Platform twist detection and mitigation method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10759640-B2
Application number	US-201715803097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 4, 2016
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A platform twist mitigation apparatus operable to extend jacks into engagement with a surface disposed below a platform carrying the jacks, and to alternately extend and retract the jacks to change platform attitude relative to the surface. Tilt sensors are supported at spaced locations on the platform. An electronic control module is programmed to detect a platform twist condition in response to angle data received from the tilt sensors and to mitigate the platform twist condition by operating or modifying the operation of the jacks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A platform twist mitigation apparatus for detecting and mitigating twist in a platform such as a vehicle frame, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of jacks carried by a platform and operable to extend into engagement with a surface disposed below the platform, and independently operable to alternately extend and retract to change platform attitude relative to the surface;
a first tilt sensor supported at a first location on the platform,
a second tilt sensor supported at a second location on the platform spaced from the first location, and
an electronic control module (ECM) programmed to detect a platform twist condition in response to angle data received from the first and second tilt sensors and to mitigate the platform twist condition by actively restricting and/or augmenting the operation of one or more jacks of the plurality of jacks by slowing the operation of a first lack of the one or more of lacks to a non-zero speed and/or by speeding the operation of a second lack of the one or more lacks from a non-zero speed.

2. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the ECM is programmed to mitigate the platform twist condition while at least one of the plurality of jacks are being operated to adjust the attitude of the platform.

3. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the ECM is programmed to actively restrict the first jack the plurality of jacks are being operated to adjust the attitude of the platform.

4. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the ECM is programmed to restrict the operation of at least one of the one or more jacks by stopping the at least one jack.

5. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the ECM is programmed to restrict the operation of the one or more jacks by slowing the first jack to the non-zero speed.

6. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the ECM is programmed to actively augment the operation of the one or more jacks.

7. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the ECM is programmed to actively augment the operation of at least one of the one or more jacks by initiating the operation of the at least one jack.

8. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the ECM is programmed to actively augment the operation of the one or more jacks by speeding the second jack.

9. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the ECM is programmed to adjust jack operation modification in response to changing angle data received from the first and second sensors.

10. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the ECM is programmed to enter a zero mode in which the ECM recognizes signal values currently being received from the tilt sensors as representing a desired platform twist value to be sought in future twist correction operations.

11. A platform twist mitigation apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which the ECM is programmed to enter the zero mode when power is first applied to the controller.

12. A method for detecting and mitigating twist in a platform by:
positioning a plurality of jacks at respective spaced-apart locations between a platform and a surface below the platform;
supporting first and second tilt sensors at respective first and second spaced-apart locations on the platform;
extending at least one of the plurality of jacks into engagement with the surface below the platform;
detecting a platform twist condition in response to angle data received from the first and second tilt sensors; and
mitigating the platform twist condition by actively restricting and/or augmenting the operation of one or more jacks of the plurality of jacks by slowing the operation of a first lack of the one or more of lacks to a non-zero speed and/or by speeding the operation of a second lack of the one or more lacks from a non-zero speed.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the step of mitigating the platform twist condition includes restricting the operation of the first jack as another one of the plurality of jacks is being operated to adjust the attitude of at least a portion of the platform.

14. The method of claim 12 in which the step of mitigating the platform twist condition includes augmenting the operation of the second jack as another one of the plurality of jacks is being operated to adjust the attitude of at least a portion of the platform.

15. A method for calibrating a platform twist mitigation apparatus; the method comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of jacks carried by a platform and operable to extend into engagement with a surface disposed below the platform and independently operable to change platform attitude relative to the surface and to change platform twist;
providing a platform twist mitigation apparatus comprising a first tilt sensor supported at a first location on the platform, a second tilt sensor supported at a second location on the platform spaced from the first location, and an electronic control module (ECM) programmed to detect a platform twist condition in response to angle data received from the first and second tilt sensors and to mitigate the platform twist condition by operating or modifying the operation of one or more jacks of the plurality of jacks;
changing platform twist to a desired platform twist value by operating the jacks as required to provide the desired platform twist value; and
causing the ECM to enter a zero mode in which the ECM recognizes signal values currently being received from the tilt sensors as representing the desired platform twist value to be sought in future twist correction operations, wherein the ECM is configured to determine whether a present platform twist value is within a range of acceptable platform twist values, and the range of acceptable platform twist values includes the desired platform twist value.

16. The method of claim 15 in which:
the step of providing a platform twist mitigation apparatus includes providing the ECM programmed to enter the zero mode when power is first applied to the controller;
the step of causing the ECM to enter the zero mode includes applying electrical power to the platform twist mitigation apparatus; and
the step of changing platform twist to the desired platform twist value is executed before the step of causing the ECM to enter the zero mode.

17. The method of claim 15 in which:
the step of providing the platform twist mitigation apparatus includes providing a zero mode indicator; and
the step of causing the ECM to enter the zero mode includes causing the zero mode indicator to indicate that the ECM is in the zero mode.

18. A method for calibrating a platform twist mitigation apparatus to recognize when the platform is within an acceptable range of platform twist values; the method comprising the steps of:
providing a structure including a platform and jacks actuable to change the amount of platform twist and the attitude of the platform;
providing a platform twist mitigation apparatus on the structure, the apparatus including an electronic control module (ECM) and tilt sensors, the ECM programmed to include a zero mode in which the ECM will recognize signal values being received from the tilt sensors as representing a platform twist value within a range of platform twist values that the ECM is to recognize as acceptable;
providing the tilt sensors on the platform in positions where the ECM can measure platform twist by measur

Assignees

• Lippert Components Inc

Inventors

• Collin Matthew A
• Ford Robert
• Manfreda John

Classifications

• B60S9/02 Primary

  for only lifting or supporting · CPC title

• B66F7/12

  by mechanical jacks · CPC title

• G01B2210/58

  Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit · CPC title

• B66F2700/126

  Arrangements in which the platform is fixed to the upper end of a single or plural jacks · CPC title

• B66F7/20 Primary

  by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement · CPC title