Control system for payload limiting of hauling operation

• US 8,612,066 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neal, Steven Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, MAJDI A
• Application Number:
  US12/057,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 2, 703/8, 318/580
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/184 Preventing damage resulting from overload or excessive wear of the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/13 Load or weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/142 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/412 Excavators

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a control system for a machine with traction devices. The control system may have a sensor configured to sense an ambient temperature. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a load limit of a machine based on an expected speed of the machine and the ambient temperature. The controller may further be configured to enforce the load limit of the machine during loading.

Claims

1. A control system for a machine with traction devices, comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an ambient temperature; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a load limit of a machine relating to traction device wear based on an expected speed of the machine and the ambient temperature; and

enforce the load limit of the machine during loading by commanding a stop to the loading.

2. The control system of claim 1, further including an operator display, wherein the operator display is configured to provide at least one of an auditory or visual message when the current load of the machine is above the load limit.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and further including a second sensor configured to sense a road characteristic, wherein the controller is configured to determine the load limit based on the expected speed, the ambient temperature, and the road characteristic.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the second sensor is a force sensor and the characteristic is at least one of a magnitude of a force or a frequency of a force measured by the force sensor.

5. The control system of claim 3, wherein the second sensor is a displacement sensor, where the characteristic is at least one of a magnitude of a displacement or a frequency of a displacement measured by the displacement sensor.

6. The control system of claim 3, wherein the controller includes:

a ton-miles-per-hour map; and

a ton-miles-per-hour limit, wherein the controller is configured to use the ton-miles-per-hour map and the ton-miles-per-hour limit to determine the load limit.

7. The control system of claim 3, wherein the machine is a first machine and the first sensor and the second sensor are located on the first machine, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a load limit of a second machine based on the ambient temperature and the road characteristic sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor located on the first machine; and

enforce the load limit of the second machine during loading of the second machine.

8. The control system of claim 3, further including a positioning system, wherein the controller receives information from the first sensor and the second sensor when the positioning system indicates that the machine is traveling.

9. A method of mobile machine control, comprising:

determining when a mobile machine is located at a loading site;

measuring an ambient temperature with a temperature sensor;

determining an expected speed of the mobile machine;

prior to loading, determining a load limit of the mobile machine relating to traction device wear with a controller based on the expected speed of the mobile machine and the ambient temperature which is received from the temperature sensor; and

enforcing the load limit of the mobile machine during loading with the controller by commanding a stop to the loading.

10. The method of claim 9, further including determining a road characteristic with a second sensor, wherein determining the load limit of the mobile machine is based on the expected speed of the mobile machine, the ambient temperature, and the road characteristic.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile machine is a first mobile machine and the measuring step occurs on at least one of the first mobile machine or a second mobile machine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a magnitude of the load limit decreases as the ambient temperature increases and the magnitude of the load limit increases as the ambient temperature decreases.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile machine is a first mobile machine and the road characteristic is indicative of at least one of a magnitude of a force and a frequency of a force measured by a force sensor located on at least one of the first mobile machine or a second mobile machine.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a magnitude of the load limit increases as at least one of the magnitude of the force or frequency of the force increases and the magnitude of the load limit decreases as at least one of the magnitude of the force or frequency of the force decreases.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the load limit is additionally based on a ton-miles-per-hour map and a ton-miles-per-hour limit.

16. The method of claim 9, further including taking a preventative measure when the current load of the mobile machine is above the load limit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the preventative measure includes displaying at least one of an auditory or visual message.

18. A control system for improving tire wear and machine productivity, comprising:

a temperature sensor located on a first mobile machine configured to sense an ambient temperature;

a speed sensor located on a second mobile machine configured to measure a speed of the second mobile machine; and

a controller configured to receive the ambient temperature from the temperature sensor and the speed of the second mobile machine from the speed sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine that the first mobile machine is located at a loading site;

determine an expected speed based on the speed of the second mobile machine;

prior to loading, determine a load limit of the first mobile machine relating to traction device wear based on the expected speed and the ambient temperature; and

enforce the load limit of the first mobile machine during loading by commanding a stop to the loading.

19. The control system of claim 18, further including a sensor on the second mobile machine configured to sense a road characteristic, wherein the controller is configured to receive the sensed road characteristic and determine the load limit based on the expected speed, the ambient temperature, and the road characteristic.

20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the controller includes:

a ton-miles-per-hour map; and

a ton-miles-per-hour limit, wherein the controller is configured to use the ton-miles-per-hour map and the ton-miles-per-hour limit to determine the load limit.