VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE

• US 20120065840A1
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Reeb, Jörg, Roth, Markus, Britten, Judith, Müller, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/94 for limiting slewing movements
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/123 Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2033 Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123

Abstract

A vehicle includes at least one of (i) an undercarriage and an upper carriage arranged rotatably about a vertical axis with respect to the undercarriage and (ii) a leverage means arranged pivotably about a horizontal axis with respect to the upper carriage, wherein a sensor system is provided for monitoring at least one stability criterion with respect of a tilt movement of the vehicle, and wherein a control unit is coupled to the sensor system for automatically initiating an action and/or performing an action for stabilizing the vehicle depending on the at least one stability criterion. The risk of an unexpected tilting of the vehicle can be reduced

Claims

1. A vehicle (10) comprising at least one of (i) an undercarriage (20) and an upper carriage (30) arranged rotatably about a vertical axis (90) with respect to the undercarriage (20) and (ii) a leverage means (40) arranged pivotably about a horizontal axis (80) with respect to the upper carriage (30), wherein

a sensor system (100) is provided for monitoring at least one stability criterion with respect of a tilt movement of the vehicle (10), and wherein

a control unit (150) is coupled to the sensor system (100) for automatically initiating an action and/or performing an action for stabilizing the vehicle (10), depending on the at least one stability criterion.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system (100) comprises an inclination sensor for monitoring an inclination of the vehicle (10) with respect to a horizontal or substantially horizontal ground.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor system (100) is provided for monitoring a position of the upper carriage (30) with respect to the undercarriage (20) and an inclination and/or length of the leverage means (40) with respect to the upper carriage (30).

4. The vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the leverage means (40) comprises (i) only a boom (42) pivotably attached to the upper carriage (30) or (ii) a boom (42) pivotably attached to the upper carriage (30) and an arm (48) pivotably attached to the boom (42).

5. The vehicle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one pendulum axle (26) is arranged at the undercarriage (20) and wherein said at least one pendulum axle (26) of the undercarriage (20) is automatically lockable and/or automatically brakeable depending on the at least one stability criterion.

6. The vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein a sensor (110) is provided for monitoring the position of the upper carriage (30) with respect to the undercarriage (20).

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein one or more detecting plates (116a, 116b, 116c) are arranged between the upper carriage (30) and the undercarriage (20) being in operative connection with at least one detector (114) for detecting a movement or position of the one or more detecting plates (116a, 116b, 116c) relative to the detector (114).

8. The vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein a sensor unit (120) is provided for monitoring the inclination and/or length of the boom (40) with respect to the upper carriage (30) and wherein the sensor unit (120) preferably comprises at least one detection plate (122) being in operative connection with at least one detector (124) for detecting a movement or position of the at least one detecting plate (122) relative to the detector (124).

9. A working machine, particularly an excavator (10), according to any preceding claim.

10. A method for operating a vehicle (10), with an upper carriage (30) and an undercarriage (20), wherein the upper carriage (30) performs a rotational movement about a vertical axis (90) with respect to the undercarriage (20), comprising the steps of:

monitoring at least one stability criterion with respect of .a tilt movement of the vehicle (10), and

initiating automatically an action and/or performing an action for stabilizing the vehicle (10) depending on the at least one stability criterion.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of monitoring an inclination of the vehicle (10) with respect to a horizontal or substantially horizontal ground.

12. The method according to anyone of the claims 10 to 11, further comprising:

at least one of the steps (i) monitoring a position of the upper carriage (30) with respect to the undercarriage (20) and (ii) for a vehicle (10) equipped with a leverage means (40), monitoring an inclination and/or a length of a leverage means (40) with respect to the upper carriage (30);

the step of assessing (i) the monitored position and/or (ii) the monitored inclination and/or length;

for determining a risk of instability of the vehicle (10), on the base of at least one stability criterion.

13. The method according to anyone of the claims 10 to 12, for a vehicle (10) equipped with at least one pendulum axle (26) arranged at the undercarriage (20), further comprising the step of locking and/or braking the pendulum axle (26) automatically if and as long as the at least one stability criterion is violated.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of locking and/or braking the pendulum axle (26) automatically when neither a signal from a sensor system (100) monitoring a position of the upper carriage (30) with respect to the undercarriage (20) nor a signal from monitoring an inclination and/or a length of a leverage means (40) with respect to the upper carriage (30) is sent to a control unit (150) for automatically initiating an action and/or performing an action for stabilizing the vehicle (10).

15. Computer program comprising a computer program code adapted to perform a method or for use in a method according to at least one of claims 10 to 14 when said program is run on a programmable microcomputer.

16. Computer program according to claim 15 adapted to be downloadable to a control unit (150) or one of its components when run on a computer which is connected to the internet.

17. Computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising a program code for use in a method according to one of claims 10 to 14 on a computer.