Systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining machine weight using rolling resistance
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorBrian D. Nagel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine weight of a machine using rolling resistance. The machine may be electrified, either all-electrically powered or partially electrically powered. The rolling resistance can be determined based on motor signaling from one or more motor sensors that sense motor characteristics (e.g., drawn current) from one or more electric motors that drive the machine. The weight of the machine can be determined using the determined rolling resistance. Weight information can be output for display on a display and/or for storing in computer-readable storage onboard and/or offboard the machine.
Claims20
An all-electric multi-tire compactor comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of pneumatic tires in supporting relationship with the frame, including a front set of pneumatic tires and a rear set of pneumatic tires;
- a plurality of electric motors to drive the pneumatic tires, including a first electric motor set of one or more electric motors to drive the front set of pneumatic tires and a second electric motor set of one or more electric motors to drive the rear set of pneumatic tires;
- a plurality of current sensors associated with the plurality of electric motors to sense current drawn by the electric motors during operation of the compactor;
- an angle sensor to sense front-rear pitch of the compactor;
- one or more pressure sensors to sense air pressure of the pneumatic tires;
- a display;
- and
- electronic control circuitry configured to
- receive signals from the current sensors, the angle sensor, and the one or more pressure sensors when the compactor is driven forward by a first predetermined amount and in reverse by a second predetermined amount on a surface having a hardness at or above a predetermined hardness value,
- determine a rolling resistance of the compactor based on the received signals from the compactor being driven forward by the first predetermined amount and in reverse by the second predetermined amount on the surface having the hardness at or above the predetermined hardness value,
- determine a weight of the compactor based on the determined rolling resistance, and
- control the display to output an indication of the determined weight of the compactor.
A method comprising:
- with an electrified compactor machine having a plurality of front tires and a plurality rear tires moving, receiving, at a processor, from one or more motor sensors, motor-signal signaling corresponding to torque of one or more electric motors driving the movement of the electrified compactor machine;
- with the electrified compactor machine moving, receiving, at the processor, from an angle sensor, angle signaling indicating an angle of incline or decline of the electrified compactor machine;
- determining, using the processor, a weight of the electrified compactor machine using the motor-signal signaling from said receiving the motor-signal signaling and said angle signaling from said receiving the angle signaling;
- and
- outputting, using the processor, weight signaling corresponding to the determined weight for display of weight-indicating indicia on a display.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors associated with a compactor having a plurality of compacting tires, causes the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- with the compactor moving on a surface, processing motor signaling from one or more motor sensors indicative of torque for one or more electric motors causing the compactor to move;
- with the compactor moving on the surface, processing angle signaling from an angle sensor indicative of an angle of the compactor;
- determining a rolling resistance of the compactor from the motor signaling from the one or more motor sensors indicative of torque and the angle signaling from the angle sensor indicative of the angle of the compactor;
- determining weight information associated with the compactor from the determined rolling resistance;
- and
- controlling output of an indicator of weight of the compactor based on the determined weight information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.