Method for supporting a loading operation

Abstract

A method for supporting a loading operation includes monitoring via a control unit one or more of a wheel slip variable, which represents a wheel slip occurring at driven wheels of a utility vehicle, and a motor load variable, which represents a current utilization of a drive motor of the utility vehicle, requesting via the control unit a loading movement dependent on a forward travel of the utility vehicle along a predetermined loading trajectory by actuation of a hydraulically adjustable loader linkage in order to pick up load material from a load material supply, and interrupting via the control unit the forward travel by intervention in a drive management system in the event that one or more of the wheel slip represented by the wheel slip variable and the utilization of the drive motor represented by the motor load variable reaches a respectively predetermined limit value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for supporting a loading operation, in which a front loader is arranged on a utility vehicle and includes a loading tool for picking up a load material and a hydraulically adjustable loader linkage for pivoting and for raising and lowering the loading tool, comprising:
 monitoring via a control unit one or more of a wheel slip variable, which represents a wheel slip occurring at driven wheels of the utility vehicle, and a motor load variable, which represents a current utilization of a drive motor with which the utility vehicle is equipped;   requesting via the control unit a loading movement dependent on a forward travel of the utility vehicle along a predetermined loading trajectory by actuation of the hydraulically adjustable loader linkage in order to pick up load material from a load material supply; and   interrupting via the control unit the forward travel of the utility vehicle by intervention in a drive management system in the event that one or more of the wheel slip represented by the wheel slip variable and the utilization of the drive motor represented by the motor load variable reaches a respectively predetermined limit value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the utility vehicle is brought to a standstill by the control unit by intervention in the drive management system in order to interrupt the forward travel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the loader linkage is monitored by the control unit as to whether the loading tool is being raised from the load material supply, wherein, in such a case, the execution of the loading movement is suspended by the control unit in order to carry out a weight determination on the load material already picked up by the loading tool by a weighing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the loader linkage is monitored by the control unit in respect of the occurrence of a change in actuating force characteristic of lifting of the loading tool out of the load material supply. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the change in actuating force is detected by the control unit by evaluation of a sensed hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic cylinder, which is provided for the purpose of raising the loading tool and is a component part of hydraulic actuating devices of the loader linkage. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the loading operation is continued by the control unit when the weight determination shows that a desired target weight has not been achieved. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the desired target weight is specified manually via a user interface connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the desired target weight is set with reference to a partial or complete target loading state, selectable via the user interface, of the loading tool and, proceeding from this, is calculated by the control unit on the basis of a specific mass density of the load material to be picked up. 
     
     
         9 . A system for supporting a loading operation, comprising:
 a front loader arranged on a utility vehicle and including a loading tool for picking up a load material and a hydraulically adjustable loader linkage for pivoting and for raising and lowering the loading tool;   a control unit configured to monitor one or more of a wheel slip variable, which represents a wheel slip occurring at driven wheels of the utility vehicle, and a motor load variable, which represents a current utilization of a drive motor with which the utility vehicle is equipped, the control unit configured to request a loading movement dependent on a forward travel of the utility vehicle along a predetermined loading trajectory by actuation of the hydraulically adjustable loader linkage in order to pick up load material from a load material supply, and the control unit configured to interrupt the forward travel of the utility vehicle by intervention in a drive management system in the event that one or more of the wheel slip represented by the wheel slip variable and the utilization of the drive motor represented by the motor load variable reaches a respectively predetermined limit value.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the utility vehicle is brought to a standstill by the control unit by intervention in the drive management system in order to interrupt the forward travel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the loader linkage is monitored by the control unit as to whether the loading tool is being raised from the load material supply, wherein, in such a case, the execution of the loading movement is suspended by the control unit in order to carry out a weight determination on the load material already picked up by the loading tool by a weighing device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the loader linkage is monitored by the control unit in respect of the occurrence of a change in actuating force characteristic of lifting of the loading tool out of the load material supply. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the change in actuating force is detected by the control unit by evaluation of a sensed hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic cylinder, which is provided for the purpose of raising the loading tool and is a component part of hydraulic actuating devices of the loader linkage. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the loading operation is continued by the control unit when the weight determination shows that a desired target weight has not been achieved. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the desired target weight is specified manually via a user interface connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the desired target weight is set with reference to a partial or complete target loading state, selectable via the user interface, of the loading tool and, proceeding from this, is calculated by the control unit on the basis of a specific mass density of the load material to be picked up.