Method and apparatus for controlling ground speed of a work machine based on tire condition

• US 6,842,680 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Doddek, David J., Sorrells, Giles K.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/154,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701 30- 31, 701 35- 36, 701/50, 701/93, 340/436, 340/439, 340/444, 702/173, 702/187, 180/170
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/17 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/13 Load or weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/142 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/412 Excavators

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus to automatically control the speed of a work machine 10 based on ton-miles-per-hour limit of at least one of a plurality of tires 12. A vehicle information system 28 having a processor 32 and a database 34 monitors an actual ton-miles-per-hour calculation of the plurality of tires 12. The vehicle information system 28 functions in combination with an electronic control module 66 of the machine 10 to trigger an automatic speed reduction should the actual ton-miles-per-hour rating exceed a predetermined limit. The speed reduction may be affected by at least one of reducing a throttle setting, changing a transmission gear and automatic application of the machine brakes.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the speed of a work machine, as the machine moves across the ground, based on vehicle speed and payload on at least one of a plurality of tires on the work machine, including the steps of:

monitoring a first value that is function of vehicle speed and payload of at least one of said plurality of tires;

comparing said first value to a predetermined second value;

determining to cause said work machine to reduce speed based on an event of said first value exceeding said second value;

providing an operator an ability to override said determination; and

automatically causing said work machine to reduce speed, in response to said determination not being overridden.

2. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1, wherein said second value is a ton-miles-per hour limit.

3. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1, wherein said step of causing said work machine to reduce speed includes reducing a throttle setting.

4. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1, wherein said step of causing said work machine to reduce speed includes the step of shifting a transmission.

5. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1, wherein said step of causing said work machine to reduce speed includes the step of actuating a brake mechanism.

6. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1, including a step of warning an operator of said event of actual ton-miles-per-hour exceeding said predetermined ton-miles-per-hour limit.

7. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 6, wherein said step of warning said operator happens prior to said step of causing said machine to reduce speed.

8. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1 including the step of storing a record of said event in a database.

9. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 8, wherein said step of storing a record of said event includes transmitting said record to a remote database.

10. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 8, wherein said step of storing a record of said event includes maintaining a history events related to an individual tire.

11. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1 including the step of compensating for uneven weight distribution on the plurality of tires of said work machine.

12. The method of controlling the speed of a work machine of claim 1 including the step of including a delay after the step of comparing said actual ton-miles-per-hour to said predetermined ton-miles-per-hour limit and prior to said step of reducing speed.

29. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of automatically causing said work machine to reduce speed further comprises the steps of:

determining one of a plurality of speed reduction techniques to use in response to a current operating environment of said machine; and

automatically causing said work machine to reduce speed in response to said determined speed reduction technique.

30. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of delaying said work machine speed reduction a period of time in response to said determination being overridden.

31. A method, as set forth in claim 30, further comprising the step of automatically causing said work machine to reduce speed in response to an expiration of said delay time period.

32. A method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the step of determining whether a tire carcass has been damaged in response to said history.

13. An apparatus for controlling the speed of a work machine, as the work machine moves across the ground, said control being based on monitoring work machine speed and payload on at least one of a plurality of tires on the work machine, said apparatus comprising:

a payload monitor adapted to generate a signal related to a payload of said machine on said plurality of tires;

a ground speed monitor adapted to generate a signal related to the speed of said work machine across the ground; and

a vehicle information system having a processor and a database being adapted to transmit and receive a plurality of signals, wherein said vehicle information system monitors said work machine speed and said payload of at least one of said plurality of tires and compares first value that is a function of speed and payload on one of said plurality of tires and a predetermined a second value, determines to cause said work machine to reduce speed based on an event of said first value exceeding said second value, provides an operator an ability to override said determination, and automatically causing said machine ground speed to be reduced in in response to said determination not being overridden.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second value is a ton-miles-per-hour limit.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said vehicle information system is adapted to reduce the speed of the machine by one of reducing a throttle setting, shifting a transmission and actuating a braking system.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 including an indicator adapted to notify an operator that said exceeding event has occurred.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said indicator is an audible indicator.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said indicator is a visual indicator.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 including an override device adapted to allow the operator to prevent said work machine speed from being reduced.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 including an input device adapted to input at least one of a plurality of machine parameters into said database.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said input device is a keypad.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 including a data link adapted to transmit data between said vehicle information system and a remotely located database.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said act of reducing said machine speed is nullified as a result of said work machine undergoing a critical machine failure.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said act of reducing said work machine speed is nullified as a result of the operator applying a brake.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said act of reducing said work machine speed is nullified as a result of the engine exceeding an over-speed limit.

26. A method of controlling the speed of a work machine, as the machine moves across the ground, based on vehicle speed and payload on at least one of a plurality of tires on the work machine, including the steps of:

monitoring a first value that is function of vehicle speed and payload of at least one of said plurality of tires;

comparing said first value to a predetermined second value;

determining to cause said work machine to reduce speed in response to said comparison;

notifying an operator in response to said first value exceeding said second value;

establishing a delay time period in response to said notification during which an operator may override said determination; and

automatically causing said work machine to reduce speed in response to said delay time period expiring and said determination not being overridden.

27. A method, as set forth in claim 26 wherein the step of notifying said operator further includes the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of notifications in response to an amount the first value exceeds the second value; and

notifying said operator using the selected notification.

28. A method, as set forth in claim 26, further comprising the step of determining a tire rating in response to the first value exceeding the second value.