TILT SENSING APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

• US 20150260516A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Davey, James D. Pechous, John S. Davey, Stephen L. Davey
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Davey, James D. Pechous, John S. Davey, Stephen L. Davey
• Inventors: Davey, John S., Pechous, James D., Davey, Christopher J., Davey, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/18 Safety devices for parts of the machines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/28 Control mechanisms for harvesters or mowers when moving on slopes; Devices preventing lateral pull
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0233 Vehicle tilting, overturning or roll over
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/02 Details

Abstract

A tilt sensing apparatus, a system and a method detect the tilt of a vehicle using tilt sensing devices mounted to the vehicle. An accelerometer and a gyroscope provide orientation data to a processor. The processor calculates the tilt of the vehicle and provides an audible indication and/or a visual indication to an operator of the vehicle via a communications module. The communications module has a display panel accessible to the operator for receiving the tilt information. The system provides tilt information for different amounts of tilt of the vehicle. The method of detecting the tilt of the vehicle accumulates position data from the accelerometer and the gyroscope to provide tilt indications to the operator. The apparatus, system and method compare a tilt angle to preset values and generate corresponding output signals to the operator if the preset values are exceeded. The system disables a power take-off connected to the vehicle in the event of a tilt condition in which the vehicle may roll over.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing tilt of a vehicle comprising:

an accelerometer mounted to the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a first axis and a second axis oriented at an angle with respect to the first axis wherein the accelerometer senses a first tilt angle defined between the first axis and a horizontal reference plane wherein the accelerometer generates first data associated with the first tilt angle and further wherein the accelerometer senses a second tilt angle defined between the second axis and the horizontal reference plane and generates second data associated with the second tilt angle;

a gyroscope mounted to the vehicle wherein the gyroscope senses the first tilt angle and generates third data associated with the first tilt angle and further wherein the gyroscope senses the second tilt angle and generates fourth data associated with the second tilt angle; and

a processor connected to the accelerometer and the gyroscope wherein the processor determines a tilt angle of the vehicle based on the first data and the second data from the accelerometer and the third data and the fourth data from the gyroscope.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor compares the tilt angle to a first preset angle and provides a first indicator if the tilt angle exceeds the first preset angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor compares the tilt angle to a second preset angle and provides a second indicator if the tilt angle exceeds the second preset angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer and the gyroscope generate information associated with the tilt angle relative to the first axis, the second axis, and a third axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer provides initial startup data and the gyroscope provides tilt data during operation of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first axis and the second axis are arranged perpendicular to each other.

7. A method of determining a tilt condition of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing an orientation of the vehicle using an accelerometer to provide first coordinates;

sensing a three-dimensional orientation of the vehicle using a gyroscope to provide second coordinates;

calculating the orientation of the vehicle based upon the first coordinates and the second coordinates; and

comparing the orientation of the vehicle to a preset tilt limit to determine whether the vehicle is in the tilt condition.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

accumulating the first coordinates and the second coordinates prior to calculating the orientation of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the orientation is sensed in three dimensions.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

generating a signal of the tilt condition of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

comparing the tilt angle to a preset value and generating a signal if the a tilt angle exceeds the preset value.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

providing a panel for communicating information associated with the tilt of the vehicle to the operator of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

providing a communications module having at least one of an audible indication or a visual indication to an operator of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

disabling a power take-off connected to the vehicle in response to a tilt condition which exceeds the preset tilt limit.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

storing information associated with the tilt condition of the vehicle.

16. A system for sensing tilt of a vehicle comprising:

an accelerometer configured to sense a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle relative to a horizontal reference plane and to generate a first tilt output and a second tilt output;

a gyroscope configured to sense the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle and to generate a third tilt output and a fourth tilt output; and

a controller configured to receive the first tilt output and the second tilt output from the accelerometer and the third tilt output and the fourth tilt output from the gyroscope wherein the controller determines a tilt angle of the vehicle based on the first tilt output, the second tilt output, the third tilt output and the fourth tilt output.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a communications module configured to provide an indication associated with the tilt angle of the vehicle to an operator of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a multimedia panel for presenting information associated with the tilt of the vehicle to the operator of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a wiring harness having an electrical interface connecting the controller, the accelerometer and the gyroscope.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a relay connected to the controller wherein the relay disables a power take-off connected to the vehicle in response to a tilt angle which exceeds a preset tilt limit.