This disclosure relates generally to a system and a method for fluid delivery and, more particularly, to a fluid delivery system and method for a mobile machine.
Work environments associated with certain industries, such as the mining and construction industries, are susceptible to undesirable dust conditions. Mining, excavation, and construction sites, in particular, are susceptible to dust due to the nature of the materials composing the worksite surface. For example, ground surfaces of coal, shale, stone, etc., erode easily, and thus tend to produce significant amounts of dust. Moreover, typical work operations performed at these sites exacerbate the dust conditions. At a mine site, for example, cutting, digging, and scraping operations break up the ground surface, generating dust. In addition, heavy machinery, such as haul trucks, dozers, loaders, excavators, etc., traveling on such sites disturb settled dust, thereby increasing the dust level of the air.
These dust conditions may reduce the efficiency the worksite. For example, dust may impair visibility, interfere with work operations on the site, and require increased equipment maintenance and cleaning. In addition, dust conditions may affect the comfort, health, and safety of worksite personnel. To alleviate these conditions, a water truck may be used to reduce the amount of dust on the worksite. Specifically, the water truck periodically drives over the worksite and sprays the ground surface with water.
A mine site often includes sloped haul roads, including an entrance and exit ramp to the site. While it is desirable to prevent dust conditions on the haul roads, care must be taken to avoid spraying the entire surface of the road with water. Instead, portions of the road may be sprayed with water, while other portions of the road may remain dry. This way, if heavy machinery driving on the road begins to slide because of wet surface conditions, the heavy machinery will eventually encounter a dry portion of the road and stop sliding, and thereby avoid unintentionally leaving the road surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,258 to Hoisington et al. discloses a water truck that intermittently sprays a road surface with water. In the Hoisington patent, water is sprayed while the truck travels a first interval equal to a specified distance (e.g., 90, 120, 150, or 180 feet), and then the water is shut off while the truck travels a second interval equal to that same specified distance. The Hoisington patent uses a ground speed sensor to determine the distance that the truck travels, and provides a signal to a programmable logic controller (PLC) that turns the water on and off based on the travel distance.
The water truck described in the Hoisington patent suffers from numerous disadvantages, however. For example, although the Hoisington patent discloses that the water truck turns the water on and off based on the distance the truck travels, the ground speed sensor may not be able to accurately determine travel distances, especially when the truck is driving at a relatively slow speed. Thus, the water truck in the Hoisington patent may not be able to accurately control water delivery and shut-off.
The disclosed fluid delivery system and method are directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.
The disclosure may provide a method of controlling a fluid delivery machine configured to deliver fluid on a worksite. In the method, operation of a power source of the fluid delivery machine is controlled with a control module. Fluid delivery on the worksite is also controlled by the control module.
The disclosure may further provide another method of controlling a fluid delivery machine configured to deliver fluid on a worksite. In the method, operation of an engine of the fluid delivery machine is controlled with a control module. A fluid delivery distance over which the fluid delivery machine is to drive on the worksite while delivering fluid to the worksite is determined, for a fluid delivery mode. A fluid non-delivery distance over which the fluid delivery machine is to drive on the worksite without delivering fluid is determined, for a fluid non-delivery mode. Either the fluid delivery mode or the fluid non-delivery mode is selected as an initial operating mode in which the fluid delivery machine is to begin driving on the worksite. The fluid delivery mode or the fluid non-delivery mode that was not selected as the initial operating mode is determined to be a subsequent operating mode in which the fluid delivery machine is to drive on the worksite after completion of the initial operating mode. The fluid delivery machine is switched to the initial operating mode when the fluid delivery machine begins to drive on the worksite. The fluid delivery machine is operated in the initial operating mode while a first total distance traveled by the fluid delivery machine is less than either the fluid non-delivery distance when the initial operating mode is the fluid non-delivery mode, or the fluid delivery distance when the initial operating mode is the fluid delivery mode, the first total distance being determined by the engine control module. The fluid delivery machine is switched from the initial operating mode to the subsequent operating mode upon completion of the initial operating mode. The fluid delivery machine is operated in the subsequent operating mode while a second total distance traveled by the fluid delivery machine is less than either the fluid non-delivery distance when the subsequent operating mode is the fluid non-delivery mode, or the fluid delivery distance when the subsequent operating mode is the fluid delivery mode, the second total distance being determined by the engine control module.
The disclosure may still further provide a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, performs either of the above-disclosed methods of controlling a fluid delivery machine configured to deliver fluid on a worksite.
As shown in
Fluid delivery system 302 may be configured to distribute fluid (e.g., spray water) onto the ground surface of worksite 100, to thereby alleviate dust conditions on worksite 100. Further details of fluid delivery system 302 are discussed below with respect to
As further shown in
Fluid delivery system 302 may also include a transmission 402 coupled to receive power from power source 400. Transmission 402 may be a manual step transmission, an automatic step transmission, an automatic continuously-variable transmission, or any other type of transmission. Transmission 402 may receive the power output from power source 400, convert a torque of the power output based on a selected transmission ratio (e.g., gear), and couple the converted power to one or more traction devices (not shown) (e.g., wheels, tracks, treads, etc.) to propel fluid delivery machine 106. In addition, transmission 402 may couple some of the converted power for fluid delivery, as discussed below.
Fluid delivery system 302 may include a hydraulic pump 404 and a hydraulic motor 406. In one embodiment, pump 404 may be a fixed-displacement pump and motor 406 may be a variable-displacement motor. For example, an off-highway truck adapted for use as a water truck may have an existing fixed-displacement pump 404 already in place for purposes other for than delivering fluid to worksite 100. Adding a variable-displacement motor 406 may offer advantages in controlling the amount of fluid distributed, for example, by enabling control of fluid flow regardless of engine speed or ground speed. In this manner, fixed displacement pump 404 may still be used for applications other than fluid delivery without being affected by changes in fluid delivery parameters. For example, pump 404 may drive motor 406, and may also use this fluid for cooling brake components (not shown). The brake cooling system may not be affected by load changes from fluid delivery system 302. In alternative embodiments, pump 404 and motor 406 may be other suitable combinations of fixed- and/or variable-displacement devices, such as a variable-displacement pump 404 and a fixed-displacement motor 406, or a variable-displacement pump 404 and a variable-displacement motor 406. Alternatively, instead of pump 404 and motor 406, any other type of open- or closed-loop hydrostatic system may be employed.
Continuing with
As shown in
In the example shown in
Although
Fluid delivery system 302 may further include a fluid delivery controller 418 configured to control operations of fluid delivery system 302. Specifically, fluid delivery controller 418 may receive a signal from flow control system 304, which is used to turn fluid delivery system 302 on and off to intermittently water haul roads 104.
Fluid delivery controller 418 may embody, for example, a general microprocessor capable of controlling numerous functions of fluid delivery system 302. Fluid delivery controller 418 may include a memory, a secondary storage device, a processor (e.g., a CPU), or any other components for executing programs to perform the disclosed functions of fluid delivery system 302. Various other circuits may be associated with fluid delivery controller 418, such as power supply circuitry, signal conditioning circuitry, data acquisition circuitry, signal output circuitry, signal amplification circuitry, and other types of circuitry known in the art. It is to be understood that fluid delivery controller 418 may be various types of processors, such an ECM on the fluid delivery system. Alternately, fluid delivery controller 418 may be in communication with such an ECM, or such an ECM may be entirely omitted from the system.
ECM 306 may include any type of processor-based system on which processes and methods consistent with the disclosed embodiments may be implemented. For example, as illustrated in
Processor 500 may include one or more processors, each configured to execute instructions and/or process data to perform one or more functions associated with ECM 306. As illustrated in
RAM 502 and/or ROM 504 may each include one or more devices for storing information associated with an operation of ECM 306 and/or processor 500. For example, ROM 504 may include a memory device configured to access and store information associated with ECM 306, including information for identifying, initializing, and monitoring the operation of one or more components and subsystems of ECM 306. RAM 502 may include a memory device for storing data associated with one or more operations of processor 500. For example, ROM 504 may load instructions into RAM 502 for execution by processor 500.
Storage device 506 may include any type of mass storage device configured to store information that processor 500 may use to perform processes consistent with the disclosed embodiments. For example, storage device 506 may include one or more magnetic and/or optical disk devices, such as hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, or any other type of mass media device.
Database 508 may include one or more software and/or hardware components that cooperate to store, organize, sort, filter, and/or arrange data used by ECM 306 and/or processor 500. For example, database 508 may include a plurality of look-up tables that may be used to control power source 400 (
I/O devices 510 may include one or more components configured to communicate information with a user associated with ECM 306. For example, I/O devices 510 may include a console with an integrated keyboard and mouse to allow a user to input parameters associated with ECM 306. I/O devices 510 may also include a display including a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting and outputting information on a monitor. I/O devices 510 may further include peripheral devices such as a printer for printing information associated with ECM 306, a user-accessible disk drive (e.g., a USB port, a floppy, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM drive, etc.) to allow a user to input data stored on a portable media device, a microphone, a speaker system, or any other suitable type of interface device.
ECM 306 may be communicatively coupled to multiple sensors, each of which may be configured to measure at least one operational aspect associated with fluid delivery machine 106. As shown in
One or more machine sensors 514 which are configured to sense another characteristic or condition associated with the operation of another system or subsystem of fluid delivery machine 106 may be coupled to ECM 306. For example, machine sensor 514 may be any of: a pitch sensor configured to sense the pitch of fluid delivery machine 106; a sensor (such as a Hall effect or other magnetic-field sensor) configured to sense the movement or rotation of a component (such as a piston, a piston shaft, a rocker arm, an input shaft, or an output shaft) of power source 400; or a sensor (such as a Hall effect or other magnetic-field sensor) configured to sense the movement or rotation of a component (such as an input shaft or an output shaft) of transmission 402. Thus, machine sensor 514 may provide a signal indicative of performance of power source 400. Multiple machine sensors 514 may be connected to ECM 306, sensing each of the above characteristics and/or other characteristics of systems and subsystems of fluid delivery machine 106.
In accordance with the disclosure, ECM 306 may control fluid delivery control system 300 based on signals from ground speed sensor 512 as well as one or more machine sensors 514. In particular, ECM 306 may use the information from one or more machine sensors 514 with the information from ground speed sensor 512, so as to more accurately determine the ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106 as compared to using the information solely from ground speed sensor 512. Exemplary operation of the fluid delivery apparatus as well as the associated method that may be performed consistent with this disclosure is discussed below with reference to
The disclosed fluid delivery system and method may be applicable to controlling intermittent fluid delivery, based on a signal from an engine control module. Thus, in exemplary embodiments, fluid delivery machine 106 may use the signal from ECM 306 to turn on and turn off the delivery of fluid. Specifically, fluid delivery control system 300 may use the signal from ECM 306 to determine when fluid is to be sprayed onto the ground surface of worksite 100. The following provides an exemplary process for intermittent fluid delivery.
This total distance information may be set by an operator of fluid delivery machine 106, or alternately may be set by another person or another source. For example, the distance information may be transmitted, such as over a wireless network, to fluid delivery machine 106 from a computer off-board of fluid delivery machine 106 or a person acting as a worksite supervisor. When the total distance information is set by the operator of fluid delivery machine 106, the distance information may be input through one or more of I/O devices 510 of fluid delivery machine 106. As stated above, I/O devices 510 may include a console with an integrated keyboard and mouse, a display including a graphical user interface (GUI), a monitor, or other devices.
Regardless of how the total distance information is set, the distance information may be stored by fluid delivery machine 106. For example, the distance information may be stored by fluid delivery controller 418. The distance information is not required to be stored by fluid delivery controller 418, however, and may be stored by another component of fluid delivery control system 300, such as ECM 306; by another component of fluid delivery machine 106; or off-board of fluid delivery machine 106.
As shown in Step 620, fluid delivery machine 106 may receive initial operating mode information, which indicates whether fluid delivery machine 106 is to begin traveling with fluid being delivered (i.e., in fluid delivery mode) or without delivering fluid (i.e., in fluid non-delivery mode). This initial operating mode information may be selected or set by the operator of fluid delivery machine 106, or alternately may be selected or set by another person or another source. For example, the initial operating mode information may be transmitted, such as over a wireless transmission, to fluid delivery machine 106 by a computer or worksite supervisor off-board of fluid delivery machine 106. Fluid delivery machine 106 may also set the other operating mode (i.e., fluid delivery mode or fluid non-delivery mode that was not selected as the initial operating mode) as the subsequent operating mode, so that fluid delivery machine 106 performs both fluid delivery and fluid non-delivery in the selected order. When the initial operating mode information is set by the operator of fluid delivery machine 106, the information may be input through one or more I/O devices 510. Regardless of how the initial operating mode information is set, however, the information may be stored by fluid delivery machine 106. For example, the initial operating mode information may be stored by fluid delivery controller 418. The initial operating mode information is not required to be stored by fluid delivery controller 418, however, and may be stored by another component of fluid delivery control system 300, such as ECM 306; by another component of fluid delivery machine 106; or off-board of fluid delivery machine 106.
As shown in Step 630, once fluid delivery machine 106 begins traveling on worksite 100, fluid delivery machine 106 may enter the initial operating mode set in Step 620. In particular, fluid delivery controller 418 may determine that fluid delivery machine 106 is moving, such as by receiving a signal from ECM 306, or from a sensor of fluid delivery machine 106, and may send a signal to flow control system 304 to control fluid delivery system 302 either to begin spraying the ground surface of worksite 100 (when the initial operating mode is fluid delivery mode) or not to spray worksite 100 (when the initial operating mode is fluid non-delivery mode).
As shown in Step 640, fluid delivery machine 106 may compare a distance traveled in the initial operating mode to the total distance set for that operating mode in Step 610. As long as the total distance traveled in the initial operating mode is less than the total distance set for that operating mode, fluid delivery machine 106 may remain in the initial operating mode. When the total distance traveled in the initial operating mode is greater than the total distance set for that operating mode, fluid delivery machine 106 may switch to the subsequent operating mode set in Step 620. For example, the operator of fluid delivery machine 106 may have selected that fluid delivery machine 106 is to travel a total distance of 90 feet in fluid delivery mode, is to travel a total distance of 100 feet in fluid non-delivery mode, and is to start in fluid non-delivery mode. Thus, when fluid delivery machine 106 begins traveling on worksite 100, fluid delivery machine 106 may be switched to fluid non-delivery mode as the initial operating mode. During the time that fluid delivery machine 106 travels a total distance of 100 feet, fluid delivery machine 106 may remain in fluid non-delivery mode. When fluid delivery machine 106 travels more than 100 feet, fluid delivery machine 106 may switch to the subsequent operating mode of fluid delivery mode, in which fluid from tank 100 is sprayed onto the ground surface of worksite 100. Fluid delivery machine 106 may remain in fluid delivery mode, and thus continues to spray the ground surface of worksite 100 with fluid, until fluid delivery machine 106 has traveled a total distance of 90 feet.
The distances traveled by fluid delivery machine 106, in both the fluid delivery mode and the fluid non-delivery mode, may be accurately determined by information gathered by ECM 306. Specifically, ECM 306 may first determine, among other aspects of fluid delivery machine 106, an accurate ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106 on worksite 100. Although ECM 306 may use the signal from ground speed sensor 512 in this determination, ECM 306 also may use signals from one or more machine sensors 514, so that a more accurate indication of ground speed is provided than the ground speed indicated solely by ground speed sensor 512.
When the ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106 is relatively low (e.g., less than about 8 miles per hour), and ground speed sensor 512 is a Hall Effect sensor that senses the rotation of a magnetic gear tooth in transmission 402, the gear may rotate too slowly for ground speed sensor 512 to provide an accurate indication of the ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106. Thus, ECM 306 may use information from one or more machine sensors 514 in addition to the information provided by ground speed sensor 512, so that ECM 306 may provide a more accurate determination of the ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106. As discussed above, machine sensor 514 may determine information about various systems and subsystems of fluid delivery machine 106, such as a pitch of fluid delivery machine 106; a speed of movement or rotation of a piston, a piston shaft, a rocker arm, an input shaft, or an output shaft of power source 400; and/or a speed of movement or rotation of an input shaft or an output shaft of transmission 402. ECM 306 may also determine a rate of change of these values. By performing various algorithms or computational processes to this information, and/or by comparing this information to look up tables stored in ECM 306 or elsewhere, ECM 306 may provide a more accurate measurement of ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106 than that provided solely by information from ground speed sensor 512.
For example, ECM 306 may receive information from ground speed sensor 512 indicating a specific, relatively low, ground speed for fluid delivery machine 106. Fluid delivery machine 106 may subsequently speed up, but not to the extent that ground speed sensor 512 senses the increased speed, because the magnetic gear tooth has not yet been sensed again. But, ECM 306 may receive information from one or more machine sensors 514 indicating an increase in speed of movement or rotation for a piston, a piston shaft, a rocker arm, an input shaft, or an output shaft of power source 400, or for an input shaft or an output shaft of transmission 402. ECM 306 may process this additional information and determine fluid delivery machine 106 is moving at a higher ground speed than last indicated by ground speed sensor 512.
By way of another example, example, ECM 306 may receive information from ground speed sensor 512 indicating a specific, relatively low, ground speed for fluid delivery machine 106. Fluid delivery machine 106 may subsequently slow down, but not to the extent that ground speed sensor 512 senses the decreased speed, because the magnetic gear tooth has not yet been sensed again. But, ECM 306 may receive information from one or more machine sensors 514 indicating a decrease in speed of movement or rotation for a piston, a piston shaft, a rocker arm, an input shaft, or an output shaft of power source 400, or for an input shaft or an output shaft of transmission 402. ECM 306 may process this additional information and determine fluid delivery machine 106 is moving at a lower ground speed than last indicated by ground speed sensor 512.
The ground speed information may be encrypted by ECM 306, and may be sent to various systems and subsystems of fluid delivery machine 106, where it is decrypted and used as appropriate. For example, the encrypted ground speed information may be sent to a speedometer (not shown) of fluid delivery machine 106, which decrypts and displays the ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106. The encrypted ground speed information also may be sent to fluid delivery controller 418, where is it decrypted. The decrypted ground speed may then be processed, in conjunction with time information, to accurately determine a travel distance of fluid delivery machine 106. The time information may be determined by fluid delivery controller 418. Alternately, the time information may be determined by any other component, system, or subsystem of fluid delivery machine 106, such as ECM 306 for example.
As shown in Step 650, after fluid delivery machine 106 travels the total distance set for the initial operating mode as well as the total distance set for the subsequent operating mode, fluid delivery machine 106 may switch back to the initial operating mode, and may travel the total distance set for that operating mode in Step 610. After fluid delivery machine 106 has again traveled the total distance set for the initial operating mode, fluid delivery machine 106 may switch back to the subsequent operating mode, and may travel the total distance set for that operating mode in Step 610. Step 650 may be repeated as long as fluid delivery machine 106 continues to drive on worksite 100, or may be repeated a predetermined number of times. In other embodiments, Step 650 may be repeated until fluid delivery control system 300 is shut off, fluid delivery machine 106 stops moving on worksite 100, or new total distance information is input for either or both of fluid delivery mode or fluid non-delivery mode (Step 610), such that the process illustrated in
In accordance with the above description, the disclosed fluid delivery system and method that use a signal from an engine control module to turn on and off fluid delivery may provide numerous advantages over known systems and methods. For example, as discussed above ECM 306 may more accurately determine the ground speed, and thus may more accurately determine the travel distance, of fluid delivery machine 106 as it travels across worksite 100 because ECM 306 uses information from one or more sensors that sense characteristics other than ground speed of fluid delivery machine 106. In contrast, accurate travel distance information may not be provided by known systems and methods using a programmable logic controller (PLC), as the PLC may merely convert information output by a ground speed sensor from one form to another form, or the PLC may solely use the information from the ground speed sensor. Therefore, fluid delivery machine 106 may more accurately control fluid delivery and non-delivery to the ground surface of worksite 100, and thus may better avoid overwatering the ground surfaces of haul roads 104, so that if heavy machinery driving on haul roads 104 begins to slip, the heavy machinery will subsequently encounter a dry portion of haul road 104 and stop slipping.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the fluid delivery system and method of the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.