The present subject matter relates generally to work vehicles and, more particularly, to a system and method for use with a work vehicle that allows for automatic weight monitoring and control during the performance of a material moving operation, such as a multi-material moving operation.
Work vehicles having loader arms, such as wheel loaders, skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, compact track loaders, and the like, are a mainstay of construction work and industry. For example, wheel loaders include a pair of loader arms pivotally coupled to the vehicle's chassis that can be raised and lowered at the operator's command. The loader arms typically have an implement attached to their end, thereby allowing the implement to be moved relative to the ground as the loader arms are raised and lowered. For example, a bucket is often coupled to the loader arms, which allows the wheel loader to be used to carry supplies or particulate matter, such as gravel, sand, or dirt, around a worksite.
For certain material moving operations in which different materials are being mixed together (e.g., mixing feed), the operator is required to know the weight of each material being added to the mix. Conventionally, such operations require that the operator scoop up a load of a first material to be mixed and transport it to a scale. The first material is then slowly dumped onto the scale until the scale reads the appropriate weight for the first material. The excess material remaining in the bucket must then be returned back to the pile/source of the first material. This process must then be repeated for each additional material being mixed together, thereby requiring multiple trips back and forth between the material source/pile and the scale, as well potentially multiple trips to transport the weighed material to its final destination.
Recently, weight monitoring systems have been developed that allow for the weight of the material contained within a bucket to be detected without the use of an external scale. However, despite the elimination of the external scale, inefficiencies still exist during the performance of a material moving operation, including the need to often make trips back to the material source/pile to return unused material. For example, to date, the industry still lacks an effective solution for performing multi-material moving operations, such as material mixing operations, in which two or more different materials are loaded into the bucket at the same time.
Accordingly, a system and method for automatic weight monitoring and control during a material moving operation, such as a multi-material moving operation, would be welcomed in the technology.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for providing automatic weight monitoring and control during the performance of a material moving operation by a work vehicle, wherein the work vehicle includes a loader arm and an implement coupled to the loader arm. The method includes receiving, with a computing device, at least one input associated with a first target weight for a first material to be collected within the implement and a second target weight for a second material to be collected within the implement. Upon receipt of an indication that the implement has been pushed into a source of the first material, the method also includes monitoring, with the computing device, a weight of the first material collected within the implement as the implement is being raised relative to the source of the first material and notifying, with the computing device, an operator of the work vehicle when it is determined that the weight of the first material is equal to the first target weight or falls within a first tolerance range associated the first target weight. Additionally, upon receipt of an indication that the implement has been pushed into a source of the second material, the method includes monitoring, with the computing device, a collective weight of the first and second materials as the implement is being raised relative to the source of the second material. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing device, a weight of the second material collected within the implement based at least in part on the collective weight of the first and second materials within the implement, and notifying, with the computing device, the operator of the work vehicle when it is determined that the weight of the second material is equal to the second target weight or falls within a second tolerance range associated with the second target weight.
In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for providing automatic weight monitoring and control during the performance of a material moving operation by a work vehicle. The method includes receiving, with a computing device, an input associated with a target weight for a material to be collected within the implement. Additionally, upon receipt of an indication that an implement of the vehicle has been pushed into a source of the material, the method includes automatically controlling, with the computing device, an operation of loader arms of the vehicle to raise the implement and the material collected therein relative to the source of the material. In addition, the method includes monitoring, with the computing device, a weight of the material collected within the implement as the implement is being raised relative to the source of material, and notifying, with the computing device, an operator of the work vehicle when it is determined that the monitored weight of the material is equal to the target weight or fails within a tolerance range associated with the target weight.
In yet another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for automatic weight monitoring and control during the performance of a material moving operation by a work vehicle. The system includes a loader arm, an implement pivotably coupled to the loader arm, and a load weight sensor configured to detect an operating parameter indicative of a weight of material contained within the implement. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the load weight sensor. The controller is configured to receive an input associated with a target weight for the material to be collected within the implement, and, upon receipt of an indication that the implement has been pushed into a source of the material, automatically control an operation of the loader arm to raise the implement and the material collected therein relative to the source of the material. In addition, the controller is configured to monitor a weight of the material collected within the implement as the implement is being raised relative to the source of material, and notify an operator of the work vehicle when it is determined that the monitored weight of the material is equal to the target weight or fails within a tolerance range associated with the target weight.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In general, the present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for providing automatic weight monitoring and control during the performance of a material moving operation by a work vehicle. For example, as will be described below, the present subject matter may, in several embodiments, be utilized with a front loader or any other vehicle including movable loader arms and an implement (e.g., a bucket) pivotably coupled to the loader arms that is configured to scoop up and move material during a material moving operation.
In accordance with aspects of the present subject matter, the disclosed system and method may be used to automate aspects of the material collection portion of a material moving operation. Specifically, in several embodiments, an operator may input a desired or target weight of material to be collected and drive the vehicle such that its implement is pushed into the pile or source of the material. Once the implement has been pushed into the material pile/source, the operator may, for example, provide an input requesting that the controller automatically control the operation of the vehicle to pull the desired weight of material from the pile/source. For instance, upon receipt of the operator input, the controller may be configured to automatically lift the implement relative the material source/pile as the weight of the material within the implement is being continuously monitored. If the load weight is too low, the controller may notify the operator that additional material is required, which may then prompt the operator to resume control and push the implement back into the material source/pile. In contrast, if the load weight is too high, the controller may be configured to automatically execute an implement shaking operation to remove material from the implement 30. Once the load weight is equal to the target weight (or falls within the tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller may notify the operator that the desired amount of material is contained within the implement. As will be described below, such a process may be used to collect a single material within the implement or multiple materials within the implement (in which case the weight of each material added to the implement may be independent tracked and controlled).
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown in
As shown in
Additionally, in several embodiments, the work vehicle 10 may include one or more load weight sensors 40 that are configured to detect an operating parameter associated with the weight of the material or load contained within the implement 30. For instance, in one embodiment, the load weight sensor(s) 40 may correspond to one or more pressure sensors configured to detect the load on the lift cylinder(s) 32 as the loader arms 24 are pivoted upwardly to raise the implement 30. As is generally understood, the load on the lift cylinder(s) 32 correlates to the weight of the material within the implement 30. Thus, by detecting load on the lift cylinder(s) 32, the weight of the material being lifted can be determined. However, in other embodiments, the load weight sensor(s) 40 may correspond to any other suitable sensor(s) and/or sensing device(s) that is configured to detect a parameter associated with the weight of the material or load contained within the implement 30.
As is generally understood, when performing a material moving operation in which material is being scooped up into the implement 30 and subsequently moved to a different location, the implement 30 may be initially moved to a lowered position (e.g., as shown in the solid lines in
As will be described below, as the implement 30 is being initially raised relative to the material source 50 following the collection of material, the weight of the collected material may be determined by an associated controller based on the sensor feedback provided by the load weight sensor(s) 40 and compared to a desired or target weight for such material. If the weight of the collected material is too low, the controller may notify the operator that additional material is required (i.e., that the implement 30 should pushed back into the material source 50). In contrast, if the weight of the collected material is too high, the controller may automatically initiate an implement shaking operation (e.g., via operation of the tilt cylinders 34) to remove material from the implement 30 as it is being lifted relative to the material source 50. Once the weight of the material within the implement 30 is equal to the target weight (or within a given tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller may notify the operator that the desired amount of material is within the implement 40.
It should be appreciated that the configuration of the work vehicle 10 described above and shown in
Referring now to
As shown, the system 100 may generally include a controller 102 configured to electronically control the operation of one or more components of the work vehicle 10, such as the various hydraulic components of the work vehicle 10 (e.g., the lift cylinders 32 and the tilt cylinders 34). In general, the controller 102 may comprise any suitable processor-based device known in the art, such as a computing device or any suitable combination of computing devices. Thus, in several embodiments, the controller 102 may include one or more processor(s) 104 and associated memory device(s) 106 configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions. As used herein, the term “processor” refers not only to integrated circuits referred to in the art as being included in a computer, but also refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s) 106 of the controller 102 may generally comprise memory element(s) including, but not limited to, computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a floppy disk, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements. Such memory device(s) 106 may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the processor(s) 104, configure the controller 102 to perform various computer-implemented functions, such as by performing one or more aspects of the method 200 described below with reference to
It should be appreciated that the controller 102 may correspond to an existing controller of the work vehicle 10 or the controller 102 may correspond to a separate processing device. For instance, in one embodiment, the controller 102 may form all or part of a separate plug-in module that may be installed within the work vehicle 10 to allow for the disclosed system and method to be implemented without requiring additional software to be uploaded onto existing control devices of the vehicle 10.
In several embodiments, the controller 102 may be coupled to suitable components for controlling the operation of the various actuators 32, 34 of the work vehicle 10. For example, as shown in
Additionally, as shown in
The operator interface 130 may also include one or more output devices 134 (e.g., a display, speakers, etc.) for providing notifications to the operator. For instance, as will be described below, the controller 102 may be configured to generate notifications associated with the weight(s) of the material(s) collected within the implement, such as when the weight of a given material is equal to the operator-selected target weight (or falls within a given tolerance range of the target) or when the weight is unacceptable (e.g., too low or too high). In such instance(s), the controller 102 may be configured to transmit suitable control signals to the appropriate output device(s) 134 to notify the operator of such weight-related information.
Moreover, the controller 102 may also be communicatively coupled to one or more sensors for monitoring one or more operating parameters of the work vehicle 10. For instance, as shown in
In accordance with aspects of the present subject matter, the disclosed system 100 may be used to automate aspects of the material collection portion of a material moving operation. Specifically, in several embodiments, an operator may input a desired or target weight of material to be collected (e.g., via an input device(s) 132 of the operator interface 130) and drive the implement 30 into the pile or source of the material. Once the implement 30 has been pushed into the material pile/source, the operator may, for example, provide an input (e.g., via an input device(s) 132 of the operator interface 130) requesting that the controller 102 execute a control algorithm to automatically control the operation of the vehicle 10 to pull the desired weight of material from the pile/source. For instance, upon receipt of the operator input, the controller 102 may be configured to automatically initiate control of the operation of the lift cylinders 32 to raise the loader arms 24, thereby lifting the implement 30 relative the material source/pile. As the implement 30 is being raised relative the material source/pile, the controller 102 may be configured to monitor the weight of the material within the implement 30. If the load weight is too low (e.g., lower than the target weight or below a minimum threshold associated with the tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller 102 may notify the operator (e.g., via an output device(s) 134 of the user interface 130) that additional material is required, which may then prompt the operator to resume control and push the implement 30 back into the material source/pile. In contrast, if the load weight is too high (e.g., higher than the target weight or above a maximum threshold associated with the tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller 102 may be configured to automatically execute an implement shaking operation as the implement 30 is being lifted relative to the material source/pile to remove material from the implement 30. For instance, the controller 102 may rapidly retract/extend the tilt cylinders 34 to shake material out of the implement 30 while continuously monitoring the load weight. Once the load weight is equal to the target weight (or falls within the tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller 102 may notify the operator (e.g., via an output device(s) 134 of the user interface 130) that the desired amount of material is contained within the implement 30.
The above-described process (or variations thereof) may be used to monitor and control the amount of material collected within the implement 30 during the material collection portion of a material moving operation, regardless of whether a single material or multiple different materials are being collected within the implement 30. For instance, as will be described below with reference to the embodiment of the control algorithm 300 shown in
Referring still to
Referring now to
As shown in
Additionally, at (204), upon receipt of an indication that implement has been driven or otherwise pushed into the source of the material, the method 200 may include automatically controlling an operation of the loader arms to raise the implement and the material collected therein relative to the material source. For instance, as indicated above, in one embodiment, the operator may drive the implement 30 into the material pile/source and then provide an input (e.g., via an input device(s) 132 of the operator interface 130) requesting that the controller 102 execute a control algorithm to automatically control the operation of the vehicle 10 to pull the desired weight of material from the pile/source. In such an embodiment, following receipt of the operator input, the controller 102 may automatically control the operation of the loader arms 24 (e.g., via control of the associated lift cylinders 32) to raise the implement 30 (and the material collected therein) relative to the material source. In addition, the controller 102 may also automatically to control the operation of the tilt cylinders 34 to tilt or curl the implement 30 upwardly as it is being raised to maintain the collected material within the implement 30.
Moreover, at (206), the method 200 may include monitoring a weight of the material collected within the implement as the implement is being raised relative to the source of material. Specifically, as indicated above, the controller 102 may be configured to monitor the weight of the material within the implement 30 based on the data received from the load weight sensor(s) 40. For instance, the load weight sensor(s) 40 may detect the load or pressure on the lift cylinders 32 as the implement 30 is being raised, which may then be used to determine the weight of the material within the implement 30.
Referring still to
Additionally, at (210), the method 200 may include notifying an operator of the work vehicle when it is determined that the monitored weight of the material is equal to the target weight or fails within the tolerance range associated with the target weight. Specifically, when the desired amount of material is within the implement, the controller 102 may be configured to notify the operator accordingly, such as by transmitting suitable control signals to an output device 134 of the operator interface 130 to generate an appropriate operator notification. The operator may then proceed to move the collected material to the desired location. Alternatively, as will be described below with reference to
Referring now to
As will be described below, the disclosed control algorithm 300 is directed to an implementation in which two or more materials are being collected within an implement (e.g., a bucket), such as when a work vehicle is being used to perform a multi-material moving operation or material mixing operation. Specifically, the control algorithm 300 will be described with reference to the collection of two different materials within the bucket, namely a first material and second material. However, as will be described below, the disclosed algorithm 300 may also be used when three or more materials are being collected within the bucket. Additionally, it should be appreciated that aspects of the control algorithm 300 shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the target weight for each material to be collected is shown as being received prior to the collection of any of the materials. However, in alternative embodiments, the operator may input the target weight for each material at different point in time during the process, such as immediately before each material is collected.
Additionally, at (304), an input may be received by the controller 102 that indicates that the bucket has been driven or pushed into the source/pile of a first material to be collected, thereby indicating that the bucket is ready to be lifted to collect the first material therein. For instance, as indicated above, the operator may initially drive the bucket into the pile or source of the first material. Thereafter, the operator may, for example, provide an input (e.g., via an input device(s) 132 of the operator interface 130) requesting that the controller 102 execute a control algorithm to automatically control the operation of the vehicle 10 to pull the target weight of material from the pile/source.
Upon receipt of the input, at (306), the controller 102 may be configured to initiate lifting of the bucket (e.g., by controlling the operation of the lift cylinders 32). Additionally, as the bucket is being lifted relative to the source/pile of the first material, the controller 102 may also be configured to determine the weight of the first material within the bucket. For instance, as indicated above, the controller 102 may be communicatively coupled to one or more load weight sensor(s) 40 configured to provide an indication of the weight within the bucket. Thus, as the operation of the lift cylinders 32 is controlled to lift the bucket, the controller 102 may continuously monitor the weight of the first material within the bucket based on the sensor data received from the load weight sensor(s) 40.
Referring still to
As shown in
Alternatively, when the collected weight is greater than the target weight (or above the maximum threshold associated with the tolerance range defined relative to the target weight), the controller 102 may, at (314), initiate an automatic bucket shaking operation to remove material from the bucket. For instance, as indicated above, the controller 102 may rapidly retract/extend the tilt cylinder 134 to shake material out of the bucket until the monitored weight is equal to the target weight (or falls below the maximum threshold associated with the tolerance range).
It should be appreciated that, in instances in which the controller 102 determines that the load on the implement 30 exceeds a maximum threshold set for the lift assembly 20, the controller 102 may automatically cancel the operation (e.g., by stopping the lifting action) and/or may notify the operator that such threshold has been reached (in which case the operator may choose to cancel the operation or to adjust the threshold setting).
As shown in
However, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, a second material is being collected within the bucket in addition to the first material. In such instance, following receipt of the notification that the proper amount of the first material is within the bucket, the operator may navigate the vehicle to the location of the source/pile of the second material and drive or push the bucket into the material source/pile. Thereafter, the operator may, for example, provide an input (e.g., via an input device(s) 132 of the operator interface 130) requesting that the controller 102 automatically control the operation of the vehicle to pull the target weight of the second material from the pile/source. As shown in
Upon receipt of the input, at (320), the controller 102 may be configured to initiate lifting of the bucket while simultaneously monitoring the weight of the second material within the bucket. Similar to control step (306) described above, the controller 102 may continuously monitor the weight of the material within the bucket based on the sensor data received from the load weight sensor(s) 40. However, given that the bucket now includes amounts of both the first material and the second material, the monitored weight determined based on the sensor data corresponds to the collective weight of the first and second materials within the bucket. Thus, to determine the weight of the second material within the bucket, the controller 102 may be configured to calculate a weight differential between the monitored collective weight and the final weight of the first material (e.g., as determined at (308)). For instance, once it is determined that the weight of the first material collected within the bucket is equal to the target weight (or falls within the tolerance range defined relative to the target range, when applicable), the final monitored weight value for the first material may be stored within the controller's memory 106. Such final weight value may then be used with the collective weight value of both the first and second materials to determine the weight of the second material within the bucket.
Still referring to
As shown in
Similar to that described above, if the controller 102 determines that the load on the implement 30 exceeds a maximum threshold set for the lift assembly 20 as the implement 30 is being lifted relative to the material source/pile, the controller 102 may automatically cancel the operation and/or may notify the operator that such threshold has been reached (in which case the operator may choose to cancel the operation or to adjust the threshold setting).
Once it is determined that the weight of the second material collected within the bucket is equal to the target weight (or falls within the tolerance range defined relative to the target range, when applicable), the controller 102 may, at (330), be configured to notify the operator (e.g., via an output device(s) of the operator interface) that the desired amount of the second material has been collected within the bucket. Thereafter, as shown in
It is to be understood that the steps of the method/algorithm 200/300 are performed by the controller 102 upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the controller 102 described herein, such as the method/algorithm 200/300, is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The controller 102 loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller 102, the controller 102 may perform any of the functionality of the controller 102 described herein, including any steps of the method/algorithm 200/300 described herein.
The term “software code” or “code” used herein refers to any instructions or set of instructions that influence the operation of a computer or controller. They may exist in a computer-executable form, such as machine code, which is the set of instructions and data directly executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, a human-understandable form, such as source code, which may be compiled in order to be executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, or an intermediate form, such as object code, which is produced by a compiler. As used herein, the term “software code” or “code” also includes any human-understandable computer instructions or set of instructions, e.g., a script, that may be executed on the fly with the aid of an interpreter executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.