Determination of applied loads on vehicle tracks by sensors on weight-bearing rollers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12283138-B2
Application number	US-202016735121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2020
Priority date	Jan 6, 2020
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

A traction subsystem on a track vehicle has a first roller and a second roller. The first roller rotates either with an axle, or about an axle, and rotatably supports a track in opposition to a surface over which the track is traveling. A sensor is disposed relative to the first roller so that, as the first roller rotates, the sensor moves through a load bearing position in which the sensor is positioned between the axle and the track, bearing at least a portion of a load imposed by the track vehicle. The sensor illustratively senses pressure on the track, when in the load bearing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a track subsystem comprising:
a first roller assembly including a first axle coupled to the frame and a rotatable first roller;
a second roller assembly including a second axle coupled to the frame and a rotatable second roller mounted for rotation with the second axle;
a track mounted for rotation about the first and second rollers to drive movement of the track vehicle over a surface; and
a sensor on the first roller that senses a load imparted on the track by the first roller, against the surface, and generates a sensor signal indicative of the sensed load:

one or more processors; and
a data store that stores a set of computer executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to:
estimate a temperature distribution across the width of the track by accessing a model of stresses experienced by compression and expression of the track as the track rotates.

2. The track vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises:
a plurality of sensors on the first roller and spaced in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first axle and in-line, each sensor, of the plurality of sensors, being configured to rotate between a load sensing position and a non-load sensing position based on rotation of the first roller and, when in the load sensing position, generates a sensor signal.

3. The track vehicle of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of sensors comprises:
a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor.

4. The track vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
read the sensor signal and generate a load value, indicative of the load, based on the sensor signal.

5. The track vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
accumulate an indication of a plurality of the load values over time.

6. The track vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
receive the accumulated indication of the plurality of load values and generate a temperature estimation output indicative of the estimated temperature distribution across the width of the track.

7. The track vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
receive the estimated temperature distribution and access predefined operating condition data and detect whether a predefined operating condition exists based on the estimated temperature distribution and the predefined operating condition data and to generate an operating condition output indicative of a detected operating condition.

8. The track vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
generate an action signal based on the detected operation condition.

9. The track vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
generate, as the action signal, an engine speed control signal to control engine speed based on the detected operating conditions.

10. The track vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to implement:
generate, as the action signal, an engine power control signal to control engine power based on the detected operating condition.

11. The track vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
generate an alert signal based on the detected operating condition.

12. The track vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first roller assembly further comprises a third rotatable roller, wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor on the first roller that senses the load imparted on the track by the first roller, against the surface, and generates a first sensor signal indicative of the sensed load, the track vehicle further comprising a second sensor on the third roller that senses a load imparted on the track by the third roller, against the surface, and generates a second sensor signal indicative of the sensed load, and wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
identify a pressure distribution across the width of the track based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

13. The track vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
Estimate the temperature distribution across the width of the track based, at least in part, on the pressure distribution across the width of the track.

14. The track vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
obtain ambient temperature data, speed data, and material composition data, indicative of a material composition of the first roller; and
estimate the temperature distribution across the width of the track based on the pressure distribution, the ambient temperature data, the speed data, and the material composition data.

15. The track vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further configure the one or more processors to:
generate a wear indicator output indicative of a remaining life of the track based at least in part on the sensor signal; and
control an operator interface mechanism to generate an indication indicative of the remaining life of the track based on the wear indicator output.

16. A track subsystem for a track vehicle, the track subsystem comprising:
a first roller assembly including:
a first axle coupled to a frame;
a first roller mounted for rotation with the first axle; and
a second roller mounted for rotation with the first axle; and

a second roller assembly including a second axle coupled to the frame and a third roller mounted for rotation with the second axle;
a track mounted for rotation about the first and second rollers to drive movement of the track vehicle over a surface;
a first sensor on the first roller that senses a first load imparted on the track by the first roller, against the surface, and generates a first load sensor signal indicative of the first sensed load;
a second sensor on the second roller that senses a second load imparted on the track by the second roller, against the surface, and generates a second load sensor signal indicative of the second sensed load;
one or more processors;
a data store that stores a set of computer executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to:
access a model that models stresses experienced in the track as the track rotates; and
estimate a temperature in the track based on the accessed model.

17. The track subsystem of claim 16 wherein the first sensor comprises a first plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors, each generating a load sensor signal, on the first roller and spac

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kremmer Martin
• Kellum Carroll C

Classifications

• B60W2720/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• B60W2510/0666

  Engine power · CPC title

• B60W2510/0638

  Engine speed · CPC title

• B60W2710/0677

  Engine power · CPC title