Payload monitoring system for haul vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9939310-B2
Application number	US-201514944805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A payload monitoring system is disclosed for use with a haul vehicle. The payload monitoring system may have at least one emitter configured to direct an energy beam into the haul vehicle during relative movement between the at least one emitter and the haul vehicle, and at least one receiver configured to detect the energy beam and to generate a corresponding signal. The payload monitoring system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one receiver and configured to determine a loading condition of the haul vehicle based on the corresponding signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A payload monitoring system for a haul vehicle, comprising:
at least one emitter configured to direct an energy beam into the haul vehicle during relative movement between the at least one emitter and the haul vehicle;
at least one receiver configured to detect the energy beam and generate a corresponding signal; and
a controller in communication with the at least one receiver and configured to:
determine a loading condition of the haul vehicle based on the corresponding signal, wherein the loading condition is associated with at least one of an amount and a distribution of material inside the haul vehicle;
selectively generate a flag based on the amount of material inside the haul vehicle, the flag being indicative of a loading or unloading condition;
rank the flag based on distribution of the material within the haul vehicle;
automatically implement a future action based on the rank of the flag, wherein the future action includes spraying of fluid inside the haul vehicle to dislodge material remaining therein.

2. The payload monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver are mounted to a stationary gantry, and the controller is configured to determine the loading condition as the haul vehicle passes under the stationary gantry.

3. The payload monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the stationary gantry is associated with a feeder that fills the haul vehicle during loading.

4. The payload monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one emitter and the at least one receiver are mounted to a mobile gantry, and the controller is configured to determine the loading condition as the mobile gantry passes over the haul vehicle when the haul vehicle is stationary.

5. The payload monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein the mobile gantry is associated with a rotary dumper that turns the haul vehicle over during unloading.

6. The payload monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct an operator to manually implement a future action based on the rank of the flag.

7. The payload monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is further configured to make a comparison of a known configuration of the haul vehicle and the loading condition; and
the controller is configured to selectively generate the flag based on the comparison.

8. The payload monitoring system of claim 7 , further including an identification device configured to recognize an index affixed to the haul vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve the known configuration of the haul vehicle based on a signal from the identification device.

9. The payload monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein:
the energy beam is a first energy beam;
the at least one emitter is further configured to direct a second energy beam onto an external portion of the haul vehicle;
the corresponding signal is a first signal;
the at least one receiver is further configured to detect the second energy beam and generate a second signal; and
the controller is configured to:
recognize the haul vehicle based on the second signal; and
retrieve the known configuration of the haul vehicle based on recognition of the haul vehicle.

10. The payload monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one emitter is a laser; and
the at least one receiver is a camera.

11. A method of monitoring payload of a haul vehicle, comprising:
directing an energy beam from a source location into the haul vehicle during relative movement between the haul vehicle and the source location;
detecting the energy beam and generating a corresponding signal;
determining a loading condition of the haul vehicle based the corresponding signal, wherein the loading condition is associated with at least one of an amount and a distribution of material inside the haul vehicle;
selectively generating a flag based on the amount of material inside the haul vehicle, the flag being indicative of a loading or unloading condition;
selectively ranking the flag based on distribution of the material; and
selectively implementing a future action based on the ranking, wherein the future action includes spraying of fluid inside the haul vehicle to dislodge material remaining therein.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including making a comparison of a known configuration of the haul vehicle and the loading condition, wherein selectively generating the flag includes selectively generating the flag based on the comparison.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc
• Zeit Comercio E Montagem De Equipamentos Electronicos Ltda

Inventors

• Beltramin Sidarta Fornari

Classifications

• G01F22/00

  Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G01G19/04 Primary

  for weighing railway vehicles · CPC title