Load distribution system for haulage trucks

• US 6,157,889 A
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Modular Mining Systems Incorporated (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Modular Mining Systems Incorporated (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baker, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/397,189
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 701/124, 701/50, 701/35, 702/127, 702/173, 702/174, 37/348, 37/411, 37/419, 414/699
• US Class Current: 701/124
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/12 having electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Weight sensors coupled to the bed of a conventional haulage truck measure the weight applied to each tire strut as the truck is being loaded. Based on the weight applied to each strut, the exact position of the center of gravity of the load in the truck'"'"'s bed is calculated and displayed on a monitor relative to a target position deemed optimal for uniform weight distribution. Based on this information, the operator of the loading machine can complete the loading operation in such a way as to shift the center of gravity toward the chosen target position. In another embodiment of the invention, an automated algorithm calculates and displays where the next bucket load should be dropped, based on its approximate weight, in order to shift the center of gravity toward the target location.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the location of the center of gravity of a pile of material being loaded on the bed of a haulage vehicle from a bucket of a loading machine, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing at least two weight sensors coupled to said bed and disposed at predetermined positions within the haulage vehicle;

(b) recording a weight measured by each of said weight sensors after a load of material is released from the bucket;

(c) calculating a current position of a center of gravity of the pile of material loaded in the bed;

(d) providing a spatial indication of said current position relative to a target point; and

(e) releasing a subsequent load of material from the bucket from a drop position opposite to said current position of the center of gravity relative to the target point in order to shift said center of gravity toward the target point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) is carried out by displaying the position of the center of gravity and the target point.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the position of the bucket relative to the target point.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of calculating said drop position relative to the target point and displaying the drop position.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the position of the bucket relative to the drop position.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step (e) is carried out by automatically positioning the bucket such that the position of the bucket coincides with said drop position.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step (e) is carried out utilizing feedback-loop control.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is carried out with four sensors.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said steps (c) and (d) is carried out using global-positioning-system units.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said displaying step is carried out on a monitor.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said displaying step is carried out on a monitor.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said displaying step is carried out on a monitor.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein said displaying step is carried out on a monitor.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein said displaying step is carried out on a monitor.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) is carried out by displaying the position of the center of gravity and the target point on a monitor;

and further comprising the steps of displaying the position of the bucket relative to the target point on said monitor, and of calculating said drop position relative to the target point and displaying it on the monitor.

16. An apparatus for controlling the location of the center of gravity of a pile of material being loaded on the bed of a haulage vehicle from a bucket of a loading machine, comprising:

(a) at least two weight sensors coupled to said bed and disposed at predetermined positions within the haulage vehicle;

(b) means for recording a weight measured by each of said weight sensors after a load of material is released from the bucket;

(c) means for calculating a current position of a center of gravity of the pile of material loaded on the bed; and

(d) means for providing a spatial indication of said current position relative to a target point.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for displaying the position of the center of gravity and the target point.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for displaying the position of the bucket relative to the target point.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for calculating a drop position for shifting said center of gravity toward the target point and means for displaying said drop position relative to the target point.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for displaying the position of the bucket relative to the drop position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for automatically positioning the bucket such that the position of the bucket coincides with said drop position.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for displaying the position of the bucket relative to the drop position.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said positioning means includes feedback-loop control apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising four sensors.

30. The apparatus claim 16, wherein said means for calculating a position of a center of gravity of the pile of material currently loaded on the bed and means for providing a spatial indication of said position relative to a target point include global-positioning-system units.

31. The apparatus of claim 16, further including means for displaying the position of the center of gravity and the target point on a monitor;

means for displaying a position of the bucket relative to the target point on said monitor; and

means for calculating said drop position relative to the target point and displaying the drop position on the monitor.