System for managing loading operations of haul vehicles

• US 20090063222A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Doan, Tien Dzung, Allen, William Edward, Krone, John James
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle is disclosed. The loading system has an identification tag located on the haul vehicle, an identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag, and a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag. The loading system also has a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle.

Claims

1. A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle, the loading system comprising:

an identification tag located on the haul vehicle;

an identification tag reader located prior to a loading site configured to recognize the identification tag;

a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag in response to the identification tag reader recognizing the identification tag; and

a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle.

2. The loading system of claim 1, wherein:

the identification tag is an RFID tag; and

the identification tag reader is an RFID-type reader.

3. The loading system of claim 1, wherein:

the loading system further includes an entrance to the worksite;

the identification tag reader is located at the entrance; and

the identification tag is recognized when the haul vehicle enters the worksite through the entrance.

4. The loading system of claim 1, further including a scale house, wherein the transceiver is located at the scale house.

5. The loading system of claim 1, wherein the loading machine is dispatched by the transceiver.

6. The loading system of claim 1, wherein the loading information includes at least one of an identifier of the haul vehicle, a description of the haul vehicle, a type of material to be loaded onto the haul vehicle, and an expected payload amount.

7. The loading system of claim 1, wherein the loading machine includes a payload monitoring system configured to determine an amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle.

8. The loading system of claim 7, wherein:

the identification tag reader is a first identification tag reader;

the transceiver is a first transceiver;

the loading machine includes;

a second identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag; and

a second transceiver configured to deliver a third signal including payload information to the first transceiver; and

the payload information includes at least one of an identifier of the haul vehicle, the determined amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle, an amount of material per a loading increment, the amount of material determined by the payload monitoring system, a number of loading increments, and a time-stamp.

9. The loading system of claim 8, wherein:

the second transceiver is further configured to receive a fourth signal indicative of an amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle; and

the payload monitoring system is further configured to be recalibrated based on a comparison of the determined amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle and the fourth signal.

10. The loading system of claim 1, further including a scale configured to weigh the haul vehicle.

11. The loading system of claim 10, wherein:

the identification tag reader is a first identification tag reader;

the transceiver is a first transceiver; and

the scale includes;

a second identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag; and

a second transceiver configured to deliver a third signal including at least an identifier of the haul vehicle and the weight of the haul vehicle to the first transceiver.

12. The loading system of claim 11, wherein the scale further includes an interface having at least one of a text display and at least one light to convey information to an operator of the haul vehicle.

13. The loading system of claim 1, further including a printer configured to produce a printed communication including at least one of an identifier of the haul vehicle, a description of the haul vehicle, a type of material to be loaded onto the haul vehicle, an expected payload amount, a determined amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle, an amount of payload per a loading increment, a number of loading increments, a time-stamp, and a weight of the haul vehicle.

14. A method for managing loading operations of a haul vehicle at a loading site, comprising:

identifying the haul vehicle at a location prior to the loading site;

responsively producing an identification signal;

determining a desired amount of material to load onto the haul vehicle based on the identification signal; and

responsively producing a load command signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

determining an amount of material being loaded onto the haul vehicle; and

comparing the amount of material being loaded onto the haul vehicle to the desired amount of material.

16. The method of claim 14, further including:

receiving a payload signal in response to loading the haul vehicle;

determining a weight of the haul vehicle; and

responsively producing a weight signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

comparing the weight signal to the desired amount of material; and

directing an operator of the haul vehicle based on the comparison.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein directing an operator of the haul vehicle includes:

directing the operator of the haul vehicle to return to the loading site when the comparison indicates that the amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle differs from the desired amount of material by at least a predetermined amount; and

directing the operator of the haul vehicle to leave an associated worksite when the comparison indicates that the amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle differs from the desired amount of material by less than the predetermined amount.

19. The method of claim 16, further including generating a report based on at least one of the identification signal, the payload signal, and the weight signal.

20. The method of claim 16, further including storing information included in at least one of the identification signal, the payload signal, and the weight signal.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the weight signal includes an identifier of the haul vehicle and the weight of the haul vehicle.

22. A system for use at a worksite, comprising:

a haul vehicle including an RFID tag;

a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle, wherein the loading machine includes;

a payload monitoring system configured to determine an amount of material loaded onto the haul vehicle;

a transceiver configured to;

receive a load command signal including loading information for the haul vehicle; and

transmit a payload signal including at least information related to the amount of material loaded onto the mobile haul mobile;

an entrance to the worksite;

a first communications sub-system associated with the entrance, wherein the first communications subsystem includes;

an RFID-type reader configured to identify the RFID tag as the haul vehicle passes through the entrance; and

a transmitter configured to deliver an identification signal including at least information related to the identified identification tag;

a second communications sub-system including a transceiver configured to;

receive the identification signal; and

deliver the load command signal to the transceiver of the haul vehicle to initiate loading of the haul vehicle;

a scale configured to weigh the haul vehicle;

a third communications sub-system located at the scale and including;

an RFID-type reader configured to identify the RFID tag as the haul vehicle is weighed; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a weight signal including at least the weight of the haul vehicle; and

a printer configured to produce a printed communication for an operator of the haul vehicle.