Method for determining the front and rear axle weight of an earth moving machine

• US 6,052,925 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Reiners, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen Dunn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US08/996,006
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 37/348, 37/382, 37/414, 37/415, 172/7, 172/10, 172/11, 172/12, 172/4.5, 172/2, 701/50
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/283 with a single arm pivoted directly on the chassis linkage mechanism for it E02F3/3405
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool

Abstract

A method for determining the front and rear axle weights of an earth moving machine. The method includes determining the weight of a portion of the earth moving machine, and the forces acting on the lift cylinder pin, lift arm pin, and the tilt cylinder pin. The axle weights are determined in response to the above mentioned weights and forces.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically determining the weight of a front and rear axle of an earth moving machine having a work implement, the front and rear axle being connected to a front and rear tire respectively, and the front and rear tire being in contact with a land site, the earth moving machine having a lift cylinder, lift arm assembly, and a tilt cylinder, the lift cylinder having a lift cylinder pin connecting the lift cylinder to the earth moving machine, the tilt cylinder having a tilt cylinder pin connecting the tilt cylinder to the earth moving machine, and the lift arm assembly having a lift arm pin connecting the lift arm assembly to the earth moving machine, comprising the steps of:

determining a weight of a portion of the machine;

determining a lift cylinder pin force acting on said lift cylinder pin;

determining a tilt cylinder pin force acting on said tilt cylinder pin;

determining a lift arm pin force acting on said lift arm pin; and

,

determining said front and rear axle weight in response to said weight, said lift cylinder force, said lift arm force, and said tilt cylinder force.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of determining a weight of a portion of the machine includes the steps of:

determining a weight of the front frame assembly of the machine;

determining a weight of the rear frame assembly of the machine;

determining a weight of the lift cylinder pin;

determining a weight of the lift arm pin; and

determining a weight of the tilt cylinder pin.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

storing a configuration file for said weight of a portion of the machine, said configuration file including said front frame assembly weight, said rear frame assembly weight, said lift cylinder pin weight, said lift arm pin weight, and said tilt cylinder pin weight.