Regulating dump rate of trucks

• US 9,738,202 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Humphrey, James D., Banham, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US14/849,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices

Abstract

A system for regulating a dump rate of a truck is disclosed. The truck is configured to carry material and dump the material in a container. The system includes a first detection module and a controller in communication with the first detection module. The first detection module generates a signal indicative of a draw down rate of the container. The draw down rate corresponds to a rate at which the material is discharged from the container. The controller determines the draw down rate of the contained based on the signal received from the first detection module. The controller further determines a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate. The controller then regulates the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.

Claims

1. A system for regulating a dump rate of a truck, the truck configured to carry material and dump the material in a container, the system comprising:

a first detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a draw down rate of the container; and

a controller in communication with the first detection module and the truck, the controller configured to;

determine the draw down rate of the container based on the signal received from the first detection module;

determine a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate;

determine the dump rate of the truck; and

regulate the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a rate of change of the level of the material within the container based on the signal received from the first detection module; and

regulate the dump rate of the truck based on the rate of change of the level of the material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a first warning when the level of the material within the container is below a predefined level, wherein the predefined level is below the threshold level.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to generate a second warning when the level of the material within the container is between the predefined level and the threshold level.

5. The system of claim 1 comprising a regulating module disposed in the truck, the regulating module configured to move a payload carrier of the truck about a pivotal axis, wherein the payload carrier is configured to contain the material therein.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the regulating module to move the payload carrier about the pivotal axis based on the relationship between the level of the material within the container and the threshold level, and wherein dumping of the material is controlled based on an angular position of the payload carrier about the pivotal axis.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the regulating module is configured to communicate with a hydraulic system of the truck, the hydraulic system configured to actuate the payload carrier about the pivotal axis.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first detection module comprises a weighing unit configured to detect an amount of the material discharged from the container.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first detection module comprises a scanning device configured to dynamically detect a volume of the material contained in the container.

10. The system of claim 1 comprising a sensing unit disposed on the truck, the sensing unit configured to communicate with the controller and generate a signal indicative of the dump rate of the truck.

11. A method of regulating a dump rate of a truck, the truck configured to carry a material and dump the material in a container, the method comprising:

determining a draw down rate of the container via a first detection module;

determining a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate;

communicating with the truck and determining a dump rate of the truck; and

regulating the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a rate of change of the level of the material within the container via the first detection module; and

regulating the dump rate of the truck based on the rate of change of the level of the material.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising, generating a first warning when the level of the material within the container is below a predefined level, wherein the predefined level is below the threshold level.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating a second warning when the level of the material within the container is between the predefined level and the threshold level.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising, moving a payload carrier of the truck about a pivotal axis based on the relationship between the level of the material within the container and the threshold level, wherein the dumping of the material is controlled based on an angular position of the payload carrier about the pivotal axis.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising, generating a signal, via a sensing unit, indicative of the angular position of the payload carrier about the pivotal axis.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first detection module comprises a weighing unit configured to detect an amount of the material discharged from the container.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first detection module comprises a scanning device configured to dynamically detect a volume of the material contained in the container.