# US 8,788,155 B2 · Optimized bank penetration system

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- Number: US 8,788,155 B2
- Document ID: US8788155B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/795,703
- Filed: 2013-03-12
- Published: 2014-01-16
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-16
- Assignees: Flanders Electric Motor Service, Inc.
- Applicants: Flanders Electric Motor Service, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard L. Claxton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788155B2

## CPC

- E02F 9/26: Indicating devices {(E02F5/145 takes precedence)}
- E02F 3/304: {with the dipper-arm slidably mounted on the boom (E02F3/305 takes precedence)}
- E02F 3/36: Component parts
- E02F 3/435: {for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like}
- E02F 3/46: with reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes {; Drives or control devices therefor (E02F3/205, E02F3/905 take precedence)}
- E02F 9/2025: {Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for (E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence)}
- E02F 9/2029: {Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed (control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence)}
- E02F 9/265: {with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)}
- E02F 9/267: {Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles}
- G01G 19/083: {lift truck scale}
- G01G 23/01: Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
- G01L 1/04: by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
- G01L 5/0061: {Force sensors associated with industrial machines or actuators (for the specific machine or actuator involved see relevant class, e.g. F01, F04, F16, B66, E21)}
- G01L 5/06: using mechanical means {(G01L5/042, G01L5/045 take precedence)}
- G01L 5/108: for measuring a reaction force applied on a single support, e.g. a glider
- G01L 25/00: Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
- G01L 27/002: {Calibrating, i.e. establishing true relation between transducer output value and value to be measured, zeroing, linearising or span error determination}
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

A method of optimizing machine performance in a plurality of load cases may involve the steps of: Determining a maximum load case for the machine, the maximum load case involving the application of a maximum force to at least one member of the machine; determining, for each of a plurality of member joints of the machine, a maximum member joint load for the maximum load case for the machine; and operating the machine by applying a force to the at least one member of the machine in each of the plurality of load cases so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load, the applied force exceeding the maximum force during at least one of the plurality of load cases.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of optimizing bank penetration performance of a power shovel in a plurality of load cases, the power shovel including a boom, a handle, and a dipper, comprising: determining a maximum load case for the power shovel, the maximum load case involving a maximum load hoist force; determining, for each of a plurality of member joints of the power shovel, a maximum member joint load for the maximum load case; and operating the power shovel by applying a hoist force in each of the plurality of load cases so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load for each of the corresponding plurality of joint members, the applied hoist force exceeding the maximum load hoist force during at least one of the plurality of load cases.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said operating further comprises applying a crowd force to the handle, the application of the hoist force and the crowd force being controlled so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring, during at least one of the plurality of load cases, a strain in the boom of the power shovel;
determining a member joint load based on the measured strain; and
controlling the applied hoist force while performing said measuring and said determining so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load during operation of the shovel in the plurality of load cases.

### Claim 4

A system for optimizing bank penetration performance of a power shovel in a plurality of load cases, the power shovel including a boom, a handle, a dipper, a hoist actuator and a crowd actuator, comprising:
load sensing means operatively associated with said power shovel for determining a load in each of a plurality of member joints;
a machine control system operatively connected to said load sensing means and to the hoist actuator, said machine control system operating the hoist actuator to apply a hoist force to the dipper in each of the plurality of load cases so that the load in each of the plurality of member joints does not exceed a maximum member joint load for each of the corresponding plurality of member joints, the maximum member joint load corresponding to a maximum load case for the power shovel, the maximum load case for the power shovel involving a maximum load hoist force, wherein the applied hoist force exceeds the maximum load hoist force during at least one of the plurality of load cases.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein said machine control system is also operatively connected to the crowd actuator, said machine control system operating the hoist actuator and the crowd actuator so as not to exceed the maximum member joint load.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein said load sensing means further comprises:
a plurality of strain transducers mounted to at least one member of said power shovel, said strain transducers sensing a strain in said at least one member; and
a processing system operatively associated with each of said plurality of strain transducers, said processing system determining the load in each of a plurality of member joints from strain sensed by said strain transducers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of strain transducers comprises a plurality of strain transducers mounted to the boom of the power shovel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of strain transducers comprises a plurality of strain transducers mounted to a back stay of said power shovel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of strain transducers comprises a plurality of strain transducers mounted to a sheave pin of said power shovel.