Payload monitor having distribution coefficient

• US 6,839,638 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sorrells, Giles K., Lueschow, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US10/305,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 702/33, 702/87, 702/88, 702/101, 702173-175, 73/11.3, 701/50, 701/69, 177/136, 177/140, 177/141
• US Class Current: 702/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for calibrating a payload monitor of a work machine. Altering the load carrying body of a work machine can adversely impact the accuracy of a payload monitor. The present invention provides a calibrating technique using an alternate coefficient that is programmed into the payload monitor. The alternate coefficient is then used by the payload monitor.

Claims

1. A payload monitor adapted to provide data related to the payload of a work machine, said payload monitor comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to transmit a sensor signal related to the load being carried by said work machine;

a processor adapted to receive said sensor signal and perform a calculation, which includes applying a first coefficient to the sensor signal, to determine the payload of said work machine, and to perform the calculation with an alternate coefficient that is used to modify the first coefficient;

wherein said first coefficient and said alternate coefficient are used in said calculation to account for distribution of payload between a front and a rear axle.

2. The payload monitor of claim 1, wherein said alternate coefficient is input into said processor using a programming device.

3. The payload monitor of claim 2, wherein said programming device is a keypad.

4. The payload monitor of claim 2, wherein said programming device is a laptop computer.

5. The payload monitor of claim 2, wherein said programming device is a handheld computer.

6. The payload monitor of claim 1, wherein said alternate coefficient is determined using at least one load study.

7. A work machine for use to move material, said work machine comprising:

a frame;

a dump body adapted to receive a payload;

at least one sensor adapted to transmit a sensor signal related to the load being carried by said work machine; and

a payload monitor adapted to provide data related to the weight of the payload on the machine;

wherein said payload monitor is configured to;

perform a calculation, which includes applying a first coefficient to the sensor signal, to determine the payload of said work machine; and

perform the calculation with an alternate coefficient that is used to modify the first coefficient;

wherein said first coefficient and said alternate coefficient are used in said calculation to account for distribution of payload between a front and a rear axle.

8. The work machine of claim 7, wherein said alternate coefficient is input into a processor.

9. The work machine of claim 8, wherein said alternate coefficient is input into said processor using a programming device.

10. The work machine of claim 9, wherein said programming device is a keypad.

11. The work machine of claim 9, wherein said programming device is a laptop computer.

12. The work machine of claim 9, wherein said programming device is a handheld computer.

13. The work machine of claim 7, wherein said alternate coefficient is determined by providing at least one load study.

14. A method for calibrating a payload monitor adapted to calculate the weight of a payload being carried by a work machine, said method comprising the steps of:

determining an actual weight of said payload being carried by said machine,

calculating the weight of said payload using a first coefficient related to a distribution of the payload on the work machine,

comparing the actual weight of said payload to the calculated weight of said payload; and

determining an alternate coefficient to compensate for the difference between the actual weight and calculated weight of the payload,

inputting said alternate coefficient into said payload monitor.

15. The method of claim 14 including the step of using a keypad to input said alternate coefficient into said payload monitor.

16. The method of claim 14 including the step of using a laptop computer to input said alternate coefficient into said payload monitor.

17. The method of claim 14 including the step of using a handheld computer to input said alternate coefficient into said payload monitor.

18. The method of claim 14 including the step of substituting the alternate coefficient for the first coefficient.

19. The method of claim 14, including the step of adjusting the first coefficient by applying the alternate coefficient to the first coefficient using a mathematical operation.

20. A payload monitor adapted to provide data related to the payload of a work machine, said payload monitor comprising:

a first sensor adapted to transmit a first sensor signal related to a load being carried by a front portion of said work machine;

a second sensor adapted to transmit a second sensor signal related to a load being carried by a rear portion of said work machine;

a processor adapted to receive said sensor signals and perform a calculation, which includes applying a first coefficient to the first sensor signal, to determine the load being carried by the front portion of said work machine, and applying a second coefficient to the second sensor signal, to determine the load being carried by the rear portion of said work machine, and to perform the calculation with an alternate coefficient that is used to modify at least one of the first and second coefficients.

21. The payload monitor of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to modify the at least one of the first and second coefficients with the alternate coefficient by using a mathematical operation.

22. The payload monitor of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to substitute the alternate coefficient for the at least one of the first and second coefficients.

23. The payload monitor of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to perform the calculation with the alternate coefficient modifying the first coefficient and another alternate coefficient modifying the second coefficient.