IP Library Granted Patent US 11,068,002
Granted Patent B2
US 11,068,002 · App. 16/600,525 · Granted Jul 20, 2021

Vehicle control system with track temperature sensing

Inventors: Daniel Garvin (Cedar Falls, IA); Ronica L. McKinley (Milan, IL); Narasimhan Rangan (Cedar Falls, IA); Janet R. Willett (Cedar Falls, IA); Bruce L. Upchurch (Waterloo, IA); Jeremy P. L'Heureux (Cedar Falls, IA)
Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
G05D13/66B60K31/00B60W30/146B62D55/08B62D55/10B62D55/244B62D55/32E02F9/02E02F9/268B60K2031/0091B60W2300/152B60W2300/158B60W2300/44B60W2420/20B60W2420/40B60W2720/103B62D55/02B62D55/0655B62D55/24
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,068,002
App. No.
16/600,525
Granted
Jul 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A work vehicle may include a load sensor, an engine, a drive train driven by the engine and a track system including at least one track. The track system is connected to the drive train. The work vehicle may further comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature and a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor. The vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor.

Claims (50)

1. A work vehicle comprising:

a load sensor;

an engine;

a drive train driven by the engine;

a track system including at least one track, the track system connected to the drive train;

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature; and

a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;

wherein the vehicle control system stores a temperature threshold for a first portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a second portion of the at least one track different than the first portion, wherein the vehicle control system is to: (1) determine a temperature for the first portion based upon the received temperature for the second portion; (2) compare the determined temperature for the first portion to the temperature threshold; and (3) output the work speed vehicle alert based upon the comparison.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

3. A work vehicle comprising:

a load sensor;

an engine;

a drive train driven by the engine;

a track system including at least one track, the track system connected to the drive train;

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature; and

a vehicle control system configured to receive the sensed temperature and a vehicle load from the load sensor, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to output a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;

wherein the vehicle control system stores a temperature threshold for a portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a part of the work vehicle in contact with the track, wherein the vehicle control system is to: (1) determine a temperature for the portion of the track based upon the received temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track; (2) compare the determined temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track; and (3) output the work speed vehicle alert based upon the comparison; and

wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

4. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one track comprises a carcass, a plurality of treads, and a plurality of lugs, and wherein the temperature sensor is positioned at least partially within at least one of a group comprising at least one of the plurality of lugs, at least one of the plurality of treads, and the carcass.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a non-contact sensor that is substantially free of contact with the at least one track.

6. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned in a portion of the drive train that is in contact with the at least one track or is positioned in a portion of the track system that is in contact with the at least one track.

7. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to restrict the speed of the work vehicle below a maximum speed of the vehicle when the track temperature is approaching a maximum temperature of the at least one track.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit the track temperature to a receiver, and wherein the receiver is communicatively connected to the vehicle control system.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the receiver is wirelessly connected to the vehicle control system.

10. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the track system includes two tracks or four tracks, and wherein each of the tracks includes at least one temperature sensor.

11. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to determine misalignment of the at least one track based on a combination of the temperature and the vehicle load.

12. A method for controlling a work vehicle including at least one track, wherein the work vehicle is capable of traveling at a maximum speed, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the at least one track of a work vehicle via a temperature sensor;

sensing a load of the work vehicle via a load sensor;

storing a temperature threshold for a first portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a second portion of the at least one track different than the first portion;

determining a temperature for the first portion based upon the received temperature for the second portion;

comparing the determined temperature for the first portion to the temperature threshold; and

outputting a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor and based upon the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

14. A method for controlling a work vehicle including at least one track, wherein the work vehicle is capable of traveling at a maximum speed, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the at least one track of a work vehicle via a temperature sensor;

storing a temperature threshold for a portion of the at least one track, wherein the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is for a part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;

determining a temperature for the portion of the track based upon the received temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;

comparing the determined temperature for the part of the work vehicle in contact with the track;

sensing a load of the work vehicle via a load sensor;

outputting a work speed vehicle alert based upon a combination of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the vehicle load sensed by the load sensor and based upon the comparison;

wherein the vehicle control system is to automatically restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the comparison.

15. A track system comprising:

a track;

a load sensor

a track temperature sensor configured to sense a track temperature of the track; and

a controller connected to the track temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to output a vehicle speed alert to an operator based on a combination of the sensed track temperature and a vehicle load sensed by the load sensor;

wherein the controller is to determine misalignment of the track based upon a combination of the track temperature and the vehicle load.

16. The track system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is to restrict a speed of the work vehicle based upon the combination of the track temperature sensed by the track temperature sensor and the vehicle load.

17. The track system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is to output a misalignment warning prior to restricting the speed of the work vehicle based upon the combination of the track temperature sensed by the track temperature sensor and the vehicle load.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2020
From: GARVIN, DANIEL; MCKINLEY, RONICA L.; RANGAN, NARASIMHAN; WILLETT, JANET R.; UPCHURCH, BRUCE L.; L'HEUREUX, JEREMY P.
To: DEERE & COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052397/0290 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15997458 · Jun 4, 2018
Continuation 15265209 · Sep 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62271148 · Dec 22, 2015
Related Publication 20200042023A1 · Feb 6, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,252,194