Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-04-17
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
C340S441000, C340S442000, C073S146200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218935
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for controlling the inflation pressure of pneumatic wheels for a machine and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for varying the inflation pressure of pneumatic wheels as a function of either ground speed in relation to the rotational velocity of a drivetrain for the machine or as a function of ground acceleration of a machine in relation to the rotational acceleration of a drivetrain for the machine.
BACKGROUND ART
The mobility of machines, especially in an off-road environment, is highly dependent on the contact pressure between the pneumatic wheels of the machine and the surface of the ground. When the surface of the ground is hard, the pneumatic wheels preferably have high contact pressures with relatively small contact areas. The high inflation pressure in the pneumatic wheels results in greater mobility of the machine with less energy and more efficiency. In contrast, when the surface of the ground is soft, the pneumatic wheels preferably have low contact pressures with relatively large contact areas. The result of this is that when the inflation pressure of the pneumatic wheels is too high and the contact pressure is too small, sinkage into the ground, or at the very least, a loss of traction between the pneumatic wheels and the ground can occur.
A change in the inflation pressure in the pneumatic wheels of a machine could increase and decrease both ground contact pressure as well as ground contact area depending on the conditions of the ground. It would be very difficult for the operator to constantly alter the level of inflation pressure in the pneumatic wheels. This would be very distracting and require either a constant examination of the ground or a thorough knowledge of the conditions of the ground. Therefore, it would be advantageous to optimize the efficient operation of the pneumatic wheels on a machine by varying the inflation pressure of the pneumatic wheels.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling inflation pressure of at least one pneumatic wheel on a machine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining a ground speed or ground acceleration of the machine and determining a rotational velocity or rotational acceleration of a drivetrain for the machine as well as adjusting the inflation pressure in response to a relationship between the ground speed of the machine and the rotational velocity of the drivetrain for the machine or the ground acceleration for the machine and rotational acceleration of the drivetrain for the machine.
In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling inflation pressure of at least one pneumatic wheel on a machine is disclosed. This apparatus includes a mechanism for determining a ground speed or ground acceleration of the machine and determining a rotational velocity or rotational acceleration of a drivetrain for the machine as well as adjusting the inflation pressure in response to a relationship between the ground speed of the machine and the rotational velocity of the drivetrain for the machine or the ground acceleration of the machine and rotational acceleration of the drivetrain for the machine.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4744399 (1988-05-01), Magnuson et al.
patent: 5179981 (1993-01-01), Hicks et al.
patent: 5180456 (1993-01-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 5327346 (1994-07-01), Goodell
patent: 5569848 (1996-10-01), Sharp
patent: 5587698 (1996-12-01), Genna
patent: 5629874 (1997-05-01), Mittal
patent: 5736939 (1998-04-01), Corcoran
Brandt Everett G.
Corcoran Paul T.
Caterpillar Inc.
Howard & Howard
Pope Daryl
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