Rollover monitoring system

Abstract

A work machine comprising a frame and a drive assembly configured to support the frame on the ground and to propel the work machine. The work machine additionally comprises an engine configured to provide power to the drive assembly, and a tilt sensor configured monitor an orientation of the work machine. The work machine is configured to disable the engine when the tilt sensor indicates that the work machine has experienced a rollover condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A work machine comprising:
 a frame;   a drive assembly configured to support the frame on the ground and to propel the work machine;   an engine configured to provide power to the drive assembly; and   a tilt sensor configured monitor an orientation of the work machine,   wherein the work machine is configured to disable the engine when the tilt sensor indicates that the work machine has experienced a rollover condition.   
     
     
         2 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt sensor is secured to the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises one or more accelerometers. 
     
     
         4 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tilt sensor is configured to generate a voltage signal indicative of the orientation of the work machine. 
     
     
         5 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the work machine comprises a control system configured to disable the engine when the tilt sensor indicates that the work machine has experienced a rollover condition, and wherein the control system is configured to determine that the work machine has experienced the rollover condition when the work machine tilts beyond a rollover angle. 
     
     
         6 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the rollover angle is a leftward or rightward angle with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the rollover angle is from 30° to 60°. 
     
     
         8 . The work machine of  claim 5  wherein control system is configured to determine that the work machine has experienced the rollover condition when the work machine tilts beyond the rollover angle for longer than a rollover time period. 
     
     
         9 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine if the tilt sensor is functioning properly. 
     
     
         10 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to keep the engine disabled until the control system receives an indication that the engine has been inspected for damage. 
     
     
         11 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to provide an indication as to a number and/or a time of each rollover condition experienced by the work machine. 
     
     
         12 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to prevent the engine from starting when the tilt sensor indicates that the work machine has experienced an unbalanced condition, wherein the control system is configured to determine that the work machine has experienced the unbalanced condition when the work machine tilts beyond an unbalanced angle, and wherein the unbalanced angle is different from the rollover angle. 
     
     
         13 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the work machine comprises a compact utility loader configured to be operated by an operator standing on or walking behind a back end of the compact utility loader. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a work machine comprising a frame, a drive assembly, an engine, and a tilt sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) propelling the work machine using the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly is powered by the engine;   (b) monitoring an orientation of the work machine using the tilt sensor;   (c) determining, based on the orientation of the work machine, whether the work machine has experienced a rollover condition; and   (d) disabling the engine if the work machine has experienced the rollover condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the work machine comprises a control system configured to disable the engine in step (d), and wherein the control system is configured to determine that the work machine has experienced the rollover condition when the work machine tilts beyond a rollover angle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rollover angle is a leftward or rightward angle with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control system is configured to keep the engine disabled until the control system receives an indication that the engine has been inspected for damage. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable media with a computer program stored thereon for operating a work machine, wherein when the computer program is executed, the processor is configured to perform the following steps:
 (a) monitor, using information obtained from a tilt sensor, an orientation of the work machine;   (b) determine, based on the orientation of the work machine, whether the work machine has experienced a rollover condition; and   (c) disable the engine if the work machine has experienced the rollover condition.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the work machine has experienced the rollover condition when the work machine tilts beyond a rollover angle. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to keep the engine disabled until the processor receives an indication that the engine has been inspected for damage.