Fatigue analysis and warning system

A method for analyzing frame damage during operation of a load hauling machine having a plurality of suspension struts, a frame and a load hauling portion, comprising the steps of:

• building a system of equations describing a relationship between strut pressure and frame damage;
• measuring the amount of pressure in the plurality of suspension struts;
• and
• estimating frame damage in response to the measured strut pressures.

A method for analyzing frame damage during operation of a load hauling machine, comprising the steps of:

• measuring the amount of pressure in a plurality of suspension struts on the load hauling machine;
• calculating difference values representing a difference between pressures in two or more of said suspension struts;
• determining a threshold magnitude of strut pressure difference values contributing to frame damage;
• and
• processing strut pressure difference values above the threshold magnitude to produce indications of frame damaging events.

A load hauling machine, comprising:

• a load carrying portion;
• a ground engaging portion;
• a frame connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion;
• a plurality of pressure sensing devices connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion, each of said plurality of pressure sensing devices being adapted to produce pressure signals indicative of load characteristics;
• means for recognizing a frame damage event in response to said pressure signals;
• and
• means for producing an operator warning in response to said frame damage event.

A load hauling machine, comprising:

• a load carrying portion;
• a ground engaging portion;
• a frame connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion;
• a plurality of suspension struts connected to and between said ground engaging portion and said frame;
• a plurality of pressure sensing devices connected to said plurality of suspension struts, each of said plurality of pressure sensing devices being adapted to produce pressure signals indicative of suspension strut pressure;
• a motion sensor connected to said ground engaging portion for producing travel signals indicative of movement of the load hauling machine;
• means for determining whether the machine is being loaded, dumped, or roaded in response to said pressure signals and said travel signals;
• means for identifying and indicating a frame damage event in response to said strut pressure signal;
• means for identifying a load imbalance in response to said strut pressure signal;
• and
• means for identifying a potential frame damage condition if the load were to be dumped.

A load hauling machine, comprising:

• a load carrying portion;
• a ground engaging portion;
• a frame connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion;
• a plurality of pressure sensing devices connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion, each of said plurality of pressure sensing devices being adapted to produce pressure signals indicative of load characteristics;
• and
• means for processing said pressure signals to quantify a job severity.

A load hauling machine, comprising:

• a load carrying portion;
• a ground engaging portion;
• a frame connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion;
• a plurality of pressure sensing devices connected to and between said load carrying portion and said ground engaging portion, each of said plurality of pressure sensing devices being adapted to produce pressure signals indicative of load characteristics;
• means for detecting a difference between two of said pressure signals being greater than a predetermined threshold;
• means for producing an alert signal in response to detecting that said difference is greater than said predetermined threshold between pressure signals exists;
• a motion sensor connected to said ground engaging portion for producing travel signals indicative of movement of the load hauling machine;
• and
• means for determining whether the machine is being loaded, dumped, roaded while loaded, or roaded empty in response to said pressure signals and said travel signals, and wherein the value of said predetermined threshold is dependent upon whether said machine is being loaded, dumped, or roaded while loaded.