Payload management system

Abstract

A payload management system embodiment may include a force sensing system operatively associated with a bucket of an excavator. The force sensing system senses a magnitude of a force required to hold the bucket at a defined position with respect to a reference datum. An angle sensing system operatively associated with the bucket senses a direction of the force with respect the reference datum. A processing system operatively associated with the force system and the angle sensing system processes data relating to the magnitude of the force and the direction of the force to determine the amount of the payload in the bucket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A payload management system for determining an amount of a payload contained in a bucket of an excavator, comprising:
 force sensing means for sensing a magnitude of a force required to hold the bucket at a defined position with respect to a reference datum;   angle sensing means for sensing a direction of the force with respect the reference datum; and   processing means operatively associated with said force sensing means and said angle sensing means for determining the amount of the payload in the bucket based on the magnitude and direction of the force.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said force sensing means comprises a pressure sensor operatively associated with a hydraulic actuator connected to the bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said force sensing means comprises a force sensing clevis pin connected to the bucket. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said angle sensing means further comprises an inclinometer operatively associated with the bucket, said inclinometer sensing an angle of the bucket. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the reference datum is the horizontal and wherein said inclinometer senses the angle of the bucket with respect to the vertical. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first supplemental inclinometer operatively associated with a boom member of the excavator, said first supplemental inclinometer sensing an angle of the boom member; and   a second supplemental inclinometer operatively associated with a stick member of the excavator, said second supplemental inclinometer sensing an angle of the stick member.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the reference datum is the horizontal, and wherein said first supplemental inclinometer senses the angle of the boom member with respect to the vertical and wherein said second supplemental inclinometer senses the angle of the stick member with respect to the vertical. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processing means comprises a general purpose programmable computer. 
     
     
         9 . A payload management system for determining an amount of a payload contained in a bucket of an excavator, comprising:
 a force sensing system operatively associated with the bucket of the excavator, said force sensing system sensing a magnitude of a force required to hold the bucket at a defined position with respect to a reference datum;   an angle sensing system operatively associated with the bucket of the excavator, said angle sensing system sensing a direction of the force with respect the reference datum; and   a processing system operatively associated with said force sensing system and said angle sensing system, said processing system processing data relating to the magnitude of the force and the direction of the force to determine the amount of payload in the bucket.   
     
     
         10 . The payload management system of  claim 9 , wherein said force sensing system comprises a force sensing clevis pin connected to the bucket. 
     
     
         11 . The payload management system of  claim 9 , wherein said angle sensing system comprises an inclinometer operatively associated with the bucket, said inclinometer sensing an angle of the bucket. 
     
     
         12 . The payload management system of  claim 9 , wherein said force sensing system comprises a pressure transducer operatively connected to an actuator connected to the bucket. 
     
     
         13 . The payload management system of  claim 9 , further comprising a dispatch system, the dispatch system being operatively associated with the processing system and configured to receive data comprising the amount of the payload. 
     
     
         14 . The payload management system of  claim 9 , wherein the reference datum is the horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . A method for determining an amount of a payload contained in a bucket of an excavator, comprising:
 sensing a magnitude of a force required to hold the bucket at a defined position with respect to a reference datum;   sensing a direction of the force with respect the reference datum; and   determining the amount of the payload in the bucket based on the magnitude and direction of the force.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said determining the amount of the payload in the bucket comprises determining a weight of the payload in the bucket. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said sensing the magnitude of the force comprises sensing pressure applied to an actuator connected to the bucket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said sensing the direction of the force comprises sensing uniaxial strain applied to a first pivot of the bucket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said sensing the direction of the force comprises sensing biaxial strain applied to a second pivot point of the bucket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using the amount of payload to control excavator operations.