Jobsite operational status detection for concrete trucks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415295-B2
Application number	US-202117519731-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Nov 10, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle includes a chassis, a cab, a drum coupled to the chassis and configured to mix a concrete mixture received therein and selectively dispense the concrete mixture, a chute configured to be operable between a raised position and a lowered position such that, when in the lowered position, the chute is configured to receive the concrete mixture from the drum and provide the concrete mixture to a work location, a sensor configured to detect an operational characteristic and provide signals relating to the operational characteristics, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the signals relating to the operational characteristic from the sensor, determine, based on signals relating to the operational characteristic, when the vehicle entered an operational state, generate a timestamp indicating when the vehicle entered the operational state, provide the timestamp and the operational state to a fleet management system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a cab;
a drum coupled to the chassis and configured to mix a concrete mixture received therein and selectively dispense the concrete mixture;
a chute operable between a raised position and a lowered position such that, when in the lowered position, the chute is configured to receive the concrete mixture from the drum and provide the concrete mixture to a work location;
a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to one or more operational characteristics, wherein a first operational characteristic of the one or more operational characteristics includes an indication of whether the concrete mixture is being dispensed via the chute, and a second operational characteristic of the one or more operational characteristics includes an indication of whether the concrete mixture has stopped being dispensed via the chute; and
a control system configured to:
receive the data from the sensor;
determine, based on the data, when the vehicle entered an operational state;
generate one or more timestamps indicating when the vehicle entered the operational state, the one or more timestamps including a first time stamp generated responsive to detecting the first operational characteristic; and
provide the one or more timestamps and the operational state to a fleet management system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control system is disposed onboard, in physical association with at least one of the chassis, the cab, the drum, or the chute such that the one or more timestamps and the operational state originate from onboard the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
a third operational characteristic of the one or more operational characteristics includes an indication of whether a wash cycle has started; and
a fourth operational characteristic of the one or more operational characteristics includes an indication of whether the wash cycle has ended.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor configured to:
detect a first operational command signal of a mixer control module, the first operational command signal corresponding with the first operational characteristic; and
detect a second operational command signal of the mixer control module, the second operational command signal corresponding with the second operational characteristic.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor configured to:
detect a first operational command signal of a chute module, the first operational command signal corresponding with the first operational characteristic; and
detect a second operational command signal of the chute module, the second operational command signal corresponding with the second operational characteristic.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a first operational signal from an engine control module, wherein the first operational signal corresponds to the second operational characteristic.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a position sensor, a flow sensor, and a pressure sensor.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Steckling Scott
• Ryan Raymond

Classifications

• B28C5/4248

  using chutes (combined with transporting belts B28C5/4255, combined with pumps or screws B28C5/4258) · CPC title

• B28C5/4268

  Drums, e.g. provided with non-rotary mixing blades (drums for concrete mixers with horizontal axis B28C5/2054) · CPC title

• B28C5/4272

  with rotating drum rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis, e.g. comprising tilting or raising means for the drum (B28C5/4279 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/20

  Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles · CPC title

• B28C7/02

  Controlling the operation of the mixing · CPC title