US5650928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method responsive to the on-board measuring of haulage parameters of a vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-04-21
•
Granted: 1997-07-22
•
Expires: 2015-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided in which data from two or more sensors on-board a vehicle are used to determine an amount of work the vehicle performs. A historical record of the work is maintained in a memory. A transmitter is on-board the vehicle and in communication with an on-board processor, which receives the data from the sensors. The transmitter transmits information to a remote location. Preferably, one of the sensors is a weighing device for providing weight data. The other sensor is typically a complementary sensor such as an inclinometer, a sensor detecting the distance the vehicle has traveled or a sensor detecting the location of the vehicle. The transmitter is preferably a transceiver that establishes a bi-directional electromagnetic link with the remote location for communicating the information. The information may be used to dispatch the vehicle to sites in a working area. As an alternative to the foregoing two sensors, the system may include three or more sensors in which a first sensor senses when material is first loaded onto the vehicle. A second sensor senses an amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle. And, a third sensor senses when the material is dumped from the vehicle. At least the third sensor may be part of a means of a processor on-board the vehicle for detecting changes in the weight of the load carried by the vehicle. Data from these sensors are used for determining a haulage condition of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Leroy G. Hagenbuch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/08; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/36; G01G23/37; G01G23/3728; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/70; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G08G1/123; B; B60; B60G; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/11; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/02; B60G2300/026; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/60; B60G2400/61; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/04; B60G2600/042; B60G2600/0422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, and a transmitter on-board the vehicle and in communication with the processor for transmitting information to a remote location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, and a transmitter on-board the vehicle and in communication with the processor for transmitting information to a remote location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted by the transmitter to a remote location includes the information provided to the user interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the historical record is a chronological compilation of previously displayed information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is an infrared transmitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein one of the sensors is a weighing device mounted to the vehicle that provides data whose value is indicative of a weight of a load carried by the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein a second one of the sensors is an inclinometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein one of the sensors measures the distance traveled by the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein one of the sensors is a location sensor mounted to the vehicle for providing information indicative of a location of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The monitoring system of claim 8 wherein the location sensor is responsive to a plurality of fixed stations distributed throughout a work area of the vehicle, each of the stations broadcasting an infrared signal over an effective range that is discreet from the effective range of other ones of the stations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 including a receiver responsive to the transmitter and mounted to a loader for loading material onto the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein one of the sensors retrieves a machine-readable code from a material container mounted to a loader as it adds a load to the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the information includes the weight of a load carried by the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A communications system for a vehicle comprising in combination: a processor for mounting to the vehicle and responding to data from two or more sources of information for determining an amount of work performed by the vehicle, wherein one of the sources of information is a weighing device for providing information regarding a weight of a load carried by the vehicle; a first transceiver for mounting to the vehicle and electrically interfacing with the processor to establish a bi-directional electromagnetic link for communicating the information between the first transceiver and a remotely located second transceiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
A communications system for a vehicle comprising in combination: a processor for mounting to the vehicle and responding to data from two or more sources of information for determining an amount of work performed by the vehicle, wherein one of the sources of information is a weighing device for providing information regarding a weight of a load carried by the vehicle; a first transceiver for mounting to the vehicle and electrically interfacing with the processor to establish a bi-directional electromagnetic link for communicating the information between the first transceiver and a remotely located second transceiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic link is a radio frequency link.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communications system of claim 14 including a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for mounting to the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 15 including an RF transceiver for mounting to the loader.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic link is an infrared link.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein one of the sources of information is a distance sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein one of the sources of information is an inclinometer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein the second transceiver is mounted to a loader for adding material to the vehicle.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for monitoring a load of material carried by the vehicle, the system comprising a first sensor on the vehicle for sensing when the material is first loaded onto the vehicle; a second sensor for sensing an amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle; a third sensor for sensing a dumping of the load of material from the vehicle; a processor in communication with the first, second and third sensors for determining a haulage condition of the vehicle in response to one or more of the sensors; and a transceiver in communication with the processor and a remote site for providing dispatching information to the vehicle.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for monitoring a load of material carried by the vehicle, the system comprising a first sensor on the vehicle for sensing when the material is first loaded onto the vehicle; a second sensor for sensing an amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle; a third sensor for sensing a dumping of the load of material from the vehicle; a processor in communication with the first, second and third sensors for determining a haulage condition of the vehicle in response to one or more of the sensors; and a transceiver in communication with the processor and a remote site for providing dispatching information to the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the second sensor is a weight sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as set forth in claim 22 wherein the first sensor includes a means of the processor for detecting a change in the amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle and sensed by the weight sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the haulage condition is a weight of the load of material carried by the vehicle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the third sensor is a dump sensor for sensing a pivoting of a body of the vehicle to a dump position for dumping the material of the load from the vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as set forth in claim 21 including a memory responsive to the processor for storing the haulage condition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the first sensor is a switch located in the body of the vehicle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the second sensor is a hoist sensor for sensing the pressure change in a cylinder for hoisting a body of the vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
96 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, where the historical record is a chronological compilation of previously displayed information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
96 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, where the historical record is a chronological compilation of previously displayed information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined, where one of the sensors is a weighing device that provides data whose value is indicative of a weight of a load carried by the vehicle and another one of the sensors is an inclinometer; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
119 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined, where one of the sensors is a weighing device that provides data whose value is indicative of a weight of a load carried by the vehicle and another one of the sensors is an inclinometer; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
96 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined, where one of the sensors measures the distance traveled by the vehicle; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
96 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined, where one of the sensors measures the distance traveled by the vehicle; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
148 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, where one of the sensors is a location sensor mounted to the vehicle for providing information indicative of a location of the vehicle in response to a plurality of fixed stations distributed throughout a work area of the vehicle, each of the stations broadcasting an infrared signal over an effective range that is discreet from the effective range of other ones of the stations.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
148 words
A monitoring system for a vehicle comprising in combination: two or more sensors that provide data from which an amount of work done by the vehicle can be determined; a processor responsive to the data from the sensors to calculate information for presentation to a user of the vehicle describing the work done by the vehicle; a user interface for displaying the information to the user; a memory in communication with the processor for maintaining a historical record of work done by the vehicle, where one of the sensors is a location sensor mounted to the vehicle for providing information indicative of a location of the vehicle in response to a plurality of fixed stations distributed throughout a work area of the vehicle, each of the stations broadcasting an infrared signal over an effective range that is discreet from the effective range of other ones of the stations.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communications system for a vehicle comprising in combination: a processor for mounting to the vehicle and responding to data from two or more sources of information for determining an amount of work performed by the vehicle; a first transceiver for mounting to the vehicle and electrically interfacing with the processor to establish a bi-directional electromagnetic link for communicating the information between the first transceiver and a remotely located second transceiver, where one of the sources of information is an inclinometer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communications system for a vehicle comprising in combination: a processor for mounting to the vehicle and responding to data from two or more sources of information for determining an amount of work performed by the vehicle; a first transceiver for mounting to the vehicle and electrically interfacing with the processor to establish a bi-directional electromagnetic link for communicating the information between the first transceiver and a remotely located second transceiver, where one of the sources of information is an inclinometer.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for monitoring a load of material carried by the vehicle, the system comprising a first sensor on the vehicle for sensing when the material is first loaded onto the vehicle; a second sensor for sensing an mount of material in the load carried by the vehicle; a third sensor for sensing a dumping of the load of material from the vehicle; a processor responsive to the first, second and third sensors for determining a haulage condition of the vehicle, where the third sensor includes a means of the processor for detecting a change in the amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for monitoring a load of material carried by the vehicle, the system comprising a first sensor on the vehicle for sensing when the material is first loaded onto the vehicle; a second sensor for sensing an mount of material in the load carried by the vehicle; a third sensor for sensing a dumping of the load of material from the vehicle; a processor responsive to the first, second and third sensors for determining a haulage condition of the vehicle, where the third sensor includes a means of the processor for detecting a change in the amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the first sensor also includes a means of the processor for detecting a change in the amount of material in the load carried by the vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |