Payload overload control system

• US 7,276,669 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Wei, Cler, Eric Wade, Dahl, Kristofor Lee, Aneloski, Randy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/958,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 177 45- 50, 177136-139, 701/50, 701/124
• US Class Current: 177/45
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale

Abstract

A work machine may have a payload overload control system. The system may include a payload carrier and a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the payload carrier. The system may further include a payload monitor configured to determine a payload in the payload carrier. The system may also include a controller configured to compare the determined payload with a predetermined maximum payload and to selectively control lift of the payload carrier by the lift mechanism based on the comparison between the determined payload and the predetermined maximum payload.

Claims

1. A machine payload overload control system comprising:

a payload carrier;

a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the payload carrier;

a payload monitor configured to determine a payload in the payload carrier; and

a controller configured to compare the determined payload with a predetermined maximum payload and to selectively control lift of the payload carrier by the lift mechanism by imposing a lift limit on the lift mechanism based on the comparison between the determined payload and the predetermined maximum payload.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to impose the lift limit on the lift mechanism by activating at least one raise stop solenoid valve to regulate flow of hydraulic fluid to one or more components of the lift mechanism when the lift mechanism is raised above a predetermined limit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the at least one raise stop solenoid valve when the lift mechanism is lowered below the predetermined limit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to remove the imposed lift limit when the lift mechanism is lowered below a predetermined reset height.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to impose the lift limit when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the lift limit corresponds to the height of the lift mechanism at the time the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to impose the lift limit on the lift mechanism when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload and at least one of the following conditions are met

a) the forward ground speed of the machine is no greater than zero;

and

b) a selected travel direction of the machine is selected from the group consisting of neutral and reverse.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to impose the lift limit on the lift mechanism when both of conditions a) and b) are met.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated payload of the machine.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is higher than the maximum rated payload of the machine.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is lower than the maximum rated payload of the machine.

12. The system of claim 1, further including a display, wherein the display is configured to display a message when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

13. A method of controlling work machine payload overload comprising:

determining a payload carried by a machine in a payload carrier;

comparing the determined payload to a predetermined maximum payload;

selectively controlling lift of the payload carrier by imposing a lift limit on a lift mechanism configured to lift the payload carrier based on the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein imposing the lift limit on the lift mechanism includes activating at least one raise stop solenoid valve to regulate flow of hydraulic fluid to one or more components of the lift mechanism when the lift mechanism is raised above a predetermined limit.

15. The method of claim 14, further including deactivating the at least one raise stop solenoid valve when the lift mechanism is lowered below the predetermined limit.

16. The method of claim 13, further including removing the imposed lift limit when the lift mechanism is lowered below a predetermined reset height.

17. The method of claim 13, further including imposing the lift limit when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the lift limit corresponds to the height of the lift mechanism at the time the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

19. The method of claim 13, further including imposing the lift limit on the lift mechanism when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload and at least one of the following conditions are met

a) the forward ground speed of the machine is no greater than zero;

and

b) a selected travel direction of the machine is selected from the group consisting of neutral and reverse.

20. The system of claim 19, further including imposing the lift limit on the lift mechanism when both of conditions a) and b) are met.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated payload of the machine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is higher than the maximum rated payload of the machine.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is lower than the maximum rated payload of the machine.

24. The method of claim 13, further including displaying a message when the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload.

25. A machine having a payload overload control system comprising:

a power source;

a traction system;

a payload carrier;

a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the payload carrier;

a payload monitor configured to determine a payload in the payload carrier; and

a controller configured to compare the determined payload with a predetermined maximum payload and to impose a lift limit on the lift mechanism when the following conditions are met

a) the determined payload exceeds the predetermined maximum payload;

b) a selected travel direction of the machine is selected from the group consisting essentially of neutral and reverse or the determined ground speed in a forward direction is no higher than zero; and

c) the lift mechanism is raised above a predetermined limit;

the controller being further configured to remove the imposed lift limit when the lift mechanism is lowered below a predetermined reset height.

26. The machine of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured to impose the lift limit on the lift mechanism by activating at least one raise stop solenoid valve to regulate flow of hydraulic fluid to one or more components of the lift mechanism when the lift mechanism is raised above a predetermined limit.

27. The machine of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the at least one raise stop solenoid valve when the lift mechanism is lowered below the predetermined limit.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the predetermined maximum payload is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated payload of the machine.