System for preventing tipper truck overturning

• US 5,742,228 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Litan Advanced Instrumentation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Litan Advanced Instrumentation Ltd.
• Inventors: Levy, Nisim
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/707,560
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 340/429, 340/431, 340/440, 340/689, 180/282, 180/283, 298/175, 298/22 C, 364/424.07, 280/432, 280/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 340/429
• 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 1/28 Tipping body constructions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/01 Load responsive, leveling of vehicle

Abstract

A system for preventing the overturning of the bin of a tipper truck during the raising of the bin for purposes of unloading includes a lateral level sensor to sense the lateral orientation of the tipper truck, and a longitudinal level sensor for sensing the longitudinal inclination of the bin. A processor processes the outputs of the lateral and longitudinal level sensors to derive a measure of risk of overturning. The system also includes a display for displaying an indication responsive to the measure of risk. The processor preferably processes the output of the lateral level sensor to calculate a rate of change of lateral inclination of the tipper truck. Optionally, a mechanism may be provided for interrupting the raising of the bin, the mechanism being responsive to the processor.

Claims

1. A system for preventing the overturning of a tipper truck during the raising of a bin for purposes of unloading, the system comprising:

(a) a lateral level sensor associated with the tipper truck generating an output indicative of the lateral orientation of the tipper truck;

(b) a longitudinal level sensor associated with the bin of the tipper truck generating an output indicative of the longitudinal inclination of the bin;

(c) a processor for processing said outputs of said lateral and longitudinal level sensors to derive a measure of risk of overturning based on said inputs from both said lateral and longitudinal level sensors; and

(d) means for displaying an indication responsive to said measure of risk.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said processor includes means for processing said output of said lateral level sensor to calculate a rate of change of lateral inclination of the tipper truck.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said lateral level sensor is a clinometer.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal level sensor is a clinometer.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said lateral level sensor is connected to the tipper truck.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said lateral level sensor is connected to the bin.

7. A system as in claim 1, further comprising means for interrupting the raising of the bin, said means being responsive to said processor.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the bin is raised using a hydraulic mechanism and wherein said means for interrupting the raising of the bin includes a valve for cutting off the inflow of hydraulic fluid into said hydraulic mechanism.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the bin is raised using a hydraulic mechanism and wherein said means for interrupting the raising of the bin includes a valve for releasing hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic mechanism so as to lower the bin.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said means for displaying an indication includes at least one alarm for indicating a potentially dangerous tilt angle.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said at least one alarm includes at least one light.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein said at least one alarm includes one or more sounds.

13. A method for preventing the overturning of a tipper truck during the raising of a bin for purposes of unloading, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first output indicative of the lateral inclination of the tipper truck;

(b) generating a second output indicative of the longitudinal inclination of the bin; and

(c) processing both said first and second outputs to determine a measure of risk of overturning of the tipper truck, said processing including;

(i) processing said first output to determine a maximum safe longitudinal inclination of the bin as a function of the lateral inclination of the tipper truck; and

(ii) comparing said second output with said maximum safe longitudinal inclination.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising a step of deriving a rate of change of lateral inclination of the tipper truck.

15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising a step of interrupting raising of the bin when said second output indicates a longitudinal inclination of the bin greater than said maximum safe longitudinal inclination.

16. The method as in claim 14, further comprising a step of interrupting raising of the bin when said rate of change of lateral inclination exceeds a given value.