Service for improving haulage efficiency

• US 7,945,364 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Greiner, Jon R., Sprock, Christopher M., Fratini, Anthony R., Schricker, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAWARI, REDHWAN K
• Application Number:
  US11/239,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/53, 701/65, 702/137, 340/905, 340/442, 180/167, 180/271
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A process of enabling and providing a service for improving haulage efficiency in a haulage system includes identifying a customer who may benefit from the service. Haulage vehicles of a fleet of haulage vehicles are equipped with a system for monitoring haulage parameters of the haulage vehicles. Equipment for gathering data on the monitored haulage parameters and for gathering information on haulage vehicle location along haul roads is provided. Target haulage parameters which result in desired haulage system performance are determined. The data is analyzed and deviations of actual haulage system performance from desired haulage system performance are determined.

Claims

1. A process of providing a service for improving haulage efficiency of a haulage system, comprising:

determining target values associated with a target haulage efficiency for the haulage system;

monitoring parameters of a plurality of haulage vehicles and parameters of at least one haul road traversed by the plurality of haulage vehicles, the monitored parameters including locations of the plurality of haulage vehicles along the at least one haul road, the at least one haul road being on a work site;

gathering data on the monitored parameters;

comparing the gathered data to the target values to;

locate segments of the at least one haul road associated with deviations of the gathered data from the target values;

determine grade modifications to the located segments of the at least one haul road commensurate with the deviations of the gathered data from the target values to bring the haulage efficiency closer to the target haulage efficiency;

presenting results of the comparison of the gathered data to the target values in a report; and

providing at least one of equipment or services for making the determined grade modifications based on the report.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein determining target values includes drawing an economically efficient balance among minimum fuel usage, minimum equipment wear, minimum time for a haulage cycle, and minimum cost per unit weight of haulage, while meeting any haulage production quotas.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein providing at least one of equipment or services includes providing machinery for modifying the grade of the least one haul road.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising advising a customer that a change in equipment or personnel assigned to a given task is needed to improve haulage efficiency.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising determining the location of the plurality of haulage vehicles on the at least one haul road with a positioning system associated with the plurality of haulage vehicles.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the determining the location with a positioning system includes determining the location with a global positioning satellite receiver.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein determining target values includes employing simulation software to determine which grade or grade variation will improve haulage efficiency.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein determining target values further includes employing simulation software to determine which haulage vehicles, which gear selection pattern, and which payload or payload variation will improve haulage efficiency.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising equipping at least some of the plurality of haulage vehicles with a torque estimator system.

10. The process of claim 9, further comprising estimating the torque output of the haulage vehicles equipped with the torque estimator system and identifying torque variations in haulage vehicle operation due to grade variation.

11. The process of claim 10, further comprising identifying torque variations in haulage vehicle operation due to rolling resistance variation.

12. A system for providing a service for improving haulage efficiency, comprising:

monitoring equipment for monitoring parameters of a plurality of haulage vehicles and parameters of at least one haul road traversed by the plurality of haulage vehicles, the monitored parameters including locations of the plurality of haulage vehicles along the at least one haul road, the at least one haul road being on a work site;

on-board computer systems adapted for installation on haulage vehicles in the plurality of haulage vehicles and configured to receive and process data generated by the monitoring equipment; and

an off-board computer system configured to;

receive and process information from the on-board computer systems and to compare the information with target values to yield results, the target values being associated with a target haulage efficiency for the haulage system, and

generate at least one report presenting an analysis of the results yielded by the comparison made by the off-board computer system, the report including recommended grade modifications to the at least one haul road commensurate with deviations of the information from the target values for bringing the haulage efficiency closer to the target haulage efficiency.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising torque estimators adapted to be associated with at least some of the plurality of haulage vehicles.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the torque estimators are configured to estimate the torque output of the haulage vehicles equipped with the torque estimator system and to identify torque variations in haulage vehicle operation due to grade variation.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the torque estimators are further configured to identify torque variations in haulage vehicle operation due to rolling resistance variation.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a positioning system configured to be associated with the plurality of haulage vehicles for determining the location of the plurality of haulage vehicles on the at least one haul road.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning satellite receiver.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the off-board computer system is further configured to employ simulation software to determine which grade or grade variation will improve haulage efficiency.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the off-board computer system is further configured to employ simulation software to determine which haulage vehicles, which gear selection pattern, and which payload or payload variation will improve haulage efficiency.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the target values draw an economically efficient balance among minimum fuel usage, minimum equipment wear, minimum time for a haulage cycle, and minimum cost per unit weight of haulage, while meeting any haulage production quotas.