Wheel tractor scraper production optimization

• US 8,229,631 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Morey, Stephen J., Vik, Timothy A., Burt, Quentin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US11/889,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 374/11, 374/14, 374/16, 374/19
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6436 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/6445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6481 with scraper bowls with an ejector having translational movement for dumping the soil E02F3/649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/651 Hydraulic or pneumatic drives; Electric or electro-mechanical control devices E02F3/652, E02F3/653 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for enhancing productivity for an excavating machine is disclosed. The method includes determining at least one cycle characteristic for an operating cycle of the excavating machine. The method also includes measuring payload accumulated by the machine during a loading phase of an operating cycle of the excavating machine. The method further includes controlling payload accumulated by the machine based on at least one of the at least one determined cycle characteristics.

Claims

1. An earthmoving system for optimizing productivity in loading and transporting a quantity of material, the earthmoving system comprising:

a mobile machine including a payload carrier configured to engage material to be loaded during a load phase of an operating cycle, and configured to be raised from engagement with the material during a haul phase of the operating cycle; and

a control system associated with the machine and configured to;

calculate an optimum payload for the operating cycle based on at least one cycle characteristic of the machine, and

control the payload loaded by the machine based on the calculated optimum payload;

wherein the at least one cycle characteristic includes a load growth curve based on a type of the material loaded and a manner in which the machine is loaded, and the control system is configured to control the payload loaded based on the character of the load growth curve.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to determine the load growth curve for the machine during machine operation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the load growth curve indicates a change in an amount of the payload loaded over time.

3. A machine, comprising:

front and rear ground supporting units;

a payload carrier intermediate the front and rear ground supporting units, the payload carrier being configured to be loaded with material to permit the machine to transport the material during an operating cycle;

a steering unit for steering the machine during transport of the material;

at least one power source for delivering power to the machine;

a system configured to measure a quantity of the material loaded into the payload carrier, the system including at least one camera strategically located to provide a view of the material entering the payload carrier during loading, the camera being configured to supply a signal to the controller indicative of a speed of material accumulation within the payload carrier; and

a controller configured to determine an optimum payload for the operating cycle based on at least one cycle characteristic of the machine, and control the quantity of the material loaded into the payload carrier based on the determined optimum payload;

wherein the controller is configured to determine a load growth curve for the machine based at least on the signal indicative of the speed of material accumulation within the payload carrier.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the load growth curve indicates a change in an amount of the material loaded over time.