Patent ID: 6518519
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining a mass of a payload in a work machine, the work machine having a chassis, a cab coupled with the chassis, a boom coupled with the cab, a first actuator coupled with the boom and the cab and operable to move the boom relative to the cab, a stick coupled with the boom, a second actuator coupled with the stick and the boom and operable to move the stick relative to the boom, a bucket operable to receive the payload, the bucket coupled with the stick, and a third actuator coupled with the bucket and the stick and operable to move the bucket relative to the stick, the apparatus comprising:a first sensing device coupled with the boom and operable to transmit a boom angle signal as a function of a boom angle of the work machine; a second sensing device coupled with the stick and operable to transmit a stick angle signal as a function of a stick angle of the work machine; a third sensing device coupled with the bucket and operable to transmit a bucket angle signal as a function of a bucket angle of the work machine; a fourth sensing device coupled with the first actuator and operable to transmit a first actuator force signal as a function a first force exerted on the first actuator; a fifth sensing device coupled with the second actuator and operable to transmit a second actuator force signal as a function a second force exerted on the second actuator; a sixth sensing device coupled with the third actuator and operable to transmit a third actuator force signal as a function a third force exerted on the third actuator; and a processing device coupled with the first through sixth sensing devices to receive the respective transmitted signals at at least two instances in time, the processing device operable to determine a mass of the bucket and payload as a function of the received signals and a plurality of predetermined physical characteristics of the work machine.