Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-04
2001-07-24
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S053000, C701S001000, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, C037S259000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266598
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is snow removal vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a control system and method for a snow removal vehicle.
Snow removal vehicles are commonly employed for removing snow in, for example, municipal and commercial settings. A common type of snow removal vehicle, which is commonly referred to as a “snow blower” vehicle, comprises an impeller or ribbon which is mounted at the front of the vehicle and which is driven by an engine to throw or “blow” snow away from a region of interest. For example, at airports, snow plows are employed to initially plow snow to the side of runways, and then one or more snow blower vehicles are employed to throw the snow further away from the side of the runway (e.g., several hundred feet from the side of the runway). This prevents snow banks from building up along the side of the runway which would hamper further snow removal efforts.
For efficient resource utilization, it is desirable for snow removal vehicles to be able to remove as much snow as possible in as little time as possible. As used herein, the term “efficiency” refers to the amount of snow per unit time (e.g., tons per hour) that a snow removal vehicle is capable of removing. If the vehicle progresses too slowly, then snow intake is reduced and therefore vehicle efficiency is reduced. If the vehicle progresses too quickly, then snow intake exceeds the snow removal capacity of the snow removal vehicle, thereby causing the impeller to stall and causing vehicle efficiency to be reduced to zero until the impeller is cleared.
In practice, it is often difficult for an operator of a snow removal vehicle to operate the snow removal vehicle at maximum efficiency due to varying snow conditions. As the vehicle moves forward, the vehicle is likely to encounter snow of varying density due to variations in snow packing, snow wetness, drifting and so on. Additionally, the operator may encounter patches that have been previously cleared of snow, allowing the vehicle to travel forward much faster. The varying snow conditions affect the rate at which snow can be removed without impeller stalling. What is needed therefore is a control system and method for a snow removal vehicle that can be used to optimize vehicle efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first preferred aspect of the invention, a snow removal vehicle is provided comprising an impeller, an engine system, and an engine control system. The engine control system receives feedback information pertaining to operation of the impeller, and controls the engine system based on the feedback information.
According to a second preferred aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a snow removal vehicle is provided. The method comprises acquiring feedback information pertaining to operation of an impeller of the snow removal vehicle, analyzing the feedback information with an electronic signal processor, and controlling forward movement of the snow removal vehicle based on the feedback information.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many modifications and changes within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
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Pillar Duane R.
Squires Bradley C.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Foley & Lardner
Mancho Ronnie
Oshkosh Truck Corporation
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