Method for monitoring the work cycle of earth moving machinery during material removal

• US 5,944,764 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Harrod, Gregory R., Henderson, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/881,015
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/201, 701/208, 701/215, 701/216, 701/26, 701/202, 701/210, 701/207, 701/225, 701/1, 342/357, 342/457, 37/907, 37/414, 37/348, 37/347, 37/905, 356/312, 356/3.09, 356/4.08, 356/141.3, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 364/151
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/842 using electromagnetic, optical or photoelectric beams, e.g. laser beams
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004

Abstract

The invention is a method for monitoring a work cycle of a earth moving machine on a land site. The method includes the steps of determining a direction of motion of the earth moving machine as being either a forward or a reverse direction of motion, determining a change in the direction of motion to an opposite direction of motion, determining a location of the earth moving machine on the land site where the change in direction of motion occurs, determining a condition of the land site at the location, and determining a work cycle of the earth moving machine in response to the condition.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a work cycle of an earth moving machine for moving material in a land site, the earth moving machine having a body and a bucket, the method including the steps of:

determining a direction of motion of said earth moving machine as being one of a forward and a reverse direction of motion;

determining a change in said direction of motion to an opposite direction of motion;

determining that said opposite direction of motion is said reverse direction of motion;

determining a location of said earth moving machine on said land site in response to said change in direction of motion to said reverse direction;

determining a condition of said land site at said location; and

determining a work cycle of said earth moving machine in response to said condition.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of:

determining a resource map for said land site; and

defining a potential load region as a portion of said land site that is located between said body and a maximum extension of said bucket.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of determining a condition of said land site includes the step of determining that said material in said potential load region is one of available to be mined and mined out.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of determining said work cycle includes the steps of:

determining that a loading operation has occurred in response to said material in said potential load region being available to be mined; and

determining that a dumping operation has occurred in response to said material type in said potential load region being mined out.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1 including the step of identifying a type of material loaded in said bucket.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of determining a change in direction includes the steps of:

determining a position of said earth moving machine in response to receiving a GPS signal; and

determining a change in direction in response to receiving multiple said GPS signal.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 1, where the earth moving machine includes a transmission and, wherein the step of determining a change in direction includes the step of sensing a shift in said transmission.

8. A method for monitoring a work cycle of an earth moving machine for moving material in a land site, the earth moving machine having a body and a bucket, the method including the steps of:

determining a direction of motion of said earth moving machine as being one of a forward and a reverse direction of motion;

determining a change in said direction of motion to an opposite direction of motion;

determining that said opposite direction of motion is said reverse direction of motion;

determining a location of said earth moving machine on said land site in response to said change in direction of motion to said reverse direction;

determining a condition of said land site at said location, wherein said condition includes one of available to be mined, and mined out; and

determining a work cycle of said earth moving machine in response to said condition.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, including the steps of:

determining a resource map for said land site; and

defining a potential load region.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said potential load region is a portion of said land site that is located between said body and a maximum extension of said bucket.