SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING POWER HEAD ROLLOVER DURING A DUMP OPERATION BY MONITORING FRONT STRUTS

• US 20140222299A1
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Chesterman, John M., Stander, Francois F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,452,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/04 with a tipping movement of load-transporting element dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00
• 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

Abstract

A system is disclosed for preventing power head rollover of a vehicle during a dump operation. The system includes a dump signal indicating when the vehicle is dumping, a strut sensor reading indicating a condition of the front struts, and a controller receiving the dump signal and strut readings, and activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates the vehicle is dumping and the strut reading indicates the front wheels may be lifted off the ground. The strut sensors can be height, pressure or other types of sensors. The controller can also disable further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates the vehicle is dumping and the strut sensor indicates the front wheels may be lifted off the ground. The system can include a strut limit, and the controller can act based on comparing the strut reading to the strut limit.

Claims

1. A system for preventing power head rollover of a dump vehicle during a dump operation, the dump vehicle including an operator cab and front wheels coupled to a front frame, a dump body and rear wheels coupled to a rear frame, and front struts coupling the front wheels to the front frame, the front frame being coupled to the rear frame, the system comprising:

a dump operation sensor generating a dump signal indicating when the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation;

a strut sensor generating a strut sensor reading indicating a condition of the front struts;

a controller receiving the dump signal and the strut sensor reading, and activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

2. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 1, wherein the strut sensor is a height sensor monitoring the height of the front struts.

3. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 1, wherein the strut sensor is a pressure sensor monitoring the downward pressure on the front struts.

4. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 1, wherein the controller disables further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

5. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 1, the system further comprising a strut limit, wherein the controller compares the strut sensor reading to the strut limit to determine if the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

6. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 5, wherein the strut sensor is a height sensor monitoring the height of the front struts and the system further comprises a strut height limit, wherein the controller activates the warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the strut height limit.

7. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 5, wherein the strut sensor is a pressure sensor monitoring the downward pressure on the front struts and the system further comprises a strut pressure limit, wherein the controller activates the warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading falls below the strut pressure limit.

8. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 5, wherein an articulation joint couples the front frame to the rear frame of the dump vehicle.

9. The system for preventing power head rollover of claim 8, wherein the rear wheels of the dump vehicle comprise a bogie axle arrangement coupling a first rear axle and wheels to a second rear axle and wheels with a bogie pivot joint between the first and second rear axles, the bogie pivot joint coupling the bogie axle arrangement to the rear frame of the dump vehicle.

10. A sensor system for preventing power head rollover of a dump vehicle during a dump operation, the dump vehicle including an operator cab and front wheels coupled to a front frame, a dump body and rear wheels coupled to a rear frame, and front struts coupling the front wheels to the front frame, the front frame being coupled to the rear frame, the sensor system comprising:

a dump operation sensor generating a dump signal indicating when the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation;

a strut sensor generating a strut sensor reading indicating a condition of the front struts;

a first strut sensor limit;

a second strut sensor limit;

a controller receiving the dump signal and the strut sensor reading, activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the first sensor limit, and disabling further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the second sensor limit.

11. The sensor system for preventing power head rollover of claim 10, wherein the strut sensor is a height sensor monitoring the height of the front struts, the first and second strut sensor limits being height limits, the first strut sensor limit being less than the second strut sensor limit, and wherein the controller activates the warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the first strut sensor limit, and disables further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the second sensor limit.

12. The sensor system for preventing power head rollover of claim 10, wherein the strut sensor is a pressure sensor monitoring the downward pressure on the front struts, the first and second strut sensor limits being pressure limits, the first strut sensor limit being greater than the second strut sensor limit, and wherein the controller activates the warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading is less than the first strut sensor limit, and disables further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading is less than the second sensor limit.

13. A method for preventing power head rollover of a dump vehicle during a dump operation, the dump vehicle including an operator cab and front wheels coupled to a front frame, a dump body and rear wheels coupled to a rear frame, and front struts coupling the front wheels to the front frame, the front frame being coupled to the rear frame, the method comprising:

receiving a dump signal indicating when the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation;

receiving a strut sensor reading indicating a condition of the front struts; and

activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

14. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 13, wherein the strut sensor reading is generated by a height sensor monitoring the height of the front struts.

15. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 13, wherein the strut sensor reading is generated by a pressure sensor monitoring the downward pressure on the front struts.

16. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 13, further comprising preventing further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

17. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 13, further comprising comparing the strut sensor reading to a strut limit to determine if the strut sensor reading indicates that the front wheels may be lifted off the ground.

18. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 13, wherein the activating a warning signal step comprises activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds a first sensor limit;

and

the method further comprises disabling further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds a second sensor limit.

19. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 18, wherein the strut sensor reading is generated by a height sensor monitoring the height of the front struts, the first and second strut sensor limits being height limits, the first strut sensor limit being less than the second strut sensor limit, and

wherein the activating a warning signal step comprises activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the first sensor limit;

and

wherein the disabling further lifting of the dump body step comprises disabling further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading exceeds the second sensor limit.

20. The method for preventing power head rollover of claim 18, wherein the strut sensor reading is generated by a pressure sensor monitoring the downward pressure on the front struts, the first and second strut sensor limits being pressure limits, the first strut sensor limit being greater than the second strut sensor limit, and

wherein the activating a warning signal step comprises activating a warning signal when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading is less than the first sensor limit;

and

wherein the disabling further lifting of the dump body step comprises disabling further lifting of the dump body when the dump signal indicates that the dump vehicle is performing a dump operation and the strut sensor reading is less than the second sensor limit.