LOADING ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120143434A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Donnelli, Aaron, Whitten, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/045 Levelling or stabilising systems for tippers suspensions with levelling or stabilising means for vehicles in general B60G17/00, B60G21/00, using ground-engaging vehicle fittings B60S9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

A machine includes a frame and a dump body. An electronic controller is operably connected to the machine. At least one accelerometer is disposed to measure an acceleration of the frame and/or the dump body, and to provide an acceleration signal to the electronic controller. The electronic controller is disposed to receive and analyze the acceleration signal and provide a loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition to a remote control station and/or a loading machine performing the loading.

Claims

1. A machine, comprising:

a frame;

a dump body connected to the frame;

an electronic controller operably connected to the machine;

at least one accelerometer disposed to measure an acceleration of at least one of the frame and the dump body and to provide an acceleration signal to the electronic controller;

wherein the electronic controller is disposed to receive and analyze the acceleration signal, and to provide a loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition to at least one of a remote control station and a loading machine, the loading machine performing the loading.

2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication device disposed on the machine and operably associated with the electronic controller, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive the loading signal from the electronic controller and send the loading signal to the at least one of the remote control station and the loading machine.

3. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operably associated with the electronic controller and disposed to provide position information indicative of a location of the machine to the electronic controller.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to determine whether the machine is in a loading condition based at least in part on the position information.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the electronic controller is configured to provide the loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition after the electronic controller has determined that the machine is in the loading condition.

6. The machine of claim 1, further including two additional accelerometers for a total of three accelerometers, each of the three accelerometers being configured to measure a corresponding acceleration along one of three axes, the three axes being disposed in orthogonal relation to one another.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the electronic controller is disposed to receive two additional acceleration signals.

8. The machine of claim 6, further comprising three gyroscopes, each gyroscope being configured to measure a rotational motion along a corresponding one of the three axes and provide a signal indicative of a rotational displacement to the electronic controller.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the electronic controller is disposed to provide the loading signal based on a combination of more than one acceleration signal.

10. A loading analysis system for a vehicle adapted for loading of aggregate material by a loader machine, the vehicle including an autonomous navigation and control system that is in wireless communication with a control station and/or the loader, the loading analysis system comprising:

a vehicle controller operably connected to the vehicle;

a loader controller operably connected to the loader

at least one accelerometer disposed to measure an acceleration of the vehicle and to provide an acceleration signal to the vehicle controller;

wherein the vehicle controller is disposed to receive and analyze the acceleration signal, and to provide a loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition to the loader controller, and wherein the loader controller is disposed to provide a notification to the operator of the loader that a severe loading condition has occurred in response to receipt of the loading signal.

11. The loading analysis system of claim 10, further comprising:

a vehicle communication device disposed on the vehicle and operably associated with the vehicle controller;

a loader communication device disposed on the loader and operably associated with the loader controller;

wherein the loading signal is communicated wirelessly between the vehicle and loader communication devices.

12. The loading analysis system of claim 10, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operably associated with the vehicle and the vehicle controller, the GPS receiver disposed to provide position information indicative of a location of the vehicle to the vehicle controller.

13. The loading analysis system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a loading condition based at least in part on the position information.

14. The loading analysis system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to provide the loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition after the vehicle controller has determined that the vehicle is in the loading condition.

15. The loading analysis system of claim 10, further including two additional accelerometers for a total of three accelerometers disposed on the vehicle, each of the three accelerometers being configured to measure a corresponding acceleration along one of three axes, the three axes being disposed in orthogonal relation to one another.

17. The loading analysis system of claim 15, further comprising three gyroscopes, each gyroscope being configured to measure a rotational motion along a corresponding one of the three axes and provide a signal indicative of a rotational displacement to the vehicle controller.

18. The loading analysis system of claim 17, wherein the vehicle controller is disposed to provide the loading signal based on a combination of more than one acceleration signal.

16. The loading analysis system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle controller is disposed to receive two additional acceleration signals.

19. A method of analyzing a loading condition of an autonomous haul truck, the method comprising:

determining whether the autonomous haul truck is being loaded based at least in part on information indicative of a location of the autonomous haul truck;

monitoring an acceleration of the autonomous haul truck while the autonomous haul truck is stationary and being loaded;

providing a loading signal when the autonomous haul truck is being loaded and the monitored acceleration indicates that an excessive vibration is present;

communicating the loading signal to a loader performing the loading; and

providing a notification to an operator of the loader that the excessive vibration is present as an indication of a severe loading condition.

20. The method of analyzing a loading condition of claim 19, wherein communicating the loading signal to the loader is accomplished by providing the loading signal from the autonomous haul truck to a remote control station, and relaying the loading signal from the remote control station to the loader.