	US 12,436,020 B2
	Method and system for calculating the mass of material in an excavating machine bucket
Charles Constancon, North Vancouver (CA); and Ali Yaghini, North Vancouver (CA)
Assigned to Hummingbird Solutions Inc., North Vancouver (CA)
Filed by Hummingbird Solutions Inc., North Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/485,153.
Application 18/485,153 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/365,998, filed on Aug. 6, 2023.
Application 18/365,998 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/178,986, filed on Mar. 6, 2023, granted, now 11,781,286, issued on Oct. 10, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0302201 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01G 19/12 (2006.01); E02F 3/58 (2006.01); E02F 9/14 (2006.01); E02F 9/26 (2006.01)

CPC G01G 19/12 (2013.01) [E02F 3/58 (2013.01); E02F 9/14 (2013.01); E02F 9/26 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method for calculating the mass of material in an excavating machine bucket comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a controller, data for determining the distance between at least one sensor mounted on the excavating machine and a target positioned on an arm of the excavating machine;

receiving torque data for a rotating hoist drive shaft in the excavating machine, the torque data being generated by a torque sensor positioned about the shaft;

calculating front end geometry of the excavating machine, wherein the excavating machine includes at least one rope;

calculating a rope force in the at least one rope using the torque data; and

calculating the mass of material in the excavating machine bucket using the calculated frontend geometry and the rope force.

9. A controller for calculating the mass of material in an excavating machine bucket comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store data, said controller being associated with a network and said memory being in communication with said processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed by said processor, cause said controller to:

receive data for determining the distance between at least one sensor mounted on the excavating machine and a target positioned on an arm of the excavating machine;

receive torque data for a rotating hoist drive shaft in the excavating machine, the torque data being generated by a torque sensor positioned about the shaft;

calculate frontend geometry of the excavating machine, wherein the excavating machine includes at least one rope;

calculate a rope force in the at least one rope using the torque data; and

calculate the mass of material in the excavating machine bucket using the calculated frontend geometry and the rope force.

16. An excavating machine comprising:

a machinery house including an A-frame platform;

an arm;

a hoist motor, a rotating hoist drive shaft, and a hoist gear box, wherein a torque sensor is positioned about the rotating hoist drive shaft between the hoist motor and hoist gear box;

a rope;

a bucket; and

a controller including a processor and a memory configured to store data, the memory being in communication with the processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed by said processor, cause said controller to:

receive data for determining the distance between at least one sensor mounted on the excavating machine and a target positioned on an end of the arm;

receive torque data generated by the torque sensor;

calculate frontend geometry of the excavating machine;

calculate a rope force in the rope using the torque data; and

calculate the mass of material in the bucket using the calculated frontend geometry and the rope force.