REFUSE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A REFUSE VEHICLE

• US 20140236446A1
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Spence, William Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,831,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/00 Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse vehicles in general B60; driving vehicle equipment or auxiliaries B60K; discharging contents by tilting entire vehicles B65G; wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/02 with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto conveyor construction B65G; loaders separate from vehicles B66F; fluid power control systems in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system for a refuse vehicle and a method for controlling a refuse vehicle provided with at least one refuse container location sensor, at least one vehicle speed control, and one or more electronics. The one or more electronics receive and process signals from the at least one refuse container location sensor and outputs a control signal to the at least one vehicle speed control to stop the refuse vehicle at a predetermined location with respect to a refuse container.

Claims

1. A control system for a refuse vehicle, comprising:

at least one refuse container location sensor at least one vehicle speed control; and

one or more electronics that;

receive and process signals from the at least one refuse container location sensor; and

output a control signal to the at least one speed control to stop the refuse vehicle at a predetermined location with respect to a refuse container.

2. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one speed control includes a brake.

3. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, Wherein the at least one speed control includes a throttle control.

4. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes a camera.

5. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes an RFID radar sensor.

6. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes a laser sensor.

7. The control system for a refuse vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that selectively activates and deactivates the operator assist system,

8. A method for controlling a refuse vehicle provided with a control system that includes at least one refuse container location sensor, at least one vehicle speed control and one or more electronics, comprising the steps of:

using the at least one refuse container location sensor to track a refuse container and provide output signals to the one or more electronics;

using the one electronics to;

process the output signals and identify the presence of the refuse container;

telemetrically measure the position of the refuse container with respect to a reference point on or alongside the vehicle; and

output a control signal to the at least one speed control to stop the refuse vehicle at a predetermined location with respect to the refuse container.

9. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one speed control includes a brake and wherein the step of outputting a control signal to the at least one speed control to cause the refuse vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with respect to the refuse container includes the step of outputting the control signal to the brake to cause the refuse vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with respect to the refuse container.

10. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one speed control includes a throttle control and wherein the step of outputting a control signal to the at least one speed control to cause the refuse vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with respect to the refuse container includes the step of outputting the control signal to the throttle control to cause the refuse vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with respect to the refuse container.

11. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes a camera.

12. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes an RFID radar sensor.

13. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one refuse container location sensor includes a laser sensor.

14. The method for controlling a refuse vehicle to claim 8, wherein the control system further includes a switch that selectively activates and deactivates the control system and further comprising the step of using the switch to selectively activate the control system.