US-20260125066-A1 - CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DUMP VEHICLE

US20260125066A1US 20260125066 A1US20260125066 A1US 20260125066A1US-20260125066-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a control system for a dump vehicle. The control system includes a controller configured to receive a first input associated with a height limit of the dump truck, receive a second input to raise a dump body of the dump truck, and generate a first signal in response to the first input. The controller is further configured to receive second signals. Based on the second signals, the controller is further configured to calculate a height of the dump truck to provide a calculated height, compare the calculated height to the height limit, and when the calculated height reaches the height limit, generate a third signal configured to cause actuation of an interlock that prevents further raising of the dump body by the hoist.

Inventors

James Erickson
Kollin Joines

Assignees

FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251106

Claims (20)

1 . A control system for a dump truck, the control system comprising: a controller configured to: receive a first input associated with a height limit of the dump truck; receive a second input to raise a dump body of the dump truck; generate a first signal in response to the first input, the first signal being configured to cause a hoist of the dump truck to raise the dump body of the dump truck; receive second signals; and based on the second signals: calculate a height of the dump truck to provide a calculated height; compare the calculated height to the height limit; and when the calculated height reaches the height limit, generate a third signal configured to cause actuation of an interlock that prevents further raising of the dump body by the hoist.
2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input are received via an interface.
3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the second signals are generated by one or more sensors.
4 . The control system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors include a chassis inclinometer and a dump body inclinometer.
5 . The control system of claim 4 , wherein the chassis inclinometer measures a first angle in a longitudinal direction and a second angle in a lateral direction of the dump truck, and the dump body inclinometer measures a third angle in the longitudinal direction and a fourth angle in the lateral direction of the dump truck.
6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the calculated height of the dump truck is calculated based on an angle between the dump body and a chassis of the dump truck.
7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the calculated height is calculated based on a first height (F) from a top of the chassis to ground, a second height (H1) from a bottom of the dump body to a top of the dump body, a length (L) of the dump body, a distance (O) from a pivot pin of the dump body to a floor panel of the dump body, and an angle (Θ) between the dump body and the chassis.
8 . The control system of claim 7 , wherein the calculated height (H2) of the dump truck is calculated based on a formula: H ⁢ 2 = F + ( ( sin ⁡ ( tan - 1 ( H ⁢ 1 L - O ) + Δ ⁢ θ ) * ( L - O ) 2 + H ⁢ 1 2 ) ) .
9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive third signals indicating the dump body is raised; and generate fourth signals, based on the third signals, to limit a speed of the dump truck to a predetermined speed limit.
10 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the height limit is a minimum clearance height of a location minus a safety factor.
11 . A dump truck, comprising: a chassis; a dump body; a hoist configured to raise and lower a height of the dump body relative to the chassis; a hoist actuator configured to selectively activate the hoist, the hoist actuator including an interlock; a control interface; a chassis inclinometer configured to indicate a first angle of the chassis of the dump truck relative to a direction of gravity; a dump body inclinometer configured to indicate a second angle of the dump body of the dump truck relative to the direction of gravity; a controller configured to: receive, from the control interface, a first input associated with a height limit of the dump truck; receive, from the control interface, a second input to raise the dump body of the dump truck; generate a first signal in response to the second input, the first signal being configured to cause the hoist actuator of the dump truck to activate the hoist to raise the dump body of the dump truck; receive second signals from the dump body inclinometer and the chassis inclinometer; and based on the second signals: calculate the height of the dump truck to provide a calculated height; compare the calculated height to the height limit; and when the calculated height reaches the height limit, generate a third signal configured to cause actuation of the interlock that prevents further raising of the dump body.
12 . The dump truck of claim 11 , wherein the chassis inclinometer measures a first angle in a longitudinal direction and a second angle in a lateral direction of the dump truck, and the dump body inclinometer measures a third angle in the longitudinal direction and a fourth angle in the lateral direction of the dump truck.
13 . The dump truck of claim 11 , wherein the calculated height of the dump truck is calculated based on an angle between the dump body and the chassis.
14 . The dump truck of claim 11 , wherein the calculated height is calculated based on a first height (F) from a top of the chassis to ground, a second height (H1) from a bottom of the dump body to a top of the dump body, a length (L) of the dump body, a distance (O) from a pivot pin of the dump body to a floor panel of the dump body, and an angle (Θ) between the dump body and the chassis.
15 . The dump truck of claim 14 , wherein the height (H2) of the dump truck is calculated by the controller based on a formula: H ⁢ 2 = F + ( ( sin ⁡ ( tan - 1 ( H ⁢ 1 L - O ) + Δ ⁢ θ ) * ( L - O ) 2 + H ⁢ 1 2 ) ) .
16 . The dump truck of claim 11 , further comprising: a dump body sensor configured to generate third signals indicating the dump body of the dump truck is raised, wherein the controller provides fourth signals responsive to receiving the third signals; and a chassis engine control unit (ECU) configured to receive the fourth signals from the controller and limit a speed of the dump truck to a predetermined speed limit responsive to receiving the fourth signals.
17 . A control system for a dump truck, the control system comprising: a controller configured to: receive first signals indicating a dump body of the dump truck is raised; and based on the first signals, generate second signals configured to cause a chassis engine control unit (ECU) of the dump truck to prevent the dump truck from exceeding a predetermined speed limit.
18 . The control system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive input indicating a maximum speed; and based on the input, set the predetermined speed limit as the maximum speed.
19 . The control system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive third signals indicating the dump body is lowered; and based on the third signals, generate fourth signals configured to cause the chassis ECU to allow acceleration of the dump truck above the predetermined speed limit.
20 . The control system of claim 17 , wherein the controller connects to the chassis ECU through a controller area network (CAN).

Description

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE The present disclosure is directed to a control system for a dump vehicle. BACKGROUND Construction often requires dump trucks to carry debris, dirt, and other material to and from the construction site. Dump trucks provide the capability to haul the material either to the construction site or a remote site. These vehicles are designed to better handle the extreme weight from the amount of material that is often needed to be transported. For example, dump trucks often include an extra axle for better distribution of its weight while hauling material. Further, dump trucks include a dump body (also referred to as a dump bed) that is hydraulically operated to lift at an angle relative to a chassis of the dump truck. Lifting the dump body causes material to roll or slide out of the body and onto the ground or into a vessel or another vehicle below. Construction sites often have overhead hazards. For example, many construction sites have power lines at high voltages that overhang. Contacting these power lines can lead to electrocution and death. Construction workers and equipment operators must be constantly aware of these lines to avoid contacting them. Even so, accidents still occur where equipment contacts the power line, which sends large amounts of current through the equipment. Other height clearance hazards, such as an overpass, another construction vehicle (e.g., a crane) or a building, may also be present. Dump trucks are especially susceptible to this risk of contacting the overhead dangers due to the dump body raising upwards resulting in a variable height. SUMMARY Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improvements to a control system for a dump vehicle. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improvements in controlling speed of a dump vehicle based on the position of the dump body. Aspects of the preset disclosure relate to improvements controlling the height of a dump body of a dump vehicle. According to certain specific aspects, the present disclosure relates to a control system for a dump truck. The control system includes a controller configured to receive a first input associated with a height limit of the dump truck, receive a second input to raise a dump body of the dump truck, and generate a first signal in response to the first input. The first signal is configured to cause a hoist of the dump truck to raise the dump body of the dump truck. The controller is further configured to receive second signals. Based on the second signals, the controller is further configured to calculate a height of the dump truck to provide a calculated height, compare the calculated height to the height limit, and when the calculated height reaches the height limit, generate a third signal configured to cause actuation of an interlock that prevents further raising of the dump body by the hoist. According to additional aspects, the present disclosure relates to a dump truck. The dump truck includes a chassis, a dump body, a hoist configured to raise and lower a height of the dump body relative to the chassis, and a hoist actuator configured to selectively activate the hoist. The hoist actuator including an interlock. The dump truck further includes a control interface, a chassis inclinometer configured to indicate a first angle of the chassis of the dump truck relative to a direction of gravity, a dump body inclinometer configured to indicate a second angle of the dump body of the dump truck relative to the direction of gravity, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the control interface, a first input associated with a height limit of the dump truck; receive, from the control interface, a second input to raise the dump body of the dump truck, and generate a first signal in response to the second input. The first signal is configured to cause the hoist actuator of the dump truck to activate the hoist to raise the dump body of the dump truck. The controller is further configured to receive second signals from the dump body inclinometer and the chassis inclinometer. Based on the second signals, the controller is further configured to calculate the height of the dump truck to provide a calculated height, compare the calculated height to the height limit; and when the calculated height reaches the height limit, generate a third signal configured to cause actuation of the interlock that prevents further raising of the dump body. According to additional aspects, the present disclosure relates to a control system for a dump truck. The control system includes a controller configured to receive first signals indicating a dump body of the dump truck is raised and based on the first signals, generate second signals configured to cause a chassis engine control unit (ECU) of the dump truck to prevent the dump truck from exceeding a predetermined speed limit. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below