System and method for measuring machine rolling resistance

• US 7,483,808 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Greiner, Jonny R., Liu, Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/819,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 335/21, 731/04, 731/46, 340/988, 340/995.27, 700/200, 700/201, 700/207, 700/213, 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/41, 702/127, 702/150, 702/155, 702/158, 702/166, 702/182, 702/187, 702/189
• US Class Current: 702/166
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A method of measuring rolling resistance of a machine is disclosed. The method may include determining a drive axle torque value of the machine and calculating a total effective grade value using the drive axle torque value. The method may further include determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value and calculating a total drivetrain efficiency loss value of the machine using the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value. The method may also include determining position data of the machine and calculating an actual grade value based on the position data. The method may additionally include calculating a rolling resistance value of the machine by subtracting the actual grade value and the drivetrain efficiency loss value from the total effective grade value and outputting the rolling resistance value.

Claims

1. A method of measuring rolling resistance of a machine along a surface, comprising:

determining a drive axle torque value of the machine and calculating a total effective grade value using the drive axle torque value;

determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value and calculating a total drivetrain efficiency loss value of the machine using the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value;

determining position data of the machine and calculating an actual grade value based on the position data;

calculating a rolling resistance value of the machine by subtracting the actual grade value and the drivetrain efficiency loss value from the total effective grade value; and

outputting the rolling resistance value to identify a condition of the machine or the surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the drive axle torque value includes monitoring drive axle torque with a torque sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the drive axle torque value includes estimating drive axle torque with at least one machine sensor and an algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one drive train efficiency loss factor value includes monitoring the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value with at least one machine sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value includes retrieving the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value from a look-up table.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value includes retrieving a plurality of drivetrain efficiency loss factor values from a look-up table.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining position data of the machine includes communicating with at least one remote positioning device via a receiver to determine a change in elevation and a change in distance between two locations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein calculating the actual grade based on the position data includes dividing the change in elevation by the change in distance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the total effective grade value includes calculating a rimpull value.

10. The method of claim 9, further including determining a tire dynamic rolling radius value;

and wherein calculating the rimpull value includes dividing the drive axle torque value by the tire dynamic rolling radius value.

11. The method of claim 10, further including determining a gross machine weight value and a machine acceleration value, and wherein calculating the total effective grade value includes using the rimpull value, the gross machine weight value, the machine acceleration value, and an acceleration of gravity value.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the rolling resistance value includes outputting the rolling resistance value in real-time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting the rolling resistance value in real-time includes outputting the rolling resistance value to a remote operator.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting the rolling resistance value in real-time includes outputting the rolling resistance value to a machine operator.

15. A measurement system for calculating rolling resistance of a machine along a surface, comprising:

a sensor;

a position location system; and

a controller configured to convert a drive axle torque value sensed by the sensor into a total effective grade value, determine at least one drivetrain efficiency factor loss value;

calculate a drivetrain efficiency loss value from the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value, calculate an actual grade value as determined by the position location system, calculate a rolling resistance value by subtracting the actual grade value and the drivetrain efficiency loss value from the total effective grade value; and

output the rolling resistance value to identify a condition of the machine or the surface.

16. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is a torque sensor.

17. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensors.

18. A method of managing a roadway, comprising:

estimating a drive axle torque value of a machine using at least one machine sensor and an algorithm;

determining a tire dynamic rolling radius value, a gross machine weight value, and a machine acceleration value;

calculating a rimpull value by dividing the drive axle torque value by the tire dynamic rolling radius value;

calculating a total effective grade value using the rimpull value, the gross machine weight value, the machine acceleration value, and an acceleration of gravity value;

determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value and calculating a drivetrain efficiency loss value based on the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor;

determining position data of the machine by communicating with a plurality of remote positioning devices via a receiver to determine a change in elevation and a change in distance between two locations;

calculating an actual grade value based on position data by dividing the change in elevation by the change in distance;

calculating a rolling resistance value by subtracting the actual grade value and the drivetrain efficiency loss value from the total effective grade value; and

outputting the rolling resistance value to identify a condition of the machine or the roadway.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein outputting the rolling resistance value includes outputting to a remote operator in real-time.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein outputting the rolling resistance value includes outputting to a machine operator in real-time.