METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A TIPPER VEHICLE

• US 20180111537A1
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HYVA Holding BV (Hyva Cayman Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: HYVA Holding BV (Hyva Cayman Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baldys, Marek, Hertog, Maarten, Biemond, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 10,406,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/162 the hydraulic system itself
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/125 Heavy duty trucks

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of operating a tipper vehicle, the tipper vehicle comprising a tipper body pivotably moveable with respect to a frame with a hydraulic cylinder disposed therebetween and actuatable to pivot the tipper body. The method comprises monitoring at least one of (i) a pressure parameter relating to the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and (ii) an angular positional parameter relating to the angular position of the tipper body; determining a maximum permissible vehicle speed based on at least one of the monitored (i) pressure parameter and (ii) angular positional parameter; and displaying the maximum permissible vehicle speed.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method of operating a tipper vehicle, the tipper vehicle comprising a tipper body pivotably moveable with respect to a frame with a hydraulic cylinder disposed there between and actuatable to pivot the tipper body, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one of (i) a pressure parameter relating to the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and (ii) an angular positional parameter relating to the angular position of the tipper body;

determining a maximum permissible vehicle speed based on at least one of the monitored (i) pressure parameter and (ii) angular positional parameter; and

displaying the maximum permissible vehicle speed.

49. A method according to claim 48, comprising:

monitoring both the pressure parameter and the angular positional parameter, and

determining the maximum permissible vehicle speed based on at least the monitored pressure parameter and angular positional parameter, optionally wherein the pressure parameter is generated by a pressure sensor which measures the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and wherein the pressure sensor is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder.

50. A method according to claim 48, wherein the angular positional parameter is generated by an inclination sensor, optionally wherein the inclination sensor:

a) measures the inclination of the hydraulic cylinder, and is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder;

b) measures the inclination of the tipper body, and is mounted to the tipper body.

51. A method according to claim 48, wherein the angular positional parameter is generated by a rotary position sensor, optionally wherein the rotary position sensor measures the angular position of:

a) the hydraulic cylinder about a pivot axis of the hydraulic cylinder;

or

b) the tipper body about the pivot axis of the hydraulic cylinder.

52. A method according to claim 48, further comprising receiving the vehicle speed, optionally from an engine controller of the vehicle.

53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising one or more of:

a) generating an alert if it is determined that the received vehicle speed is greater than the determined maximum permissible vehicle speed; and

b) lowering the tipper body towards the resting position if it is determined that the vehicle speed is greater than the maximum permissible vehicle speed

54. A system for a tipper vehicle, the tipper vehicle comprising a tipper body pivotably moveable with respect to a frame with a hydraulic cylinder disposed therebetween and actuatable to pivot the tipper body, the system comprising:

a tipper body monitoring module arranged to monitor at least one of (i) a pressure parameter relating to the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and (ii) an angular positional parameter relating to the angular position of the tipper body;

a maximum permissible vehicle speed determining module arranged to determine the maximum permissible vehicle speed based on at least one of the monitored (i) pressure parameter and (ii) angular positional parameter; and

a display arranged to display the maximum permissible vehicle speed.

55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the tipper body monitoring module is arranged to monitor both the pressure parameter and the angular positional parameter, and wherein the maximum permissible vehicle speed determining module is arranged to determine the maximum permissible vehicle speed based on at least the monitored pressure parameter and angular positional parameter.

56. A system according to claim 54, further comprising a pressure sensor arranged to measure the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder and arranged to generate the pressure parameter, optionally further comprising an inclination sensor arranged to generate the angular positional parameter, and further optionally wherein the inclination sensor is arranged to measure the inclination of the hydraulic cylinder or the tipper body.

57. A system according to claim 54, further comprising a rotary position sensor arranged to generate the angular positional parameter, optionally wherein the rotary position sensor is arranged to measure the angular position of:

the hydraulic cylinder about a pivot axis of the hydraulic cylinder;

or

the tipper body about the pivot axis of the hydraulic cylinder.

58. A system according to claim 54, further comprising a vehicle speed monitoring module is arranged to monitor the vehicle speed, optionally wherein the vehicle speed monitoring module is arranged to be connected to an engine controller of the vehicle such that it can receive the vehicle speed from the engine controller, and optionally further comprising an alert generator arranged to generate an alert if it is determined that the vehicle speed is greater than the determined maximum permissible vehicle speed.

59. A system according to claim 58, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder control module arranged to actuate the hydraulic cylinder to lower the tipper body towards the resting position if it is determined that the vehicle speed is greater than the maximum permissible vehicle speed.

60. A tipper vehicle comprising:

a tipper body pivotably moveable with respect to a frame;

a hydraulic cylinder disposed between the frame and the tipper body and actuatable to pivot the tipper body; and

a system in accordance with claim 54.

61. A tipper vehicle according to claim 60, wherein:

a) a pressure sensor is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder; and

/or

b) an inclination sensor is mounted to one or more of the hydraulic cylinder or the tipper body.

62. A hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising:

a hydraulic cylinder having at least one pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; and

at least one inclination sensor coupled to the hydraulic cylinder such that it is capable of generating a fore-aft inclination parameter relating to the inclination of the cylinder in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis.

63. A hydraulic cylinder assembly according to claim 62, further comprising a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer or an inertial measurement unit, coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and capable of generating a speed parameter.

64. A hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising:

a hydraulic cylinder having at least one pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; and

a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer or an inertial measurement unit, coupled to the hydraulic cylinder and capable of generating a speed parameter.

65. A hydraulic cylinder assembly according to claim 64, further comprising at least one inclination sensor coupled to the hydraulic cylinder such that it is capable of generating a fore-aft inclination parameter relating to the inclination of the cylinder in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis.

66. A hydraulic cylinder assembly according to claim 64, wherein at least one end of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with an eye which defines the pivot axis.

67. A hydraulic cylinder assembly according to claim 64, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the hydraulic cylinder such that it is capable of generating a pressure parameter relating to the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic cylinder.