United States Patent [19]
`Hagenbuch
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,839,835
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`[54] APPARATUS AND METHOD RESPONSIVE
`TO THE ON·BOARD MEASURING OF THE
`LOAD CARRIED BY A TRUCK BODY
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: LeRoy G. Hagenbuch, 4602 N.
`Rosemead, Peoria, Ill. 61604
`
`[21] App!. No.: 717,042
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Apr. 1, 1985
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 604,739, Apr. 27,
`1984, Pat. No. 4,630,227.
`
`Int. Cl.4 ....................... GOIG 19/08; G06F 15120
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl •............................... 364/567; 364/424.01;
`364/424.03; 364/424.07; 177/136; 177/141
`[58] Field of Search ............... 364/424, 567, 568, 555,
`364/558, 550; 340/52 R; 73/37; 177/136, 139,
`141, 165, 209
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,756,983 7/1956 Furcini ................................ 177/141
`3,306,384 2/1967 Ross .................................... 177/141
`3,321,035 5/1967 Tarpley ............................... 177/136
`3,420,325 1/1969 McAlister et a!. .................. 177/141
`.2/1972 Borman et a!. ....................... 340/23
`3,644,883
`3,857,452 12/1974 Hartman ............................. 177/139
`3,876,980 4/1975 Haemming et a1. ............. 340/146.1
`3,878,908 4/1975 Andersson et aI .................. 177/136
`3,895,681 7/1975 Griffin et a!. ....................... 177/141
`. 3,940,630 2/1976 Bergonz ............ : ................. 250/568
`3,980,871 9/1976 Lindstrom et a!. ................. 364/567
`4,009,375 2/1977 White et al ..................... 235/150.24
`4,009,591 7/1978 Carr ...................................... 180/98
`4,107,689 8/1978 Jellinek ............................... 343/112
`4,212,074 7/1980 Kuno et a!. ......................... 364/466
`4,217,588 8/1980 Freeny, Jr ...................... 343/112 D
`4,350,970 9/1982 von Tomkewitsch ................ 340/23
`4,393,951 7/1983 Horst-Rudolf ...................... 177/136
`4,511,974 4/1985 Nakane et aI ....................... 364/463
`4,520,443 5/1985 Yuki et a1. ........................... 364/424
`4,542,461 9/1985 Eldridge et a!. .................... 364/424
`4,606,419 8/1986 Perini .................................. 177/209
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`493628 9/1977 Australia.
`
`0060074 9/1982 European Pat. Off. .
`2400447 11/1971 France.
`2249787 5/1975 France.
`8405278 10/1985 France.
`2562659 10/1985 France.
`59-176133 10/1984 Japan ................................... 177/136
`W083/04451 12/1983 PCT Int'I Appl. .
`1049751 10/1983 U.S.S.R ............................... 177/136
`1215275 12/1970 United Kingdom .
`2025185 1/1980 United Kingdom.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Specification Sheet from Norand Data Systems RT1200
`Radio Data Network, 1985.
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner-Felix D. Gruber
`Assistant Examiner-Brian M. Mattson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leydig, Voit & Mayer
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`The invention relates to an apparatus for accurately
`measuring the weight of a load carried by a truck body
`which is mounted on a truck frame. The apparatus is
`located along an interface between the truck frame with
`the load carried by the truck body and uniformly dis(cid:173)
`tributes the weight of the body onto the frame along the
`interface. In order to measure the weight of the load,
`the apparatus includes pressure sensors which commu(cid:173)
`nicate the entire weight of the load to the truck frame.
`The pressure sensors provide an electrical signal pro(cid:173)
`portional to the pressure exerted by the load on the
`apparatus. This electrical signal is processed to calcu(cid:173)
`late the weight of the load carried in the truck body. By
`providing a pressure sensing apparatus at an interface
`between the load and truck frame, the weight on the
`load carried by the truck body can be continually moni(cid:173)
`tored without interrupting the loading, hauling and
`dumping routine. A sensor processing unit responds to
`the continually monitored weight data and the like to
`provide hauling parameters to track the performance of
`the truck and to provide a data base to a central com(cid:173)
`puter from which data can be gathered for efficiently
`controlling the movement of a plurality of trucks.
`
`94 Claims, 28 Drawing Sheets
`
`SENSOR PROCESSING UNIT 101
`J-lil"- -- W3-'
`
`I
`
`CPU
`
`•
`
`109
`
`J
`
`107 ,
`~ &
`1
`I
`p.
`yr
`1
`1
`1 ___ _ ___ ---1
`
`~
`H
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 1
`
`

`

`4,839,835
`
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Advertisement from Automatic I.D. News on LXE's
`Radio Linked Data Communications, LXE, a division
`of Electromagnetic Sciences, Inc., Nov., 1986.
`Advertisement on Texlon's Portable Tele-Transaction
`Computers, (PCTs).
`Article from MIS Week entitled "JIT and the Receiv(cid:173)
`ing Room" by Bill Maraschiello, Associate Editor, May
`19, 1986.
`Article entitled "Material Handling Makes Jus(cid:173)
`t-In-Time Work for AutoCon", by Clyde E. Witt,
`Associate Editor, Material Handling Engineering,
`Nov., 1986.
`Rockwell International Corporation's Fleet Manage(cid:173)
`ment System entitled "TripMaster"; Jul., 1986.
`Glotzl BaumeBtechnik's Publications on "Pressure Cell
`for Concrete Stress and Joint Pressure"; Jul., 1979.
`"Truck Management Systems Review", by V. Srajer,
`CANMET (Canada Centre for Mineral & Energy
`Technology) Calgary Coal Research Laboratory, Dec.,
`1985.
`"Vehicle Monitoring System for Large Off-Highway
`Trucks", article of GLI Corp. in Mining Journal, Jan.
`10, 1986.
`"An Integrated Truck Management Information Sys(cid:173)
`tem (Truck MIS) Concept", article by LeRoy G.
`Hagenbuch presented at CIM 2nd Dist. 5 Mtg. on Sep.
`11, 1985.
`"Analysis of Open-Pit Truck Haulage System by Use
`of a Computer Model", by J. H. Tu & V. J. Hucka of
`Univ. of Utah, in the CIM Bulletin, Jul., 1985, pp.
`53-60.
`"Fully Integrated Truck Information & Control Sys(cid:173)
`tems (TIACS)", by T. O. Jones & W. K. Tsuha. SAE
`Technical Paper Series, Truck & Bus Expo, Cleveland,
`Ohio., Nov. 7-10, 1983.
`Article on AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) mar(cid:173)
`keted by Caterpillar Co. along with General Electric
`Co. of Great Britain, Publication unidentified, 1986.
`"Car 54, Where Are You? Just Check the Computer
`Map", article in Business Week, Science & Technology
`section, Aug. 12, 1985.
`"Eye in Sky Will Keep Us from Getting Lost", article
`by John Hillkirk in USA Today, Mar. 5, 1986.
`"Satellites Add More Accuracy to Locating Objects on
`Earth", article by D. Wessel, Staff Reporter of The
`Wall Street Journal, Date unknown.
`
`Advertisement by the Hawker Siddeley Dynamics En(cid:173)
`gineering Ltd. in The Mining Engineer for mining con(cid:173)
`trols capabilities, p. 332, date unknown.
`Advertisement by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Engi(cid:173)
`neering Ltd. on the "Elements of an MVMM System".
`"Dynalink Mine Vehicle & Material Management Sys(cid:173)
`tem", Publication No. BSL 924, Issue No. 01, by
`Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Engineering Ltd., HSDE
`1986.
`Advertisement by Identification Devices, Inc., Boulder,
`Colo., on the System J.D. ® Automated Vehicle Identi(cid:173)
`fication, 1980.
`Article on the A VM (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring)
`and A VL (Automatic Vehicle Location) Systems, pub.
`in Mobile Radio Technology; Sep. 1985, pp. 64-65.
`Article in Design News entitled "Automatic Vehicle
`Locator 'On-The-Air"', Sep. 23, 1985, p. 29.
`Brochure entitled "Automatic Vehicle Locator Sys(cid:173)
`tem" © by Motorola, Inc., 1984.
`"Construction Vehicle ID Transmitter for Carriage
`Data Collection & Management System" by Sumitomo
`Electric Ind. Int'l Congo & Expo, Detroit, Mich., Feb.-(cid:173)
`Mar. 1985.
`Cost Savings Bulletin I describing "VMS TM as a Pre(cid:173)
`ventive Maintenance Tool", dated Jan. 13, 1985.
`Cost Savings Bulletin II describing "VMS TM as a Pre(cid:173)
`ventive Maintenance Tool", dated Sep. 6-8, 1985.
`Cost Savings Bulletin III describing "VMS TM as a
`Preventive Maintenance Tool", dated Dec. 28-29,
`1985.
`"The VMS TM -Setting New Standards for Vehicle
`Monitoring", publication by GLI Corp. of Woodinville,
`Wash., published Dec., 1985.
`Article on "Modems Take to the Airwaves" by M.
`David Stone, published in PC Magazine, Jan. 14, 1986,
`pp. 184-193.
`A. H. Emery, "Hytronic Totalizer" catalog sheet, Bul(cid:173)
`letin 2911, Dec. 5, 1985.
`The "OEM-Bus Single Board Computer SYS-2Z"
`catalog sheets by The ROBASIC Corporation.
`"Optodata ® 5200, The Cable Eliminator" sales litera(cid:173)
`ture by Scientific Technology, Inc., including master
`price list, 1986.
`Catalog listing Telxon Portable Bar Code Scanners,
`Telxon Corporation, 1984.
`Article "Bar Codes Hold 'Patent' on Document Track(cid:173)
`ing" in Automatic J.D. News, Sep., 1986.
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 2
`
`

`

`4,839,835
`
`Page 3
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`The Argo FMS 1330 "Report Card" marketing bro(cid:173)
`chure describing the Argo Fleet Management Systems.
`"5th Wheel" catalog sheet by Structural Instrumenta(cid:173)
`tion, Inc.
`Advertisement in Chillon's IAN Instrumentation &
`Control News, vol. 33, No. 12, Burr-Brown's "Mul(cid:173)
`tibus"-compatible Analog Input Board, Dec., 1985.
`E-Z Trac TM Truck Tracking System © 1984-Com(cid:173)
`puter program written in COBOL which is a unique
`tracking system designed specifically for the ready
`mixed concrete industry.
`Article by Speed call Corporation entitled "Fleet Dis(cid:173)
`patch and Control Systems", copyright 1984.
`A brochure entitled "Automatic Truck Dispatching
`and Identification System", Gould, Inc., Information
`Identification Division, Sep., 1980.
`A brochure for Motorola's "Automatic Vehicle Loca(cid:173)
`tion System"; copyright 1984.
`Marcelo, Ben; "Selecting the Right Automatic Vehicle
`Location System"; Magnavox (no date).
`
`Brochure entitled "The Answer to Increased Dispatch
`Efficiency," by The Alkon Corp., Columbus, Ohio;
`©1985.
`Harrington, L. H.; "Money-Saving Software," Traffic
`Management, Cahners Publishing Company, Apr. 1986.
`Himebaugh, A. E.; "Computer-Based Truck Dispatch(cid:173)
`ing in the Tyrone Mine," Mining Congress Journal,
`Nov. 1980; pp. 16-21.
`Riley et aI., "Vehicle Tracking System for Salem, Ore.
`Police Dept. "The Institute of Navigation, proceedings
`of the National Technical Meeting, 1/21-23/86; pp.
`89-94.
`Kaneno et aI., "Construction Vehicle ID Transmitter
`for Carriage Data Collection and Management Sys(cid:173)
`tem," SAE Technical Paper Series, Int'I. Congress and
`Expo., Detroit, Mich.; Feb. 25-Mar. 1, 1985; pp. 29-41.
`Cotton et aI., "Toronto Transit Commission Communi(cid:173)
`cations and Information System Evaluation of Opera(cid:173)
`tion Tests," 30th Annual Conference of the IEEE Ve(cid:173)
`hicular Technology Society; Bohn Printing Co., Utica,
`Mich.; Sep. 15-17, 1980.
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 3
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 1 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`FIG. I
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 4
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 oI28
`
`4,839,835
`
`29
`
`160
`
`FIG.2a
`
`31
`
`~
`
`FIG.3a
`
`32
`
`43
`
`A"""- LIS
`43'
`
`26,27
`
`FIG.3
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 5
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 3 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`197
`
`<; O--'~
`
`140
`
`0
`o
`o o
`o
`
`o
`
`o~ o~~
`
`,"""'- __ - - - -
`
`."..".""""'"
`,...,.. ~ ON-BOARD
`~ ~WEIGHING
`DEVICE
`
`. . " , .
`
`FIG. 2 b
`
`,.,......
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 6
`
`

`

`tit
`~
`~ -.
`
`~ -.
`
`.&;;;.. e,
`i!
`~
`
`QC
`N
`
`~
`\
`
`FIG. 6
`
`49
`
`51a. J:
`
`FIG. 5 a
`
`II
`
`49
`
`47
`
`29'
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`,---1
`
`d:b
`
`FIG. 5
`
`~~J« --1~49
`
`l..-jiiii;.·7
`I
`
`It
`
`I
`
`<,,-
`
`-~='LS
`--_ .. -
`, .. ' -r
`
`~s
`I 1.:_-=: __ _
`I .
`"
`I
`
`I,
`j-
`
`I
`
`7
`
`~5 ______ _
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 7
`
`

`

`Ol
`~
`~ -..
`
`~ -..
`
`Ul e,
`i!
`ga
`
`QO
`N
`
`~
`~ f-to. S f-to.
`
`~
`
`~
`'"
`W
`~
`
`~
`~
`
`FIG. 7
`
`FIG. 7a
`
`FIG. 8
`
`51a
`
`"
`
`..--
`
`8~ "--1
`
`68
`
`-
`
`Ii
`
`191a
`
`70
`
`9 I~!l Ll2L
`
`FIG.8a
`
`47
`
`47
`
`1
`
`f
`
`68 't. Ji -rill r1l1~-r"'L""~""" ,=::;1;::~=1 =~.
`G8a
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Q
`
`27
`
`61e
`
`~70
`
`47
`
`FIG. 9
`
`r~~~
`I!
`
`I I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`LrT.J
`
`70b
`
`70a
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 8
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, ·1989
`
`Sheet 6 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`~I
`
`\
`
`~I I
`
`I'-...
`(\J
`
`C\J -
`-
`
`.
`~
`lJ....
`
`I' ,I
`,I
`II
`II I:
`
`I
`
`(\J
`I..()
`
`....
`....
`
`"-___ ..u:::
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 9
`
`

`

`tit
`~
`-.
`\C
`~
`~ -.
`
`QO
`N
`
`e,
`i!
`7Jj =-
`
`......:J
`
`~
`\C
`~
`
`FIG.13b
`
`HORIZONTAL LINE 74
`
`25
`
`FIG.13a
`
`-I
`
`C/G i
`1
`w
`
`~
`~ f-to. S f-to.
`~ r.n
`
`•
`
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`HORIZONTAL LINE 74
`
`25
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 10
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 8 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`FIG.14a
`
`FIG.14b
`
`84
`FIG.14a
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 11
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 9 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`a
`(j) ,
`'-
`
`/
`(
`I
`I
`
`a
`(j)
`\
`\
`\.
`
`/'
`/
`I
`I
`a
`CJ)
`\
`\
`\
`
`--;1~---------~---------),--
`
`---------~--------------------
`
`------------------------------
`----------------------------
`-----------------------------
`--------------- ---- --- ---- -----
`'lr;-
`~((~0_
`---'-.L~L"_'
`-1J'~'
`1~1
`~fr-
`----------------------------
`----- ------- ----------- ----
`----------------------------
`-------------------------------
`------------------------------
`------------------------------
`
`------------------------------
`----------------------------
`----------------------------_.
`------------------------------
`-- ------- ------ -------------
`------------------------------_.
`
`-------------------------------
`--- ---- -------------- ---------
`------------- -------- - --- -----
`-----------------------------
`------------ - ---- - -- ------- ----
`----------------------------
`
`--------_._-- --_._------_ .. _----
`- ------ -_ .. _- -"-- ----- - -- - ------
`------------------------------
`--:..---::::.:::::::. = = =--:..-::..::.. = =--::.. -::.. -:.. -= . .:.. -::.. -::.. -:..---:.. ---:::.. -::..-::!
`----------------- -.. ----------]
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 12
`
`

`

`tit
`~
`~ -..
`
`~ -..
`
`~
`
`~ = 9,
`ga a
`
`~ .
`rt a
`~
`~
`~
`
`~
`'"
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`140Q
`
`~
`1~
`@
`140& G
`1~
`
`140 e
`
`~
`~
`1~0
`tRE[p
`
`INTERRUPT
`
`109
`__
`
`'?'F
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`122
`
`121
`
`-1"1'
`
`PRINTER
`
`119
`
`LED DISPLAY
`
`8888
`
`FIG. 16
`
`I
`
`AI D 1-----,-
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`130
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`~
`I
`
`150
`
`Tx/Rx
`
`I----
`
`I
`SENSOR PROCESSI ___ ,
`NG UNIT 101
`
`_
`
`_
`
`103
`
`127
`
`CPU
`
`I
`
`I
`51 b
`I SENSOR
`I I PRESSURE
`
`PRESSURE r-l------l
`
`51d
`
`Sic
`
`SENSO
`PRESSURRE
`
`SENSOH
`DUI-IP
`
`137
`
`SENSOR
`GEAR
`
`135
`
`138
`
`SENSOR
`
`DISTANCE I
`PRESSURE I
`
`139
`
`SENSOR
`
`'--____ --.-J
`
`SENSOR _
`
`I I
`
`.
`
`51" I
`I
`
`I I PRESSURE
`,--
`
`SENSOR
`
`I
`
`WEIGHING ___ ,
`ON-BOARD DEVICE
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 13
`
`

`

`us. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 11 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`RAM 107
`
`MISC. TEMPORARY
`STORAGE
`
`ARRAY~ I
`(16 NET PRESSURE DATA)
`
`ARRAY IT
`SUMMARY OF HAULING/LOADING
`PARAMETERS OF CURRENT OPERATOR
`
`ARRAY IIT.
`(ARCHIVE OF SUMMARIES)
`(FOR ALL OPERATORS)
`
`ARRAY I [
`
`ARRAY "S[
`
`ARRAY 3ZI
`
`I
`
`I L._.
`
`ARRAY YII
`
`'--"
`FIG. /6«'
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 14
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 12 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`II
`
`I I
`nOel
`I
`I
`
`~169
`
`179c
`
`I I
`
`I I
`170a
`
`I I
`
`179.b
`
`179a.
`
`184
`
`FIG. 17 a
`
`170 d
`
`~ __ 171a
`
`.r 171
`
`170b
`
`170a
`
`FIG. 17 c
`
`FIG. 17 b
`
`183
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 15
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 13 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`250
`
`INITIALIZE
`ALL NEEDED
`VALUES
`
`230
`READ TIME
`AND DATE
`FROM
`TIME CLOCK
`
`240
`
`INCREMENT TOTAL
`DISTANCE FROM
`DISTANCE SENSOR
`
`270
`
`CALL
`READ PRESSURE
`SUBROUTINE
`(FIG. i8h)
`
`277
`CALL
`OPERATOR SUMMARY
`SUBROUTINE
`(FIG. i8"i)
`
`FIG. IBa
`
`280
`SUBTRACT TARE
`PRESSURE FROM
`AVE.PRESURE (STEP 620)
`= NeT PRESSURE ~ __ ...J
`
`r~l~ V
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 16
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 14 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`286
`NET PRESSURE = 0
`BUCKET PRESSURE = 0
`
`289
`STORE NET
`PRESSURE IN
`ARRAY I
`
`300
`
`AVO. LAST 16
`NET PRESSURES
`IN ARRAY I
`
`305
`
`CALL
`AXLE LOAD
`ANALYSIS
`SUBROUTINE
`(FIG. l8P)
`
`FIG. IB};
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 17
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 15 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`396
`
`390
`
`PRINT:
`1. GEAR SHIFTED FROM
`2. WEIGHT OF LOAD
`3. TIME IN GEAR
`4. DISTANCE IN GEAR
`
`CALL
`DUMP SUB-ROUTINE 406
`(FIG. 18)0)
`READ PRESSURE
`AND STORE AS
`BODY-UP PRESSURE
`
`410
`
`420
`
`1 - -__ ---lTON-MILE ..
`
`430
`
`DISTANCE TRAVELED
`X
`(LOAD + TRUCK TARE WEIGHT)
`435
`RUNNING TOTAL- RUNNING TOTAL
`(TON . MILE) - + TON . MILE
`
`450
`
`PRINT
`1. WEIGHT OF LOAD
`2. ELAPSED TIME FOR LOAD
`
`455
`
`PRE.SENT WHOLE
`HOUR TIME
`
`FIG. IBc
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 18
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 16 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`480
`
`PACK 16
`LOCATIONS OF
`ARRAY I WITH
`BODY-UP PRESSURE
`
`490
`
`READ
`PRESSURE
`OF TRUCK
`BODY
`
`500
`
`STORE·
`PRESSURE OF
`TRUCK BODY
`IN ARRAY I
`510
`CALCULATE AVG.
`PRESSURE FROM
`ARRAY I
`
`YES
`
`FIG.18d
`
`INCREMENT
`TOTAL NO. OF
`BODY-UP
`LOADS
`
`YES
`
`FLASH AND
`PRINT OUT
`OPERATOR NO.
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 19
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 17 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`530
`
`READ
`TIME
`
`NO
`
`READ AND
`STORE 16 NEW
`NET PRESSURE
`VALUES IN
`ARRAY I
`
`580
`
`CALCULATE
`AVG. NET
`PRESSURE
`FROM ARRAY I
`
`550
`PRINT
`1. GEAR SHIFTED FROM
`2. WEIGHT OF LOAD
`3. TIME IN GEAR
`4. DISTANCE IN GEAR
`
`FIG.18e
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 20
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13,1989
`
`Sheet 18 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`ROUTINE FOR SENSING
`MONOTONIC WEIGHT CHANGE
`
`CONVERT CURRENT AVE.
`NET PRESURE TO WEIGHT
`
`598
`
`600
`
`SET SIZE OF ARRAY I AND
`MAX. COUNT TO 16
`
`602
`OLD.AVG.NET __ CURRENT AVG.
`PRESSURE
`-- NET PRESSURE
`604
`__ CURRENT NET
`-- PRESSURE
`
`OLD NET
`PRESSURE
`
`CALL LOAD IMBALANCE
`SUBROUTINE (FIG. 18j)
`
`CALL LOAD ANALYSIS
`SUBROUTINE (FIG. 18~-m)
`
`606
`
`608
`
`594
`SET SIZE OF
`ARRAY I AND MAX.
`COUNT TO 24
`
`596
`
`SPIKE
`SPIKE + 1
`
`j
`
`~----~----~------·----4~----------
`616
`
`UPDATE DISPLAY
`OF WEIGHT
`
`FIG. 18 f
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 21
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 19 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`READ PRESSURE
`SUBROUTINE
`
`READ PRESSURE
`FROM SENSORS 51A-51D
`
`620
`
`ORE
`PRESSURE
`
`SIDE 2
`PRESSURE
`
`FIG. 18 h
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 22
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 20 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`OPERATOR NO.
`CHANGE SUBROUTINE
`
`669
`
`670
`
`TIME UNDER
`OPERATOR. CONTROL-
`
`I
`READ TIME
`I
`TIME OF NEW OPERATOR = READ TIME
`I
`TAKING CONTROL
`I
`671
`TIME OF NEW OPERATOR TAKING CONTROL- I
`TIME OF OLD OPERATOR TAKING CONTROL
`,
`672
`I
`
`TIME OF OLD OPERATOR
`TAKING CONTROL
`
`=
`
`AVG. WEIGHT
`OF BUCKET =
`
`AVG. WEIGHT
`OF LOAD
`=
`
`T'MPH
`
`=
`
`AVG. HAUL
`CYCLE TIME
`
`TIME OF N~~. OPERATOR
`TAKING CONTROL
`I
`TSTAr TSNNA~E HA~~T~
`T TA N. 0 BUC
`I
`TOTAL TONNAGE HAULED
`TOTA[ NO. OF LOADS
`I
`
`673
`
`674
`
`I
`(ST~P f8~8)
`(sT p
`)
`675
`(STEP 1048) J
`(STEP 103 )
`676
`(ST~P 4;5) J
`(sT P 6 1)
`677
`
`I
`RUNNIOO TOTAL (TON • MILE).
`TIME ONDER OPERAToR CONTROL
`I
`TIME UNDER ~PERATOR CONTROL
`ToTAL NO. 0 [oAos
`I
`678
`BODY-UP DISTANCE = TOTAL BODY-UP DISTANCE
`(STEP 522)1
`[OrAL NO. OF BODY-UP
`PER BODY-UP LOAD
`lOADS (STEP 5251\
`I
`6M
`= TarAr Ng. SF B~~KETS
`(ST~P 7cr~) 1
`T TA N .F [os
`(ST P 1 ori
`I
`690
`= TOTAL ELAPSED LOADI~ TIME (STEP _85011
`IUIAl NU. OttiUGKHS-1
`STEP 790)1
`I
`(STEP
`700
`• TOTA
`AVG. MAX. ELAPSED
`MAX. ELAPiEE TIME BETWr~N BUCKETyl"1020)
`TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS ToTA NO. OF [0 0
`TEP 10301
`r
`I
`PRINT
`1. AVG. WEIGHT OF BUCKET
`2. AVG. NO. OF BUCKETS PER LOAD
`3. AVG. TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS
`4. AVG. MAX ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS
`5. AVG. NO. OF SPIKES PER LOAD
`6. TOTAL TONNAGE HAULED
`7. TOTAL NO. OF LOADS
`8. AVG. WEIGHT OF LOAD
`9. AVG. ·HAUL CYCLE TIME
`10. TIME UNDER OPERATOR CONTROL
`11. REAL TIME OF OPERATOR NO. CHANGE
`A) OLD OPERATOR NO.
`B) NEW OPERATOR NO.
`12. BODY-UP DISTANCE PER BODY-UP LOAD
`13. TOTAL DISTANCE DRIVEN
`
`AVG. NO. OF
`BUCKETS PER LOAD
`
`AVG. TIME
`BETWEEN BUCKETS
`
`710
`
`.. ~~ETUR
`
`TO
`280
`
`FIG. /8i
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 23
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 21 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`LOAD
`IMBALANCE
`SUBROUTINE
`
`750
`
`SIGNAL
`SIDE/SIDE
`IMBALANCE
`
`SIGNAL
`FORE/AFT
`IMBALANCE
`
`FIG. 18 J
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 24
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 22 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`,
`
`FROM
`608
`
`LOAD ANALYSIS
`SUBROUTINE
`770
`l NEW BUCKET
`CURRENT AVE. NET PRESSURE +
`-
`- OLD AVE. NET PRESSURE
`PRESSURE
`780
`AVG. BUCKET == (AVG.BUCKET PRESSURE PER LOAD)(NO. OF BUCKETS
`+ NEW BUCKET PRESSURE
`PRESSURE PER LOAD
`NO. OF BUCKETS PER LOAD +1
`
`I
`PER LOAD)
`
`~
`
`790
`TOTAL NO.
`TOTAL NO.
`OF BUCKETS -
`OF BUCKETS +1
`800
`NO. Qr- BUCKETS _ NO. OF BUCKETS+l J
`PER LOAD
`-
`810
`
`815
`
`READ TIME OF BUCKET
`I
`STORE NEW BUCKET PRESSURE AND TIME OF
`BUCKET IN TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR
`TRANSMISSION (SEE STEP 1240. FIG. 20B)
`820
`IS
`CURRENT
`BUCKET 1ST
`BUCKET
`?
`NO
`830
`ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS--
`OLD BUCKET
`NEW BUCKET
`-
`TIME
`TIME
`840
`NEW BUCKET
`TIf1E
`850
`TOTAL ELAPSED _ TOTAL ELAPSED LOADING TIME
`LOADING TIME - ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS
`ARRAYY
`NEW BUCKET PRESSURE
`(LOAD BUCKET)
`= AVG. BUCKET PRESSURE
`ARRAY Y. (N)
`PER LOAD
`ELAPSED TIME
`=
`BETWEEN BUCKET::>
`
`.....
`....
`
`YES
`
`OLD BUCKET
`TIME
`
`=
`
`;
`
`I
`
`ARRAY JlI.
`(LOAD BUCKET)
`
`825
`OLD
`NEW
`BUCKET = BUCKET
`TIME
`TIME
`I
`826
`INITIALIZE
`ARRA YS Y. AND n
`I
`827
`SET
`LOAD FLAG
`I
`828
`TON . MILE =
`DISTANCE TRAVELED X
`( LOAD & TRUCK TARE WEIGHT
`829
`I
`RUNNING
`TOTAL +
`::.
`TON.MILE
`
`RUNNING
`TOTAL
`(TON .MILE)
`
`~ TO
`
`616
`
`852
`
`855
`
`-
`
`1
`[G92Ol
`~
`
`FIG. 18k
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 25
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 23 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`LOAD ANALYSIS
`SUBROUTINE (CaNT.)
`
`870
`ELAPSED TIME
`BETWEEN BUCKETS
`
`ACTIVATE
`RED
`LIGHT
`
`905
`ACTIVATE
`1/4 YELLOW' 1-41--'-"=1
`LIGHT
`
`915
`ACTIVATE
`1/2 Y Ell OW 1--41--'-==1
`LIGHT
`
`925
`ACTIVATE
`3/4 YELLOW. 1--eII~.=.j
`LIGHT
`
`926,
`ACTIVATE
`GREEN
`LIGHT
`
`FIG. 18m
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 26
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 24 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`AXLE LOAD
`ANALYSIS SUBROUTINE
`
`READ PRESSURE IN HOIST CYLINDER AND
`CONVERT TO WEIGHT
`
`928
`
`929
`ADD BODY TARE WEIGHT TO WEIGHT 0 LOAD
`CA C LATED IN ST P 9 TO
`ET TOTAL WEIGHT
`930
`
`CALCULATE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR LOAD AND
`BODY FROM TOTAL WEIGHT AND HOIST WEIGHT
`
`CALCULATE FRONT AXLE LOAD
`
`CALCULATE REAR AXLE LOAD
`
`ADD PREDETERMINED LOAD
`TO FRONT AND REAR AXLE LOADS
`
`PRINT AXLE LOADS
`
`940
`
`950
`
`960
`I
`
`980
`
`FIG. 18?
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 27
`
`

`

`us. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 25 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`DUMP SUBROUTINE
`
`TOTAL
`TONNAGE
`HAULED
`
`1000
`TOTAL
`_ TONNAGE
`HAULED
`-
`. + WEIGHT
`1010
`NO. OF BUCKETS PER LOAD = 0
`AVG. BUCKET PRESSURE PER LOAD = 0
`1020
`TOTAL MAX. ELAPSED
`TIME BETWEEN BUCKETS
`, +
`MAX. ELAPSED TIME
`BETWEEN BUCKETS
`
`TOTAL MAX.
`ELAPSED TIME
`BETWEEN BUCKETS
`
`=
`
`TOTAL NO. _ TOTAL NO~l 1030
`OF LOADS - OF LOADS
`
`TOTAL
`NO. OF
`SPIKES
`
`TOTAL NO. 1040
`: OF SPIKES
`+ SPIKES
`
`NO. OF
`OVERLOADS
`
`1
`- NO. OF
`- OVERLOADS +
`
`1070
`OVERAGE _ AVG. NET PRESSURE
`PRESSURE - -MAX. LOAD PRESSURE
`1080
`TOTAL
`TOTAL OVERAGE PRESSURE
`OVERAGE =
`+
`PRESSURE
`OVERAGE PRESSURE
`
`1090
`
`CONVERT DATA IN ARRA Y Y. TO WEIGHT
`AND PRINT TABLE OF ARRAY Y (BUCKET
`WEIGHT AND AVG. BUCKET WEIGHT) AND
`ARRAY TI (ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN
`BUCKETS) FOR EACH BUCKET OF A
`LOAD CYCLE.
`
`FIG. 18J-
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 28
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 26 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`FIG~ 19a
`
`DUMP AREA 1
`
`SYNC
`
`TRUCK NO.
`
`DUMP OR LOAD
`
`SYNC
`
`TRUCK NO.
`
`LOADER NO.
`
`FIG. 19 c
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 29
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 27 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`HAUL TIME
`ROUTINE
`
`1097
`
`1095
`
`READ TIME
`
`n = 1
`
`POLL TRUCK (n)
`
`1099
`
`NO
`
`DECODE TRUCK NO.
`
`1140
`L~~~ED = TIME - LOAD TIME
`T
`1150
`READ AVG. LOADED HAUL TIME
`FOR THIS TRUCK/LOADER
`COMBINATION
`
`CALCULATE NEW
`AVG. LOADED HAUL TIME
`
`1160
`
`1170
`STORE AVG. LOADED HAUL TIME
`FOR THIS TRUCK/LOADER
`COMBINATION
`
`1135
`RECORD
`TIME
`AS
`LOAD TIME
`
`1180
`BASED ON TRUCKS IN TRANSIT TO LOADERS
`AND AVG. LOAD TIME OF EACH LOADER
`DETERMINE LOADER WITH MINIMUM DELAY TIME
`
`TRANSMIT LOADER
`DESTINA TION TO TRUCK ~
`
`i
`
`1190
`
`FIG. 20a
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 30
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Jun. 13, 1989
`
`Sheet 28 of 28
`
`4,839,835
`
`DATA DOWNLOAD
`ROUTINE
`
`1260
`STORE AND DISPLAY
`LOADER NO.
`
`NO
`
`1250
`
`KEY
`TRANSCEIVER AND
`TRANS~lIT KEY
`
`FIG. 20 b
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 31
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,839,835
`
`APPARATUS AND METHOD RESPONSIVE TO
`THE ON-BOARD MEASURING OF THE LOAD
`CARRIED BY A TRUCK BODY
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part application
`of U.S. Ser. No. 604,739 filed 4-27-84, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,630,227.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The invention generally relates to the measuring of
`the load of a vehicle and, more particularly, to the mea-
`suring and acquisition of data indicative of loading con-
`ditions for a hauling vehicle.
`BACKGROUND
`
`Often off-road trucks are subjected during their rou(cid:173)
`tine use to weight loads which differ greatly because of
`different material density and/or the ability of some
`material to more tightly pack when loaded into the 20
`truck body. As a result, truck bodies which are always
`filled to their full volume capacity may carry weight
`loads which exceed the weight capacity of the truck.
`Repeated occurrences of overloading result in the pre(cid:173)
`mature deterioration of the structural integrity of the 25
`truck, thus requiring repair or replacement of parts
`before anticipated. In order to avoid the damage caused
`by overloading, the truck body can be filled to a volume
`which assures the truck is not overloaded even for the
`most dense material. Although underloading may pre- 30
`vent the premature deterioration of the structural integ(cid:173)
`rity of the truck, it sacrifices the truck's load-hauling
`efficiency. Therefore, an off-road truck which is expen(cid:173)
`sive to operate becomes even more expensive to operate
`when it is underloaded. Accordingly, there is a need to 35
`precisely measure the load carried by an off-road truck.
`This need has stimulated the development of on-board
`weighing devices that monitor and measure the truck's
`load.
`Of course, in order to measure the on-board weight of 40
`a load carried by a truck, the truck must necessarily
`incorporate load sensors into its frame and/or body. In
`a dump-body truck, the body is movable on the truck's
`frame between lowered and raised positions. To pro(cid:173)
`vide for this movement, the body is usually attached to 45
`the frame only by a pair of hinge assemblies and a pair
`of hydraulic cylinders. In one common construction of
`a dump-body truck, when the truck body is in its low(cid:173)
`ered position, its entire weight is communicated to the
`truck frame along a cushioned interface between the 50
`truck's frame and body. In this lowered position of the
`truck body, the.hinge assemblies and hydraulic cylin(cid:173)
`ders do not support the weight of the truck body and,
`therefore, they do not transfer any of the body's weight
`to the truck frame. By freeing the hinge assemblies and 55
`the hydraulic cylinders from the weight of the lowered
`truck body, the amount of stress on these areas is re(cid:173)
`duced and, accordingly, their useful life is extended.
`Traditionally, in order to provide an on-board weigh(cid:173)
`ing device for this type of a dump-body truck, load 60
`sensors are incorporated into the hinge assemblies and
`the hydraulic cylinders. Accordingly, in order to mea(cid:173)
`sure the load, the truck body must be lifted from its
`lowered position by the hydraulic cylinders so that the
`weight of the load is transferred to the frame through 65
`the cylinders and the hinge assemblies. Although the
`accuracy of the load measurements obtained from load
`sensors associated with the hydraulic cylinders and the
`
`2
`hinge assemblies is satisfactory, the structural integrity
`of the truck may be degraded by modifications of the
`hinge assemblies and hydraulic cylinders required to
`incorporate the load sensors which cause concentration
`5 of the load on the frame. Moreover, the impact of fall(cid:173)
`ing material onto the bed of the truck is especially se(cid:173)
`vere for the frame of the truck when the body is lifted
`slightly from its lowered position.
`More important than the structural disadvantage of
`10 on-board weighing devices which incorporate load
`sensors in the truck's hinge assemblies and hydraulic
`cylinders is the disadvantage of requiring the truck's
`body to be lifted off the frame in order to obtain a
`weight reading. Because this requirement consumes
`15 valuable time otherwise available for loading, hauling,
`and unloading and because of the concentration of the
`load on the frame, the truck operator is discouraged
`from weighing the truck load; it is faster to approximate
`the load. Since the on-board weighing device interferes
`with an efficient and smooth hauling operation, there is
`a tendency to not use the weighing device. Therefore,
`the advantages of an on-board weighing devices in
`dump-body trucks have not been fully realized. Also,
`the requirement oflifting the truck body off the frame in
`order to obtain a weight measurement prevents continu(cid:173)
`ous or periodic monitoring of the body's weight.
`In order to continuously monitor and measure the
`load carried by a dump-body truck, it is known to use
`pressure gauges or similar type load sensors in the
`truck's suspension. Usually, in these types of weighing
`devices, the fluid pressure within a hydraulic suspension
`cylinder is sensed. Because of the relatively short stroke
`of the cylinder and the relatively large amount of fric(cid:173)
`tional resistance to the cylinder's movement (the front
`cylinders normally also serve as the front axle spindles),
`the pressure reading is not a satisfactorily accurate indi-
`cation of the truck's weight. In addition, the modifica(cid:173)
`tion of the truck's suspension to include load sensors
`opens the possibility of dangerously degrading the sus(cid:173)
`pension system.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is the general object of the invention to provide an
`apparatus and method for accurately measuring loading
`and hauling parameters based on the weight of material
`carried by a truck body. In this connection, it is a object
`of the invention to reliably measure and record loading
`and hauling parameters of the truck body in order to
`increase the efficiency of loading and hauling and also
`to provide a permanent record of truck use and the
`conditions under which it operated.
`It is an important object of the invention to provide
`an apparatus and method for measuring and indicating
`locating and hauling parameters of the truck body in
`order to provide an archive indicative of the type and
`degrees of use the truck has experienced.
`It is another object of the invention to extend the
`usable life of a dump-body truck by using loading and
`hauling parameters to prevent the unnecessary deterio(cid:173)
`ration of the structural integrity of the truck resulting
`from weight overloading.
`It is a further object of the invention to eliminate the
`inefficient hauling ofloads by a dump-body truck which
`results from the under-utilization of the full weight
`capacity of the truck.
`Other Objects and advantages of the invention will be
`apparent from the following detailed description and
`the accompanying drawings.
`
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1108, page 32
`
`

`

`3
`Briefly, in accordance with the invention, an on(cid:173)
`board weighing device is provided for a dump-body
`vehicle which continuously monitors the weight of the
`body while it is in its lowered position on the frame of
`the vehicle. In its lowered position, the body rests on 5
`the on-board weighing device such that the device
`forms an interface between the body and frame of the
`vehicle. A sensor processing unit mounted on the vehi(cid:173)
`cle is responsive to signals from the on-board weighing
`device which are indicative of the weight of the body. 10
`From the load signals of the on-board weighing device,
`the sensor processing unit forms a data base from which
`the vehicle's hauling performance is measured. In addi(cid:173)
`tion, load signals from the on-board weighing device
`are processed by the sensor processing unit and the 15
`resulting data is transmitted from each vehicle to a
`central processor wherein a second data base is formed.
`From this second data base, the central processor trans(cid:173)
`mits control signals to selected vehicles in order to 20
`control the movement of the vehicles between load and
`dump sites.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a dump- 25
`body truck with the truck body in a raised or dump
`position so as to expose the on-board weighing device
`according to the preferred embodiment of the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevated perspective view