the control of the transport vehicle operation in response to the weight information when the vehicle has reached the designation (505).

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the method comprises the step of interrupting the control of the transport vehicle operation in response to the weight information when the material has been unloaded at the designation.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of wirelessly receiving information associated to the weight of the received material.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of automatically controlling operation of said transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of presenting information associated to the weight for a driver of said transport vehicle for manually controlling operation of said vehicle in response thereto.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of controlling a suspension system (417) of the transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of controlling a powertrain (415) of the transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of controlling a power source (419) of the transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the method comprises the step of selecting an engine curve from a plurality of available curves and controlling an internal combustion engine in accordance with the selected engine curve.

13. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of selecting a gear change mode from a plurality of available gear change modes and controlling a gearbox (421) in accordance with the selected gear change mode.

14. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of controlling a differential gear (425) of the transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

15. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of controlling a cruise control function in the transport vehicle in response to the weight information.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the method comprises the step of storing the weight information in an electronic storage (429) associated to the individual driver of said transport vehicle.

17. A transport vehicle provided with a container, which is configured for receipt of material, characterized in that the transport vehicle comprises a means (411) for wirelessly receiving information associated to a weight of a material received in the container and a controller (413) operatively connected to said receipt means, wherein the controller is adapted for controlling for at least one system (415,417) in the vehicle in response to the weight information.

18. A transport vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that the vehicle is an articulated hauler (201).

19. A method for controlling operation of a work site comprising a work machine (101) configured for loading material at an elevated position above the ground and a transport vehicle (201) provided with a container (211), which is configured for receipt of material from the work machine, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of weighing a material and loading the material on the container, wirelessly transmitting information associated to the weight of the material to said transport vehicle (201), and in response to the transmitted weight information controlling operation of said transport vehicle.

20. A work site system comprising a work machine (101) configured for loading material at an elevated position above the ground and a transport vehicle (201) provided with a container for receiving material from the work machine, characterized in that the work machine comprises a means (403,405) for weighing the material which is loaded on the container and a means (409) for sending a signal with information associated to the weight of the material, said transport vehicle (101) comprises a means (411) for receiving a signal with information associated to the weight of the material received in the container, and a controller (413) operatively connected to said receipt means, wherein the controller is adapted for controlling at least one system (415,417) in the vehicle in response to the weight information.

21. A work site system according to claim 20, characterized in that the vehicle is an articulated hauler.

22. A work site system according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the work machine is a wheel loader.