US5864060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for monitoring the work cycle of mobile machinery during material removal
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-27
•
Granted: 1999-01-26
•
Expires: 2017-03-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine on a land site. The mobile machine has a bucket and a body that is adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference. The method includes the steps of determining an angular velocity of the body, determining the body is stopped based on the angular velocity, determining a duration of time the body is stopped, and determining the work cycle in response to the duration of time the body is stopped.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel E. Henderson
- 👤 Gregory R. Harrod
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:05
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F9/00; E02F9/20; E02F9/2025; E02F9/2045; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/28; E02F3/36; E02F3/42; E02F3/43; E02F3/435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining that said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; and determining said work cycle in response to said duration of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining that said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; and determining said work cycle in response to said duration of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of determining said work cycle includes the step of determining that said bucket performed a dumping operation in response to said duration of time being less than a specified amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of determining said work cycle includes the step of determining that said bucket performed a loading operation in response to said duration of time being larger than a specified amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, including the steps of: determining a resource map for said land site; and defining a potential load region as a portion of said land site located between said body and a maximum extension of said bucket, said potential load region being determined in response to said body being stopped, said potential load region including a primary load region and a secondary load region, said secondary load region being adjacent to said mobile machine, and said primary load region being adjacent to, and overlapping said secondary load region opposite of said mobile machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of determining said work cycle includes the step of determining that said bucket performed a dumping operation in response to said duration of time being less than a specified amount and said material type in said secondary load region being mined out.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, including the step of identifying a type of said material that is loaded in said bucket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, including the steps of: determining that a dumping operation occurred in response to determining said duration of time being greater than a specified amount and said material in said secondary load region being mined out; and determining that a loading operation occurred in response to determining said duration of time being greater than a specified amount and said material in said secondary load region not being mined out.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, including the steps of: determining a location of said primary load region on said resource map in response to determining that said secondary load region has not been mined out; determining that said material loaded in said bucket consists of material from said secondary load region in response to said location of said primary load region being off of said resource map; and determining that said material loaded in said bucket consist of material from said primary load region in response to said location of said primary load region being within said resource map.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of determining an angular velocity includes the step of determining a position of said body in response to receiving a GPS signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; determining a resource map for said land site; defining a potential load region as a portion of said land site located between said body and a maximum extension of said bucket, said potential load region being determined in response to said body being stopped, said potential load region including a primary load region and a secondary load region, said secondary load region being adjacent to said mobile machine, and said primary load region being adjacent to, and overlapping said secondary load region opposite of said mobile machine; determining said bucket performed a dumping operation in response to said duration of time being less than a specified amount and said material type in said secondary load region being mined out; determining said bucket performed a loading operation in response to said duration of time of being one of greater than and equal to said specified amount and said secondary load region not being mined out; and determining the work cycle in response to said duration of time, said dumping operation and said loading operation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; determining a resource map for said land site; defining a potential load region as a portion of said land site located between said body and a maximum extension of said bucket, said potential load region being determined in response to said body being stopped, said potential load region including a primary load region and a secondary load region, said secondary load region being adjacent to said mobile machine, and said primary load region being adjacent to, and overlapping said secondary load region opposite of said mobile machine; determining said bucket performed a dumping operation in response to said duration of time being less than a specified amount and said material type in said secondary load region being mined out; determining said bucket performed a loading operation in response to said duration of time of being one of greater than and equal to said specified amount and said secondary load region not being mined out; and determining the work cycle in response to said duration of time, said dumping operation and said loading operation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining that said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; and, identifying one of a loading and a dumping portion of a work cycle in response to said duration of time.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine for moving material on a land site, said mobile machine having a body and a bucket, said body being adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference, including the steps of: determining an angular velocity of said body; determining that said body is stopped in response to said angular velocity being less than a specified amount; determining a duration of time said body is stopped; and, identifying one of a loading and a dumping portion of a work cycle in response to said duration of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as set forth in claim 11, further including the steps of determining a potential load region in response to said body being stopped, wherein the step of identifying said one of a loading and dumping portion further includes the step of identifying said one of a loading and dumping portion in response to said duration of time and said potential load region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, further including the steps of determining said potential load region is one of mined out and not mined out.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of: identifying a loading portion of said work cycle in response to said potential load region being not mined out, and said duration of time being greater than a specified amount.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of determining said angular velocity further includes the step of determining said angular velocity utilizing a positioning system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step of determining said angular velocity utilizing a positioning system further includes the step of determining said angular velocity utilizing a plurality of position signals received from a remote source, said position signals being used to determine a plurality of positions of said body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of determining a dumping portion of a work cycle in response to said duration of time being less than a specified amount.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3979731A
Cited
US5471391A
Cited
US5493494A
Cited
US5631658A
Cited
US5646844A
Cited
US5404661A
Cited
US5438771A
Cited
US5612864A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-25 | 2002-07-27 | 2003-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-25 | 2006-07-27 | 2007-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-25 | 2010-07-27 | 2011-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |