Automatic Control Of A Refuse Front End Loader

• US 20140343801A1
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: WHITFIELD, Ralph Waldo Jr., CUROTTO, John M., PARKER, Brian T., HAM, Brian Huston, COOPER, Andrew Blaine
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/025 Constructional features relating to actuating means for lifting or tipping containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0279 the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/146 Sensors, e.g. pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.

Claims

1. An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle comprising:

a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle;

a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal;

a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics; and

a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of components includes a lift arm, a fork, and a tailgate.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the control module determines a selected operating mode of the vehicle based on the mode signal and wherein the control module determines the selected operating mode is set to a manual mode when the mode signal indicates the mode select switch is in a first position.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the control module determines the selected operating mode is set to an auto-lift mode when the mode signal indicates the mode select switch is in a second position.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising an arm position sensor that senses a position of the lift arm and a fork position sensor that senses a position of the fork arm.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the control module stores a current position of the lift arm and the fork in response to the mode signal indicating the mode select switch is in a second position and the operator actuating the control mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics includes an engine speed and wherein the control module determines, in response to the engine speed, whether to actuate the lift arm and fork based on a plurality of sensed positions of the lift arm and the fork.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module determines, in response to the engine speed, whether to return the lift arm and fork to the stored positions of the lift arm and fork.

9. The system of claim 2 further comprising an overhead obstruction sensor configured to sense a distance between objects above the vehicle and the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the control module selectively interlocks at least one of the lift arm, fork, and tailgate in response to a determination of whether the distance is less than a threshold.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the control module selectively interlocks the tailgate in response to a determination of whether a sensed road speed of the vehicle is greater than a road speed threshold.

12. An automatic control method for a refuse vehicle comprising:

generating a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle;

operating vehicle in response to the mode select signal;

sensing a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle;

communicating the plurality of sensed characteristics;

receiving control instructions from a control mechanism; and

selectively controlling at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of components includes a lift arm, a fork, and a tailgate.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising sensing a position of the lift arm and sensing a position of the fork arm and storing a current position of the lift arm and the fork in response to the mode signal indicating a mode select switch is in a second position and an operator of the vehicle actuating the control mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining, in response to a sensed engine speed, whether to actuate the lift arm and fork based on a plurality of sensed positions of the lift arm and the fork.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining, in response to the sensed engine speed, whether to return the lift arm and fork to the stored positions of the lift arm and fork.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising selectively actuating a plurality of indicators based on the mode select signal and the at least one plurality of sensed characteristics.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing a distance between objects above the vehicle and the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising selectively controlling the lift arm, fork, and tailgate in response to a determination of whether the distance is less than a threshold.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising selectively controlling the tailgate in response to a determination that a sensed road speed of the vehicle is greater than a road speed threshold.