Method and apparatus for calculating payload weight
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSameer S. Marathe, John J. Baldauf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for determining the weight of a payload in a bucket of a machine where the bucket is attached to a chassis of the machine by a linkage. The apparatus comprises an energy storage device for storing potential energy of the bucket, payload, and linkage when the bucket is moved from a first suspended position to a second suspended position. A mechanism provides physical data corresponding to a physical change in the energy storage device caused by storage of the potential energy and a processor calculates the weight of the payload using the physical data.
Claims20
A method of estimating the weight of a payload in a bucket of a machine, the bucket attached by a linkage to a chassis of the machine, the method comprising:
- orienting the bucket and linkage to a first suspended position;
- storing potential energy of the bucket, payload, and linkage in an energy storage device by releasing the bucket and linkage from the first suspended position to a second suspended position;
- measuring an effect on the energy storage device caused by storage of potential energy of the bucket, payload, and linkage;
- measuring a change in a geometrical property of the bucket and linkage between an initial position and the second suspended position;
- and
- calculating the weight of the payload using the effect on the energy storage device and the change in the geometrical property of the bucket and linkage.
An apparatus for determining the weight of a payload in a bucket of a machine, the bucket attached to a chassis of the machine by a linkage, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy storage device for storing potential energy of the bucket, payload, and linkage, thereby causing the bucket to move from a first suspended position to a second suspended position;
- a mechanism for providing physical data corresponding to a physical change in the energy storage device caused by storage of the potential energy;
- and
- a processor configured to calculate the weight of the payload using the physical data.
An apparatus for calculating the weight of a payload used to calibrate a bucket scale of a machine having a bucket for carrying the payload, the bucket connected to a chassis of the machine by a linkage, the linkage raised by a hydraulic lift cylinder assembly having a head-end, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy storage device configured to be fluidly connected to the head-end of the lift cylinder assembly in order to store potential energy of the linkage as the linkage moves from a first position to a second position;
- a sensor for providing physical data indicating work done on the energy storage device by storing potential energy of the linkage;
- and
- a processor for receiving the physical data and for receiving geometrical data corresponding to geometrical changes in the bucket and linkage caused by storage of the potential energy by the energy storage device and for calculating the weight of the payload from the physical data and geometrical data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.