US 11,686,609 B2
System and method for detecting distribution of weight of payload in dump bodies
Alexander Eli Dowling, South Burnie (AU); and Brodie Lee Thompson, South Burnie (AU)
Assigned to Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Tasmania (AU)
Filed by Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., South Burnie (AU)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/62,858.
Claims priority of application No. 2019257403 (AU), filed on Oct. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0123793 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G01G 19/08 (2006.01); G01G 19/12 (2006.01); B60P 1/28 (2006.01); B60W 40/13 (2012.01)
CPC G01G 19/086 (2013.01) [B60P 1/286 (2013.01); G01G 19/12 (2013.01); B60W 2040/1315 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting distribution of a weight of a payload in a dump body of a vehicle, the dump body being pivotable about a plurality of co-axially aligned pins to be selectively seated and titled relative to a frame of the vehicle, the system comprising:
a plurality of first sensors adapted to be arranged between the dump body and the frame, each first sensor of the plurality of first sensors configured to detect a component of the weight of the payload exerted through the dump body when the dump body is seated relative to the frame;
a plurality of second sensors adapted to be arranged correspondingly within the plurality of co-axially aligned pins, each second sensor of the plurality of second sensors configured to detect a component of the weight of the payload exerted through the dump body; and
a controller configured to:
determine a status of payload distribution in the dump body based on the component of the weight of the payload detected by each first sensor and each second sensor,
generate a notification to indicate the status of payload distribution,
wherein to determine the status of payload distribution based on components of the weight of the payload detected correspondingly by the plurality of first sensors and the plurality of second sensors, the controller is further configured to:
select at least one component having a highest weight component value among all components of the weight detected by the plurality of first sensors and the plurality of second sensors;
identify at least one sensor from the plurality of first sensors and the plurality of second sensors that detects the at least one component; and
determine a zone corresponding to the at least one sensor on a model of the dump body as an area in which a center of gravity of the payload is located.