US6560549B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for determining the transmission output torque for an earth moving machine
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1997-12-22
•
Granted: 2003-05-06
•
Expires: 2017-12-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is adapted to provide a method for determining the torque of a driveshaft. In the preferred embodiment a drivetrain includes a front and a rear drivetrain. The drivetrain is also connected to an engine, torque converter, front and rear axle and a transmission. In one embodiment, the ability to determine the transmission output torque for an earth moving machine includes determining an output torque of the converter and a gear reduction of the engine, and then responsively determining the front and rear driveshaft torque in response to the converter output torque and the engine gear reduction. The driveshaft torque calculations may be performed while the earth moving machine is operating. The resulting front and rear driveshaft torque calculations may be used to determine an axle damage index, or axle life calculations.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew O. Fonkalsrud
- 👤 Bradford A. Kough
- 👤 Eric A. Reiners
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:52
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/14; F16H59/16; B; B60; B60K; B60K23/00; B60K23/08; B60K23/0808; B60W; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/10; B60W2510/105; B60W2530/00; B60W2530/10; F16H2059/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for determining a torque of a driveshaft located on an machine, the driveshaft being connected to a drivetrain having an engine, a torque converter, a front and rear axle, and a transmission, comprising the steps of: determining a gear reduction of said transmission; determining an output torque of said torque converter; dynamically determining an axle weight ratio; and determining said driveshaft torque in response to said torque converter output torque, said axle weight ratio, and said transmission gear reduction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for determining a torque of a driveshaft located on an machine, the driveshaft being connected to a drivetrain having an engine, a torque converter, a front and rear axle, and a transmission, comprising the steps of: determining a gear reduction of said transmission; determining an output torque of said torque converter; dynamically determining an axle weight ratio; and determining said driveshaft torque in response to said torque converter output torque, said axle weight ratio, and said transmission gear reduction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining said driveshaft torque includes the steps of: determining a direction of travel of the machine; and, responsively determining said driveshaft torque in response to said direction of travel, said torque converter output torque, and said transmission gear reduction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a converter output torque further includes the steps of: determining a primary torque of said converter; determining a torque ratio of said converter; determining an input speed of said converter; determining an output speed of said converter; and, determining said converter output torque in response to said primary torque, said torque ratio, said converter input speed, and said converter output speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of determining said converter output torque includes the steps of: determining a speed ratio of said converter; determining said primary torque in response to said converter speed ratio; and determining said torque ratio in response to said converter speed ratio.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the step of determining said driveshaft torque includes the steps of: determining a front driveshaft torque; and, determining a rear driveshaft torque.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method, as set forth in claim 5 , including the steps of: determining said front and said rear driveshaft torque in response to said driveshaft torque, and said axle weight ratio.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the machine has a front axle and a rear axle, and further wherein the step of dynamically determining said axle weight ratio includes the steps of: determining a weight of said front axle; determining a weight of said rear axle; and determining said axle weight ratio in response to said front and rear axle weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the step of dynamically determining said axle weight ratio further includes the steps of: dynamically determining at least one force acting on said front axle; dynamically determining at least one force acting on said rear axle; and dynamically determining said axle weight ratio in response to said front and said rear axle weight, and said front and said rear at least one axle force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the step of dynamically determining said at least one front axle force includes the step of determining a sum of forces acting on said front axle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the step of dynamically determining said at least one rear axle force includes the step of determining a sum of forces acting on said rear axle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the machine includes a bucket, and a lift cylinder attached to the bucket, and a tilt cylinder attached to the bucket, wherein the step of determining a sum of forces acting on said front axle further includes the steps of: determining at least one of a lift cylinder displacement and a lift cylinder pressure of said lift cylinder; and determining said sum of forces acting on said front axle in response to said one of said lift cylinder displacement and said lift cylinder pressure of said lift cylinder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step of determining a sum of forces acting on said front axle further includes the steps of: determining at least one of a tilt cylinder displacement, and a tilt cylinder pressure of said tilt cylinder; and determining said sum of forces acting on said front axle in response to said at least one of said tilt cylinder displacement and said tilt cylinder pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4765434A
Cited
US5014809A
Cited
US5070961A
Cited
US5184527A
Cited
EP0512726A2
Cited
EP0754888A2
Cited
US5448478A
Cited
US5594643A
Cited
US5608626A
Cited
US5535830A
Cited
US5509520A
Cited
US5754967A
Cited
US5999873A
Cited
US5720358A
Cited
US5613581A
Cited
US5950141A
Cited
US5957991A
Cited
US5848371A
Cited
US5910176A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |