Vehicle control system with track temperature sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11068002-B2
Application number	US-201916600525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A work vehicle may include a load sensor, an engine, a drive train driven by the engine and a track system including at least one track. The track system is connected to the drive train. The work vehicle may further comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature and a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor. The vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A work vehicle comprising:
a load sensor;
an engine;
a drive train driven by the engine;
a track system including at least one track, the track system connected to the drive train;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature; and
a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;
wherein the vehicle control system stores a temperature threshold for a first portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a second portion of the at least one track different than the first portion, wherein the vehicle control system is to: (1) determine a temperature for the first portion based upon the received temperature for the second portion; (2) compare the determined temperature for the first portion to the temperature threshold; and (3) output the work speed vehicle alert based upon the comparison.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

3. A work vehicle comprising:
a load sensor;
an engine;
a drive train driven by the engine;
a track system including at least one track, the track system connected to the drive train;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature; and
a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;
wherein the vehicle control system stores a temperature threshold for a portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a part of the work vehicle in contact with the track, wherein the vehicle control system is to: (1) determine a temperature for the portion of the track based upon the received temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track; (2) compare the determined temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track; and (3) output the work speed vehicle alert based upon the comparison; and
wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

4. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one track comprises a carcass, a plurality of treads, and a plurality of lugs, and wherein the temperature sensor is positioned at least partially within at least one of a group comprising at least one of the plurality of lugs, at least one of the plurality of treads, and the carcass.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a non-contact sensor that is substantially free of contact with the at least one track.

6. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned in a portion of the drive train that is in contact with the at least one track or is positioned in a portion of the track system that is in contact with the at least one track.

7. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to restrict the speed of the work vehicle below a maximum speed of the vehicle when the track temperature is approaching a maximum temperature of the at least one track.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit the track temperature to a receiver, and wherein the receiver is communicatively connected to the vehicle control system.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the receiver is wirelessly connected to the vehicle control system.

10. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the track system includes two tracks or four tracks, and wherein each of the tracks includes at least one temperature sensor.

11. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to determine misalignment of the at least one track based on a combination of the temperature and the vehicle load.

12. A method for controlling a work vehicle including at least one track, wherein the work vehicle is capable of traveling at a maximum speed, the method comprising:
monitoring a temperature of the at least one track of a work vehicle via a temperature sensor;
sensing a load of the work vehicle via a load sensor;
storing a temperature threshold for a first portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a second portion of the at least one track different than the first portion;
determining a temperature for the first portion based upon the received temperature for the second portion;
comparing the determined temperature for the first portion to the temperature threshold; and
outputting a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor and based upon the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

14. A method for controlling a work vehicle including at least one track, wherein the work vehicle is capable of traveling at a maximum speed, the method comprising:
monitoring a temperature of the at least one track of a work vehicle via a temperature sensor;
storing a temperature threshold for a portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;
determining a temperature for the portion of the track based upon the received temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;
comparing the determined temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;
sensing a load of the work vehicle via a load sensor;
outputting a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor and based upon the comparison;
wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

15. A track system comprising:
a track;
a load sensor
a track temperature sensor configured to sense a track temperature of the track; and
a controller connected to the track temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to output a vehicle speed alert to an operator based on a combination of the sensed track temperature and a vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;
wherein the controller is to determine misalignment of the track based upon a combination of the track temperature and the vehicle load.

16. The track system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is to restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the combination of the track temperature sensed by the track temperature sensor and the vehicle load.

17. The track system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is to output a misalignment warning prior to restricting the speed of the work vehicle based upon the combination of the track temperature sensed by the track temperature sensor and the vehicle load.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Garvin Daniel
• Mckinley Ronica L
• Rangan Narasimhan
• Willett Janet R
• Upchurch Bruce L
• L'Heureux Jeremy P

Classifications

• B62D55/10 Primary

  Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) · CPC title

• B60W2300/152

  Tractors · CPC title

• B60W2300/17

  Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators · CPC title

• B62D55/24

  of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts · CPC title

• G05D13/66 Primary

  Governor units providing for co-operation with control dependent upon a variable other than speed · CPC title