Cycle counter for a loader

• US 7,633,021 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Pfohl, Kevin L., Honey, Gary S., Meyer, Douglas, Ralph, Erin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US11/872,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 702/174, 177136-139, 177/141
• US Class Current: 177/141
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated

Abstract

A cycle counter system for use with a loading machine having a loading bucket. The cycle counter system includes at least one weight sensor, an operator activated control and a processing circuit. The at least one weight sensor produces a weight signal relating to a measured weight of a weight lifted by the loading machine. The operator activated control in the loading machine selectively produces at least one control signal. The processing circuit receives the control signal and the weight signal. The measured weight is added to a selected of a plurality of weight values dependent on the at least one control signal.

Claims

1. A cycle counter system for use with a loading machine having a loading bucket, said system comprising:

at least one weight sensor that produces a weight signal relating to a measured weight of a weight lifted by the loading machine;

an operator activated control in the loading machine, said control selectively producing at least one control signal; and

a processing circuit configured to receive said control signal and said weight signal, said processing circuit being further configured to add said measured weight to a selected one of a plurality of weight values dependent on said at least one control signal, said at least one control signal including an add bucket signal, a counter select signal, and an add truck signal.

2. The cycle counter system of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor producing a position signal representative of a position of the loading bucket.

3. The cycle counter of claim 2, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to zero said measured weight if said position signal indicates the loading bucket is proximate the ground and said add bucket signal is sent by said operator activated control for more than a predetermined time.

4. The cycle counter of claim 2, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to activate a tip-off mode if said position signal indicates the loading bucket is above a predetermined height above the ground and said add bucket signal is sent by said operator activated control for more than a predetermined time.

5. The cycle counter system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to alter a pointer value representative of a counter dependent upon a momentary receipt of said counter select signal.

6. The cycle counter system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to increment a truck counter dependent upon a momentary receipt of said add truck signal.

7. The cycle counter system of claim 6, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to clear a total weight value associated with said truck counter.

8. The cycle counter system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to reset values associated with said truck counter dependent upon said add truck signal lasting more than a predetermined amount of time.

9. A loading machine, comprising:

a ground engaging vehicle having a loading device; and

a cycle counter system operatively connected to the loading machine, said system including;

at least one weight sensor that produces a weight signal relating to a measured weight of a weight lifted by the loading machine;

an operator activated control in the loading machine, said control selectively producing at least one control signal; and

a processing circuit configured to receive said control signal and said weight signal, said processing circuit being further configured to add said measured weight to a selected one of a plurality of weight values dependent on said at least one control signal, said at least one control signal including an add bucket signal, a counter select signal, and an add truck signal.

10. The loading machine of claim 9, further comprising a position sensor producing a position signal representative of a position of the loading device.

11. The cycle counter of claim 10, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to zero said measured weight if said position signal indicates the loading device is proximate the ground and said add bucket signal is sent by said operator activated control for more than a predetermined time.

12. The cycle counter of claim 10, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to activate a tip-off mode if said position signal indicates the loading device is above a predetermined height above the ground and said add bucket signal is sent by said operator activated control for more than a predetermined time.

13. The loading machine of claim 9, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to alter a pointer value representative of a counter dependent upon a momentary receipt of said counter select signal.

14. The loading machine of claim 9, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to increment a truck counter dependent upon a momentary receipt of said add truck signal.

15. The loading machine of claim 14, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to clear a total weight value associated with said truck counter.

16. The loading machine of claim 9, wherein said processing circuit is further configured to reset values associated with said truck counter dependent upon said add truck signal lasting at least a predetermined amount of time.

17. The loading machine of claim 16, wherein said predetermined time is two seconds.