Systems and methods for monitoring a track system for traction of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018190045-A1
Application number	US-201615740976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Jul 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A track system of a vehicle can be monitored (e.g., during operation of the vehicle) to obtain information about the track system which can be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to convey the information about the track system to a user (e.g., an operator of the vehicle) and/or to control the vehicle, for instance, by controlling a speed of the vehicle depending on a state (e.g., a temperature and/or one or more other physical characteristics) of the track system. This may be useful, for example, to gain knowledge about a track of the track system, to help prevent rapid wear or other deterioration of the track of the track system (e.g., blowout), and/or to adapt how fast or slow the vehicle moves in order to protect the track of the track system while permitting the speed of the vehicle to be greater over short periods (e.g., when travelling on or crossing roads or other particular areas).

First claim

1 .- 69 . (canceled)

70 . A track for a vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly configured to move the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising a plurality of wheels for engaging the track, the track being elastomeric to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
a ground-engaging outer surface; an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the track, the sensor being integrated in the track during molding of the track.

71 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor is configured to cause a processing apparatus to perform an operation relating to the vehicle based on the characteristic of the track.

72 . The track of claim 70 , wherein: the track comprises a plurality of projections projecting from a given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface; and at least part of the sensor is located in a given one of the projections.

73 . The track of claim 72 , wherein: the projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface and wheel-contacting projections projecting from the inner surface; and the given one of the projections is a given one of the traction projections.

74 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with a processing apparatus external to the track.

75 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the track comprises a second sensor configured to sense the characteristic of the track.

76 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the characteristic of the track is a first characteristic of the track, and the track comprises a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of the track different from the first characteristic of the track.

77 . The track of claim 75 , wherein: the track comprises a plurality of projections projecting from a given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface; at least part of the first sensor is located in a first one of the projections; and at least part of the second sensor is located in a second one of the projections.

78 . The track of claim 77 , wherein: the projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface and wheel-contacting projections projecting from the inner surface; the first one of the projections is a first one of the traction projections; and the second one of the projections is a second one of the traction projections.

79 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor is configured to interact with a processing apparatus configured to issue a signal relating to the vehicle based on the characteristic of the track.

80 . The track of claim 79 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to a powertrain of the vehicle to control the powertrain of the vehicle.

81 . The track of claim 80 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to the powertrain of the vehicle to control a speed of the vehicle.

82 . The track of claim 81 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to the powertrain of the vehicle to limit the speed of the vehicle.

83 . The track of claim 82 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to the powertrain of the vehicle to reduce the speed of the vehicle.

84 . The track of claim 79 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to a prime mover of the powertrain of the vehicle to control the prime mover.

85 . The track of claim 79 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to a communication device for communicating information related to the characteristic of the track to a user of the communication device.

86 . The track of claim 85 , wherein the communication device comprises a display for displaying the information related to the characteristic of the track.

87 . The track of claim 85 , wherein the information related to the characteristic of the track includes an indication of the characteristic of the track.

88 . The track of claim 85 , wherein the information related to the characteristic of the track comprises a notification based on the characteristic of the track.

89 . The track of claim 88 , wherein the notification notifies of potential damage to the track.

90 . The track of claim 89 , wherein the potential damage to the track is potential blowout of the track.

91 . The track of claim 85 , wherein the communication device is part of a user interface of an operator cabin of the vehicle.

92 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle relates to a speed of the vehicle.

93 . The track of claim 92 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle relates to a reduction of the speed of the vehicle.

94 . The track of claim 92 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle relates to a limit on the speed of the vehicle.

95 . The track of claim 92 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to a powertrain of the vehicle to control the speed of the vehicle.

96 . The track of claim 95 , wherein the signal relating to the vehicle is directed to a prime mover of the powertrain of the vehicle to control the prime mover.

97 . The track of claim 92 , wherein the processing apparatus is configured to issue the signal relating to the vehicle based on comparison of the characteristic of the track to reference data.

98 . The track of claim 97 , wherein the processing apparatus is configured to issue the signal relating to the vehicle when the characteristic of the track at least reaches a reference value.

99 . The track of claim 79 , wherein the sensor is configured to interact with the processing apparatus via a wireless link.

100 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the characteristic of the track is a temperature of the track.

101 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the characteristic of the track is a pressure of the track.

102 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the characteristic of the track is a strain of the track.

103 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the characteristic of the track is a position of the track.

104 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the position of the track is a geo-location of the track.

105 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the characteristic of the track is an acceleration of the track.

106 . The track of claim 100 , wherein the sensor is located to sense the temperature of the track at an expected hottest point of the track.

107 . The track of claim 70 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensing device and a transmitter that is spaced from the sensing device and located beneath less elastomeric material of the track than the sensing device.

108 . The track of claim 107 , wherein: the track comprises a plurality of projections projecting from a given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface; at least part of the sensing device and the transmitter is located in a given one of the projections; and a thickness of elastomeric material of the track between the transmitt

Assignees

• Camso Inc

Inventors

• Richard Simon
• Bergeron Mathieu
• Laperle Ghislain

Classifications

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• G07C5/0816

  Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction · CPC title

• B62D55/244

  Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements · CPC title

• G07C5/0808 Primary

  Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005) · CPC title

• B62D55/14 Primary

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title