SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DOLLIES

• US 20160200236A1
• Filed: 01/13/2015
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jamin Ray Buckingham, Mark Allen Buckingham
• Original Assignee: Jamin Ray Buckingham
• Inventors: BUCKINGHAM, Mark Allen, BUCKINGHAM, Jamin Ray
• Granted Patent: US 9,919,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/207 Steering angle of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/114 Yaw movement
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/005 treating sensor outputs to obtain the actual yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0293 Convoy travelling

Abstract

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a system and method for synchronizing and controlling at least one dolly may be provided. The system may include at least one dolly, a power unit, and a control device, all communicatively coupled via at least one network. Dolly coordinates and steer points for a load may be recorded. Adjustments to the dolly may be made based on desired changes to the orientation of the steer points.

Claims

1. A load transport system comprising:

at least one dolly, the at least one dolly comprising a top cap encoder and a front axle encoder communicatively coupled to a dolly control unit, wherein the top cap encoder and front axle encoder communicate measured data to the dolly control unit;

at least one power unit, the power unit comprising a power unit computer communicatively coupled with the at least one dolly control unit via a network, wherein the at least one dolly control unit communicates measured data to the power unit computer; and

a control device, the control device configured to communicate with the power unit computer via a network and allow a user to view and manipulate system data, and provide instructions to the power unit computer;

wherein the power unit computer is configured to calculate adjustments to the at least one dolly based on dolly control unit data and user input data to effect user instructions; and

wherein the power unit is configured to actuate the at least one dolly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is a CAN network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the number of dollies is variable.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dollies.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of communicatively coupled power units for controlling the plurality of dollies.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one dolly is a hydraulic dolly and the at least one power unit is a hydraulic power unit hydraulically coupled to the at least one dolly and configured to actuate components of the at least one dolly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power unit further comprises a means for actuating the at least one dolly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power control unit comprises a means for calculating a necessary dolly orientation to achieve a user instruction.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one GPS transponder and a guidance computer.

10. A method for transporting a load comprising:

providing at least one dolly, the dolly comprising a top cap encoder and front axle encoder communicatively coupled to a dolly control unit, wherein the top cap encoder and front axle encoder communicate measured data to the dolly control unit, at least one power unit, the power unit comprising a power unit computer communicatively coupled with the at least one dolly control unit via a network, wherein the at least one dolly control unit communicates measured data to the power unit computer, and a control device, the control device configured to communicate with the power unit computer via a network and allow a user to view and manipulate system data, and provide instructions to the power unit computer;

entering baseline data comprising dolly coordinates and steer point coordinates;

entering a desired steer point orientation;

allowing the power unit computer to calculate necessary adjustments to the at least one dolly based on dolly control unit data and user input data;

allowing the power unit computer to instruct the power unit to actuate the at least one dolly to achieve the adjustments;

instructing the at least one dolly to drive as desired through one of the control device or a separate drive control device; and

adjusting the desired steer point orientation and drive instructions as desired.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding or removing dollies to the system to accommodate a load.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the network is a CAN network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one dolly is a hydraulic dolly and the at least one power unit is a hydraulic power unit hydraulically coupled to the at least one dolly and configured to actuate components of the at least one dolly.

14. A computer program product, implemented on a processor and comprising program code for use in a load transporting system, the code causing the components of a load transport system to execute steps comprising:

receiving top cap encoder data from at least one dolly;

receiving front axle encoder data from at least one dolly;

receiving, from a user, baseline coordinate data for at least one dolly and a front and rear steer point;

receiving a desired front and rear steer point orientation;

calculating dolly adjustments from the received data and desired inputs; and

instructing a power unit to actuate the adjustments.

15. An apparatus for transporting a load comprising:

a dolly having an adjustable front axle and an adjustable top cap for supporting a load;

a power unit configured to actuate the components of the dolly, the power unit having a power unit computer for processing data and instructing the power unit to actuate dolly components; and

a control device in communication with the power unit for entering and manipulating data to instruct the actuation of the dolly.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the dolly further comprising a front axle encoder and a top cap encoder for measuring orientation data of the front axle and top cap.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the encoders are communicatively coupled to a dolly control unit for transmitting the orientation data to the power unit computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communication between the power unit computer and the dolly control unit and the power unit computer and the control device is via a CAN network.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the power unit is configured to calculate dolly adjustments from the measured orientation data and data entered through the control device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of dollies.

21. A load transport system comprising:

at least one dolly, the at least one dolly comprising at least one encoder communicatively coupled to a dolly control unit, wherein the at least one encoder communicates measured data to the dolly control unit;

at least one power unit, the power unit comprising a power unit computer communicatively coupled with the at least one dolly control unit via a network, wherein the at least one dolly control unit communicates measured data to the power unit computer; and

a control device, the control device configured to communicate with the power unit computer via a network and allow a user to view and manipulate system data, and provide instructions to the power unit computer;

wherein the power unit computer is configured to calculate adjustments to the at least one dolly based on dolly control unit data and user input data to effect user instructions; and

wherein the power unit is configured to actuate the at least one dolly.