Control System and Method for Operating a Machine

• US 20170114519A1
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hague, Michael Evan
• Granted Patent: US 9,714,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/434 providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. automatic dumping or loading, automatic return-to-dig
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/438 Memorising movements for repetition, e.g. play-back capability
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45012 Excavator

Abstract

A system for setting a dump height of a work implement includes a linkage assembly and a linkage position sensor. In one embodiment, a controller stores an identifying code corresponding to the dump body, stores a desired dump height, associates the desired dump height with the identifying code, and subsequently receives the identifying code. In another embodiment, the controller stores a plurality of linkage positions corresponding to a plurality of desired dump heights, receives data indicative of a minimum lifting height of the dump body, and determines a desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned. In both embodiments, the controller generates a command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height and generates a command to dump material within the material engaging work implement into the dump body.

Claims

1. A system for setting a dump height of a material engaging work implement above a dump body comprising:

a linkage assembly including the material engaging work implement;

a linkage position sensor for generating linkage position signals indicative of a position of the linkage assembly; and

a controller configured to;

store an identifying code corresponding to the dump body;

store a desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned relative to the dump body;

associate the desired dump height with the identifying code;

receive the identifying code;

generate a command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height; and

generate a command to dump material within the material engaging work implement into the dump body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store the desired dump height while operating in a learning mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to store linkage position signals at the desired dump height while operating in the learning mode and the command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height includes generating a command to position the linkage assembly so that linkage position signals from the linkage position sensor matches the linkage position stored at the desired dump height.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to store the desired dump height upon dumping the material engaging work implement while in the learning mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store the desired dump height upon actuating an input device after moving the linkage assembly to a desired position relative to the dump body.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying code is manually input by an operator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying code is received wirelessly by a component of the controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the component of the controller that receives the identifying code is on-board a machine including the linkage assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

store a second identifying code corresponding to a second dump body;

store a second desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned relative to a second dump body;

associate the second desired dump height with the second identifying code;

receive the second identifying code;

generate a second command to position the linkage assembly at the second desired dump height; and

generate a second command to dump material within the material engaging work implement into the second dump body.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired dump height and the second desired dump height are different.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying code and the desired dump height are stored on-board a machine including the linkage assembly.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the identifying code is also stored on-board a haul truck including the dump body.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein controller is further configured to determine a subsequent desired dump height by increasing the desired dump height by a predetermined distance.

14. A system for setting a dump height of a material engaging work implement above a dump body comprising:

a linkage assembly including the material engaging work implement;

a linkage position sensor for generating linkage position signals indicative of a position of the linkage assembly; and

a controller configured to;

store a plurality of linkage positions corresponding to a plurality of desired dump heights at which the linkage assembly may be positioned;

receive data indicative of a minimum lifting height of the dump body;

determine a desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned relative to the dump body based upon the minimum lifting height;

generate a command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height; and

generate a command to dump material within the material engaging work implement into the dump body.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the minimum lifting height is received wirelessly by a component of the controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the component of the controller that receives the minimum lifting height is on-board a machine including the linkage assembly.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of linkage positions are stored on-board a machine including the linkage assembly.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the minimum lifting height of the dump body is stored on-board a haul truck including the dump body.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein controller is further configured to determine a subsequent desired dump height by increasing the desired dump height by a predetermined distance.

20. A controller implemented method for setting a dump height of a material engaging work implement above a dump body, the material engaging work implement being operatively connected to a linkage assembly, comprising:

storing a plurality of linkage positions corresponding to a plurality of desired dump heights at which the linkage assembly may be positioned;

receiving data indicative of a minimum lifting height of the dump body;

determining a desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned relative to the dump body based upon the minimum lifting height; and

generating a command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height.