US 12,480,264 B2
System for determining volume of material being cut
Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Plymouth, MN (US); and Nathaniel S. Doy, Maple Grove, MN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed on May 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/736,202.
Prior Publication US 2023/0357999 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E01C 23/088 (2006.01); E01C 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 23/088 (2013.01) [E01C 23/127 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus of a work machine, the apparatus comprised of:
a frame;
a milling assembly;
a set of sensors to provide information regarding a surface worked by the work machine, wherein the set of sensors comprises:
a first sensor; and
a second sensor; and
processing circuitry coupled to the set of sensors, the processing circuitry configured to:
generate a cut depth curve that represents cut depth along a cut width subsequent to performing work on the surface, based on measurements provided by the set of sensors;
perform an integration operation at a plurality of discrete points along the cut width based on the cut depth curve to generate a measure of area worked by the work machine; and
determine at least one physical operational parameter of the work machine based on the measure of area worked by the work machine.
 
9. A work machine comprising:
a frame;
a milling assembly;
a set of at least two scanners, at least one of the set of at least two scanners disposed forward of the milling assembly with reference to the frame and at least one of the set of at least two scanners disposed at a rear portion of the milling assembly with reference to the frame, the set of at least two scanners configured to provide information indicative of a depth worked by the work machine relative to an unworked surface around the work machine; and
processing circuitry coupled to the set of at least two scanners and configured to:
generate, based on information provided by the at least two scanners, a cut depth curve that represents cut depth subsequent to performing work on the surface, based on measurements provided by the set of scanners;
perform an integration operation based on the cut depth curve to generate a measure of area worked by the work machine; and
determine at least one physical operational parameter of the work machine based on the measure of area worked by the work machine.
 
18. A method of calculating volume of cut material for a work machine, the method comprising:
receiving, at processing circuitry, information regarding a surface worked by the work machine, the information generated by a set of at least two scanners mounted to the work machine, the set of at least two scanners in communication with the processing circuitry;
generating with the processing circuitry, based on the received information, a cut depth curve that represents cut depth along a cut width subsequent to performing work on the surface;
performing with the processing circuitry an integration operation at a plurality of discrete points along the cut width based on the cut depth curve to generate a measure of area worked by the work machine;
determining with the processing circuitry at least one physical operational parameter of the work machine based on the measure of area worked by the work machine; and
outputting a signal indicative of the volume of the material cut by the work machine.